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Understanding The SAT and

Test-Taking Strategies

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The SAT Up Close

• Purpose

• Format

• Order of Difficulty

• Scoring System

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Purpose of the SAT

College Admissions– provides a “standardized” score to help admission

officers make selection decisions

Competition– students use SAT to win scholarships

– National Merit Scholarships (>$26M/year)

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SAT Format

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What is your score goal?You Don’t Need to Answer Every Question

You need to know the score you want and what it takes to achieve it.

Make sure you don’t skip too many questions.

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SAT Scoring SystemDesigned to eliminate the benefits of random guessing

+1 point for every correct answer

0 points for every question not answered

- .25 point for every multiple choice question missed

0 points for a wrong grid-in math question

Theoretically

guessing on 5 questions will result in a net score of 0

(1 - .25 -.25 -.25 -.25 = 0 )

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Order of Difficulty

•The SAT ranks questions Easy, Medium, and Hard to answer

•Questions generally start easy and then get harder. Except critical reading passage-based questions and Improving

Paragraphs writing questions

•Easy questions count as much as hard questions !!!

Understanding the order of difficulty can be a huge advantage if your goal is 600 or less in any section.

Focusing your time on the easy/medium questions gives you more time per question.

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Level of difficulty within question types go from easy to hard.

The exceptions are the passage-based critical reading and improving paragraphs writing questions where the difficulty level has no real

pattern.

Order of DifficultyApproximate distribution of questions

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General SAT General SAT Test-Taking StrategiesTest-Taking Strategies

• Set score goal and the steps to achieve it

• Know the directions

• Think with your pencil

• Realize the questions get harder (Difficulty level)

• Know your speed and control it

• Answer those questions first that are easiest for you– write answers on test next to question number– mark questions you don’t know (x or ?)

• Know when to guess

• Work the whole time and don’t panic.

Remember 1 = 10

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Individual Skill Feedback Report

Score on a real Test

Focus on weakest skills

Performance in all areas

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SENTENCE COMPLETION QUESTIONS

Student’s Usual Strategy

Plug in answer choices

until they find one they think fits

Preferred Strategy

Use clues to find

the definition within the sentence & anticipate the answer

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TYPES OF SENTENCE COMPLETION QUESTIONS

Definitional – sentence contains the definition

Contrast – subordinate clauses change the direction of the sentence

Cause and Effect – key word signal a resulting effect (because, due to, as a result of, in order to)

Synonym – continuation of a matching thought ( since, furthermore, and)

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What Is The Missing Word?

• Find the question within the question…..what is the blank referring to in the sentence?

• What part of the sentence are you being asked to clarify?

• This process is essential to finding the key word or phrase that will lead students to the answer.

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“LANDMARKS” What question is the blank asking?

• Punctuation , ;• Contrast Words

– Although, however, but

• Similar Words– Since, therefore, and

• Sentence Structure _____, _____; _____is _____and

“Landmarks” help you find the definition within the sentence.

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Fill In The Blank Strategy

1. Do NOT look at the answers until after you work the sentence.

2. Your task is to find the DEFINITION in the sentence.

3. Read the sentence looking for “landmarks”

4. Use the definition to help you to put your own word in the blank.

5. Now look at the answer choices.

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FINDING THE ANSWER

Three things can happen now…

1. The word you put in the blank is one of the answers.

2. A synonym for the word you put in the blank is there.

3. None of the answers match the word you put in the blank.

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BACKING INTO THE RIGHT ANSWER

If none of the answers match the word you put in the blank…

• Try to eliminate answers that you know don’t mean the word you put in the blank.– Use prefix and roots.– Try to eliminate three answers before guessing.

• Read the two remaining answers for “sound”.

If all else fails, skip the question!Is the question in the last 1/3 of the Sentence Completion Questions?

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SENTENCE COMPLETION

Although I appreciate his romantic dreams,

he is _______, because they are unrealistic.

Try the strategy.

(A) robust

(B) commendable

(C) practical

(D) remediable

(E) quixotic

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“TWO BLANKS” Questions

• Work on one blank at a time• Use either strategy• Check the answers for that answer position.• Two or three of the answer choices may be

eliminated.• Now switch to the 2nd blank if needed.

Make sure you line out answers you’ve eliminated

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Positive and Negative StrategyUse this if you can’t plug in a word

Use positive (+) and negative (-) connotations This strategy can be particularly useful

for questions with two blanks.

Although the British public once _______ Prince Edward VIII, the would-be king who renounced his claim to the throne in order to marry a commoner, recent revelations about the Prince’s Nazi sympathies during World War II have _____ such positive feelings.A.revered..assuaged B.ridiculed..alleviated C.dismissed..enhancedD.loved..augmented E.admired..minimized

—

+

Answer: E

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American pioneers moved west with tremendous hope, but often only ____ awaited them, given the ____ realities of the new land.

(A) excitement..bleak(B) disillusionment..harsh(C) success..strenuous(D) surprise..golden(E) failure..abundant

Try The Strategies

Answer: B

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Critical Reading Passages

• What are the two words students always use to describe reading passages?

• Students need a strategy to stay focused.

• Students must recognize the types of questions being asked.

Remember

The only reason you’re reading the passage

is to answer the questions

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Types of Reading Passages

• Single Long passages• Paired Long Passages

• Single Short Passages• Paired Short Passages

Passages range in length from about 100 words (short passages) to about 850 passages (long passages).

Passages typically come from social studies, natural sciences, humanities, and literary fiction.

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TYPES OF QUESTIONS

Quick answers• Specific Detail• Vocabulary• Main Idea• Tone

More thoughtful answers• Inference• Attitude

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HOW QUESTIONS ARE WORDED

Specific Detail

• Primarily in order to

• Functions to

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HOW QUESTIONS ARE WORDED

Vocabulary in context questions

Treat like a sentence Completion problem

On line 36 the word “ameliorate” most nearly means

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HOW QUESTIONS ARE WORDED

Main Idea

• The primary purpose of the passage…

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HOW QUESTIONS ARE WORDED

Inference Questions

• Suggests • Inferred• Implied• Feels• Seems

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HOW QUESTIONS ARE WORDED

Tone and Attitude

These questions typically just have the words in the question.

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For some very small animals, survival means existing in a state that conventional biology defines as death.

Which of the following is the primary concern of the author?

(A) redefining the significance of death(B) giving specific examples of animals that do not die(C) calling into question traditional definitions of death(D) announcing the discovery of a new species of animal (E) attacking biology texts as erroneous and inadequate

Just The Facts

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3 Strategies for Reading Long Passages

1. Read the passage then answer the questions

2. Read the passage paragraph by paragraph (Chunking)• Answer the questions associated with the paragraph (line refs)

3. Read each question (not the answers) and annotate the part of the passage associated with that question

• Use line number references. • Continue through the passage • Read the passage, focusing on annotated areas

These are 3 different approaches to attacking the Critical Reading passages.

Students can try each one and see which one works best

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Annotate The Passage

Use the line cues to show you where to focusUse the line cues to show you where to focusRead the question – NOT the answersRead the question – NOT the answers

• Circle or underline vocabulary words• Bracket lines & include “notes” to remind you of

what to focus on.• Mark the line cue of the last question – there

may be no need to read beyond that line!This Should Take About 3-4 Minutes

Now Read the Passage and Answer the Questions

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Divide And Conquer Paired Passages

• Most students will try to read both passages and then answer the questions– The second passage is what’s in short-term memory– The initial questions relate to the first passage

• Divide And Conquer1. Read Passage one, answer questions pertaining to

the passage – use line number cues2. Read Passage two, answer questions pertaining to

the passage 3. Answer the compare and contrast type questions

When reading the Passages

use one of the three long passage reading strategies

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Short Reading Passages

• Single Passages– Read the passage, then answer the questions

• Paired Passages– Use the divide and conquer strategy if possible– Many of these questions are like analogies

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SAT Math

It’s Not Just About Numbers!

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Use Logic to Answer Math Questions

All problems are designed to be answered without a calculator. This is a level 5 (hard) that can be answered with no calculations

A sock drawer contains 15 pairs of colored socks. There are 5 blue, 5 white, and 5 red pairs of socks. Without looking, what is the fewest number of pairs that can be taken from the drawer to ensure that there are at least 4 pairs are of the same color taken?

A. 3B. 5C. 6D. 9E. 10

Answer: E

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There’s Only One Right AnswerLearn to Eliminate the Wrong Ones

Using Basic Math Facts

If abc < 0, which of the following could be values for a, b and c, respectively?

A. 0, 3, 5

B. 1, 2, 3

C. 5, -3, -7

D. -2, 5, -6

E. -2, -3, -4

Answer: E

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Words Matter on the SAT

If (2-x)(y-2) = 0, Which of the following can be true?

I. x = 2II. y = 2III. x = y

(A) None(B) I only(C) II only(D) I and II only(E) I, II, and III

Answer: E

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Words Matter on the SAT

I. x = 2II. y = 2III. x = y

(A) None(B) I only(C) II only(D) I and II only(E) I, II, and III

If (2-x)(y-2) = 0, Which of the following must be true?

Answer: A

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The Answer is There Use The Backsolving Strategy To Find It

The sum of 3 consecutive even integers is 120.

What is the largest integer?

A.36

B.38

C.40

D.42

E.44

Answer: D

Strategy

Use the answer choices to solve the problem or set up the problem

•Always start with (C)

•If (C) isn’t the right answer

• Determine if (C) was too large or too small

• If too small – Eliminate (A), (B) and (C) and then try (D). If (D) isn’t the answer, (E) is

•If too large - Eliminate (C), (D) and (E) and then try (B). If (B) isn’t the answer, (A) is

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Try Plugging In Numbers

x27

Answer: D

Strategy:

1. Pick a number that can easily “plug in”.

•Be aware of constraints (x>0)

•For percentage problems start with 100

2. Plug in the number(s) you chose into the problem and solve the problem

3. Plug in the number(s) to each answer choice

If only one answer choice matches the problem-that’s the answer

If more than one (or no) answer choice matches the problem – plug in another number

equals? then ,0 and 6

3 If gx

g

xx

(A) 3

(B) 6

(C) 12

(D) 18

(E) 24

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GeometryWhat is the area of the square ABCD?

Answer: B

Figure not drawn to scale

(A) 6

(B) 12

(C) 18

(D) 24

(E) 36

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Special FunctionsAKA Math Problems Kids Have Never Seen!

Answer: D

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Educated Guessing

Answer: D

If 3a = -27 and ac = 3, what is the value of c?

(A) 3

(B) 2/3

(C) 1/3

(D) -1/3

(E) -3

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SAT

Writing Section

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Key Points to the Essay Rubric

1. Have a point of view– Don’t be “wishy-washy”

2. Support your point of view– Use appropriate examples

• Personal experience or observations (Personal Essay)• Literature or classroom studies (Academic Essay)

– Have a conclusion

3. Be organized -Stay on topic4. Vocabulary - Use apt vocabulary, not “50¢” words5. Sentence Structure – Use varied sentence structure

– Most students write in short, declarative sentences

6. Grammar – Essay doesn’t have to be error free but serious errors, such as

punctuation, verb tense and subject/verb agreement, will be penalized

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How To Approach The Essay

The Essay consists of two components

1. The prompt– A boxed excerpt or quote– Designed to stimulate thoughts on the subject

• Problem: it can confuse you or slant you to write about the prompt• Solution: skip the prompt if at all possible

2. The assignment– This is the “money” component– It asks the student a question

• underline the question

– This is the question you must answer in your essay

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Two Minutes, Two Decisions25 minutes is not very long to write an essay so

time management is critical.

• Decision One – Agree or Disagree?– Decide your point of view on the subject– If you have a strong opinion – GREAT– No point of view – get one and stick to it– There is no right or wrong point of view

• Decision Two – Academic or Personal Essay?– What example will support the point of view– Students know themselves – shoot for the personal essay first

• School, home, sports, boyfriend/girlfriend, volunteer work

– Academic essays can be history, literature, or current events– Only one example is needed

• One is hard enough – multiple examples make for difficult transitions

– Jot down thoughts in the test booklet to make a rough outline

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Tips On Writing a High-Scoring Essay

• Start with a quote– It gets you writing– Can grab the reader’s attention

“Well, what do you want to do now?” Joey demanded.

• Use one, well supported example– Easier to fully develop a single example

• Use internal questions– Helps to show insight– “Should I stay or run?” I asked myself. I vacillated

because if I stayed I’d get in trouble but if I ran everybody would call me a coward.

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Tips On Writing a High-Scoring Essay

• Vary Sentence Structure– Use parallel structure followed by a short, punchy sentence– Even though I knew I’d get caught, even though I knew I’d get

suspended, my friend needed my help. So I stayed.

• Always have a conclusion to reinforce your point of view and show insight.– “In conclusion …” NO!!– What did you learn? This shows insight.– “This shows that it is…, I learned that…”– “We did get caught and I was suspended for a week. However,

Joey was safely at his mother’s. This taught me that sometimes you do need to sacrifice your own goals for the benefit of others.”

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Multiple-Choice Writing Questions

3 types of questions• Identifying Sentence Errors• Improving Sentences• Improving Paragraphs

• Unfortunately, there is no “magic trick”

Students need to be familiar with the rules of Students need to be familiar with the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics. grammar, usage, and mechanics.

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Typical Identifying Sentence Errors/Improving Sentences

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Rules

Subject-verb agreementPronoun usageComma splices Incomplete (faulty) comparisonsFragmentsDangling participles IdiomsPassive voiceParallelismAwkward constructions

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Identifying Sentence Errors

1. Shopping malls were designed to attract people which do not like

walking from store to store during inclement weather. No error. D E

CBA

Directions: If the sentence contains an error, select the underlined part that is incorrect. If there is no error, select choice E.

The correct answer is (C).

Explanation: Use the pronouns who or whom when referring to people.

Note: For Identifying Sentence Errors, answer (E) is always the “no error” answer

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Improving Sentences

High school students often study Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Virginia Convention for his adept use of persuasive appeals and he mastered rhetorical devices as he urged his fellow colonists to stand up to Great Britain.

A. appeals and he mastered rhetorical devicesB. appeals, and he mastered rhetorical devicesC. appeals because as only he could he mastered rhetorical devicesD. appeals while he mastered rhetorical devicesE. appeals and his mastery of rhetorical devices

Answer: The correct answer is (E).

Explanation: The underlined and is preceded by “his adept use of persuasive appeals” (a noun clause) and it must be followed by the same grammatical construction, his mastery of rhetorical devices.

Note: For Improving Sentences, answer (A) is always the “no change” answer

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Improving Paragraphs

These are typically the most difficult type

of questions for students

Questions test your ability to:• Edit, combine and revise sentences within a paragraph• Improve the organization (flow) of a paragraph• Identify literary devices used by the author• Improve sentences or paragraphs using standard conventions

of English– Eliminating passive voice– Clarity and precision of language