Seminole High School (SHS) is providing free SAT testing for all juniors and some seniors who still need their concordant scores on March 2nd. Here are some tips for the students taking it this Wednesday and in the upcoming future! SHS offers SAT testing on certain Saturdays. Visit the College Board website for more details!

Overview:

• Answer the questions you know first
• Eliminate answers that you know are wrong
• Don’t skip on answering questions, if you don’t know it guess (you are not penalized for wrong answers)
• Pace yourself when taking the test, it’s timed so you don’t want to lose track of time
• Do a quick review of formulas and grammar rules
• Make sure to have the right supplies like the right calculator and an ID
• Pay attention to the directions
• Learn the types of questions that the SAT use
• Learn strategies to solve these questions

For reading:

• Read the pre-passage descriptions
• Mark up the passage
• Know how to eliminate incorrect answers
• Read the questions first then read the passage
• Read what you need (you might run of time if you read the whole passage)
• Annotate the passage
• Don’t get lost in the answer choices
• Familiarize yourself with strategy-based section
• Pay attention to keywords

For math:

• Mark up the problems
• Understand what they are asking you 
• Memorize formulas needed for the test
• There are two sections for math: one with a calculator and one without a calculator
  •  Be sure to know how to work the calculator you bring!
• Underline key parts of the question
• Be sure to solve for the correct value
• Show your work
• Plug-in answers to solve problems
• Know how to fill in answers for grid-in questions
• The three big topics that are on the SAT are
  • Linear equations, functions and inequalities
  • Polynomial expressions and functions, quadratic equations and functions, and parabolas
  • Ratios, rates and percentages 
• For word problems ask yourself “What is this problem about?”

These are just some of the last minute tips for the SAT! Scores do not come easily! Remember that to get the score you desire you have to keep practicing. Practicing months before the exam can help you in the long run. Don’t stress too much over the test! Get a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast. You’re going to do great, just try your best!