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Strategies for Success on the SAT
Structure:
The SAT is 3 hours, 45 minutes, consisting of
54 math questions, 67 critical reading questions, 49 writing skills questions, and a 25-minute argumentative writing essay. The SAT is designed to test your “reasoning abilities,” not how
much you know or how smart you are. Most questions (with the exception of reading passages and writing skills) are arranged in order
of difficulty (easy-medium-hard); use this system of organization
to your advantage as you move through each section!
The Math content of
the exam is divided into three scored sections:
- Two 25-minute sections with 28 multiple-choice questions and 10 student-produced response questions including topics in basic arithmetic, algebra I & II, geometry, data analysis, statistics, probability, and logical reasoning.
- One 20-minute section with 16 of the above-listed
question types.
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The Critical Reading content
of the exam is divided into three scored sections:
- Two 25-minute sections with 48 multiple-choice
sentence completion and passage-based reading questions.
- One 20-minute section with 19 of the above-listed multiple-choice question types.
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The Writing Skills content
of the exam is divided into four scored sections:
- Two 25-minute sections with 35 multiple-choice
sentence correction, sentence improvement, and paragraph improvement questions on topics in grammar and usage.
- One 10-minute section with 14 of the above-listed question types.
- One 25-argumentative writing essay asking you to take a stand on an issue and to support your position accordingly.
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*There is an additional 25-minute section (math, critical reading, or writing skills) randomly placed in the exam that the testing service
uses for research purposes. This “experimental” section
does not count toward your score.
Scoring:
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You receive one point for each correct answer.
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You
lose 1/4 of a point for each incorrect answer to a multiple-choice question. You do not lose any points for an incorrect answer on the grid-in section. The essay is scored on a scale of 1-6 by two different readers. The total score range for the essay is 2-12, which counts for 30% of your total score on the writing skills section.
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There is no penalty for questions you leave blank;
therefore, you should only guess when you are able
to narrow the choices down to two possible answers.
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Your
raw score is calculated by subtracting the number
of points deducted for questions answered incorrectly from
the number of questions answered correctly. Your raw score
is then converted to a scaled score between 200-800 using
a preset formula. The essay is worth 30% of your score on the writing skills section. The maximum combined score for the three sections 2400.
Remember friends: YOU are taking the exam, DON’T
LET IT TAKE YOU!
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Before the Exam:
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Take a rigorous course load each year that includes
challenging math and English classes.
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Read a non-fiction
book at least once a month to help boost your critical
thinking and reading skills.
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Sign up for the Word-of-the-Day
service on www.dictionary.com to improve your "everyday" vocabulary.
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Take
the PSAT in October of 9th, 10th, and 11th grades
to get ready for the SAT. To start off on the right
foot, take the IST Power-Packed PSAT Prep Course during the summer(s).
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Register
to take the SAT during the spring of your junior
year on www.collegeboard.com.
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Take
the IST Intensive Six-Week SAT Course to become
a confident test-taker!
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Visit your assigned test
site at least once before your exam date to familiarize
yourself with the physical environment.
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On the
night before the exam, lay out your toolkit
(admission ticket, photo id, pencils, erasers, calculator,
glasses (if needed), watch, and light jacket or sweatshirt),
relax, and most importantly, GET ADEQUATE REST (you should
be in bed no later than 10:00 PM).
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On
Exam Day:
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Arrive at the test site at least 20 minutes before the
doors open.
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Relax, breathe, and think positive thoughts
as you move through the questions. If you are well-prepared (which you WILL be with IST), you have nothing
to fear!
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Bring snacks (e.g. chocolate, energy bars,
water) to eat/drink during your break.
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Take a Discman
with your favorite CD to listen to during the breaks.
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Refrain
from talking to other students about the exam
until you leave the test site.
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After the Exam:
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- Let out a huge sigh of relief. You did it!
Try not to think about any answers you might have missed—you
probably did a lot better than you think!
- Check your scores
on the web at www.collegeboard.com approximately
four weeks after your exam date.
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