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- Answer easy questions first. The easier
questions are usually at the start of the section, and
the harder ones are at the end. The exception is in the
critical reading section, where questions are ordered
according to the logic and organization of each passage.
- Make educated guesses. If you can rule
out one or more answer choices for multiple-choice questions,
you have a better chance of guessing the right answer.
- Skip questions that you really can't answer. No
points are deducted if an answer is left blank.
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- Limit your time on any one question. All questions
are worth the same number of points. If you need a lot of time
to answer a question, go on to the next one. Later, you may have
time to return to the question you skipped.
- Keep track of time. Don't spend too much time
on any group of questions within a section.
- Use your test booklet as scratch paper.
- Mark the questions in your booklet that you skipped and
want to return to.
- Check your answer sheet to make sure you are
answering the right question.
- Make sure you use a No. 2 pencil. It is very
important that you fill in the entire circle on the answer sheet
darkly and completely. If you change your response, erase it as
completely as possible.
The Day Before
- Gather up everything you're going to need
for the next morning. You don't want to be stuck frantically searching for your admission
ticket just before you rush out the door. You'll need the following
items:
- Acceptable Photo ID
- Your SAT Admission Ticket
- Two sharpened No. 2 pencils
- A calculator with fresh batteries
- Write down the directions to the test center. Make sure you
know how to get to your test center and how long it'll take you
to get there.
- Check to see if your test center is open. Especially
if there is bad weather in your area, tune into your local media
(like you do for school closing announcements) or visit www.collegeboard.com
on the Friday before the test to make sure your test center is
open.
- Be well-rested and ready to go. Get a good night's sleep the
night before the test.
- Set two alarms—one in your room and one in someone else's
room, in case you hit the snooze button one time too many.
The Morning of the Test
- Eat breakfast. You'll be at the test center for four hours and
you're likely going to get hungry.
- Bring snacks. During one of the breaks, you can eat or drink
any snacks you have brought with you. A healthy snack will go
a long way toward keeping you alert during the entire test.
- Have your SAT Admission Ticket and acceptable Photo
ID ready. You will need your admission ticket and photo
ID for admission to the test center.
Bring two No. 2 pencils and a soft eraser — a pencil is
required for the multiple choice questions and the essay. Mechanical
pencils are not allowed. Pens are not allowed.
- Arrive at your test center no later than
7:45 a.m. Don't risk
getting locked out because you're 30 seconds late. Give yourself
plenty of time to get to get there. Consider traffic, weather
conditions, flat tires, and anything else that could slow you
down.
During the Test
- Use breaks to eat or drink any snacks you have brought
with you. You will have several breaks during the test.
Use them to relax and eat a snack so you can stay focused.
- Work only on the section you are supposed
to be working on. You're not allowed to go back to a section once that section has
ended. You also can't start the next section if you finish a section
early.
- Do easier questions first. You earn just as many points for
easy questions as you do for hard ones.
- Make sure you use a No. 2 pencil on the
answer sheet. It is
very important that you fill in the entire circle darkly and completely.
If you change your response, erase it as completely as possible.
It is very important that you follow these instructions when filling
out your answer sheet.
- Use all of your time. Students around you may close up their
test books and rest their heads on their desks, but you know better.
Go back to review problems you weren't quite sure about the first
time. Or, if you skipped any hard problems use the time to try
to work them out.
- Stay positive and focused. Keep your mind on your work, not
your score.
- Try not to worry about whether you "nailed it" or "blew
it." It'll be a long couple of weeks if you do. Know you
did your best—and celebrate. You deserve it.
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