October SAT Last-Minute Tips (2024)

Summary

Laura from STP provides last-minute SAT tips for students preparing for the upcoming test. She offers advice like warming up your brain, not leaving questions blank, and using strategies such as guessing middle-range numbers and skipping difficult questions to return to later. She emphasizes the importance of practice tests and introduces Preply, a digital SAT prep app with customizable quizzes and flashcards. Laura concludes by sharing links to additional resources and encourages viewers to subscribe for more helpful tips.

Takeaways

• 💡 Warm up your brain before test day by going through easy English questions without checking the answers.
• 📱 Use the Preply app for SAT prep, offering over 1,000 unique questions and customizable practice to improve on specific weaknesses.
• ❌ Never leave questions blank—guess if needed, as there is no penalty for guessing on the SAT.
• 🚀 Start with the easier questions in the English module and save the harder ones, like reading, for later to maximize your time.
• 🔢 For math questions with ranges, guess a middle number, as it has a higher chance of being correct.
• 🔧 Use 'nice numbers' when dealing with variables in math problems—pick a value, work it out, and apply the same number to the answer choices.
• ✅ Use the pronoun trick on English questions with verb tenses to identify subject-verb agreement issues.
• 🔍 Look for three wrong answers in reading questions instead of focusing on finding one right answer—especially watch out for trap answers.
• ⏳ Flag difficult questions and move on if you've spent more than a minute on them, especially in Module 2 math.
• 🅿️ If you're running out of time, answer remaining questions with 'D' to increase the likelihood of scoring extra points.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the video?

The purpose of the video is to provide last-minute tips and strategies for students preparing for the SAT, particularly those who may be cramming for the exam.

What is the first tip mentioned in the video?

The first tip is to warm up your brain on test day by practicing easy English questions before the test. This helps get your brain ready, similar to how athletes warm up their muscles before a game.

What is the recommended strategy for answering questions when unsure?

If you're unsure about a math question, it’s recommended to guess a middle number in the range, as middle numbers are more likely to be correct than those on the extremes.

What should you do if you are stuck on a question?

If you are stuck on a question and have spent over a minute on it, you should flag it and move on. This helps you manage time effectively and prevents you from missing easier questions later.

How should you approach multiple-choice reading questions?

For reading questions, you should focus on eliminating three wrong answers rather than trying to find the right answer immediately. This method helps you think critically and avoid trap answers.

What does the speaker recommend for students cramming for the SAT?

For students cramming, the speaker provides ten last-minute tips to help improve their performance, including strategies like guessing middle numbers, warming up before the test, and eliminating wrong answers.

Why does the speaker advise against leaving questions blank?

Leaving questions blank is discouraged because there is no penalty for guessing. Even if you are unsure, guessing gives you a chance to earn points.

What is a ‘half right, all wrong’ answer in reading questions?

A ‘half right, all wrong’ answer is when the first part of the answer seems correct, but the second part is incorrect. Students are warned not to pick such answers without fully reading them.

What is the role of the app Preply mentioned in the video?

Preply is an app designed for SAT preparation, offering over a thousand unique questions, customizable flashcards, and AI tutoring to help students practice and improve their scores.

What is the bonus tip given at the end of the video?

The bonus tip is to take a full SAT practice test ahead of the test day to avoid any surprises. This helps students familiarize themselves with the test format and improve their timing.