My advice as a 1550+ scorer on the (Digital) SAT

Summary

In this video, Youraj N shares his SAT preparation journey, focusing on the English section. He emphasizes the necessity of mastering Khan Academy's English resources and suggests mimicking test conditions, including timing and routine. Youraj advises not to be disheartened by low practice scores and to maintain a balanced approach. He shares tricks like substituting answer choices in math and being strict with English questions. He also recommends doing grammar questions first for efficiency and encourages viewers to develop their own strategies, trusting their intuition over strict rules.

Takeaways

• 📚 The SAT with an English focus is relatively easier compared to the standard SAT, especially for non-native English speakers.
• 🎓 Utilizing Khan Academy's English resources is not just recommended, but essential for SAT preparation.
• 🌅 Mimicking test conditions, including eating the same breakfast and following the same routine, can help your brain adjust to the test environment.
• 🚫 Don't let low practice test scores demoralize you; they're meant to be challenging and are part of continuous improvement.
• 🌙 Maintaining a balanced approach, including getting adequate sleep before the test, can significantly impact your performance.
• 📈 Practice tests should be approached with the mindset of self-improvement rather than stress and anxiety.
• 🔄 If stuck on a math question, try substituting the answer choices to see which one fits correctly.
• ✅ Be strict with English questions, ensuring you're not misled by similar but incorrect answers.
• 🔎 Look for hints in the questions, especially in the Writing and Language sections, where similar phrases can indicate the correct answer.
• 📝 Start with the grammar questions first as they are generally easier and quicker to complete.
• 🤔 Develop your own tricks and strategies by observing question patterns and making connections that work for you.
• 🤓 Trust your gut feeling when it comes to English conventions; your intuition can be a powerful tool in answering questions correctly.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is to discuss strategies and tricks to help students prepare for the SAT, particularly for students for whom English is not their first language.

What is the significance of the speaker's location in the video?

The speaker is in a hotel room in Tokyo, Japan, which indicates that the video is being filmed during a vacation, emphasizing that the speaker is sharing tips despite being away from their usual study environment.

Why is the Khan Academy's English data prep considered a necessity according to the speaker?

The speaker emphasizes that Khan Academy's English data prep is a necessity because it provides comprehensive resources for mastering the SAT, including videos, quizzes, and unit tests.

What does the speaker suggest to mimic test conditions?

The speaker suggests waking up at the time of the actual SAT, eating the same breakfast, following the same morning routine, and then taking a practice test without any distractions to mimic test conditions.

How does the speaker advise dealing with low practice test scores?

The speaker advises not to let low practice test scores demoralize you, as they are just practice and do not define your potential. They encourage keeping spirits high and believing in one's own potential.

What is the importance of balance when preparing for the SAT according to the speaker?

The speaker stresses the importance of balance by stating that while some stress is acceptable, being completely engrossed and worrying about the SAT can lead to mistakes on the actual test day.

What is the speaker's personal experience with stress levels during SAT preparation?

The speaker shares their personal experience of being extremely stressed during their first attempt, working until 2:00 a.m. the night before, which resulted in a lower score compared to their second attempt where they slept early and barely studied.

What trick does the speaker suggest for math modules in the SAT?

The speaker suggests substituting the options into the question to see which one is correct as a trick for math modules, as it can help solve questions that are not directly solvable.

How should one approach English questions according to the speaker?

The speaker advises being very strict with English questions, ensuring to only select the answer that matches what the question asks, and to look for hints in the questions, especially in note-taking questions.

What is the speaker's recommendation for the order of answering questions?

The speaker recommends skipping to the grammar questions first because they are easier and require less text, which can save time and make the test taking process easier.

What final advice does the speaker give about developing one's own tricks?

The speaker advises developing one's own tricks by observing question patterns, understanding answers, and making connections that can be used to one's own advantage.

What is the speaker's advice regarding gut feelings during the SAT?

The speaker suggests that if you feel confident in your English skills, sometimes it's better to trust your gut feeling over strict adherence to rules, especially when the standard English conventions feel incorrect.

Outlines

00:00

📚 SAT Prep Tips and Tricks

The speaker, Youraj N, shares personal experiences and strategies for preparing for the SAT, particularly focusing on the English section. He emphasizes the importance of using Khan Academy's resources diligently, including watching all videos, completing quizzes, and retaking unit tests until mastery is achieved. He also advises mimicking test conditions by following the same morning routine as on the actual test day, including eating the same breakfast and taking practice tests in a distraction-free environment. Youraj N encourages viewers not to be discouraged by low practice test scores, as they are part of the continuous improvement process. He shares his own experience of scoring lower before an actual test but then doing better by taking a break and believing in his potential. He also stresses the importance of balancing preparation with other aspects of life to avoid excessive stress, which can negatively impact test performance.

05:01

🧠 SAT Test-Taking Strategies

In the second paragraph, Youraj N offers specific strategies for the SAT, starting with a trick for the math section: substituting answer choices into the question to find the correct one. For the English section, he advises being strict with question requirements and looking for hints within the questions, especially in the Writing and Language (W&L) questions. He recommends starting with the grammar questions first, as they are easier and require less reading, which can save time and reduce stress. Youraj N also encourages developing personal strategies by observing question patterns and making connections to improve test-taking skills. He shares a personal anecdote about trusting his gut feeling over standard English conventions when they felt incorrect, highlighting the importance of intuition based on years of language use.

Keywords

💡SAT

The SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. In the video, the speaker discusses their personal journey with the SAT and shares strategies to tackle the test, particularly the English section. The SAT is central to the video's theme as it is the main subject being discussed.

💡Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization that provides free online resources, including lessons and practice exercises. The speaker emphasizes the importance of using Khan Academy for SAT preparation, suggesting that it is not just a suggestion but a necessity. This highlights the role of Khan Academy as a critical tool for mastering the material covered in the SAT.

💡Test conditions

Test conditions refer to the environment and circumstances under which an exam is taken. The speaker advises mimicking test conditions during practice to acclimate the brain to the actual test environment. This includes waking up at the same time, eating the same breakfast, and having the same routine as on the test day. The concept is crucial for preparing mentally and physically for the SAT.

💡Practice test

A practice test is a simulated version of an exam used for preparation. The speaker mentions that practice tests are challenging and should not demoralize students, as they are meant for continuous self-improvement. The video uses the concept of practice tests to encourage a healthy attitude towards preparation and to build resilience.

💡Demoralize

To demoralize means to lower someone's spirits or confidence. The speaker warns against letting low practice test scores demoralize students, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive attitude. This term is used to convey the psychological aspect of test preparation and the need for emotional resilience.

💡Balance

Balance in the context of the video refers to maintaining a healthy equilibrium between study and other aspects of life. The speaker shares their experience of being overly stressed and how it negatively impacted their performance. The term 'balance' is used to advocate for a sustainable approach to SAT preparation that does not overshadow other life aspects.

💡Math modules

Math modules are specific sections or units of the SAT that focus on mathematical concepts. The speaker provides a trick for the math section, suggesting substituting answer options into the question to find the correct answer. This keyword is relevant as it offers a concrete strategy for tackling the math portion of the SAT.

💡English questions

English questions are part of the SAT that test grammar, reading comprehension, and writing skills. The speaker advises being strict with English questions, especially for non-native speakers, and looking for hints within the questions. This keyword is central to the video's theme as it directly addresses strategies for the English section of the SAT.

💡Grammar questions

Grammar questions are a subset of the English section in the SAT, focusing on sentence structure, punctuation, and other language mechanics. The speaker recommends doing grammar questions first due to their simplicity and minimal text. This strategy is presented as a way to save time and mental energy for the more challenging reading questions.

💡Own tricks

Own tricks refer to personalized strategies or techniques that a student develops for themselves. The speaker encourages viewers to develop their own tricks by observing question patterns and understanding answers. This keyword emphasizes the importance of individualized approaches to learning and test-taking.

💡Gut feeling

Gut feeling is an intuitive sense or instinct that guides decision-making. The speaker shares an experience where their gut feeling was more accurate than the standard English conventions they tried to apply. This term is used to highlight the value of trusting one's intuition, especially when it comes to language skills developed over time.

Highlights

The speaker started their SAT journey when the test was new, with limited resources available.

The English section of the SAT is relatively easier compared to the normal SAT.

The speaker will focus mainly on the English section to help students, especially non-native English speakers.

The speaker is currently on vacation in Tokyo, Japan, where the video is being filmed.

It's crucial to drill the Khan Academy English data prep.

Khan Academy is not overrated and is actually very helpful for SAT preparation.

Mimic test conditions by waking up and having the same routine as on the actual SAT day.

Practice tests will be challenging and should not demoralize you.

Believe in your potential and don't let low practice test scores affect your confidence.

Balance is important; don't let stress and worry about the SAT affect your performance.

The SAT is just a part of your college application and does not define your entire future.

For math modules, try substituting the options into the question to see which one is correct.

Be strict with English questions and avoid being misled by similar but incorrect answers.

There's always a hint in the question, especially in the WAB questions.

Skip to the grammar questions first as they are easier and require less text.

Develop your own tricks by observing questions, their patterns, and understanding their answers.

Trust your gut feeling about English conventions, especially if you've been speaking English for a long time.

Sometimes, forgetting the rules and trusting your intuition can lead to correct answers.

Transcripts

hey guys I'm youraj n and this is my

video on the digital

side like many of you are planning to do

I gave my dad twice in the 11th grade

and when I started my SAT Journey the

dad was relatively new it was the first

year it had just been introduced there

were barely any resources out there so I

developed a ton of tricks to help me get

through this and that's what I'll be

talking about today but we'll get back

to that later and firstly I would like

to mentioned that the D is the English

in the D is relatively easier compared

to the normal sat and that's what I'll

mainly be focusing on since a lot of

students face problems in the SAT area

especially those who don't have English

as their first language and you might be

wondering what the setup is about I'm

I'm in a hotel room right now I'm

currently on vacation in Tokyo Japan so

that's where I'm filming

from first and foremost I'd like to talk

about the fact fact that it's crucial

that you drill the Khan Academy English

datat prep see this is not just a

suggestion it's a necessity I did this

too and you have to ensure that you

watch all the videos do all the quizzes

and repeat the unit test until you get

everything right keep at it until you

mastered everything and the fact is that

people say this is overrated that the

English D KH academ or just Khan Academy

in general is overrated but it's

actually really

good so so the next tip is to mimic

teste conditions and I mean this like in

the most extreme way possible so many

people including me face this issue of

their brain working slower in the

morning and I honestly I hate it because

all everything every exam is in the

morning well the only way to make sure

that this doesn't happen in the actual

set is to have your brain get used to it

so how you're going to do this is that

you're going to wake up and the at the

time of the actual sat you're going to

eat the same breakfast

do all the same things that you do in

the morning have the same routine and

then sit and give the test with no

distractions and try to mimic the test

conditions in the most extreme way

possible and that's the only way you can

train yourself to do

this low practice test scores I've heard

about this a lot so remember your

practice is always going to be

challenging it's always going to be

tough It's a journey of continuous

self-improvement and don't let it low

practice test SC demoralize you because

that it doesn't even matter it's a

practice test and like two days before

my second attempt I got 6 650 in my

English which was even lower than my

first attempt but I just believed in

myself and I took a break from the SAT

and I did way better in my actual sat

and that's how it works like keep your

spirits High believe in your own

potential believe in yourself

balance this one's really important many

people grind practice tests and work

long nights preparing for the start and

a little stress is okay it's acceptable

but being completely engrossed and

worrying about the SAT is only going to

lead to you making mistakes on the

actual test day see remember the sat is

just a part of your college application

it's it doesn't Define your entire

future don't let it have power over you

like I'll give you my example so on my

first attempt I was extremely stressed

and I worked till 2: a.m. the night

before and on that attempt I scored A500

now on my next test I slept early and I

barely studied or did anything regarding

the SAT the night before and I scored a

156 on on my second attempt and that's

kind of how it

[Music]

works so that's all for the tips let's

move on to the tricks now so the first

one is going to apply only to the math

modules but this is really important so

try substituting the options into the

question to see which one's correct now

most questions you'll directly get your

answer from this method but there are

some questions that are unsolvable

without using this technique and I'm

pretty sure some of these exist in the

Blue Book tests so please try them out

and if if you can't solve a question

then try to substitute the answers into

the

question okay so the next trick is to be

really strict with the English questions

and I mean this like there's always

going to be one misleading answer one

that's really similar to the actual

answer and it'll just try to get you

confused especially in the note- taking

questions sometimes they give you extra

information sometimes they give you less

information sometimes they give you

stuff that's not even in the notes so

just be extremely strict and make sure

you're doing what the question asks you

to do now these questions are

exceptionally tricky for those that are

from non-native english- speaking

countries much like myself but there's

always a hint in the question especially

in the wab questions like there's always

a phrase that that has the exact same

meaning as the correct answer and all

you have to do is identify it I mean

it's not that easy but yeah this next

trick is extremely important and I want

you to implement this no matter what

basically skip to the grammar questions

and do them first this this just makes

everything so much easier because the

grammar questions are so much easier and

there's little to no text so you can

just fly past them I used to do this for

myart and it took me 7 minutes to finish

the grammar questions after which I had

around 25 to just relax and attempt

every reading question and try my best

at every

question and the final trick is to

develop your own tricks and I mean this

because there will be a million other

people out there trying to teach you

their tricks their ideas and trying to

sell you their courses but the thing is

the tricks you build on your own are

what are going to take you to that next

level and that's the thing that what you

should do is observe questions and their

patterns and understand their answers

and try to make connections and use

those connections to your own advantage

and the tricks you develop on your own

are the tricks that you'll be able to

understand and use most effectively and

that's what you should

do now for the finale this is not a tip

actually it's the complete opposite

please don't apply this to your side but

like I just want to share this about my

experience because I feel like many of

you might experience this or relate to

this later on so the thing is that a lot

of the times when I try to apply the

Standard English conventions the answer

just never felt right and later on it

turned out that I was correct the answer

was wrong well I was wrong but you get

the point so what happened was that that

gut feeling it's really important

because remember most of you have been

speaking English for most of your lives

for a long time now and your brain might

mess up applying the rules that you

learned for a test but it'll never mess

up the language you Converse in all the

time so if you think you know English

well enough then sometimes you just have

to forget the rules and trust your own

gut and well that's it for this video

and if you want to watch more then

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