by Steven Tagle
Last-Minute SAT Prep: How to Walk Into Test Day with Confidence
If you’re a high school senior, the SAT is coming up fast, and there are only a few test dates left that colleges will accept for applications. If you’re applying early decision or early action, the timeline is even tighter.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just know that you’re not alone. And with the right strategy, you can make real progress over these final weeks and walk into test day ready to perform your best. Here’s how to make your prep time count.
1. Take an official Bluebook practice test.
The best way to prepare is by taking full-length digital SAT practice tests in Bluebook, the same app you’ll use on test day. These are official tests made by the creators of the SAT. They are a great way to track how your performance has improved after you’ve taken a prep course or completed long periods of self-study. They provide a strong indicator of the score you’ll earn on test day.
If you still have a few weeks, take one or two full-length tests. If you have only a few days, focus on either math or reading and writing. Math scores are often easier to raise in a short period of time. If you’re really short on time, pick just one module to practice.
While you’re taking practice tests, mark any questions you guessed on or weren’t sure about – these will be important for review later.
2. Simulate real testing conditions.
Treat your practice test like the real thing. That means no phone and no distractions. Use the same device you’ll use on test day, follow the testing procedure, time yourself accurately, and consider even eating the same snack you’ll bring with you on test day. The more familiar you are with the setup, the more mental energy you can save for the test questions.
3. Review challenging questions and identify your weak spots.
After you have finished your practice test, don’t just check your score, dig into the questions you marked for review. Make sure you understand the rationale behind the right answer and why the answer you selected was wrong.
Look for patterns in the questions you missed. For example, are they geometry questions with triangles? Are they reading questions involving data graphs? Use the results to focus your studying on one or two weak areas you’d like to improve. You’ll see bigger gains by drilling a specific area of weakness than by randomly practicing everything.
4. Drill smarter, not longer.
Now it’s time to sharpen up your weak spots. Build a study plan with the time you have left.
Use the SAT Educator Question Bank to find official practice questions to boost your skills in a specific area. This page will help you find the right reading and writing questions to practice based on the domain and skill of the questions you got wrong. And this page will help you find the right math questions. Review the explanations after each question, and teach yourself not only why the correct answer is right but also why the wrong answers are wrong. Also, look for patterns in the answer choices. Often, you can logically eliminate at least one or two options after carefully reading the question.
You can use Khan Academy’s Official SAT Prep to revisit key concepts. The modules contain short lessons, videos, and example problems you can use to boost your performance in specific topic areas.
5. Address the details the night before test day.
Don’t leave anything to chance. Familiarize yourself with what to expect on test day. The night before, pack a bag with your admission ticket, ID, water, and a snack. Be sure to fully charge the device you’ll be using and have Bluebook installed. Get a full night’s rest, eat a solid breakfast in the morning, and arrive at the testing center early to avoid stress.
SAT prep doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With targeted practice, smart review, and good test-day habits, you can go into the exam feeling confident and focused.
A Stanford graduate and the recipient of prestigious fellowships from the Fulbright Program and the Institute of Current World Affairs, as well as a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, Steven Tagle has taught and mentored students for 20 years. As a published writer, journalist, and former speechwriter for the U.S. ambassador to Greece, he knows how to draw out applicants’ unique stories and craft compelling personal statements that help their applications stand out from the pack. Click here to get in touch.
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