SAT Summer Study Tips
SAT Summer Study Tips
Your summer break is a great time to get prepared for Fall SAT test dates. Without your demanding school schedule, you can keep up on SAT test prep and still balance a fun vacation. The key to a successful summer of studying is organization, accountability, and targeted focus on where you need the most help.
Here are the top 7 study tips from Score Smart for acing your SATs:
1) Sign Up for the Test!
There’s no point in studying for the SAT if you can’t take the test. Make sure you have your spot reserved now. There are fewer International test dates than U.S. dates, with just one in October and one in December, plus two in the Spring. SAT test centers can fill quickly in Middle Eastern cities like like Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City and Riyadh. Plus, signing up now gives you a solid date to work towards in your studying.
2) Take Advantage of Your Down Time & Summer Break
Use your summer vacation to its fullest. It’ll quickly be Fall and you’ll be back in school and busy with your academic and extracurricular schedule. Spend time studying over the summer when you have fewer responsibilities and stressors. Don’t forget to use your down time when doing things like traveling in the car, at the beach, or waiting somewhere. These are great time to squeeze in a little studying! Always have your study books or study apps available to you to grab when you have a few extra moments. Of course, you’ll want to set aside dedicated blocks of SAT study time as well, but those little pieces of studying can add up!
3) Make a Schedule - And Stick to It
It’s easy to let time slip away over the summer as you’re enjoying a break from school and time with friends and family. But the test date will be here before you know it. Schedule specific times each day or week over the whole summer to study and to work with your online tutor. Be honest with yourself and think about when you learn and concentrate best. Is it first thing in the morning so you can get it done and enjoy the rest of your day? In the evening when you can wind down or connect with someone who can help you? An accountability partner, such as a friend, parent, sibling or tutor, can help keep you on track and on schedule.
4) Identify Your Weak Points and Focus On Those
After you’ve established your stronger and weaker knowledge areas, target the ones where you need extra help. Don’t waste time on what you already know. When studying, take time to review your answers and look for patterns in the questions you are missing. Do you struggle with solving systems of equations in math? Or how to answer evidence-based questions in reading? An individual tutor can help tremendously with this process.
“[Melissa] tailors a study plan focusing on the student’s weaknesses and enhances his/her confidence to achieve the goal,” said former Score Smart student Azam Azzmy of Doha, Qatar. “She is very specific and well organized.” Not only will a tutor help you figure out where you need help, she’ll direct you to specific study methods you can use to improve in those areas. She’ll help track your progress in those weak areas and keep your study schedule moving in the right direction.
5) Take Practice Tests
Setting aside dedicated time for practice tests helps you prepare on multiple levels. It helps you familiarize yourself with the directions for each section so you don’t waste time on test day trying to understand those. It also helps you prepare to sit and concentrate intensely for multiple hours. Take at least two full tests where you simulate the actual testing environment, including the paper test. Look at your results and evaluate the sections where you are most challenged. Retake portions of practice tests where you have been weaker, such as Reading, Writing and Language, Math without Calculator or Math with Calculator. How many practice tests you complete as you get ready to take the SAT really depends on how much you need to or want to improve your score.
6) Read, read, read!
Reading informational articles or books on a regular basis will help raise your verbal score. Choose non-fiction books, Classics, or selections from publications such as National Geographic, Scientific America, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, or The Economist. This helps keep your studying varied while maintaining focus on important skills.
6) Use a tutor or sign up for a prep course
A one-one-one tutor will take the planning and stress out of your SAT preparation. Working with someone who is dedicated to your specific needs can be the key to maximizing your score. An experienced SAT tutor will know the best tips and tricks for targeted studying and improvement, will keep you accountable, and will make your study time efficient and effective.