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Know the test directions
For every five minutes you spend reading directions, you'll have five
fewer minutes available to answer questions. Learn the directions
now.
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Know what to expect
Questions of the same type are grouped together. Except for the critical
reading questions, the easier questions are at the beginning of the
section and the harder questions are at the end.
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Do the easy questions first
You earn just as many points for easy questions as you do for hard
questions.
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Know how the test is scored
You get one point for each correct answer. On SAT's, you lose a fraction of
a point for a wrong answer, except on the student-produced response
questions in the math section. On those questions, no points are deducted
for wrong answers.
ACT does not deduct points for incorrect nor omitted answers.
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Guess smart
If you can rule out one or more answer choices for a multiple-choice
question as definitely wrong, your chances of guessing the right answer
improve.
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Don't panic if you can't answer every
question!
You don't have to answer every question correctly to get a good score.
On the practice test in Taking the SAT I: Reasoning Test, you can
get an average score by just answering about half of the questions
correctly (and omitting the remaining questions).
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Omit questions that you really have
no idea how to answer
No points are lost for omitting a question. But don't forget tip number
5. If you can rule out any choices, you probably should guess.
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Be careful when filling in the grids
on the answer sheet for the math questions that are not
multiple-choice questions
Use your test book to do scratch work to cross off answers you know
are wrong and to mark questions you did not answer so you can go back
if there's time. Be sure to mark your answers on the separate answer
sheet, because you won't receive credit for any answers you marked
in the test book.
- Know your answer sheet
It has four pages, and you need to know what answers go in which section.
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Don't make extra marks on your answer
sheet
The answer sheet is machine-scored and the machine can't tell an answer
from a doodle.
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Mark only one answer to each multiple-choice
question
Also, check during the test to make sure that you are marking the
correct oval on the answer sheet.
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Take the PSAT
in October
It has the same kinds of questions as the SAT I, but it's a shorter
test. If you are a sophomore or a junior, it's the best way to practice
and get feedback as you start planning for college.
Juniors who take the PSAT will be considered for the National Merit
Scholarship.
- Test day
Arrive at the test center between 8:00 AM and 8:15 AM. Testing begins
around 8:30 AM.
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Remember to bring:
Your admission ticket, photo ID, two NO. 2 pencils and an eraser,
acceptable calculator.
More information about SAT I, SAT II, AP, TOEFL can be found at
the
ETS website. For ACT,
see the
ACT website.
