Fiveable SAT: Global Strategy Tool Box

The SAT is a different type of examination than most students are used to, and for that, you’ll need a different strategy to conquer the test! Here are a few tips you can keep in mind that will hopefully help you out.

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🌍 Global Strategy Toolbox

What is a Global Strategy? That phrase means that the strategy can be applied on any standardized test 👍 These global strategies can also help you get through all sections of the SAT faster, so let's take a look at some of these:

📑 Read Everything

In order for an answer choice to be correct, 100% of the answer choice must be accurate. Sometimes, even one or two words at the end of an answer choice can make it wrong, so make sure you don’t skip over words while reading! If any word or phrase is wrong in an otherwise-correct answer choice, then mark the entire answer choice as wrong! The correct answer choice will be correct from beginning to end.

📖 Refer back to the text for evidence.

For reading MCQs, the correct answer HAS to either be in the text or directly based on textual evidence. Or else, they can't test you on it! The best way to know if you're choosing the correct answer to a reading question is to check the text to see whether your answer choice is backed up by direct textual evidence. 

⌛ Practice pacing yourself.

One of the trickiest things about the SAT is pacing yourself to finish at the perfect time while making sure you aren't rushing through questions and answer choices and missing words. The best way to work on your timing is to just practice with a watch/clock. 

❌ Eliminate.

The SAT questions usually have 2 obviously wrong answer choices, 1 distractor answer choice, and 1 correct answer choice. By eliminating the obviously wrong answer choices as soon as possible, you give yourself the maximum amount of time to choose between the distractor and the correct answer choice. 

⭕ Mark It.

On the exam, you might get a question that you are simply stumped on. It happens to all of us. But the clock is still ticking. If you really just don’t know, make your best guess, circle the question so you can come back if you have time, and then move on. It’s better to miss that one hard question than to not have time for the 10 easy ones that you could get right at the end of the exam.

🛑 Letter of the Day.

If you do have to randomly guess a question on your exam, IT WILL BE OKAY!! There is 1 strategy to help your score when you do have to randomly guess, and it is to pick 1 Letter of the Day (LOTD). Pick A, B, C, or D before you start your test, and mark that one answer for ALL of the questions that you have to randomly guess on. You will increase your probability of getting each individual question correct ❗

✍️ Rephrase.

Sometimes you understand the concept, just not the question. Take the question out of fancy SAT language and convert it into phrasing you understand. Also, try to brainstorm everything that you know and write it down in concise statements next to the question. This can help you to understand what the question is asking you to do and can be very helpful for word problems!

BONUS TIP! Are you ready? ⬇️

🤔 Make sure you're actively learning from your test preparation.

For example, if you take a practice test and make a silly mistake, don't just leave it at "oh there's nothing I can do about that, I'll be more careful next time." Try making a strategy instead, and trying out your strategy next time in order to counter that silly mistake. If you skimmed over a couple words that made you choose the wrong answer choice, maybe use your pencil as a guide while you read, to make sure you read every word. Actively working on fixing your previous mistakes will help you actually improve from them. If the mistake isn't a silly mistake but rather a content gap, make sure to review that lesson properly and do practice questions. 

Hopefully some of these tips are able to help you! From here, good luck studying and you're on your way to ACE the SAT!

You got this! 😀