With the SAT undergoing a series of fundamental changes this year, many test-day techniques that were previously effective will need to be re-evaluated — though not necessarily reinvented completely. Performing well on the SAT involves many steps, including devoting adequate time to studying and completing multiple practice exams. Here are several areas to focus on when updating your strategies for test day itself.
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1. Placement of the essay: One much-discussed difference between the redesigned SAT and its predecessor is that the essay portion of the exam is now optional. The format has also changed from one in which students are required to construct an argument in response to a given prompt, to one in which students are asked to analyze the argument of a given passage.
In addition, the essay section has been moved from the beginning of the test to the end. For many students, the essay is the most mentally exhausting portion of the SAT. Under the old format, students could approach it fresh, but with the redesigned SAT, that is no longer the case.
If you choose to complete the essay, it is more important than ever to pace yourself, take breaks as needed and prevent your concentration from slipping as the exam moves along. Do your best to peak as you reach the end of the SAT, rather than starting strong and losing steam.
[Focus on building analysis skills for success on the new SAT essay.]
2. Evidence-based reading passages: It may be difficult to maintain focus throughout the entire test, especially given the new format of the reading section. Evidence-based questions will require students to understand, analyze and interpret a number of reading passages in multiple subjects, including history, literature and science.
Although no prior knowledge is required to succeed on this portion of the SAT, the questions ask more of you from an analytical perspective — for instance, you may be asked to analyze a chart or graph, and to extrapolate a finding from it based on its relationship to a provided passage. As such, these questions could easily make you tired early on.
If this happens, stop, breathe and collect yourself before you continue. Then, work efficiently. If your focus is slipping due to exhaustion, address the most difficult questions — those that require a great deal of brainpower — first, and then return to the simpler ones. As with the essay section’s placement, the reading portion’s updated format means that avoiding burnout is crucial.
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3. Calculator rules: One of the most significant changes to the math section is that you will no longer be allowed to use your calculator for the entire time. This may be a challenging adjustment for students who are accustomed to relying on their calculators.
Moreover, certain questions that do allow calculator use may be constructed in such a way that using one is a hindrance to completing these problems efficiently. So, strategize not on how to use your calculator best, but instead on whether to use one at all. Your calculator should be reprioritized as a potential tool with limited, specific uses, instead of as a crutch.
If you need to multiply or divide complex sums — multiplying 5,198 by 319, for example — use your calculator. If you need to perform multifunction calculations, again, use your calculator. Otherwise, it may be smartest to set it aside.
Certain classic test-day strategies, like eating a well-balanced breakfast and using exam breaks to their fullest, such as to refuel and stretch, are still valuable. When you pair them with the updated techniques discussed above, you will position yourself to meet — and perhaps exceed — your target score.
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New SAT Requires Updated Test-Day Techniques originally appeared on usnews.com
