The SAT measures more than your academic know-how; it also tests your ability to manage time effectively under pressure. Each section is timed, and without proper strategies, it’s easy to find yourself running out of time before completing all the questions. So, you can significantly improve your performance and score by improving your time-handling capacity. If you are studying for the SAT, an SAT prep tutor is an excellent means of building time management skills. Most students feel that the best SAT prep tutors are efficient in making the student more proficient in finishing timed tests, such as the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, or ACT.
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Understand the SAT Structure
Understanding the structure of the SAT is the secret to effective time management. The test has two main sections:
- Reading and Writing: 64 minutes for 54 questions.
- Mathematics: 70 minutes for 44 questions.
Knowing the many questions on each section and the time allocated to each section allows you to time your test well.
General Time Management Strategies
1. Practice with Timed Tests
Timed practice is important for getting you comfortable with pressure and for getting better at your timing. Test on a realistic basis by creating a timer per section and staying true to it. With such practice, you will determine the amount of time you can comfortably spend per question.
2. Use a Silent Wristwatch
Although the testing center does have a clock, carrying a quiet wristwatch enables you to keep an eye on your time more closely without depending on outside circumstances. Make sure it is quiet to prevent disturbing anyone and is allowed by the testing rules.
3. Read the Instructions
Being familiar with the test directions in advance can save precious time during the test. Practice sample questions and directions while preparing so you don’t spend time reading them on test day.
Section-Specific Strategies
1. Reading and Writing Section
This section can be particularly slow due to the passage length.
- Skim the Passage First: A quick skim of the passage before challenging questions will provide you with a sense of overall content and structure. It will help you locate specific information later on.
- Answer Questions Strategically: Answer questions that refer to specific lines or details first, as they require less inference and can be answered more easily.
- Don’t Get Stuck on Hard Questions: If a question is not responding, guess and leave it. You can return to it if you have time.
2. Mathematics Section
The Math section is difficult, especially with time constraints.
- Two-Pass Approach: In your first pass, complete all of those questions to which you’re certain. On your second pass, tackle the difficult questions. In this manner, you reap all the marks of familiar questions.
- Don’t Guess Twice: Once you have made a selection of an answer, do not change it unless you are positively certain that there has been an error.
- Leaving Time to Check: Try to complete a few minutes in advance in order to check through your answers, particularly on the more challenging questions.
Further Advice
1. Shorten Unfamiliar Terms
In technical word sentences, especially in the Reading and Writing portion, abbreviating long or unfamiliar names is a time-saving strategy that is less confusing. For instance, if you are reading on the “International Association of Environmental Scientists,” you can refer to it as “IAES” in your notes.
2. Work Backwards on Difficult Questions
For especially challenging questions, particularly in the Math section, try plugging in the answer choices to determine which one works. This reverse engineering method may be faster than working the problem in the usual way.
Make Use of All Available Time
If you complete a section before the time is up, take the extra minutes to check your answers. Review calculations, verify that you have filled in the correct bubbles, and go back over questions that you were unsure about.
4. Mark and Move On
When you get a hard question, mark it and continue. It is not a good idea to spend too much time on one question and miss easier questions that come later. Return to marked questions towards the end to effectively deal with your time.
5. Increase Reading Speed
One of the best ways of saving time during the Reading part is to put effort into enhancing your reading pace without losing sense. Read dense texts regularly and practice summarizing key points for better retention.
The Role of Professional Guidance
Though self-study is essential, taking guidance from an SAT prep tutor can bring customized strategies according to your weaknesses and strengths. Interacting with the best SAT prep tutors can bring techniques and ideas that may be difficult to formulate by yourself. Furthermore, joining a thorough SAT course can bring organized learning and sufficient practice time.
Why Choose Jamboree for SAT Preparation?
The Jamboree offers unmatched resources as well as support for students who want to be successful on the SAT. Jamboree already has over 30 years of extensive experience and has supported more than 140,000 students preparing for assessments such as the SAT. Jamboree’s SAT preparation is offered in an online class that simulates the testing environment, practice tests, and guidebooks. Customized study plans, sophisticated tracking of your progress, and topic-specific sessions to cover educational issues will round out the fully supportive environment Jamboree provides students in the overall preparation process. Regular high test scores and acceptance into competitive colleges demonstrate the dedication Jamboree provides to each student’s achievement, which underscores the seriousness of Jamboree’s support.
Let’s Sum Up
The right management of your time will be an essential part of your success on the SAT. As you get accustomed to testing seemingly everything in your study plan, you can efficiently and accurately work through the test questions. Just remember, while you need to know the content, the ability to work nonetheless delay the completion of the test will significantly impact your score. Consider working with a SAT prep tutor or enrolling in an SAT course to develop strategies fully as well as gain confidence to achieve your potential on your test day.
