Test Preparation & Subject Tutoring > PSAT/SAT Preparation

Take a deep breath, relax and begin to attack these standardized tests.
On both the tests, you will encounter three sections:

1. Critical Reading containing sentence completions and reading passages
2. Math containing reasoning and logic questions, multiple choice, and fill-ins
3. Writing containing sentence corrections, identifying errors, passage correction, and an essay on the SAT only

HOW DO THE PSAT AND SAT DIFFER?

The PSAT contains five (5) sections:
(2 hr.'s, 10 min.'s) — Two Critical Reading sections (25 minutes each), two Math sections (25 minutes each), one Writing section (multiple choice only) (30 minutes), no essay. Critical Reading, Math, and Writing each count as 80 points, totaling 240 points.

The SAT contains ten (10) sections: (3 hr.'s, 45 min.'s) — Three Critical Reading sections (two 25-minute sections, one 20-minute section), three Math sections (two 25–minute sections and one 20-minute section), two Writing sections (one 25-minute section and one 10–minute multiple choice section), one essay (25 minutes), one experimental section (25-minute multiple choice)may be a Critical Reading, Math, or Writing section that does not count in your score. Each section counts as 800 points, totaling 2,400 points.

Armed with the knowledge of the timing and content, you're ready to begin your PSAT/SAT quest. Here are some small tips for big gains in your SAT score.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE MATH PORTION OF THE TEST

• Yes, you will see some challenging questions, but you can conquer the Math with excellent preparation and hard work.
• Even if you are math-phobic you can do well! The test covers math that by May of your junior year you will have seen before-algebra, geometry, and some algebra 2; trig and pre calc are nowhere to be found on these tests.
• The questions in the math sections are arranged in increasing level of difficulty; the first few questions on each section are the easiest; the last few are the most difficult. Attack the easy and medium questions first, answering the questions you can. Tricky? Yes! Impossible? No!
• Unlike multiple-choice tests that you take in school, there is NO guessing on the PSAT/SATs! You can omit questions and still get a good score. If you answer only 40 out of the 54 questions correctly on the SAT, you would get a score of about 600--about 100 points above the national average.
• You can use a calculator, but don't let it slow you down. Don't be afraid to do simple calculations (e.g., 4+5 or 8-3) in your head. Relying too heavily on your calculator can lead to accidental errors–you can accidentally hit a wrong key!

Armed with these simple tips, you can definitely improve your Math score.

NOW, LET'S UP THAT CRITICAL READING SCORE!

• For these sections, motto is, "No pain, no gain!" You will need to learn vocabulary, one of the reasons that many students opt to take the ACT, which does not contain the dreaded sentence completions.
• Because you were not born knowing the meanings of words such as obfuscate, pernicious and inviolable, you will have to hit flash cards! You must learn to pronounce the words before you can use them. Don't be afraid to use your newfound vocabulary in your speech and writing. Of course if you keep using them around your friends, you won't have many friends after a while!
• The sentence completion questions are arranged in increasing level of difficulty, so Rule 3 from the math section applies here as well. You don't have to answer every question. It's OK to omit questions.
• Don't spend too much time on any one part of critical reading! Because the SAT is a timed test, you will need to get your timing down pat! You have less than five minutes to finish the sentence completion before you must move on the to the critical reading. Practice and CLC coaching will help you master the timing so you can get through an entire section in the allotted time.
• Despite what the US Constitution states, not all people were created equal when it comes to reading! You need to find a reading technique that works for you. If you learn to read the questions quickly, before you read the passages, then order them before you answer, you have mastered reading technique #1.
• Skimming the reading passages is a NO NO! Read down the passage, answering as you go. Do not attempt to answer a question by reading information out of context, for example, going to lines 14 to 17 without reading what comes before and after those lines. Some students find they need to read the entire passage before they answer the questions. If that works for you then do so, but watch your timing.

Don't be daunted by the Critical Reading! You can master these sections!

MOVING ON TO THE WRITING AND THE ESSAY

• Learn 16 simple grammar rules, and you can master this portion of the test!
• The writing section is the easiest part of the test for you make big score gains.
• Once you have mastered the grammar rules, you are on your way to 600 or higher. Now the essay! Two readers, who each grade it from 0-6, read the essay. The two scores are then added together to give you your final score, 12 being the highest.
• Despite what the US Constitution states, not all people were created equal when it comes to reading! You need to find a reading technique that works for you. If you learn to read the questions quickly, before you read the passages, then order them before you answer, you have mastered reading technique #1.
• Writing an essay in 25 minutes seems daunting, but by using a few of CLC's simple tricks you can do it!
• How? You need to be prepared. You need to master two books, a period of history (e.g., the Age of Enlightenment, Feudalism, or The Reformation), and one war (e.g., the Civil War or The French Revolution). Armed with this knowledge, you can answer almost any question you are asked.
• Most Important, every time you do a practice SAT, you MUST write the essay using the topic you have selected as your source of information. The more you practice writing the essay and incorporate corrections, the better you will get at writing the essay.

Now you're on your way to a score of 10 or better!

THE SAT 2s - THE SUBJECT TESTS

These exams test students' expertise in individual subjects they have taken in high school. Most students, with some extra help, can begin to take their SATs as early as their freshman year. The list of Subject Tests offered by the College Board can be found at: www.collegeboard.com

How can Chappaqua Learning Center help you prepare for the SAT2s?

• expert guidance can help you plan ahead, avoiding the stress of taking all your SAT2s in your junior year.
• offers expert tutoring for each subject test.
• tutors are experts in their fields and have prepared the review material you will need for the test(s) you want to take.
• tutors motivate their students to achieve the highest scores.

Does every student need SAT 2s?

• Not all colleges require SAT 2s.
• Many colleges and universities accept the ACT in place of SAT 2s.

Want more Info? Get in touch with us — we can help!