How to use the extra time?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Hi, I'm new here.</p>

<p>So at the moment, I'm studying for the SAT June. On average I finish a critical reading section about 10 minutes before time is over. As for math I finish about 5 minutes before time and I finish the 25min writing section (not essay) in about 10 minutes and the 10 minute section in about 5 minutes. </p>

<p>So my question is, what do I do with the extra time? My scores often average out to be around 650-750 CR, 650-700 M, 700-800W depending on my condition but I want to tighten it and definitely get my math score up. I have enough time to go back and do every question again for the writing section which is why I do better. But I don't have that time for the critical reading and the math sections. So what do I do with that time? I try to keep working on the problems I'm stuck on for math but I really don't know what to do with critical reading. </p>

<p>I've long since finished the blue book (should I go back to look at it? I hate how it doesn't explain answers) and am working on the McGrawHill's 12 practice tests at the moment (so many typos).</p>

<p>Any advice would be much appreciated.</p>

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<p>The blue book answer explanations are online, which is he best part of it because you can see what the collegeboard is actually thinking. You should have marked questions that you weren’t 100% sure of when you did each section as you went. Even if you just felt a little uneasy about them. And the rest you should be completely confident about. Then, you go back and check those ones. Usually, that takes up the time to be sure about each. Also, I you have too much extra time to do that all consistently, spend more time and be careful about each answer.</p>

3

<p>Yes that sounds like an excellent idea. I’ve only ever mark the answers in my test papers, I’ll try marking the ones that are “hard”. Actually, that will let me see if what I consider “hard” is what collegeboard considers “hard” as well.</p>

<p>Also thanks for the blue book info, I never knew.</p>

4

<p>As you do the math sections, try doing it in three passes since you have a little extra time to play with. This can help improve your efficiency.</p>

<p>On the first pass through, only do the questions you feel like you really know how to do quickly and effectively.</p>

<p>Circle any quEstion you think you could get, but it might take too much time.
Put a square around a question that looks impossible.</p>

<p>On your second pass, do the circle questions. Do not necessarily do them in sequential order, do the ones that seem easier first. If one is not working for you, put a square around it and move on.</p>

<p>If there is time for a third pass, begin attacking the squares. </p>

<p>This approach helps ensure you use your time on the math as effectively as possible and helps you avoid silly mistakes.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

5

<p>For me, math is my strong point so I can usually finish a math section in half the required time. Several things you could do after you finish early:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Check your answer. Does it make sense? Perhaps substitute it into the original problem and see if it works.</p></li>
<li><p>You could find another way to solve the problem. If you get the same answer, it’s probably right.</p></li>
<li><p>Show that the other answer choices don’t work.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>It’s a little harder to use these strategies on reading/writing, but there are similar ways of approaching the questions.</p>

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<p>@ #4 That sounds like a good idea as well. I shall try that, but how should I go about trying to determine the difficulty of the question? I guess the ones that I can get the answers to almost immediately (like less than 45 seconds?) are easy, so only work on those ones and circle the rest?</p>

<p>@ #5, finding another way to solve the problem seems beyond me and I’m already showing that other answer choices don’t work (it’s kind of automatic for me). But I’ll try to check my answer more - it’s usually the silly mistakes that I miss I think, not mistakes that are real mistakes (like ones that I actually can’t do).</p>

<p>Thanks everyone.</p>

7

<p>Below is an article I wrote called “The Correct Way to Take the SAT for an 800 in Math.” </p>

<p>In this article we will be discussing the correct way to take the SAT to get an 800 in math.</p>

<p>VERY IMPORTANT: This information is only for students that want to break a 700. If you are currently scoring less than 650 on practice tests, then this information is not for you. In fact, following this information may actually decrease your score. You should come back to this article only after you begin getting at least a 650 in math on practice SATs.</p>

<p>Now, for those of you that are getting at least a 650 on practice tests, it is very important that you follow the advice here every time you take a practice test. The system I will be giving is simple, but nonetheless you will need to apply it a few times to become comfortable with it before test day. You should take at least four practice SATs before taking your actual SAT, approximately one practice test per month.</p>

<p>Pacing: On average, you have about one minute and fifteen seconds per question. If you’ve been preparing properly, then this is more than enough time. You shouldn’t need more than 30 seconds per question on average for the easy questions, 60 seconds for the medium questions, and 75 seconds for the hard questions.</p>

<p>Let’s look at the 20 question multiple choice section in detail. In this case, roughly speaking we have that numbers 1 through 7 are easy, 8 through 14 are medium, and 15 through 20 are hard. So in this section you might need 3 and a half minutes for the easy questions, 7 minutes for the medium questions, and 7 and a half minutes for the hard questions. This will leave you about 7 minutes to check over your answers, and spend more time on that one question that’s giving you a bit of trouble.</p>

<p>Let me just mention that I’m actually being very generous here. I can finish any 20 question section in about 8 minutes WITHOUT rushing. This leaves me 17 minutes to spare to go back and catch any careless errors. There is nothing special about me that allows me to do this. When I take the test I simply apply the same strategies that I teach to every one of my students. If you know these strategies, you will find that on many of the hard questions you may actually need less time than you need on some of the easy questions. </p>

<p>Now, how should you pace yourself properly so that you don’t run out of time prematurely? Well after spending about 30 seconds on ANY question, you should decide if you understand the question enough to finish it fairly quickly. If not, then mark it off and move on. Don’t worry - it’s not forgotten - you will come back to it later.</p>

<p>The worst thing that you can do is to get hung up on one question.</p>

<p>If you have eliminated at least one answer choice, or it is a grid in question, feel free to take a guess. But you should still mark it off and come back to it later.</p>

<p>Make sure that you are using your calculator when appropriate. But be aware that your calculator can slow you down if it is overused.</p>

<p>One note about the 18 question section - this section has 8 multiple choice questions followed by 10 grid-ins. Keep in mind that numbers 7 and 8 are hard, whereas number 9 is easy. So you may want to temporarily jump from number 6 to number 9, and go back to numbers 7 and 8 a bit later.</p>

<p>Now, after going through the test once, you can then go through each of the questions you have marked off and solve as many of them as you can. You should be able to spend 5 to 7 minutes on this, and still have 7 minutes left to check your answers. If there are one or two problems that you just cannot seem to get, let them go for a while. You can come back to them intermittently as you are checking over other answers.</p>

<p>The correct way to check over your answers: So you have answered all the questions, and you have about seven minutes left. What is the best way to check your answers?</p>

<p>DO NOT simply look over your work. Start the test over and redo each question from the beginning without looking at your prior work. Ideally you should try to use a different method than you used the first time.</p>

<p>If you picked numbers the first time, then at least pick new numbers. If you can’t think of a different way to solve it, that’s okay. Just do it again. Then compare your two answers. If they are the same, move on. If not, then take a little time to catch your careless mistake.</p>

<p>Summary:</p>

<p>(1) When taking your SAT make sure you pace yourself properly.</p>

<p>(2) Be aware of when you have spent about 30 seconds on any problem.</p>

<p>(3) “Check” over your answers the right way.</p>

<p>Use this method on at least four practice tests before you take the real SAT. This way you’ll be comfortable with this method and find that the actual exam will be a breeze. Pacing yourself properly will give you plenty of time to check your work and ensure that you get a perfect 800 or near perfect score.</p>

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<p>I have to say, I am not a big fan of these multi-pass approaches. I think they give you too much to think about when all you should really be thinking about is the problem in front of you RIGHT NOW! Besides, every time you switch your attention to a new problem, you need a moment to refocus on that problem. To me, these multi-pass approaches guarantee sub-optimal efficiency.</p>

<p>It’s really simpler than you are making it: if you are finishing with so much left over time that you don’t know what to do with it…GO SLOWER! That’s what’s so critical about timed practice with real materials. You get to calibrate your approach. I’d be interested to hear what problems you typically get wrong.</p>

<p>Also, on your first (and ideally only) pass through, take a moment to ask yourself these two questions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Am I using what the problem ACTUALLY said or what I kind of assumed it meant?</p></li>
<li><p>Did I answer the question that was ACTUALLY asked, or just what I assumed it meant to ask?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I find that these are the two most common of the silly mistakes…</p>

9

<p>Pckeller,</p>

<p>Completely disagree with your assessment of the inefficiency of jumping around. Working on the section straight through is not always a more efficient approach. In fact, for many students the unwillingness to jump around costs them points because they waste too much time on earlier questions and don’t get to the end of the section. It simply depends on the student.</p>

<p>Even though the questions are theoretically placed in order of increasing difficulty, they will not seem that way for each and every student.</p>

<p>This straight through approach works for you, which is great. But I think it’s crucial that each student examine his or her approach to the math and find the strategy that works best for him or her.</p>

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<p>"But I think it’s crucial that each student examine his or her approach to the math and find the strategy that works best for him or her. "</p>

<p>I couldn’t agree more. I’m just saying that over the years I’ve seen more students get into trouble jumping around – and giving up on a problem too soon – than I have students who should be finishing the test but don’t. General rule: someone who has to rush to get to all the questions would probably score higher NOT getting to all the questions.</p>

<p>But ok to disagree – I kind of expected push-back on this one…</p>

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<p>I’ve definitely had students struggle with the multi-pass approach also. Usually they focus so hard on the strategy that they lose sight of the mission. :)</p>

<p>Totally agree on the comment you make about those who rush to get to all the questions often doing better if they do fewer questions. That’s such an important thing for many students to keep in mind. Many don’t realize that getting 70% of the points is enough to hit the 600 mark.</p>

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<p>@pckeller and learningedge. </p>

<p>I should emphasize something that is actually mentioned right in the beginning of my article. This is my suggested method for students that are going for an 800 - it is NOT what I suggest for every student. For students that are going for a score of 650 or less I generally suggest a single pass with possibly a 3 to 7 minute “check” of some of the easier answers at the end.</p>

<p>I also agree that the multi pass method could initially lead to wasting time which is why it is VERY important to use the method about 4 times on practice tests before using it on the actual SAT.</p>

<p>And although I hate to keep agreeing, I do also agree that every student is different. When I’m tutoring a specific student I would fine tune the method. For example, if I notice that a student never makes careless errors (rare, but it happens), I would eliminate the “check” at the end, etc. But when I give suggestions for a general population (in this case that population is students that are currently breaking a 650 in SAT math) I will always use my experience to make the best suggestion. This method has been tested by myself and my strongest students. In several cases, I have had students jump from the mid 700s to getting an 800 on the actual exam simply by switching to this method.</p>

<p>I have also asked many older students that scored an 800 in SAT math back in high school what they did on their test, and every single one of them described a multi pass method somewhat similar to what I have described here.</p>

<p>Again, for a lower scoring students this method doesn’t make any sense at all - they shouldn’t even be attempting all of the questions in a math section. For example, a student that is going for a 600 should only be answering a bit more than 2/3 of the questions.</p>