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.