This presentation provides seven tried and true tips for increasing your performance on the SAT. Whether you've never even taken a practice test or you've already done some prep, these tips are essential for everyone who's going to take the SAT.
5. #1 - Always keep moving
If you don’t know how to answer a question,
either read it again, or move on. Don’t waste
time staring at questions that you don’t know
how to answer.
6. #1 - Always keep moving
This strategy will save you time and allow you
to answer all the questions that you DO know
how to solve.
7. #2 - Use Classic SAT Math Strategies
There are two: Backsolving and Choosing
Numbers.
8. #2 - Backsolving
Backsolving means plugging the answer
choices into the question. The answer choices
should be numbers. This strategy is
particularly useful on questions with multiple
steps.
9. #2 - Backsolving
Start with the middle choice (C), and plug it into
the question. If (C) is wrong you can usually
tell if you need a larger or smaller number, thus
eliminating two more choices.
10. #2 - Choosing Numbers
Use this strategy when the answer choices
contain variables. Make up your own numbers
to stand in for the variables in the question.
11. #2 - Choosing Numbers
Use your numbers to get a numerical answer,
then plug your numbers into the answer
choices to see which gives the same answer.
12. #2 - Choosing Numbers
Always check ALL answer choices. If more
than one choice works select new numbers.
Once you’ve eliminated an answer choice, you
don’t have to check it again. Do not use zero
or one (trust me on that one).
13. #2 - Use Classic SAT Math Strategies
You might want to get a hold of some SAT
questions and practice those strategies, eh?
14. #3 - Use answer choices to get info
This is a little different from backsolving. You
can use the answer choices to get information
and move forward with a question.
15. #3 - Use answer choices to get info
Are there equations in the answer choices? Do
you know how big your answer should be?
Positive or negative? Even or odd? Maybe
you know what the last digit should be.
16. #4 - Reading - Read for the Main Idea
This is one of the most important things you
can do. I’ve done experiments with students in
which I had them select answers based on the
main idea without even reading the question. It
worked!! I’m not suggesting you do that, but
the point is that if you understand the “main
idea” and apply it to the questions you’ll be in
good shape.
17. #5 - Always make-up your own
answer.
Make up your own answer on every reading
question. This is the other most important skill
for the reading section. Predicting will help you
to process the information you’re juggling. It
will help you avoid answer choices that “sound
right” but don’t have anything to do with the
question. Practicing this skill will also make
you a better reader.
18. #6 - Writing - When in doubt, choose
the shortest answer.
The shortest answer isn’t always right but it’s
right a lot of the time. If you’re unsure, the
shortest answer is your best guess.
19. #7 - Answer essay question directly
Make sure you directly answer the essay
question and use specific examples to support
your thesis. Avoid generalizations. Do NOT
talk about “people” or “society”.
20. Those are your 7 techniques.
Unless you’re taking the SAT in the next 8
hours, I highly recommend that you PRACTICE
these techniques. That’s the 8th way to hack
the SAT...PRACTICE.
