Where to start with your study journey so you can guarantee you’ll do great!
This post is all about how to SAT prep.
If you want to get into your dream college and the SAT is important for your application, then making your dreams come true really starts with knowing how to SAT prep effectively.
And what better way to learn than hearing from the people who have done it?
I spent some time gathering the best advice from study experts and college students who have gone through the SAT and college application process. That way, you can take the advice that makes the most sense to you and pretty much guarantee it’ll work!
Here are the best ways to prep for the SAT.
This post is all about how to SAT prep.
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HOW TO SAT PREP:
1. Take an SAT Prep Course
There are tons of SAT prep courses out there that have helped students immensely with their SAT prep online!
While most SAT prep courses do cost some money, it is super worth it if you really want to make sure you’re prepared to do well on the test.
Prep Expert is one example of a company that offers a variety of online SAT courses to help you study, make you more confident when you’re taking the test, and most importantly, improve your SAT score!
I just spent some time reading about the founder of Prep Expert and a bunch of shining reviews on people whose scores have improved by hundreds of points because of the helpful material and their SAT prep tutor! Tons of students and parents alike recommend Prep Expert because they’ve seen real results, so that’s a great place for where to start on your SAT prep if you need a little assistance.
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2. Use official College Board practice tests
I’ve heard that it’s important to use the official College Board practice tests rather than practice tests from third-party sources because they’re more accurate to the type of SAT test you’ll actually get.
Obviously, practice tests are a great way to prepare for the SAT because that will give you some great preparation for what to actually expect and what you need to work on ahead of time.
3. Prepare well in advance
When it comes to studying for the SAT (or any test for that matter), do NOT start studying at the last minute!
That might work for tests in high school here and there, but the SAT is too important to just wing it…. Especially if it’s an important component of your college application.
You’ll want to make sure you’re really prepared and to do that, you’ll have to start preparing way ahead of time… Not the day before!
I mean seriously, some online SAT prep courses are 6-8 weeks… so that just shows you how far in advance you should be starting!
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4. Take a diagnostic test
A great way to use your time wisely is to take a practice test and see what areas you struggle with most.
For example, you might do a diagnostic test and realize you need to focus more on SAT prep math questions. By knowing exactly what you struggle with ahead of time, this gives you the opportunity to focus on those areas of weakness and improve your scores!
5. Focus on your weaknesses
Totally goes with the last tip. In order to know your weaknesses, you may have to take a couple practice tests to see what you struggle with the most.
Once you know exactly what you need the most help with, you can focus on those sections which will really help you improve your score in the long run!
RELATED – How to Stay Focused on Homework Even When You Hate It
6. Study with a partner or group
If this sounds distracting to you, then do the opposite and study alone.
But the truth is, if you have other friends preparing to take the SAT, studying together might be exactly the kind of motivation and support you need to make it through!
7. Understand the test structure
Being prepared for any test means that you understand exactly what’s coming your way; not only in terms of the content, but also the test structure!
Taking practice SAT prep questions and practice tests are probably one of the best ways to be prepared for this because you’ll get real examples of how questions are structured and the test overall.
8. Pack your bag the night before
Knowing when to start SAT prep is one thing, but knowing when to actually get physically ready for the test is important too!
If you pack your bag the night before the test, then you’ll be able to go to sleep with no stress because you won’t have to worry about forgetting anything the next morning. Instead, you can just wake up and mentally prepare yourself with the assurance that you’ve already got everything you need!
Make sure you know exactly what to pack for the SAT the night before!
9. Have a healthy morning-of routine
Your routine on the morning of the SAT doesn’t have to be elaborate, but you should at least have a routine in place to get yourself mentally prepared to take the test and ensure you’re feeling your best.
Here are some ideas of what you can incorporate into your morning routine the day of the test:
- Exercise to wake up your body and get your blood flowing (even a quick walk or stretch will do!)
- Protein-filled healthy breakfast
- Coffee or tea
- Some review time (even 10-30 minutes will really help get you mentally prepared!)
10. Remember that other parts of your application matter, too
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself!
It can be easy to make yourself think that your chances of getting into your dream college rest entirely on how well you do on the SAT. And while it is important to adequately prepare for the SAT, there are still so many other aspects of your college application that are considered!
Your transcript, essays, and recommendations are all examples of other aspects of your college applications that matter. So, take a deep breath – you’re going to do great!
Which of these SAT prep tips will you be implementing?
This post was all about how to SAT prep.
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