<p>I took the SAT today and I overheard a kid talking about how he looks at which answer is nothing like the others and crosses it out, and one kid who has a "Formula" for the essay. What's the point of a standardized test meant to predict college success, when people are using these strategies that don't reflect their knowledge, just someone else's tricks? If someone who would normally get a 1400 gets a 1550 because of some of these strategies that don't have anything to do with actually knowing the material, then isn't he possibly going to a college that is actually too hard for him if he wouldn't have gotten in with his regular score? I'm not talking about things like timing tips, or guess if you can eliminate 2 type tips, but those which are based off of the format of the test being the same. I'm also not bashing the people who use strategies now, because they've become almost an expectation, and college scores reflect that. I feel like these "strategies" are why the SAT/ACT don't matter that much to college. If there was a standardized test which switched up the format of its answers, but tested the exact same knowledge, wouldn't that better test what someone actually knows. Feel free to point out why I'm wrong, because I'd really like to hear what other people think</p>
<p>I think that if you’re smart and driven enough to practice and execute these strategies that successfully, then you’re smart and driven enough to attend most top colleges.</p>
<p>Besides, it’s not as if test scores are the sole deciding factor in college admissions.</p>
<p>In addition, the SAT is a test that punishes ( they say guessing) but also trying to choose the best answer in the face of trickery! Why not try to outsmart this outrageously iniquitous exam! An antiquated exam at that !</p>
<p>I know they’re not a deciding factor, but for some people it can put them out of the running. I think that people that do these strategies and such are more likely to be the ones that try WAY to hard and burn out because they never take a break.</p>
<p>I dunno. Looking for test taking strategies seems like a much more laidback approach to the SAT than studying and taking practice tests incessantly. >.></p>
<p>They haven’t burned out for 17 years of their life…only a few of these driven people would burn out now. Also people taking the break would be lazier than those not taking it. Lastly most hardworkers do take breaks. They’re not superhumans just good at managing their time.</p>
<p>The only prep I really had was the vocabulary lists my English teachers have been giving me for years. I looked at the practice test online once to see the structure but other than that, the closest I got to prep was taking the PSAT (in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade, 161 then 193, then 199). If I were to try to study, I’d get to the test and panic just like I did on my 11th grade PSAT. I panicked. I didn’t do as well in math as I should have.</p>
<p>My technique for taking the SAT was that my first SAT was going to be focused on math. Math is my subject. It makes me happy. And I got a 730. Because I prepared myself to do the math and not really care about reading or writing. If you can afford to take the test multiple times, I’d say to take either your worse and take one test to focus on that. Then take your favorite and focus on that for another test. I know it could be not the best idea but for me, it was what I needed to do. I took my first SAT as a walk in. I had no clue what to expect because my friends said it’s really different from the PSAT. But, as I learned today, it’s just like it. One test is easy, the next hard. Or one section is easy and another hard. Just depends on the day.</p>
<p>I’m against standardized testing altogether though. Fact regurgitation does nothing for a person who isn’t going to become a) a professional test-taker or b) a test-writer. I prefer comprehensive exams like my teachers give. They’re much better at evaluating a person’s grasp of knowledge.</p>
<p>I feel like the SAT pretty much just shows who has the most time to go over stupid little strategies, or who has the most money to buy prep stuff, or who took it the most times, not who actually knows the most, or even who tests well. I’m just glad colleges look at rigor, GPA, and other stuff more (not that I’m worried about my score) because a lot of people have chances at schools that, if they were more focused on SAT, they might have not gotten into otherwise. It’s why Harvard turns away people 2400’s, but takes people with 2100-2200 but great rigor, EC’s, etc.</p>
<p>I disagree completely. Using those strategies probably won’t get you more than 50 points in my opinion, because those tricks won’t help much on the harder questions at the end of each section. And if for some reason those tricks helped you significantly, then good for you. The SAT is a reasoning and logic test as much as it is aptitude-no matter what they claim.</p>