How to Improve SAT Scores: A Comprehensive Guide for Success

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) plays a vital role during the admission process of colleges in the US. Getting a high SAT score can also be helpful in getting financial aid, scholarships, and admission to prestigious universities. This thorough guide of improving your SAT score will help you maximise your potential and improve your overall SAT performance, regardless of whether you’re taking the SAT for the first time or wishing to get a higher score.

This comprehensive blog will walk you through the process of improving your SAT results, from comprehending the format of the exam to becoming an expert in each section’s tactics. You’ll have no trouble reaching your goal score if you adhere to mentioned pointers.

1.   Understanding the structure of SAT – Understanding the format of SAT is considered as the first step to improving your SAT score. There are two primary sections of SAT:

•         Reading and Writing Based on Evidence (EBRW):

o 52 questions in 65 minutes of reading.

o Writing and Language: 35 minutes, 44 questions.

•         Mathematics & Calculus:

o Maths: 20 problems in 25 minutes (no calculator).

o Calculator maths: 38 problems in 55 minutes.

Some colleges also require an optional essay in addition to these components. You can make a more efficient study schedule and manage your time better on the test if you know how each component is organised.

2.           Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses – Take a full-length practice test before starting your SAT preparation. This can help you a benchmark of your current situation and identify the areas most you need to improve.

How to Determine Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Review your practice exam and look for patterns in your mistakes.

Make use of your score in sections as a reference. A higher score in Math but a lower score in Reading means you need to dedicate more time to reading comprehension and grammar.

3.           Creating a study schedule – Having an effective study plan is essential in raising your SAT scores. Since the SAT covers a wide range of topics, it’s critical to organise your study sessions into manageable parts.

The Process of Making perfect a study plan:

•         Set a target score: Based on the universities you’re aiming for, figure out what your ideal SAT score is. To establish a realistic objective, look up their average SAT scores.
•         Allocate Study Time: Set aside certain periods of time to concentrate on the areas where you need more improvement. For example, dedicate extra practice days for mathematics if it’s a weakness.
•         Create milestones by dividing up your goals into weekly or biweekly timeframes. These could be completing practice tests or improving scores in specific sections.

4.           Concentrating on Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary – To succeed on the SAT, particularly in the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing component, one must need strong vocabulary and reading comprehension skills. Developing these abilities can help you answer questions more effectively and raise your reading score in SAT as well.

     Expanding Your Vocabulary:

•         Read Widely: To expand your vocabulary, read books, newspapers, and articles from reputed publications such as The Economist, The New York Times, and The Atlantic.
•         Create Flashcards: Utilise flashcards to help you remember difficult terms. Apps like wordapp can help you organise and review vocabulary regularly.
•         Acquire more contextual knowledge: To enhance understanding, don’t just try to memorise definitions, try to understand the broader meanings of those terms.

Enhancing Reading Comprehension

•         Engage in Active Reading: Highlight important passages, make notes in the margins, and prepare questions for yourself.
•         Pay Attention towards Passage Structure: You need to read a lot of the reading passages during the SAT preparation. Pay attention to how the author develops their argument or presents information.
•         Answer questions right away after reading: To train your brain to properly retain knowledge, practice answering questions right away after reading.

5.           Understanding of Math Concepts – With fundamental math to more complex algebra and geometry, the Maths portion of SAT covers a wide range of subjects. You need to understand the mathematics and calculus topics covered in the exam to do well on it.

       Crucial Points to Consider:

• Algebra: Concentrate on systems of equations, linear equations, and inequalities.
• Solving Problems: Get familiar with word problems, which are a popular SAT Maths section.
• Analyze data: Recognize how to handle percentages, ratios, and information from graphs and charts.
• Advanced Math: Acquire knowledge of ideas like functions and quadratic equations, which come up in the harder problems.

Practice Tips:

• Step-by-Step Solution: To make complicated problems more approachable, divide them up into smaller and manageable components.
• Work Without a Calculator: Particularly for the Math (No Calculator) segment, make yourself comfortable in solving problems without the use of a calculator.
• Learn Important Formulas: The SAT exam had a few formula related questions and it’s important to memorise all formulas, such as area/volume calculations and the quadratic formula.

6.           Creating Exam-Taking Techniques – To improve your SAT score, you must learn efficient test-taking strategies in addition to topic mastery. You can approach the test more quickly and effectively by using these tactics.

       Important Techniques:

• Respond to Simple Questions First: Try not to get stuck down with challenging questions too early in the exam. First, you can answer every question you know, go back and review the most difficult ones.
• Eliminate Wrong Answers: Even if you’re not sure which answer is correct, use the process of elimination to reduce the number of possibilities you have.

Guess Wisely: Since there are no consequences for guessing the answers of SAT questions, you should answer all of the questions, even the ones that require a guess. To rule out at least one incorrect response, make intelligent guesses.

• Time Management: Pay attention to the clock in each section. Move on and return to the question later if you find that you are spending too much time on it.

7.           Retaking the SAT for more improvement – To get more improvement in scores, a lot of students retake the SAT. Since you will probably be less nervous and more familiar with the test structure, retaking the test can be a great way to improve your SAT score.

Benefits of Retaking the SAT:

•         Score Superscoring: Some colleges allow “superscoring,” where they take the highest section scores from multiple test attempts. This allows you to focus on improving individual sections.
•         Test Familiarity: After your first attempt, you will have a better understanding of the test’s structure and timing, helping you feel more comfortable and confident the second time around.
•         Targeted Improvement: After reviewing your initial score, you can focus specifically on the sections where you need the most improvement.

How to Approach Retaking the SAT:

•         Assess your past performance: Determine the areas in which you most struggled, then concentrate on your practice for that particular section.
•         Continue Your Regular Practice: Even after your first test, stick to a regular study plan. Take timed practice exams to maintain your excellent test-taking endurance.
•         Prevent Burnout: Although extensive preparation is necessary, try not to stress excessively about trying again. The trick is to maintain composure and focused attention.

Managing Test Anxiety – Test anxiety is common for students taking the SAT, and it can negatively impact your performance. Learning how to manage stress and anxiety will help you stay calm and focused during the test.