SAT Preparation Tips & Tricks 2023

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) Exam is a standardized test required to study abroad. The format of conducting the SAT was drawn up by the College Board in the year 1926. SAT Exam score is a key component in the application process if you are applying for undergraduate programs abroad, particularly in USA and Canada. In this article, we’ll explore SAT Preparation Tips & Tricks that will help you ace SAT Exam. 

Around 25000 students (per year) are among those millions and billions of students who register for the SAT Test each year and appear for it from all over the world. SAT consists of three main sections, i.e., Reading, Writing, and Mathematics with an essay as an optional one. If you are gearing up for SAT exam and want to crack it with flying colors read out the strategies and tips listed in the article which will be helpful for you. 

Eligibility

If you are interested in applying for the SAT exam to pursue an undergraduate program abroad, the College Board which is the official agency for conducting the exam has not laid down any specific eligibility criteria for students who can appear for the exam.

As it is a postgraduation program, the main requirement is that you must have cleared high school (i.e., class 10^th or 12^th). Except that there are no eligibility criteria. There is no maximum or minimum age limit set by the conducting body for candidates who want to register for the exam. Also, there is no standard qualification degree required but the candidate must have a good command of the English language.   

SAT Syllabus 

The syllabus of the SAT prep includes the subjects as listed:

• Reading Section
• Writing and Language Section
• Mathematics Section
• Essay (optional) Section

Here is a brief about the content included in each subject.

1. Reading Section 

The Reading section of the SAT exam consists of both long and short reading passages. Thus, you must start by identifying the main concept or idea upon which the passage focuses on. If you have a strong vocabulary and know how to use English words and phrases, you are good to go.

If you feel that you still need to improvise, try to read more and more popular American passages to score well on this test

2. Writing and Language Section

This section contains multiple-choice questions which assess four main skill areas, i.e., Expression of Ideas, Command of Evidence, Words in Context, and Standard English Conventions. 

The writing and language section aims to evaluate your both vocabulary and grammar.

3. Mathematics Section

The mathematics section is further divided into two sub-sections i.e., with or without a calculator. It includes various basic mathematical principles, including algebra, statistics, geometry, arithmetic, probability, data interpretation, and problem-solving.

So, you must strengthen the basic concepts and not have to mug up the formulas but rather understand the basic concept behind them.

4. Essay (optional) Section

This section is the optional component of the examination. The essay section helps the examiner to determine your reading, writing, and analytical skills altogether.

The main motive behind this is to check how well you can analyze the crux of the given passage and draft an essay in a convenient yet impressive manner.

Tips

Here are a few tips to keep in my if you are aspiring to write SAT exam and study abroad.

• Recognize your weak points at the beginning itself and make a customized plan based on the level of difficulty you are facing for each SAT section.
• Assess your skills before attempting the official paper. Evaluate yourself by taking on a considerable number of practice tests before the main SAT exam as possible.
• Analyze your mistakes and weaknesses and start working on them until it is perfected before the main exam.
• Try to make a solid command of your grammar basics.
• Cultivate the reading habit. Start reading novels, newspapers, magazines, or non-fiction books this will enhance your reading speed and improvise your grammar along with preparing you for the exam.
• Make sure you highlight the key parts of the question before answering it. This will help you to understand the main crux of the context which the author is trying to convey.
• Use Brian Tracy’s “Eat that Frog” technique and do those difficult questions first which you are avoiding and you will see half of your burden will fade away.
• Solve and mark the answers in the book first and then mark them in the bubbles sheet (OMR sheet) after completing the section.
• The quality of prep material should be top-rated as that can affect your score in the main exam. As if you choose the good ones you are likely to get a better understanding of each section.
• The official website of the College Board should be your first preference for gathering resources for the exam. You can download the free SAT study guide here.
• Try to pinpoint and cross-check your mistakes in the answers to the SAT sample tests. Work on your weak areas and try to improvise before the main exam.
• Do not waste much of your time on the questions that are taking too much time, skip them and focus on the next ones.
• Remember there is no negative marking in the SAT exam, so don’t leave any questions blank.
• Most importantly, stay calm and relaxed throughout your preparation and answer questions with full concentration in the practice sessions also. As that will help you to focus more on the areas you can perform better.

Conclusion

If you are preparing for the SAT exam, you should know that 4-5 months on average is a decent time required to fully prepare for the exam. But it depends upon your capabilities and the amount of hard work and effort you are putting in.

Try to cover each section thoroughly with a calm mind and make sure you cover up the entire syllabus for the exam (don’t depend solely on the previous years or sample papers). If you are planning to crack SAT in a chill-pill manner then you must know that it is not too difficult but also not a too easy exam, it is a long-duration exam that requires determination and focus.  It is better to have a well-planned schedule and strategy before a few months to help you to crack SAT.

Let us know if this article was helpful and do share your tricks and tips with others who are preparing for the exam. Remember to learn and grow together!

Frequently asked questions

1. How to apply for SAT exam 2023?

To apply for the digital SAT exam in 2023, go to the official website of the College Board. Registration for the 2023 digital SAT exam is now open for students. Choose your desired date for the exam from the options given below:

SAT Exam date	Deadline for Registration
11 March 2023	24 February 2023
6 May 2023	21 April 2023
3 June 2023	19 May 2023

2. Is SAT Exam worth it for Indian students?

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) Exam is accepted by over 4,000 universities worldwide. It is an entrance exam used by many colleges and universities abroad as part of their admissions process. SAT scores are used to offer academic scholarships.

If a student is aspiring to go overseas for studying after high school, SAT can be an important step in the admissions process. This exam can provide an opportunity for Indian students to manifest their academic abilities and potential in universities abroad.

SAT is recognized globally, students can apply to various programs through a common entrance test. It includes engineering, the sciences, medicine, management, business studies, humanities, art, and others.

3. What is the SAT paper pattern and how it is structured?

The structure of SAT exam is quite generic as most of the other exams. The exam pattern consists of multiple-choice questions in all three main subjects – Math, Reading, and Language.  The exam structure also consists of an essay as an optional subject. The optional subject helps you to increase your overall marks evaluation. 

Note: The math exam paper is divided into two portions. Students can carry a calculator with them to fasten the calculation time. 

Given below is the marks distribution structure for the SAT exam:

Component	Time Allotted (minutes)	Number of Questions/Tasks
Reading	65	52
Writing and Language	35	44
Math	80	58

4.  How should I prepare for the SAT exam?

Preparation for any exam begins with analyzing your weaknesses. Therefore, you should start your SAT prep by finding your weak points.  Thereafter, make a properly structured study schedule keeping your weak points in mind.  For example, if you find yourself a little weak in maths as compared to writing and reading, prioritize math in your study schedule.  

Moreover, grammar is a major part of the SAT examination. Therefore, you should also make sure that you are strong in that part. As more than half part of the SAT examination structure consists of English reading and writing, grammar holds real value in order to score well. 

5. Is SAT pattern going to change in 2023?

The College Board has officially announced the full transition to the digital format for the SAT exam from March 2023. The exams will be conducted at digital test centers. In the digital SAT exam pattern, there are quite changes from the previous paper pattern with pen-and-paper. Also, there are a few more changes proposed by the College Board for each section of the SAT exam,  now the Reading and Writing sections are combined and will not be tested separately. In Math, a section calculator is allowed for solving all the questions. 

6. Is there SAT Subject Test in 2023?

No, the SAT Subject Test was discontinued in the year 2021 itself and there has been no new guideline from the official sources regarding the same. From then on, students just need to take the SAT exam for getting admission to their desired UG courses abroad. Therefore, there is no SAT subject test in 2023. 

SAT subject test was the exam conducted to test the subject knowledge of the candidate whereas SAT examines the aptitude of the students. Therefore, to reduce the demands on the candidate’s college board took this step. Also, the optional SAT essay was discontinued thereafter.

7. What is a perfect SAT score in 2023?

The maximum score for SAT Exam is 1600, a very few candidates have been able to achieve that mark till now. There are two sections in the SAT exam, namely, Reading-Writing, and Mathematics. Both sections are scored on a 200-800 point scale. Any score above  1060 or 1200 is great for an Indian student to get admission into a prestigious college abroad. Top universities consider a score above 1400 a good score and this will also make you an eligible candidate for the most highly competitive public and private universities. Usually, an average score of 1000 is enough for getting into regular colleges. 

8. How much are SAT fees in India?

The overall fee is between $100-$115 for Indian aspirants without essays plus and also includes a regional fee of $55. The regular registration is $60 for the SAT. College Board has maintained the same pricing and fees for this year as they making a transition to the digital SAT Suite. This is to ensure consistency for students and educators. Also, there are no new additional fees for taking the digital exam of SAT exam. 

9. Is SAT easy for Indian students?

This is highly subjective and depends from person to person. Whether the SAT exam is easy for Indian students or not depends on how well the candidate is prepared for the exam. SAT exam is considered easy or difficult based on the candidate’s aptitude and grasping power. If one has prepared for the full dedication for the exam nothing is too difficult for them. 

Therefore, one should study for full concentration and consistency for the exam and should stay calm throughout the process and on the day of the exam. Practicing previous years’ papers and attempting mock tests will help in preparing better for the exam.