–Hi Students!
I look forward to meeting you at the tutoring sessions and working with you on how you can increase your score on the math sections of the SAT!
Let’s begin by looking at a sample of the format of the SAT test. As you may know, the SAT test has separate sections on reading, writing, and math. It also has an optional essay section.
Official Sample SAT Tests. To see a sample of the complete SAT test in its official format on the College Board website:
- Please click here to go to the webpage with practice SAT tests. You may wish to bookmark this webpage in your browser.
- Scroll all the way to the bottom of the webpage for SAT Practice Test 1.
- Click the See All + link and you will see these five PDF documents associated with Practice Test 1:
- Please take a few minutes to click on each file on that webpage and familiarize yourself with their contents.
- Note that next to the See Less + link, there is a convenient Download All (5) link to use if you want to download all five PDF documents at once.
- To become familiar with the format of the SAT test, open the PDF for SAT Practice Test 1 and scroll through the entire test. When you officially take the SAT, it will be in the same format. Look at each of the 4 sections, the number of questions in each section, and the time you will be allowed for each section. Note that you can go back and forth WITHIN a section during its allotted time, but you cannot look at OTHER sections. As you have previously seen in number 2 above, the optional essay section is stored in a separate PDF file on that webpage.
- Be sure to look carefully at the official answer sheet by opening the PDF SAT Practice Test Answer Sheet. When you practice the SAT, use the official answer sheet to become comfortable with its format.
The Eight Official Practice Tests from the College Board Website. Now that you have familiarized yourself with the five files for SAT Practice Test 1, note that there are seven other practice tests on that webpage with their associated five files. I recommend that you practice them all!
The Math Grid-in Answer Sheet. For some math questions on the SAT, you will be required to write in numbers, rather than filling in circles. You should know how to do this before you go in to take your SAT test. Time is of the essence and you don’t want to waste any time trying to figure it out by reading instructions during the actual test! In SAT Practice Test 1 as discussed above, look at the instructions in section 3 on page 39 and the exact same instructions in section 4 on page 54. You will see these same instructions when you officially take the SAT. When you practice taking the SAT, use the official answer sheet so you will become really comfortable with the format. You can print all sections of the answer sheets by following step 2 above and clicking on the PDF file SAT Practice Test Answer Sheet.
Calculators. For section 4 of the SAT, you are permitted to bring a calculator. Click here for the rules about using calculators while taking the SAT. Place new batteries in your calculator about a week before you take the SAT. When you practice the SAT test, be sure to use the same calculator you will be using when you take the actual test.
What to Take to the Official SAT test. Click here for the recommended items. In my opinion, two No. 2 pencils are not enough; take several, just in case you break the points. The pencils should be freshly sharpened and have new erasers on their tops and. I’m not sure if they’ll let you use a separate eraser. Dress in layers so that you can add or remove clothing if you become too cold or hot. Take snacks for break times to keep your energy level up. Don’t forget your admission ticket, approved photo identification, and any eye glasses you need. Be sure to have all your items ready the night before the test; you don’t want to be running around in a panic in the morning. Re-read this webpage immediately before you leave your home to take the official test to be sure you have everything.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! One of the most effective things you can do to increase your SAT scores is practice. You may wish to practice by taking an entire test at one time while using a timer. Or, you may wish to do one problem at a time and check your answer immediately while the problem is still fresh in your mind. If you are practicing one problem at a time, you may find it convenient to practice on a computer with two open browser windows. Use one window for the test file and the other window for the answer file, as shown below. Note that the first problems of math section 3 of the SAT Practice Test 1 PDF file are shown in the left window and their corresponding answers from the SAT Practice Test 1 Answer Explanations PDF file are in the right window. You will then be able to look at the test file, do one problem at a time using scrap paper, choose your answer, and then immediately check your answer by clicking into the answer file window. Using two browsers makes it easy to click back and forth. Be sure you adjust the answer file’s window so you don’t accidentally see the answer to the next problem, unlike it’s shown below–oops! You accidentally saw that the next answer to Question 2. is A.
I recommend practicing one problem at a time, at first. Then practice a complete test with a timer, using the official answer sheet with a No. 2 pencil, and with the same approved calculator you will take to the test. Take several complete practice tests. Practice, practice, practice!
If you don’t know an answer, guess. Do not leave a blank answer! Unlike in previous years’ SAT tests, guessing a wrong answer will NOT hurt your score–no penalty will be incurred. With only four possible multiple-choice answers, a random guess should be correct 25% of the time. And if you could eliminate an answer or two that you know are not correct, you can increase your chances to 50%.
MATH-SAT Tutoring Sessions at the Library. We will be covering only the two math sections: section 3, Math Test – No Calculator, and section 4, Math Test – Calculator. We won’t be covering the sections on the SAT test having to do with reading or writing, although if you have a question about the math-type questions in the reading or writing sessions, please feel free to ask me.