WHAT IT IS, HOW TO UNDERSTAND IT, & WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT IT.

The SAT 3rd Quarter Tips

The SAT is…

The SAT is a way for colleges to objectively look at the applying students’ abilities.

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The SAT is…•The SAT is a way for colleges to objectively look at the applying students’ abilities.•Actually 2 different tests: the SAT I and the SAT II Subject Test.

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What is On It & What Should I Know?1.The “new” SAT I is 3 ½ hrs. long. But bet on spending 4 hrs. there anyway.2.70 min. for the critical reading (2 sections 25 min. long & 1 section that’s 20 min.). 3.70 min. math section (same time breakdown as above).

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1. The “new” SAT I is 3 ½ hrs. long. But bet on spending 4 hrs. there anyway.

2. 70 min. for the critical reading (2 sections 25 min. long & 1 section that’s 20 min.).

3. 70 min. math section (same time breakdown as above).

4. 50 min. writing section.

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All 3 sections are worth between 200-800 pts. Shoot for a combined score of 1800 & you’ll be looking good.

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There are 3 sections to the test:1. Critical reading (sentence completion and

reading comprehension)2. The writing section (essay and grammar

identification)3. Math (fractions, word problems, equations,

geometry, relations, exponents, & some trigonometry)

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The SAT II Subject Matter Test are tests that are subject specific. Here is the breakdown:

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The SAT II Subject Matter Test is a test that is subject specific. Please note: it is NOT given every month like the SAT I. Please check dates for availability.

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What Is the SAT II?1.English Literature2.U.S. History (formally American History & Social Studies)3.World History

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What Is the SAT II – Cont.?4.Mathematics Level 1 (formally Mathematics IC)5.Mathematics Level 2 (formally Mathematics IIC)

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What Is the SAT II – Cont.?6.Biology E/M7.Chemistry8.Physics

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What Is the SAT II – Cont.?9.Chinese w/ Listening10.French & w/ Listening11.German & w/ Listening12.Spanish & w/ Listening13.Modern Hebrew14.Italian15.Latin

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What Is the SAT II – Cont.?16.Japanese w/ Listening17.Korean w/ Listening

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Critical Reading Section has three parts to it:1.Sentence completion2.Short reading passages3.Long reading passages

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BasicsThere are 2 25 min. & 1 20 min. Reading Comprehension sections.The sentence completion and reading comprehension questions are worth the same amount of points.

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Reading Comprehension BasicsSimple vocabulary with 1 missing blank.Simple vocabulary with 2 missing blanks.Difficult vocabulary with 1 or 2 missing blanks.

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TipsRead the entire sentence and see if you can guess the word that is missing.Look at the answers, if you see the word that you guessed, or a similar word, then pick it and then move on to the next question.

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TipsIf you cannot guess right away what word or words is/are missing, realize that sentence completions will fall into a particular pattern:ChronologicalCause/effectSimilaritiesExamplesCompare/contrast

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TipsAfter you decide which pattern the sentence falls under, look for context clues to help you figure out the missing word.

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Tips – Cause/EffectSoBecauseForThereforeConsequently

As a resultErgoHenceThusAccordingly

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Tips – Compare/ContrastAndAlsoThanEquallyLike…asSimilarlySimilarly toLike

On the other handIn contrast toHoweverDespiteIn spite ofNeverthelessAlthoughEven though/though

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Tips – ChronologicalAfterThenOnceBeforeSinceWhileDuringStill

YetUntilUp untilLaterEarlierFinallyIn the endOriginally

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TipsCarefully read all of the sentence first. Don’t assume you know the answer since a clue word later on may make your guess wrong

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TipsCheck for word clues.Underline any words or phrases that will help you decipher what you are looking for.

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TipsDecide what is being said.Look for clues to see if the word(s) is/are positive, negative, or neutral.In the blank(s), write “+” for a positive word, “-” for a negative word, and “n” for a neutral word.

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Tips – Plug-and-chugMake up a word that you think would fit.Look at the answer choices. If you see that same word (or pair of words) it’s the answer.If you see a similar word, then it is the answer.

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Tips – Plug-and-chugMake up a word that you think would fit.Look at the answer choices. If you see that same word (or pair of words) it’s the answer.If you see a similar word, then it is the answer.

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TipsEliminate answers by using context clues.For example, if you know you are looking for a noun and one choice is euphonious you can get rid of that since it’s an adj. (-ous).

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TipsIf there are difficult words in the answer section, remember to look at the prefix, suffix, or roots for clues.

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TipsIf there are difficult words in the answer section, remember to look at the prefix, suffix, or roots for clues.

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Tips – Guessing?Question: Should you guess?Answer: It depends.

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Tips – Guessing?Remember, you lose ¼ of a point for every wrong answer.If you cannot eliminate any choices, skip the question. You lose 0 points for questions left blank.If you can eliminate 2 or 3 possible answers, then definitely guess.

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Tips – Guessing?Remember, you lose ¼ of a point for every wrong answer.If you cannot eliminate any choices, skip the question. You lose 0 points for questions left blank.If you can eliminate 2 or 3 possible answers, then definitely guess.

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Critical Reading – Reading ComprehensionTipsNever read the passage first. Read the questions first.Once you’ve read the questions, you know what you need to answer.

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Critical Reading – Reading ComprehensionTips – Why?As soon as you see the answer to one of the questions, underline it so you know where to find it instead of breaking your concentration and going to the question.

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Critical Reading – Reading ComprehensionTips – Why?If the questions refers to a specific line or paragraph, quickly mark it in your test booklet so you know what to look out for.

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Critical Reading – Reading ComprehensionTipsSomewhere in the passage you will read a few sentences that reflect the author’s main idea & facts that support it. As soon as you see that sentence, underline it.

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Critical Reading – Reading ComprehensionTipsOne of the questions deals with what you, the reader, thinks the author is trying to convey. So as soon as you see it, mark it.

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Critical Reading – Reading ComprehensionTipsUnderline the main sentence in each paragraph.

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Critical Reading – Reading ComprehensionTipsRemember, if you’re running out of time overall, and still have one giant reading section to do as well as the sentence completion, skip the reading comprehension since all the points are worth the same amount.

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Critical Reading – Reading ComprehensionTips – What it Looks Like4 to 5 long reading passages in the section.There will be between 5 & 13 questions on the long reading passages depending on its length.