The SAT

Off the Record
From 1550+ Scorers

Joanna W. | Quinn O. | Agatha S. | Felicia M.

A Difficult Discussion
As relatively affluent students of Asian descent from the San Francisco
Bay Area, we can’t offer advice on how to succeed academically without
first addressing the ramifications of our cultural bubble.

Despite how much we object to it, we reflect the social niche that
typically has leaping advantages that let us perform better, especially
for the SAT. Many of us can afford expensive preparation classes and
have access to a better education than millions of other students. Even
writing this guide wouldn’t be possible without such things.

However, our benefits are one end of a double-edged sword. Many of us

face heavy pressure for perfect academics and deal with the model
minority stereotype. Our academic environment can be of extreme
competition and toxicity. These show in our online and social presence.

Although we try to combat these issues and avoid their effects, much of
our advice may be less relevant/useful for students outside our bubble.
The unhealthily competitive and stressful culture of our region has
influenced how we wrote this guide. Some of what we or others say may
even sound privileged or condescending. There’s no excuse for this.

As you immerse yourself into the world of the SAT and beyond, we hope
you learn to maintain a better standard of integrity and mental health
than many of us. By publishing this guide, we hope to make academic
achievement easier and less stressful than what some others make it
seem to be. We all can achieve many things, but they doesn’t justify the
issues we create which may hurt you. Learn from our problems.
- Quinn, on behalf of the authors
Return to ToC 2
Table of Contents
A Difficult Discussion

Part 1: The Authors

● Why Did We Write This Guide?
● Author Biographies

Part 1I: Test Overview

● What Was/Is the SAT?
● Should I Take the SAT?
● SAT Scoring and “Curves”

Part 11I: How to Study

● Which Resources?
● Resource Testimonials
● Studying Smart vs. Hard
● Studying Testimonials

Part 1V: Test-taking Tips, etc.

● Reading Section
● Writing and Language Section
● Math Sections
● Essay Section

Part V: FAQs, etc.

● FAQs
● Closing Statement
Cover Background Photographer: Lee Campbell
Faces Artist: Felicia M.
Pub. 2/7/2021
Last Rev. 2/7/2021

3
Part I: The Authors
Why Did We Write This Guide?
From Joanna
While I was writing a supplemental essay for a college application, I
randomly started thinking about toxic competitive student culture from
the SAT. I then randomly called Quinn and Agatha, talking at 200 miles
per hour, and then messaged Felicia, so here we are now.

From All The Authors

To the high school students and their parents out there concerned about
the SAT, we feel you! Despite all the information out there about the test,
knowing where and how to start can be difficult. That’s why we made
this comprehensive guide from our and other people’s experiences.

This is not a normal prep book for you to use as a primary studying
source. We don’t have practice problems or super detailed how-to’s;
instead we have comprehensive information on studying and testing
methods. Everything here is basically what we wished we knew when we
first started the testing process. Now we pass them on to you!

As we’ll say repeatedly: find what works for you. Some of our advice
may not work well for you. Adapt to your strengths. Especially in the
student testimonials, there may be some contradictory advice.

Technical Notes
Personal comments appear in colored boxes usually next to our faces.
Hyperlinks lead to different pages in the book or external websites; they
should work on most platforms, even when you download the guide.
Any updates we’ll (probably not) make will only appear through the
original Dropbox link. You may need to zoom out for better readability.
Return to ToC 5
 Author Biographies

Author: Joanna W.
● Spent zero $$ on studying for SAT
● Took it twice - August 2019 and
December 2019
● SAT superscore: 1550
○ Math: 780
○ Reading: 770
○ Essay: 17 - do not worry I didn’t
write the essay section :)
● Fun Fact: Throughout high school, I
probably changed my future major
plans more than ten times.

I completely self-studied my SAT! I had actually meant to go to a

certain expensive summer class, but I missed registration and just
decided to do it myself. After getting a 1340 on my first practice test, I
made a strict practice plan for two hours a day with lots of questions,
but it kind of seemed...stupid after a while (like one week). I ended up
just taking a weekly, relaxed practice test and didn’t stress myself out
too much. My philosophy for the SAT is 100% study smart not hard;
don’t study hard for a one time test that you don’t need to build on in
the future. Time is important, and it’s wasted on the SAT.

Recommended resource: Khan Academy practice tests

Return to ToC 6
 Author Biographies

Author: Quinn O.
● (Forcibly) went to Elite 1500+,
self-studied heavily in August
● Took it once (I’m lucky): August 2018
● SAT Score: 1560
○ Reading: 760
○ Math: 800
○ Essay: 18
● Fun Fact: I write music, do math, and
cook. Yeah, it’s a weird combo...
I’m probably the odd one out of the bunch. Personally, the SAT is an
inevitable part of high school where once you finish, you (deservingly)
get to forget about it. But in the meantime, it can easily feel like your
life’s motto for months if you treat it as such. Hence, try not to.

My initial bulk studying was at Elite Prep, an expensive but somewhat

helpful resource. Teachers know their stuff but everything you get out
depends on your commitment. I only remember about 5% of their
vocabulary and I never surpassed my diagnostic score until after I took
the August SAT. Arguably, everything I did there I probably could have
done by myself with some help. When the bootcamp paused in August, I
spent three weeks with a friend to study and improved the most then.

Be flexible in your studies, both in how you work and what you’re aiming
for. It’s an important test but there’s overworking yourself tends to be
counterproductive; achieve while keeping your livelihood in check. The
internet is your gold mine of resources, communities, and information if
you know where to look. Partner up and make the best of a difficult ride!

My old Reddit post, still largely relevant

Return to ToC 7
 Author Biographies

Author: Agatha S.
● Spent and suffered through a whole
summer prepping for the SAT
● Took it twice: August and December
2019
● SAT Score: 1550
○ Math: 800
○ Reading: 750
○ Essay: 21
● Fun Fact: Out of my own volition, I
chose to play the double bass which
is a 6 feet tall instrument that
weighs about 30 pounds.

While I did attend a SAT summer prep class at a tutoring center, I

personally did not think that it was of much help. I didn’t even attend
the few classes in the beginning that actually did review concepts and
honestly the rest of the classes were just practice tests that I could have
done myself. Other resources, such as Khan Academy and the Official
SAT Practice Tests, honestly helped me more.

So what I’m overall trying to say is that, though everyone may be

spending an intense summer and an insane amount for SAT classes, it is
not the only option. Self-studying the SAT is completely doable! You
only need some tip and tricks, and of course, practice. Good Luck!

Return to ToC 8
 Author Biographies

Author: Felicia M.
● Went to Excel; studied over the
summer and Thanksgiving break
● Took it twice: August and December
2019
● SAT Score: 1590
○ Reading and Writing: 790
○ Math: 800
○ Essay: 23
● Fun Fact: I run online writing contests
in my free time and plan on using it
for my senior project.
I went to Excel Test Prep with my friend Agatha over the summer of
2019. Only the first few classes are useful; the rest are a complete waste
of time. The program that really helped me boost my score was Excel’s
Exam Club and this is true for not just Excel students. Even my Elite
friends paid the $200 just to attend Excel’s Exam Club because the
amount of practice tests they provide is guaranteed to last you the
entire summer break. If you’re looking into Excel, make sure you check if
they still offer Exam Club since everything is online. Otherwise, it’s a
rip-off of your money because last year, Exam Club was included for
free if you took Excel’s summer intensive program. If not, then consider
self-studying; there’s really only a few tips and tricks out there to tackle
mainly the Reading, Grammar, and Essay sections (math is completely
just grind question sets).

How many SAT question sets did I do? At least three per week over the
summer.

Most recommended prep book (outside of official SAT guide): Princeton

Worst practice book (for literally anything, APs included): Kaplan

Return to ToC 9
Part II: Test Overview
What Was/Is the SAT?
The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is a three hour MCQ test given by
College Board, the same monopoly organization that administers AP
Tests. Comprised of english and math sections, it is used by many
colleges as part of their admissions process along with many other
factors. We discuss the actual test content and strategies here.

Controversies
Discussing the SAT and CollegeBoard would not be without their many,
many problems. The whole issue is difficult to put into words while
feeling like an enraging yet inevitable part of life. Knowing this is
important, so take these opinions/findings for your own reference:
● The creator of the SAT wanted to prove the genetic superiority of
Caucasians against other races, though he later rejected his views.
● The test certainly has changed well beyond its original intentions,
but much of it still doesn’t accurately measure academic potential.
● Today, College Board is “run by an elitist, tone-deaf chief
executive.”
● “The exam remains a clearer measure of a test taker's family
background than of an applicant's capacity to do college-level
work.”
○ As a result, certain racial backgrounds may have lower scores
as a result of systemic issues in this country
○ For example, districts with more minorities that have
underfunded educational resources (similar to redlining)
● Those who can afford expensive prep classes have advantage, even
if not necessarily better students

Return to ToC 11
Should I Take the SAT?
Ahh, the two elephants in the room: college admissions and the ACT.

College Admissions
You probably want to take the SAT or ACT for colleges to see your
“academic performance.” You only need one score from either type of
test, so try focusing on only/primarily one test. These tests have also
become increasingly less important for colleges given concerns over
how well they indicate preparedness. See the next page for more info.

SAT vs. ACT

The ACT (the “other SAT”) is not necessarily easier than the SAT or vice
versa; everyone would be taking the overall easier test if there was one.
Generally, SAT takes precedent in the west/east coasts and the ACT in
the middle of the U.S. The ACT is out of 36 points rather than 1600 of
the SAT, so technically SAT scores are more accurate given the larger
range (SAT scores differ by 10 point intervals; ACT by 1), but colleges
treat them as identical tests for admissions.

However, the ACT has a unique “science” section (science reading

comprehension; similar to the “science” passages in the SAT reading
section), math up to some Precalculus rather than Alg2/Trig., and an
easier English section (general consensus). You might be better at one
than the other, but don’t waste too much time on deciding which to
study. Master one test; don’t be okay at both.

J: Here is a more in depth guide from Princeton Review on

SAT vs. ACT. A lot of people only think about the SAT, but
the ACT is another viable option, so definitely see which
one is more suitable to your abilities before starting on
either. You can first take a practice test for each to find out.

Return to ToC 12
 Should I Take the SAT?

COVID-19 Implications
Most colleges temporarily suspended test requirements for 2021-22
admissions. Some people are unable to take tests so many colleges
went test optional or blind. They all have your GPA and school record to
assess your academic readiness; standardized tests are only
supplementary. As the pandemic progresses, you should carefully plan
when to take the test so it’s safe for you.

SAT/ACTs vs. College Admissions

COVID-19 has propelled a previous movement to phase out SAT/ACTs
from college admissions because of the controversy around
standardized testing. Many colleges after 2021-22 admissions will still
require or consider it, so I still recommend taking the test. This will
probably change by 2024-ish as the SAT (hopefully) phases out.

University of California (UC) Admissions: While UC campuses are going

test-blind for 2021-22 admissions, they plan to make it optional then
not consider it at all in future years so they can find a replacement test
by 2025. This is just the basic synopsis: more info here.

Q: I wrote the vast majority of this section (hence the first

person). The SAT-college situation evolves a lot so finding
the most up-to-date information is up to you!

PSAT(s)
There’s technically 3 types: PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, and PSAT/NMSQT (11).
They are essentially shorter, easier SATs (“pre-SATs”). Only schools
administer PSATs. We’ve never seen the even easier PSAT 8/9 because
it’s pretty uncommon. The other two tests are identical, except only
juniors taking the PSAT can use it as the National Merit Scholarship
qualifying test (NMSQT). Colleges almost never require a PSAT score or
care about it, if they even can see it. However, being a merit semifinalist
or finalist is notable. See the second and third FAQs of this page.

Return to ToC 13
SAT Scoring and “Curves”
Each section pair (reading & writing, 2 maths) is out of 800 points,
totaling 1600; each category of the essay (reading, analysis, writing) is
separate from the main score and out of 8 points, totaling 24. See this
detailed scoring breakdown.

We’ll focus on the main score. Generally, the number of questions you
get correct in a section correlates to a specific score. However, this
scoring conversion is not the same for every test. The variation in
scoring guidelines, or “equating,” is not determined by test-takers; they
are finalized well before the test date. College Board does this so
different tests with their varying difficulties can be compared equally.
Score conversions can differ too
(Ex. getting a 57/58 on math can
be an 800 or a 770 depending
which test you took). Easier
sections may have harsher
“curves” (ex. first few missed
questions weigh more). See the
example table on the right.

To do your best on the SAT is to

also prepare for the equating
variations that the test can have.
It’s easy and sometimes valid to
blame College Board for a “bad
curve,” but in the end, we must
adapt. Knowing how to do well on
a wider variety of SAT difficulties
(Modified table from Marks Education; read
will make you better at it overall. their take of SAT “curves” here.)

Return to ToC 14
Part III: How to Study
Which Resources?
Big-branded test prep programs and tutoring centers tend to be
expensive and overrated. While you can check them out, don’t ignore
the whole other world of arguably better and more accessible resources.
Here’s a gold mine of some highly-regarded, cheap/affordable ones:

SAT Subreddit (r/Sat): large(st?) online community of test studiers,

tutors, etc. You get access to nearly everything you need: tips and
strategies, Q&As, practice tests, and quality memes. Reddit can be
great for other things: AP Tests, College Applications, Cat Pics . . .

Q: Most 3rd-party tests (Barron's, etc.) don’t emulate the

SAT precisely enough. Stick with official CB practice tests
and QASs (copies of certain tests CB sells to those who’ve
taken it). Watch out for the much more illegal copies of
CB tests (obviously photoed/transcribed tests). You are
safer and resourceful with just CB practice and QAS tests.

Khan Academy, UWorld, 1600.io, etc.: widely used and (mostly) free
online platforms; UWorld mainly has questions, 1600.io has videos (one
for each practice test question), and Khan Academy has both.
Erica Meltzer, The College Panda, Black Book, etc.: books and online
resources mostly by qualified authors or small reputable companies.

J: The most common resource would probably be Khan

Academy. It’s partnered with College Board and gives you
tons of practice problems based on ones that you get
wrong the most. It also has videos explaining concepts
and has an option to set up a practice plan.

Most importantly: As for everything, general consensus can be a helpful

guide but find what works for you. This is your springboard!
Return to ToC 16
Resource Testimonials
We asked the internet and our classmates what resources they studied
with for the SAT, and this is what they said. This isn’t a diverse sample. A
lot of these are of personal opinions and everyone is different; what
works for one person may not work for another. Find what works for you.

“The College Panda Math prep book helped a lot and I wish I used it
more because I probably could've gotten a much higher score on math.
However it did overall raise my math score by 80 points. Also practice
tests. Take multiple tests between regular studying, like once every 2-3
weeks on a Saturday. I did this and I wrote down the questions I got
wrong in a notebook along with the reason I got it wrong and the topic
/type of question.”
- Alyssa, CO 2021: went to a 2 week SAT course at a local school and
studied with Khan Academy, r/SAT, College Panda books, original
practice tests
A: I found College Panda overall to be pretty helpful as
well. For math, it's definitely a lot more practice and the
problems give a good mix of easy and hard questions
that you will encounter. I also found the College Panda
writing book to be helpful, especially if you’re not as clear
of the nitty-gritty grammar rules.

“Practice tests are key, make sure to review your mistakes to know what
type of questions you get wrong.”
- Garrett, CO 2021: went to Elite Winter Bootcamp, studied with
Barron's and Kaplan

J: Yes, definitely go through your mistakes, see the right

answers, and try to understand their explanations.

Return to ToC 17
 Resource Testimonials (Nancy’s Essay)

“The SAT is a really outdated form of measuring intelligence. It doesn’t actually

measure intelligence because no one has made a test that is 100% accurate, so
don’t base your value and worth on this one exam. This is why we still have
interviews and college app essays because companies and colleges can’t use
one exam/application to base their applicants off of. Rather, a higher score
correlates to higher performance in college, so what matters more is how well
you do later in life (but then the SAT takes credit for saying they measured your
score earlier on).

I would say the trick is to take a lot of tests to get a feel of their format, rather
than trying to “get smarter”. Like playing an FPS game, though you may fumble
a lot in the beginning trying to shoot people, over time you’ll master the
mechanics of a good wrist flip and get good at shooting in the game (though
probably still have bad aim in real life). Similarly, on the SAT, you’ll build a sense
of the pattern and the types of questions that appear often (but not necessarily
actually get smarter and better grades by having a high score). As you do more
practice tests/problems, your brain muscle for taking SAT will get stronger, and
you’ll naturally do better because you’ll know what types of problems to look out
for and which areas that you may need to watch out for.

In addition, right now since everything is online and the importance on

memorization is slowly becoming less and less important with a google search so
close at hand, please don’t let this test stress you out too much. It’s natural to
hate the SAT, so you’re all in this together. Never have I seen anyone have good
things to say about the college board, but unfortunately this outdated IQ test is
still here to torture us. Study the mechanics behind the SAT and push through it,
and you will never have to take something like this again (at least for a long time
rip grad/med school), and maybe they’ll get rid of it before you even make it
there. Good luck, I believe in you!”
- Nancy, CO 2019

J: This is very good advice! :) Build your SAT format instinct!

Return to ToC 18
 Resource Testimonials

“Online tests helped a lot and YouTube helped a lot for the essay. The
College Board book was not so helpful.”
- Timothy, CO 2021: self-studied with Khan Academy, College Board
Book

J: I also had the College Board book. It does go into a

great deal of depth about how to solve the problems, the
types of problems, and concepts that you need to know,
but honestly it was too dense for me (300+ pages on just
learning the SAT alone!). It does come with 4 real SAT
tests though that you can use to practice, and it’s nice
because it’s actually on paper and not a screen like with
Khan Academy.

F: (very biased towards Princeton Review) The College

Board official book is only good for its practice tests.
Pretty much every prep book is only good for its practice
tests, unless you’re a Princeton fan like me. In that case,
Princeton was probably the only prep book that offered
genuine hacks.

“Self-studying helped a lot more than the classes, but probably

because I had already taken the necessary math courses in school.
Don't bother with prep courses if you already know the math material;
the best way to study for math is just to practice. The same can be said
for English but for those who are less humanities-oriented, having an
English tutor may worthwhile. But practice and dedication for sure.”
- Alice, CO 2021: went to FLEX College Prep and studied with Khan
Academy, Barron's, SAT Black Book, College Board Blue Book, The
College Panda, Princeton Review vocabulary

Return to ToC 19
 Resource Testimonials

“Khan Academy is very good for tackling specific skills you need work
on. For example, it helped me a lot with identifying common grammar
problems in the Writing section and practicing specific types of reading
passages. 1600.io and their free seminars/livestreams (where you take
a section of the a practice test and then go over the commonly
incorrectly answered questions with the host, George) were very helpful
as well, as they gave specific advice for specific types of questions.
r/SAT was also helpful in finding practice resources to use and old
practice tests and such.”
- Jenny, CO 2021: self-studied with Khan Academy, r/SAT, 1600.io

“I personally think that Khan Academy was my best resource because it

was adaptive to my learning.”
- Danielle, CO 2019: self-studied with Khan Academy and Barron's
A: Definitely check out Khan Academy! After all it is the
official SAT study guide, so many of its problems are
similar to the actual test and are at the same difficulty
level.

“I think that Excel did not really help get my score past 1400. To get
above that I self studied.”
- Srika, CO 2021: went to Excel Summer Intensive Course and studied
with Khan Academy, r/SAT, Barron's, Princeton Review

F: For me, Excel helped me get past 1450. Keep in mind

that these 50 points are difficult to get - the higher your
score, the harder it is to improve. At the same time, since
Excel is only good for a certain score, self-studying hard is
really what pushes you to over 1550.

“The Black Book was actually really really good.”

- Annabelle, CO 2021: self-studied with Khan Academy and r/SAT

Return to ToC 20
 Resource Testimonials (FB Comments)

Testimonials From Facebook Comments

When Joanna was a sophomore, she posted on Facebook, “how to study
for SAT (and get a good score) without spending a bunch of money on
[test prep] pls help,” and this is what people said in the comments.

"I will be honest, Elite helped me a lot because I didn’t think I would be
disciplined at all for my studies especially in the summer. The daily
work, the consistent practice tests, and the lessons (my teachers were
kinda memey and interesting lol) helped encourage me to continuously
put myself in the SAT mindset I guess… That being said if you want to
do well make sure to use Khan Academy and practice books, setting
consistent goals for yourself and putting yourself to a routine. One of
the reasons programs like Elite/Excel are so popular is because they
literally f o r c e you to study throughout the week. Use each practice test
and drill in concepts that you missed afterwards. I got my score to
1500+ but it was mostly from sheer practice! SAT is a skill not
something based on talent!"
- Anvitha, CO 2019
J: I don’t know about everyone else, but I really think I get
a cognitive decline every summer because there’s nothing
that makes me think. That’s why I scored higher on the test
that was during the school year even though I studied way
less than others. But I think if I did go to Elite I could have
avoided retaking maybe.

F: You need to know what option suits your style. Are you
someone who pushes yourself? If so, be prepared to
self-study with your own schedule over the summer. Are
you someone who prefers more proven guidance from
outside sources? In that case, take a prep class.
Return to ToC 21
 Resource Testimonials (FB Comments)

"Go on UWorld SAT, sign up for a free month trial, and practice all the
sections 🙂. It helps a lot and you can control whether or not its
timed/the difficulty levels etc, + there’s answer explanations for
everything. Just practice a lot everyday. After you finish your trial, go
pretend you’re someone else and sign up for another free trial LOL.
Also, if you feel that you won’t ever be prepared enough to ever take an
SAT, I think it’s a pretty smooth transition from SAT to ACT. ACT has
more time crunch, but it has easier questions and it’s pretty easy to
score high, especially if you’ve already studied for SAT and you can
definitely use other resources like khan academy and previous tests and
stuff etc. Basically you have a bunch of resources you can use, so just
make sure you spend your time studying wisely!"
- Anonymous, UC Berkeley

J: Actually, this advice on UWorld might be a little bit

outdated; I think the free trial is only one week now. Also, if
you are struggling with the SAT don’t automatically think
the ACT is easier—definitely research which one might be
better for you! But definitely use your time wisely.

"Dude my first ever SAT I took on Khan Academy was like 1310, my
second was 1410, and my third was 1510 HAHA. I think if you don't want
to go to "bootcamps" and stuff like that, you can religiously use Khan
Academy. I think the best practice you can get is to take real exams
(like those on Khan Academy) or mock exams (from prep books and
online). Maybe browse r/SAT lol 🙂 *Disclaimer I went to Elite oof* A
LOT of people scored the same or better than me and they didn’t go to
"bootcamps" or summer programs. So if you are diligent and you study
a lot I'm sure you can score well without spending thousands of dollars”
- Anonymous, UC Berkeley

Return to ToC 22
Studying Smart vs. Hard
Main Point: J: Study Smart Advice F: Study Hard Advice

First take diagnostic If you know most of the Categorize the types of
test(s) to simulate concepts, you just need to questions, notice patterns in
the exam and find master how to take the SAT. the test structure. Using your
what you need to Seek out specific practice diagnostic score(s), give
improve on. problems and strategies yourself some milestones
only if you didn’t know how such as target ranges.
to do certain questions.

Get used to the test Learn from doing practice Find tricks to tackle each
while improving on tests at your own speed. section. Consider setting
difficult questions Build up an imprint of what time “checkpoints” for
and better the test is and how to do its reading passages. If
managing your time. questions before focusing possible, finish the math
on speed through timing sections in half the time so
your tests. re-checking is easier.

Keep a general In the beginning, learn the Take three strict practice
routine/rhythm for test. Work on timing as you tests per week if you are
relatively continuous get closer to the test. Just studying over summer to get
studying. one test a week is fine but used to taking the test. At
do more if you feel least touch the SAT every
motivated to. day, even if it’s just a little
review.

Learn from your Out of everything you Find any general patterns of
mistakes. This should do, this is seriously which question types you
includes not just the most important. If you struggle with the most. You
finding why incorrect can’t put much interest can even try making a
answers are wrong, while taking the test, you correction notebook.
but also why correct cannot slack off here.
ones are right.

Balance your daily Avoid burnout by having Don’t do tests every day. Do
routine so you do not fun outside of the test; don’t them every other day.
burn out from make it your whole life. Go Q: If your scores don’t
studying. swimming. Get boba. Go improve, take a break to
hang out with friends. reset your mind for a bit.
Come back refreshed.
Return to ToC 23
Studying
Studying Testimonials
Strategies, Etc.

We also asked the internet and our classmates how they studied for the
SAT. Some of these overlap with the previous resource testimonials as
some people wrote two testimonials. Again, find what works for you.

“For split reading passages read one passage, then do the questions to
keep the information more fresh. Try not to spend too much time
reading as you will likely go back for the questions, just skim. This will
help get a better general idea as well and will help for those topic
questions. Also try replacing "best fit" problems with their answer
choices. A lot of writing section is taking practice tests and getting used
to the SAT style questions. These are just the things I personally used for
my SAT.”
- Garrett, CO 2021 (resource testimonial on this page)

“Get started early, practice a lot. Ask other people who have already
taken the test for help.”
- Timothy, CO 2021 (resource testimonial on this page)

J: Yes, ask other people! That’s why we made this, to give

advice from people who have already taken the test!

“Khan Academy is able to pinpoint areas of weakness in SAT concepts

for a self studier. Because school load alongside studying for this exam
can be hard, just put aside as little as 15-30 minutes a day to work on
those skills. Sometimes you might even find that you wanna keep
working on it after 30 minutes.”
- Danielle, CO 2019 (resource testimonial on this page)

Return to ToC 24
 Studying Testimonials

“Do all the previous tests you can find. Reddit is really good to find
them. Princeton also had some really hard tests that prepare you for the
real thing.”
- Srika, CO 2021 (resource testimonial on this page)

Q: You can also sometimes retake practice tests (or parts

of them) you’ve done a while back. You’ll be remembering
how to effectively approach problems you used to miss.
This is especially useful for reading and writing sections.

“Don't procrastinate and set a schedule. I procrastinated so much and I

really could've done better if I didn't procrastinate. Take practice tests
and write down the questions you got wrong in a notebook and why you
got them wrong. It sounds annoying if you get a lot wrong but it really
helps. When you go over them, over time you realize the pattern of the
things you get wrong and how to prevent them next time. It really helps.

Last one: USE A WATCH!!! If you have time management problems like
me, I highly recommend using a watch...I kept track of my time all
throughout the section and made sure I finished each passage at about
13 minutes each. That time, I finished the reading section. I got a 690
on english for my PSAT, equal to about a low 700 on the SAT. For my
past 2 SATs I forgot to bring a watch and got low 600s in reading and
never finished that section. However for last week's test I brought one
and finally finished reading again so I'm expecting a high score on that
section. In conclusion: just bring a watch and make sure to divide up
your time beforehand. Preferably less than the total time given so you
have extra time at the end just in case.”
- Alyssa, CO 2021: went to a 2 week SAT course and studied with
Khan Academy, r/SAT, College Panda, and CB practice tests

Return to ToC 25
 Studying Testimonials (Jenny’s Essay)

“I started studying about a month and a half in advance to my test (50 days
straight on Khan Academy) and I feel that it was quite sufficient. A good way to
figure out how much to study for is to take a practice test, see what score you get,
and see how many points you want to your score to increase by. For example, if
you don't need to raise your score that much, you won't need to study as much,
but if you need to raise it by say 150 points or so, you would have to put in a lot
more time.

I personally feel like self studying is completely doable; just read some blogs
about how to self study for the SAT and then make a general timeline of a study
schedule. A good blog I referenced a lot was prepscholar.com; it was very helpful
and has guides on how to improve specific sections of the test as well.

I wasn't as good at reading/writing as I was in math, but I guess if I were to give

advice it'd be to know that the answer is always in the text for reading, so don't
assume/infer the answer. For writing, use Khan Academy to learn specific
grammar mistakes and how to fix them. It'll make the problems a lot easier to
solve if you can recognize what type of question it is (as in what type of grammar
mistake you're supposed to be fixing).

Khan Academy separates the math skills into different categories, which is really
handy for practicing specific concepts and skills.
1600.io occasionally hosts livestreams in which you do a section (reading,
writing, or math calc) and then it goes over the questions that were gotten wrong
by a lot of people. In my opinion the best takeaway from it was learning some
shortcut ways to do certain types of problems.

The most important thing to improving your math score is being able to finish the
math section in around 60-70% of the given time and using the extra time to
double and maybe even triple check your answers. To improve your speed at
math problems, figure out which problems you are slow at or unfamiliar with and
practice them until you can solve it as quickly as possible. Another tactic is to
bubble answers in batches or all at the end, though all at the end is kinda risky.”
- Jenny, CO 2021 (resource testimonial on this page)

J: Something that my chemistry teacher told us is that improving

is like an exponential curve. For example, raising your SAT from a
1350 to 1400 is a lot easier than from a 1450 to 1500. The
mistakes that still last after you improve are the hardest to fix.

Return to ToC 26
 Part IV:
Test-taking Tips, etc.
Reading Section
Types of Passages (5 total)
Literature: the first passage in the reading section; often an excerpt of
fictional work that focuses on character qualities/interactions
● Often a passage of 1800s-ish literature (but no old/middle
English), though recent tests seem to have more contemporary
writing (1990s/2000s) and can be easier to read
● Passages are often too short for major plot developments. You’re
often focusing on characters and descriptive writing.

Science*: 2-3 passages that talk about a specific scientific concept,

oftentimes summarizing study findings
● No specific science knowledge is necessary; no question should
need any outside content (only take what’s from the passage!)
● Sometimes comes with graph/table(s) to interpret in context

History*: 1-2 passages told from an original source at a certain period

in history that often focuses on the author’s opinion
● Some historical background is helpful; interpret the writer’s
opinions in context (ex. American Revolution, Women’s Suffrage)
● Language is often speech/letter-like and may be more confusing to
comprehend because of metaphors, fancy diction, etc.

*“Double Passages”: out of the science and history passages, there are
two that are in a pair; often two contrasting opinions/studies
● There are some questions on the individual passages and some on
comparing both, sometimes asking for differences in opinion, etc.
● Often takes longer than one individual passage but not as long as
two individual full-length passages with questions

Return to ToC 28
 Reading Section

Note: There are different types of approaches that you can combine
and customize to your liking. These approaches also work for much of
the writing section.
Approach A: Blind Answering
1. Read the whole passage.
2. Then read the questions but don’t read the choices yet. Instead,
formulate what your answer to the question would be based on
what you read. This should avoid bias to a given answer choice.
3. Now read the answer choices and pick the one closest to your
predicted answer. Sometimes, they will inform your understanding.
Approach B: Crossing-out/Process of Elimination
1. Read the whole passage.
2. Then read the questions. For this method, you can choose to read
the answer choices or formulate your own blind answer first.
3. When reading the answer choices, cross out the parts that are
incorrect. An answer is only true if the whole thing is true. If you
have doubts about an answer because of a certain part, but the
rest of it looks tempting, it is still wrong.
Approach C: Answer While Reading
1. Read the passage and answer the questions at the same time.
Questions are usually in sequential order in accordance with the
passage’s content. Best for isolated questions (vocab., etc.)
2. Skip the “main purpose” questions and go back to it after
answering all the other questions. By then, you would have already
read the whole passage and gained deeper understanding through
the questions you’ve answered.

J: Approach C is my preferred method because I feel that

it saves time and brainpower. I could answer questions
right as I read the information, instead of going back after
absorbing more information.

Return to ToC 29
 Reading Section

Most Types of Questions

1. Main Purpose
● “The main purpose of the passage is to…,” etc.
● Usually best to tackle last as you may not fully understand the
passage initially (doing other questions can inform you).
Remember that the answer is a big picture, not a small detail.
2. Vocabulary
● “As used in Line __, ‘word’ most nearly means…,” etc.
● Explicitly memorizing vocabulary isn’t necessary
● Read around the word for context; consider picking a word then
look at the choices. If you’re unlucky with a 50/50, just guess.
3. Line Reference
● “The author uses ___(lines #-#) most likely to…,” etc.
● Look at choices first for key differences between them or
blind-answer. (see next step)
● You can read just the sentences that contain the lines or read
the paragraphs above and below it too. You only need enough
to get an informed understanding of the lines’ purpose.
4. Linked Evidence
● Two questions that are related to each other; the second
question usually says “What evidence supports your answer.”
● Pair up the choices. Choices without pairings can be ruled out
immediately (don’t be too hasty, though). Try to interpret the
evidence clearly as they almost always provide direct support
for the previous question answer.

Return to ToC 30
Writing and Language Section
If you go on College Board’s website, here is what they say the concepts
in the Writing Section are:
1. Development
2. Organization
3. Effective Language Use
4. Sentence Structure
5. Conventions of Usage
6. Conventions of Punctuation

So in simpler language, this is what it means (this might make more

sense if you’ve already taken a test)
1. Development = should I add this sentence
2. Organization = where should I put this sentence/paragraph
3. Effective Language Use = what transition, phrase, preposition, etc
is better
4. Sentence Structure = self explanatory
5. Conventions of Usage = what word is better
6. Conventions of Punctuation = what punctuation mark is better here

J: Something that really helped me with the process of

elimination strategy was a “definitely not” mark (an ‘X’),
an “ehh, maybe” mark (a squiggly line: ‘~’), and a “I think
so” mark (a circle) by the choices. Though sometimes
answers can be really obvious, you should always check
your answer like you’re not sure (check your ‘~’ choices!).
Also, “NO CHANGE” is usually in most of the questions, so
remember that the grammar/writing may be correct as is.

F: This section is basically the reading section but for

grammar. Literally pretend you’re an English teacher
correcting someone’s essay out loud (in your head).

Return to ToC 31
 Writing and Language Section

To be honest, there are not really any hacking strategies for these. It’s
just reading comprehension and grammar, and everybody does it
differently. The best advice that we can give you is know the type of
question and get used to their structuring, and from there come up with
your own strategies.

Some Considerations
● Read the questions first, but not all. You read the passage after you
read the question and this should save you a lot of time, but at one
point you will have to read through the whole thing. The “answer
while reading” method is also especially popular here.
● If you are confused about any concepts, you should look through
prep books or Khan Academy. It breaks down each concept in
depth and will give you practice problems and explain them.
Grammar/writing conventions are often very consistent.
● Look at the connotations of the word/sentence and compare it to
the tone of the sentence/paragraph: especially useful for when you
have to choose to replace a single word.
● Pay attention to the tenses! Consistency is huge in writing and not
all things that “sound right” are correct. Glossing over words is a
super common pitfall in the SAT, especially for grammar.

For more practice or instruction, there are lots of great resources! Most
of the prep books or prep classes or online prep will go over the
concepts that you need to know if you are confused. They don’t seem to
go over transition words, which is a pretty common question (which
transition word to use) so here is a helpful link.

Return to ToC 32
Math Sections
These are rather straightforward sections consisting up to basic Algebra
2 and Trigonometry: geometry, linear/quadratic functions, algebraic
word problems, statistics, etc. More info. here. Math is the last two
sections of the exam before the essay, split between calculator and no
calculator use; both have MCQs and numerical fill-in answers.

In general, some people go slowly through the sections once; some

speed through and review multiple times. You’ll probably fall
somewhere in between that spectrum so find what works for you.

Some Considerations
● Study specific concepts you aren’t solid on (videos, problem sets,
etc.); school math up to Alg. 2 often helps with this a lot
● Fortify your school mathematics and remember formulas
(area/volume, completing-the-square, trig. ratios, etc.)
● Know your calculator (scientific or graphing: we like this one)

J: There’s no complicated math needing a graphing calc.,

so there’s little advantage with one. It might even slow you
down if you don’t know how to use it properly.

● Don’t waste time during the test by using the formula page unless
you absolutely need to; you should eventually not need it
● Mark questions to review and cross out incorrect answers
● Write clearly to check your work (sorry, bad-handwriting folks!)
F: Convert your units correctly! Some MCQ give answers
that would be correct if they were in a different unit.

Return to ToC 33
 Math Sections

School vs. SAT Math

Content from school is vital, but some problems are uncommon in
school curriculum so familiarize yourself with SAT-type math.

Plugging-in
For MCQs, you may be able to plug in the choices into the question or
vice versa (ex. plug in points into equation) to see which ones check out;
if possible, pick easy numbers that give unique solutions (0s, 1s,
y-intercepts, etc.). However, certain problems take longer to plug in
because of calculating time; don’t over-rely on this strategy!

Silly Mistakes
Avoid silly mistakes by reading problems carefully without losing focus;
keep track of your time and return to questions if you need! (Guess first)
Ex. (March 2020 QAS: Section 4, Question 36): One serving of a
certain brand of microwave popcorn provides 150 calories, 90 of which
are from fat. One serving of a certain brand of low-sodium pretzels
provides 120 calories, 12 of which are from fat. How many more calories
from fat are provided by a 100-calorie serving of the microwave
popcorn than are provided by a 100-calorie serving of the pretzels?
For every question, try underlining/circling the key terms in the problem:
● Units (helps to catch any unit conversions)
● Unit size (what if it was two servings? Be careful!)
● What exactly the question is asking; keep track of given numbers!

Hard Questions
These are difficult to explain because the truly confusing questions (not
necessarily just tedious to calculate) can be the most unpredictable.
(They are rare, though.) Try breaking down the question into parts and
think clearly; the solution is often easier or shorter than you think.
Return to ToC 34
Essay Section*
This is arguably the least important yet most annoying section. You are
given a (usually non-fiction) passage, and then you write a rhetorical
analysis essay on it. This basically means you explain how the author
builds on their argument using rhetorical devices (ex: imagery,
anecdotes, statistics, etc. ) See Khan Academy’s breakdown.

This is an optional part of the SAT and most colleges don’t care about it.
It’s out of 24 points and is separate from the main SAT score. You have
50 minutes to hand write the essay in pencil, usually ~4-6 paragraphs.

It’s similar to the second essay from the AP English Language and
Composition Exam. That rhetorical analysis essay is more advanced,
but there are some amazing sample essays and techniques to note. This
list of rhetorical devices is helpful too.

Some Considerations
● Annotate the passage! Mark rhetorical devices you notice, indicate
quotes you can use, any places where the author states their point
● Some people make an outline of which strategies they will use. You
don’t need a giant complicated one, maybe just a brief overview of
what you plan to write about the evidence
● When analyzing rhetorical devices/strategies, include the context
of the argument (historical period, audience’s feelings, etc.) to
justify its effectiveness. The author often considers these.
○ Ex. McDuffy’s supporters are bitter at their loss and unwilling to
unite under the winning political opponent.

*THIS SECTION IS BECOMING IRRELEVANT: see first FAQ of this page.

Return to ToC 35
 Essay Section

General Template (Very formulaic; adapt to your strengths)

Introduction: (often short and simple)
● Brief sentence(s) stating author/title of passage, type/content of
passage, and its general argument. Beginning “hook” is optional
● Last Sentence: The thesis is very important and must be one
sentence summarizing your argument on how the author conveys
their message (can include a few rhetorical devices/effects).
○ Ex.: With a unifying and an empathetic tone, McDuffy calls for
Americans to defeat the individualistic political agendas that
have tainted their democracy.
Body Paragraphs (usually 2-3, each focusing on one rhetorical idea):
● Topic sentence: specify device/effect(s) and what they contribute
to the author’s message; must relate back to thesis
● Evidence from text (often short quotations of important lines),
often cherry-picking phrases instead of giant blocks of sentences.
● Analysis/commentary on the author’s writing (most difficult part)
○ Ask yourself how the author addresses these: What are the
audience’s perspectives and thoughts? What historical period
is this in? Is the topic/argument controversial or sensitive?
● Avoid over-summarizing: you’re not just writing what the author is
saying, but why they choose certain words or take certain stances
Conclusion:
● Very briefly summarize your points (rhetorical effect, author’s
message, etc.), often with 1-3 sentences.
● Briefly end beyond the essay, expanding on the topic or author.
Ending on a memorable note is best. (wrap up the present!)
○ Ex. “ . . . McDuffy truly speaks as an American, not a
stereotypical politician.”

Q: We wrote this with APEng experience, so most of our

advice is overkill. Use what you can; you don’t need it all!

Return to ToC 36
Part V: FAQs, etc.
 FAQs

Q: What is a "good" SAT score?

A: Oh dear. The average SAT score is actually only an 1100. In terms of
college admissions, top 30 schools average around the 1400s or higher.
While it’s good to have a high ballpark to aim for, remember that the
SAT gives a limited amount of information to colleges. If you’re not
satisfied with a score and reasonably know you can do better, try again!
Don’t let the quest for a perfect score haunt your school life, though.

Q: When in my high school career should I start the SAT?

A: Many people start the study/testing process in their junior year, as
that’s when school curriculum has already covered much of what’s on
the test. Some go-getters (Quinn) take the test before their junior year:
in sophomore year. Ample time before college admissions season is
necessary: SAT scores usually take 2-4 weeks to come out, so make sure
to take it in time for your college applications (usually latest test in
August or October of senior year). The studying-testing process can
take anywhere from a few months to a year (or more); it’s hard to
predict but you should get a good idea during your studies.

Q: In what month(s) should I take the SAT?

A: Most people do August so they can study over summer, and if they
retake they usually do October. Plan well so you don’t lose the break
part of summer break. Plenty of people also continue well into the
school-year. You should consider how to balance your studying time
with the rest of your school and personal work if you do so.

Q: What does actually taking the SAT feel like?

A: While true stories of bad proctors and rooms are uncommon, your
test center might depend on the socio-economic background of the
area (unfortunately). Usually, you sit in a cold classroom with a proctor,
given short breaks between sections. Here’s what CollegeBoard says.

Return to ToC 38
 FAQs

Q: How do I manage my time wisely for the test? I keep running out of
time on practice tests.
A: Use a digital watch/timer, but probably not your phone in case you
get distracted (you can’t use your phone or your own watch on the real
test). Do not spend time agonizing over questions; guess and come
back to them later. Employing loose “checkpoints” (especially popular
for reading: a passage gets 13 minutes on average) may help to inform
your pacing. Spend your time efficiently by understanding what you’re
doing; don’t gaze at passages and questions to feel like you’re working.

Q: Does it help to study with a friend for this type of thing?

A: Probably. At least, you have an incentive to help and keep up with
someone. You don’t need to coordinate exact practice sessions but the
presence of another perspective with different insights can be valuable.
Though, of course, if you find being a lone wolf effective, then stick to it.

Q: How do you stay motivated to study?

A: There are many ways to motivate yourself to study; usually a good
study “rhythm” will perpetuate itself. On the brighter side, you can
reward yourself after sessions, work with a friend, or employ effective
study habits (music, iced coffee, clean workspace, etc.). On the less
brighter side, you can remind yourself of the stakes and the
consequences of not doing well. Again, find what works for you.

Q: In general, how many practice tests do people use?

A: Thinking about this as a “rate” may be better. As work tends to
increase as a test date approaches, people often start with one test per
week (or whatever routine feels comfortable) and ramp it up as they
feel more comfortable. The quantity only matters if you learn from every
test; know why and how you get questions wrong and actively apply that
to your next tests. Keep track of which tests you do with a spreadsheet.

Return to ToC 39
 FAQs

Q: I hear conflicting opinions on SAT bootcamps, etc. What are they

actually like?
A: They generally include you spending hours a week in a pretty
standard classroom setting. You’ll take monitored tests and get practice
sets, receiving feedback from instructors. You’ll find test-taking tips
and maybe forced to memorize vocabulary (cough, Elite). It’s probably
not a fun and super engaging place: the academic atmosphere varies
too but tends to be somewhat boring. However, wasting classes is easy
to do; there are plenty of takeaways, so make the best out of them!

Q: As an underclassman, when will I be able to take a PSAT?

A: Many schools administer the PSAT in mid-January, although specific
campus protocols are different. Only schools administer PSATs. They
may require you to take it or make it optional. See this page.

Q: Can I get scholarships from a high SAT Score?

A: There are no direct scholarships from getting a high score on the SAT,
but having a higher score may help you with independent merit
scholarships (see college and 3rd party scholarship details). On the
other hand, the PSAT is the National Merit Scholarship qualifying test
for junior year test-takers. See this page.

Q: How prevalent is cheating?

A: It exists in many forms, but among the million students that take it
every year, generally is very rare. For you, (hopefully) a student with
integrity, you don’t need to worry about this much. However, take care
not to accidently cheat (flipping between sections, glancing at other
test-takers, etc.). If you do, your scores may be cancelled, colleges
notified, and you are exiled to Guantanamo Bay. (Just kidding about
the last part.) Just don’t do it because you don’t need to cheat.

Return to ToC 40
 FAQs

Q: What’s up with SAT Subject Tests and the SAT essay section?
A: The subject tests are hour-long MCQ tests ($22-26 per test)
available in different subject areas (math, biology, etc.). However,
College Board is discontinuing them and the SAT essay by mid-2021.
This basically renders our essay section obsolete...oops. You can read
through it to preview for some of the AP English Language Exam though.

Q: How do I sign up for the SAT?

A: You sign up through College Board's website ($60 per test). You need
one account for all College Board activities, including signing up for AP
and subject tests. You can sign up for multiple at a time (and cancel,
though with a small refund). Register months in advance; test centers
near you may fill quickly if demand is high (in urban areas, etc.).

Q: How do I help my child study for the SAT?

A: Using this guide is already a giant leap forward! Like college
admissions and school grades, the SAT can tend to be unhealthily
stressed and competitive. People tend to work better with positive
encouragement, so do your best knowing what your child needs. This
can include making a quiet studying space, comforting them during
times of doubt (unless they need time to reconcile alone), or gently
keeping them in check. Here's CB's notes on the SAT info. for parents.

Q: I have a question. You made a mistake. I want to sue thank you. How
do I contact you guys?
A: After the initial release on r/SAT and other platforms, we’ll be
temporarily monitoring public comments so voice your thoughts there.
We might look at new responses from this old Google Form we used for
the guide. We probably won’t be updating this regularly, if at all.
However, this guide should last a few years, until the SAT phases out.
If you’re College Board, please dial (877) 382-4357 for assistance.

Return to ToC 41
Closing Statement
As much as we try to explain everything about studying
for the SAT, by no means take the contents of this book
as the law. In the end, this is simply one of many
resources to help you. What you find most useful, how
much effort you put in, and how you approach questions
is up to you. The SAT has its serious issues in toxic
testing and academic culture, but we hope to guide you
to score the best you can without losing yourself in the
process. So we leave you with this, and as always:

FIND WHAT
WORKS FOR YOU.

Return to ToC 42