How do you ace the SAT? The old adage, practice makes perfect, still holds true. The more you practice, the better you get at taking the test. That said, there are a few crucial steps you can take to up your SAT game considerably. First, you have to practice with intention. It's not enough to just take a practice test, correct your answers and move on to the next test. When you make a mistake, you need to STOP and THINK. Ask yourself, "What did I do wrong and how can I avoid this error the next time I take the test." Of course, the readings on the SAT are on diverse topics; however, the types of questions asked are consistent and can be learned. Take the time to analyze the manner in which the question is asked and how to find the answer, and you'll avoid making the same mistake the next time you see a particular type of question. Just recently I had a student miss a question on the writing section that asked about choosing the best transition sentence for a paragraph. In this case, the answer is always in the last sentence or two of the previous paragraph and the first sentence of the following paragraph. This is ALWAYS true and can be applied to any reading no matter what the topic. With this understanding, my student will never miss this type of question again because he now knows where to look for the answer. Do this with every question you miss and you WILL see impressive gains in your SAT score. It takes time and energy, but it's worth it. Next, you have to train yourself to CONCENTRATE. This is a tough one for kids brought up in the digital age of short, quick bits of information. In order to increase your ability to concentrate, you have to READ, and I mean seriously read. Read about history, read about science, read about the government. Read the New York Times editorial section and other reputable publications. Most importantly, FINISH what you read. If you're reading a magazine or newspaper article, read it from beginning to end without putting it down to do something else. If you're reading a novel, finish an entire chapter. You have to train yourself to focus on a sophisticated piece of writing for an extended period time. Now, I know what you're thinking, "The readings on the SAT are so boring." Maybe so, but if you have this kind of negative attitude, you're only going to hurt yourself on the test. You need to adjust your point of view and find something interesting about each reading. Keep an open mind and a positive attitude. Challenge yourself to do the best you can on every passage and you will be amazed at the results. Finally, approach your SAT practice methodically, not emotionally. If your score goes down on a practice test, don't get depressed. Remember it happens to EVERYONE. Put your emotions aside and calmly analyze your mistakes in the manner a mentioned earlier. Don't beat yourself up! There will be peaks and valleys, but remember, SAT preparation is a process that takes time and patience. Ok, now you have the tools. Go out there and prepare yourself to conquer the SAT.

#SAT #Standardizedtests