The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized college admissions test taken by more than one million high school students each year. You have been in high school for a number of years. No doubt you've had a lot of stuff thrown at you in that time, so how do you know which of it to study? Check out some practice tests. They can set your mind at ease as to what you need to focus on for the big day. Once you've got a practice test or two, try these ten fun review ideas.
Math
The good news about the math section is it only goes as far as algebra II. The bad news is you've probably forgotten a big chunk of what you learned in geometry, statistics or calculus. Don't panic, though; help is on the way.
1. STUDY THOSE FORMULAS. Squares, rectangles, circles and triangles. The rest of the polygonal family takes care of itself if you've got these big guys down. To make it fun, test yourself with a friend. Drink some chocolate milk.
2. MAKE RIDICULOUS SYMBOLS FOR FUNCTIONS. Everybody gets tripped up by the old f(x)= or the much-hated =. It really just means "y=." Remind yourself to relax and just remember it means "y=" by making "y" something funny, like a pickle.
3. PLUGGING AND ELIMINATION ARE FUN. Grab your practice book, because one of the best ways to finding right answers in algebra is understanding find wrong ones. Check your answer choices. Are any of them obviously wrong? Now, plug in the answer choices that remain until you find one that works. It's satisfying to see those answer choices drop like flies.
Writing
A lot of people mess up the writing section of the SAT trying to be F. Scott Fitzgerald. What you should know, however, is it's not about what you say or even how you say it. It's about how you organize it.
4. MAKE UP YOUR OWN ESSAY QUESTION. If theorizing about Plato isn't your thing, make up a question you're interested in and form your own answer into an introduction, body and conclusion. Form a thesis statement answering your question and outline the evidence in support, and you're home free.
5. PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE. Sometimes your personal opinion isn't the easiest to defend. Ask yourself what the compelling arguments are for both sides of the question, and write from the perspective that has the largest amount of good arguments.
6. READ OUT LOUD. You can do this in review. On the writing multiple-choice section, the vast majority of answers can be found by just using your ears. If you read it out loud and you sound like you're just learning to talk or like a British aristocrat, it's wrong.
Critical Reading
The reading passages on the SAT can lull you to sleep. Resist the urge, and remember it's only a few paragraphs.
7. ANSWER WITHOUT LOOKING. Challenge yourself to answer the question or finish the sentence without looking first. When you've got a good answer in your head, look for the choice that best matches yours. It's like Mad-Libs.
8. READ YOUR OWN BOOKS ACTIVELY. If you read on your own during your review period, read with a passion. Stop once in a while and ask yourself the names of any new characters. What was the main idea of the last paragraph?
9. IMAGINE YOU ARE AN EDITOR. Some of the SAT passages are so dry. If you take an approach that you are correcting the people making you take this test, you will focus extra hard.
Finally
10. SLEEP. This is the most fun review tip. Everyone loves sleep. Make sure you're getting enough of it during your review period and, of course, in the days leading up to the test. A fresh mind is a brilliant one. Good luck.
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