That 1100 was supposed to be temporary. By now, you thought you’d be celebrating a 1300+. But after three, four, or five attempts, your score hasn’t budged an inch. You’re frustrated. You’re spending more time studying than ever. Why aren’t your efforts paying off? Perhaps you’re optimizing the wrong thing. 

Your test strategy, rather than intelligence or time spent studying, might be the real culprit. Looking to optimize the time, resources, and practice materials you’ve been given to maximize your next score? Read further to learn about common mistakes students make while prepping for and taking the S.A.T.  

1) Relying On Their Inner Voice in the S.A.T. Reading Section 

Right now, as you read this sentence, you probably hear a voice in your head. That’s your inner narrator. You aren’t alone in having this mental voice; an estimated 97% of the general population is thought to utilize one while reading. Unfortunately, it’s also your biggest S.A.T. reading speed killer. That internal voice forces your brain to process words sequentially, like you are actually speaking aloud. On the S.A.T., where you have roughly 1-2 minutes per reading question, this voice costs you precious seconds you can’t afford to lose. 

Turning off this internal voice and reading/skimming visually can be a challenging process. It is not what most people are used to and goes through a different auditory pathway of the brain. However, reading aloud and silently with the inner monologue were associated with slower processing speed in the brain’s auditory cortex. 

If time management on the S.A.T. is proving to be problematic, try to turn that inner voice off while reading and skim text faster (while still developing an understanding of the reading). Eventually, taking this new skill to your next formal attempt may lead to higher evidence-based reading and writing scores. 

2) Moving Too Fast Through Questions 

Time management is certainly a substantial part of test success. Failure to complete the test in time is one of the most common S.A.T. mistakes students fear. This can result in students answering questions too quickly, while not being careful enough.  

The point of the S.A.T. is to access: 

• Student’s comprehension of reading, writing, and mathematics 

• Critical thinking abilities 

• Analytical reasoning skills 

Colleges use standardized tests like the S.A.T. or A.C.T. to access a student’s understanding of the subject matter, and ability to think independently. Being able to complete the test in the allotted time is part of that success. However, answering questions correctly is far more important than the length of time spent on the test.  

Rather than trying to finish quickly, the optimal test strategy would be to focus on answering questions correctly in a consistent amount of time per attempt. The 2 hours, 14 minutes students receive to complete the test does not change. Being able to properly utilize that time properly should be the aim of your test strategy. 

3) Thinking S.A.T. Practice Scores are the Same as the Real Test 

A high score on the P.S.A.T. or other practice test material, especially early in the test prep process, is certainly something to be proud of. However, that does not equate to automatic success with the real S.A.T. Likewise, a lower score on practice tests does not mean you are doomed to fail.  

Though both the P.S.A.T. and S.A.T. are the same length and access similar skills, the P.S.A.T. is somewhat easier. Students are slightly younger when taking it, meaning many concepts are more foundational and lack the advanced depth of the S.A.T. Same goes for College Board Bluebook tests and many practice booklets. 

The S.A.T. is also administered multiple times a year, with different content each time. While significant knowledge of math, reading, and writing is needed to succeed, you cannot rely on memorizing answers or simply having knowledge of those fields. Understanding how the S.A.T. is structured, and using critical thinking skills to figure out the answers to questions, is the real purpose of test prep. It is only after consistent practice that students can develop an accurate understanding of what their score range may be. 

4) Showing Up Unprepared on Test Day 

Some of the most common S.A.T. mistakes do not actually have anything to do with the test itself, or a lack of practice. Poor routines and a lack of non-academic preparation can make test days less pleasant than they are supposed to be. 

The S.A.T. is typically administered on Saturday mornings. Students check in to their test location between 7:45-8am, and the test begins between 8:15-8:30am. As it starts at such an early hour, it can be easy to neglect breakfast before leaving the house. However, it is not advisable to do so. 

Testing will continue from 10:45am at the earliest, to 1:15pm at the latest, depending on student accommodations. Though there are periodical breaks between sections, this is between 2-4 hours of consistent test-taking and mental stamina. Eating a nutritious breakfast before testing can give you the energy needed to partake in complex English and Math at such an early hour and prevent you from feeling hungry later. Morning breakfasts in one study were associated with higher metabolism, academic performance, and reduced illness risk in one study.  

There are also several items, both required and optional, needed or helpful to have on test day. The required items are:  

• A fully charged testing device with the Bluebook testing application (if the test is being administered digitally) 

• The admissions ticket 

• A physical, photo ID 

• College board username and password 

• A calculator for the math portion of the test (that fits accepted guidelines) 

• Epinephrine auto-injectors (for students with allergies) 

The following items are not required, but can be helpful: 

• Non-smart watches with no audible alarm 

• A charging cable for the testing device 

• Backpacks 

• Drinks 

• Snacks 

• A backup testing device 

The S.A.T.’s early starting time can make it easy to forget packing or cause a panic if required items are misplaced. This can, in turn, lead to harder test days and lower scores. To avoid any last-minute searches or scares over missing items, it is best to pack the required testing materials in advance the night before.  

Fears over being late and not arriving in time can also be sources of pre-test stress. Not every high school administers the S.A.T. each time it is available, and test-taking will likely bring you to neighboring schools. This could lead to issues over: 

• Driving times 

• Finding where in the school the test is being administered 

For this reason, it is best to arrive early and figure out where to go in advance. 

5) Not Utilizing S.A.T. In-Test Tools 

Students taking the S.A.T. have several built-in tools available to use. These include: 

• Digital scratchpads 

• Highlighters 

• Option elimination for multiple choice questions 

• Built-in calculators 

Students may overlook these features for several reasons. They may have done well on practice tests without them, worry their use will slow down their pacing, or simply feel that they are not necessary. Approaching the tools with this mindset, however, is not the proper perception. Using them might not be a requirement, but they can help students: 

• Make connections/figure out main ideas in texts 

• Complete more complex math than what is doable mentally 

• More easily narrow down multiple-choice questions 

The digital S.A.T. makes it easier than ever to incorporate these tools into your test strategy. Utilizing them can make the S.A.T. a more organized and streamlined experience for students. 

Become an S.A.T. Champ with Our 80/20 Method 

Want to be certain that a specific four-digit number increases next time you open your College Board account? This is what we a Test Prep Score strive to help you do. 

That’s where our 80/20 Learning Method comes in. Here’s what distinguishes it from traditional test prep: 

• Short, growth and efficiency-oriented study sessions 

• Focusing on the most common question types 

• Study sessions with specialized purposes 

• High-impact, active learning 

• Consistency without burnout 

To help you utilize your testing abilities to their highest capacity.  

Interested? Send us an email or call today to get started.