6 Ways to Tackle the New SAT

hi im ashlee. and im a sophomore in high school and i am about to take the sat's in feb.i am so nervous becasue i dont know what to expect on the new tests. i really need ways that could help me study and pass the test.

ashlee of IN 3:11PM January 18, 2012

I do SAT Prep with students. The biggest problem students face is that, after the first few questions, the questions become hard. Students are taught to mark a hard question and go onto the next one. The next one is hard. So is the one after that.

The student says, "I'm not going to do well on this test. I'm not going to get into college. I'm not going to get a good job. I am going to die homeless under a bridge somewhere."

In that state of mind, you can do well on any test.

The first thing I do is use NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) to train the student how to remain calm and confident. This is the biggest aid to high test scores.

It is not true that you can not be taught to do better on the SAT. The SAT looks like all the high school tests you have ever taken, but it's not. It truly is designed to test your reasoning ability. It usually takes 5-7 practice tests before the student realizes that.

Once the student realizes that it's not a test of knowledge, and approaches the test as a puzzle, a challenge, scores go up.

Alan Alberts of WA 4:58PM August 23, 2008

I have been in education for 35 years as a math teacher and administrator. In addition, I was a SAT math coach and teacher for over 25 years. From my experience, the most important part of this article is "you will need to practice". But you need to practice the correct strategies. Therefore, you need someone to tell you what they are.

The best math students in High School often are very logical, step-by-step, “show all work students” who have very neat work. Teachers and school/state exam makers will give higher grades for these attributes and encourage them in class and homework assignments. Unfortunately, these attributes, although laudable in the real world, will hurt students on the SAT exam.

One of the first things we teach students preparing for the SAT is how to complete the answers in the shortest way possible. We force the students to be aware of timing since they do not have an unlimited amount of time to work, and to see trends in questions and answers.

One other point to mention concerns the use of calculators. Since calculators have become inexpensive, our schools have encouraged their use. Today’s students have become dependent on calculators to do even basic functions. (Ask “What is 6 times 3?” and the students reach for the calculator!).

Although the SAT allows calculators, the test is designed to be taken without a calculator. In fact, using a calculator is not the best way to answer the questions. One of the first things we do is attempt to break the “calculator habit” and encourage “thinking”. This task alone takes teaching, time, and practice to develop new skills.

One suggestion I have for students is to be actively involved in their schools or community activities. High SAT scores are good, but colleges are also looking for people who will be active in the life of their school. If you are the editor of your HS newspaper, or you play a musical instrument, you may be selected ahead of someone who has higher scores but does not have these skills or experiences.

Finally, people of good character and those who have a positive work ethic will succeed in the long run. This also should be stressed to our young people.

Rick Volo of NY 11:37AM August 12, 2008

"If students band together in applying only to schools that let them hide their scores, that will put pressure on schools to give in to the score-choice policy."

I'm sorry, but this is not going to happen.

I am not going to give up my chance at attending schools that don't follow the score-choice policy just to pressure other colleges to follow it. High-ranked schools like Harvard and Yale don't need to give in because they already have plenty of well-qualified students in any case.

Emely of VA 10:57PM August 06, 2008