So will you take the SAT?
Hope you’ve already done your homework. The SAT Calculator is a standardized test and preparation is essential to do your best. That means becoming familiar with the test, learning the types of questions on the test, and studying the specific elements of the test that you may need a refresher on. You’ve also already signed up for the test, hopefully at a testing center you’re comfortable with (if you can, see if your potential testing center has full-size desks, otherwise you might want a center with a bit more space choose to write ).
Now that all that work is done, it’s time for test day!
The SAT is a long test! So get ready Here are a few tips for the day :
Get some sleep
Being well rested helps your mind stay sharp.
Studies have shown that students who eat breakfast do significantly better on math tests than those who skip main meal. Slow-metabolizing foods like oatmeal or high-protein picks like omelettes can get you off to a good start.
- Bring a snack and eat it when you get the chance
Test centers are supposed to give you breaks at certain intervals but when I took the test our center was so behind that they didn’t give us our last two breaks in areas where we were allowed to eat!! You may not be hungry yet, but you don’t want to starve on the last section, so eat a little if you can.
Upload your calculator
The SAT allows the use of graphing calculators, so take advantage of this and upload it with some calculator programs. Calculator programs can help you save time and ensure accuracy, and many are available online. You can use Google to find these, but be careful to avoid suspicious websites. You can also program your calculator yourself.
Some helpful programs to load:
- Prime factorization (breaks down a number into its prime factors)
- Hero formula (finds the area of a triangle using only the side lengths)
- Simplifying Radicals Program (can simplify your radical and leave a prime integer under the radical sign)
- Quadratic equation
- Area/Perimeter Equations (see the math section of the SAT, the top of each list contains formulas you are responsible for – load a program into your calculator to automate these calculations)
- Pythagorean theorem
You can even get programs to solve combined work problems, distance problems, or probability problems (permutations and combinations).
These are not necessary: you can get any question on the SAT I without any calculator! But calculators help improve accuracy and can be a good shortcut, and programs can offer a small advantage if they don’t overwhelm you.
Also, learn how to use your calculator. A TI-89, for example, can solve systems of equations – helpful when trying to solve some word problems on the SAT.
Stay calm
If you don’t usually drink coffee every morning, test morning isn’t the day to start! Stay cool and focused. The SAT will give you opportunities, but the world is full of opportunities – it’s never the end of the world.
Check your packing list
The College Board offers several do’s and don’ts and packing tips – check the list and make sure you’re prepared. A small pencil sharpener comes in handy too! The site also has a test simulator tag – so you can learn how they tell you about the time, duration and number of breaks, etc.
The SAT test day – what to expect
In my previous articles, I’ve talked extensively about the SAT test and various strategies for tackling the so-called “difficult” questions. Assuming you have been preparing for this exam for a few months, let’s talk about test day and try to answer the question “what to expect on D-Day”.
situation that you will find yourself
Here is the situation you find yourself in the day you need to write the SAT. With your registration data and two ID forms, you enter the pre-determined SAT test center. Be prepared to be patient as you will have to wait in line before making your way to the test center. It would take about ten minutes or more to enter the exam room. Once you get to the room, the warden will show you your designated spot. As your heartbeat went haywire, you saw other students enter the room.
Proctor would read the instructions
Once the test begins, the proctor reads out the instructions set by the college board. The supervisor then distributed test materials and also checked whether the students had their pens with them. The calculator would also be checked to ensure they met College Board standards. After completing all these formalities, you will be asked to fill in your personal details in the bubble sheet.
This is what the SAT test would look like:
- Section One : Essay – 25 minutes
- sections two – Nine : Math, Reading or Writing – 20 or 25 minutes
- Section Ten : Writing – 10 minutes
Surprisingly, the SAT varies its test format and length. However, the essay would ALWAYS come first and the writing section would come last. Pauses and breaks would be given during the test.
Of course you are not allowed to ask other students for help or even to talk to them. The use of communication devices such as cell phones is strictly prohibited. Once the test is over, you would have to hand the paper over to the invigilator.
The following tips will help you analyze what you should and shouldn’t do on test day.
Sleep properly
Not on the test day!!! Make sure you get enough sleep the night before test day. According to doctors, you should sleep at least 8 hours. Dinner before bed should be light and healthy. Make sure you don’t eat junk food for dinner. Eating high protein meals is not recommended as this may make you fatigued on the test day.
Carry your calculator
A graphing calculator can sometimes produce tedious solutions in a matter of seconds; Therefore, it is advisable to bring it to the test center. A watch (that doesn’t make annoying beeps) is also recommended.
Drink water and glucose
Glucose can give you instant energy. A glass of glucose with water would certainly help.
Eat a light, nutritious breakfast
Breakfast on the SAT exam day should include a portion of fresh fruit. Don’t look for donuts and pastries on test day.
Mind your own business
Keep the exam room quiet and mind your own business. Concentrate on the test, answer easy questions first, don’t panic when you encounter a difficult problem, and fill in the choices on the answer sheet correctly. All of this, on top of your hard work put into the SAT test prep, would help you achieve high SAT scores and thus earn you a place in one of the most desirable colleges in the country!
