The Truth About Cramming for the SAT
We hear this a lot at our centre, especially when test days are just around the corner. Some students are nervous, some are hopeful. And almost everyone’s asking the same thing: “Is it too late to make a difference?”
Short answer? No, it’s not too late. If you prep smart, even a little time can help.
The average SAT score this year is about 1088 out of 1600 (College Board’s 2024 data). But if you’re aiming for top colleges, you’re going to want to push above 1450.
Not there yet? Don’t panic. We’ve worked with so many students who felt stuck, and they still made real progress. At The Princeton Review Singapore, it’s what we focus on: figuring out what matters now, building a fast but focused plan, and helping students finish strong.
You don’t need to do everything; you just need to do the right things.
In this blog, we’re going to keep it simple. No false promises, just helpful advice on what actually works when you’re low on time. We’ll share clear strategies, show what doesn’t work, and help you use your time wisely.
Why This Question Matters
Yes, you can.
Most people think you need months to improve, but even a short window, if used righ,t can make a real difference.
Right now, about 83% of U.S. colleges still consider SAT scores (2024 data from the National Association for College Admission Counselling). So, your score still matters, especially if you’re aiming high.
Say you go from 1200 to 1250, that’s a 50-point bump, and it moves you from the 79th percentile to the 84th. Doesn’t sound huge, but it might be just enough to get noticed by schools that felt out of reach before.
At The Princeton Review Singapore, we’ve seen this happen. Students come in with limited time, but with focused prep and the right plan, they gain the points they need. It’s not about doing everything, just doing the right things.
What Students Think Cramming Means vs. What It Actually Is
Many students picture cramming as staying up all night, trying to memorise everything from long vocabulary lists to complicated math rules. But at The Princeton Review, we know that this isn’t the best way to prepare.
In the last few days before your SAT, it’s not about starting from zero. It’s about focusing on the areas that matter most, reviewing key topics, sharpening your test-taking skills, and staying calm. The goal is to strengthen what you already know, not overload yourself with new material.
With a clear plan and the right mindset, even a short amount of time can lead to real improvement.
Chapter 1: Understanding the SAT—It’s Not Just a Memory Test
What the SAT Actually Tests
The SAT is fully digital and evaluates the skills most essential for college readiness:
- Reading and Writing (RW): Assesses your ability to comprehend texts, understand vocabulary in context, apply grammar and punctuation rules, and interpret data from charts and tables.
- Math: Focuses on algebra, advanced math (including quadratics and functions), problem-solving and data analysis, as well as geometry and basic trigonometry.
According to the College Board, the SAT prioritizes critical thinking and the practical application of knowledge over rote memorization. In the Math section, questions often involve modelling real-world scenarios and interpreting data, while the Reading and Writing section tests your ability to analyse evidence, understand context, and apply grammar rules all under timed conditions.
Why Traditional Last-Minute Cramming Doesn’t Always Work
The SAT isn’t like a history test where you just memorise facts and dates. It’s built to test how you think, especially when it comes to problem-solving. If you’re only cramming formulas or vocab the night before, it might help with quick recall, but not much beyond that.
A recent study (2023, Educational Psychology Review) even said the same thing. Cramming helps with short memory stuff, but when it comes to tougher things, like multi-step math or reading long, tricky passages, it falls short.
For example, you might know the quadratic formula by heart. But if you see a question about a ball being thrown in the air and you don’t realise it’s a projectile motion problem, the formula won’t help you much.
This is where strategy matters. And at The Princeton Review Singapore, we help students go beyond just memorising. We focus on how to recognise when and how to apply what you’ve learned, because that’s what really boosts scores.
Chapter 2: The Psychology of Cramming
What Science Says About Cramming and Memory Retention
Studying for the SAT over time? Way better than cramming the night before, and the research backs that up. A 2022 study from the Journal of Educational Psychology found that spaced-out learning helped students remember 20–30% more than cramming did.
Think about it, Cramming might help you recall a grammar rule in the moment, but when you’re under pressure during the 64-minute Reading & Writing section, it’s harder to apply it if you haven’t practised steadily.
Another study (2023, Cognitive Science) shows that cramming adds mental stress. And that’s not ideal for a test like the SAT, which runs over 2 hours and really needs your brain to stay sharp the whole time.
At The Princeton Review Singapore, we always suggest steady prep. It builds stamina, not just memory and makes the test day feel a lot less stressful.
When Cramming Can “Sometimes” Help (and When It Backfires)
When It Helps:
- Reinforcing Familiar Material: Reviewing known concepts, like subject-verb agreement or the Pythagorean theorem, can boost confidence and accuracy.
- High-Yield Topics: Focusing on frequently tested areas (e.g., linear equations, punctuation) yields quick wins.
When It Backfires:
- Learning New Content: Trying to master trigonometry or advanced grammar in two days is overwhelming and ineffective.
- Burnout: A 2024 Kaplan survey found that 65% of students who crammed for over 8 hours daily in the final week reported higher anxiety and lower scores than those who paced themselves.
Chapter 3: What Doesn’t Work (Don’t Waste Your Time)
Here are common cramming pitfalls, backed by data and expert insights, that you should avoid:
1. Binge-Watching Prep Videos Without Practice
Watching instructional videos can feel productive and sometimes it is. But relying only on passive learning, like hours of video lessons, often doesn’t lead to real results.
What works better? Active practice. Students who regularly solved questions and reviewed their mistakes tended to score much higher on the SAT. Videos are great for learning concepts, but they’re most effective when followed by practice that helps you apply what you’ve learned.
At The Princeton Review, we always encourage students to balance learning with doing. The more you engage with the material through problem-solving, the more confident and prepared you’ll feel on test day.
2. Memorising Vocab Lists Without Context
The Reading and Writing section of the digital SAT emphasises understanding words in context, assessing how a word contributes to meaning within a sentence rather than relying on memorisation of obscure definitions. Research conducted in 2024 found that students who focused solely on memorizing long lists of vocabulary without practising how those words function in actual sentence structures did not perform any better than those who did not study vocabulary at all. A more effective approach involves learning word roots, prefixes, and suffixes, and applying vocabulary knowledge through targeted practice using authentic SAT-style questions.
3. Taking Too Many Full-Length Tests Without Reviewing
Practice tests are gold, but only if analyzed. The College Board reports that students who reviewed errors on just two practice tests improved by 40–80 points, compared to 20 points for those who took five tests without review. Grinding tests without reflection reinforces bad habits. The Princeton Review practice tests provide you with detailed analysis of your performance across every topic tested on the SAT
4. Ignoring the Test Format
The digital SAT’s adaptive nature (harder questions if you perform well in the first module) means pacing and strategy matter. A 2024 Kaplan study found that 30% of students lost points by mismanaging time, often because they didn’t practice with the digital interface. The Princeton Review practice tests replicate the digital SAT accurately.
Chapter 4: What Actually Works in the Final Days
Cramming isn’t ideal, but targeted prep can make a difference. Here’s how to focus on each section, based on College Board data and test-prep expertise.
High-Yield Strategies for Each SAT Section
Reading and Writing (64 minutes, 54 questions):
- Focus Areas: This section assesses skills such as identifying main ideas, answering evidence-based questions, applying grammar rules (including punctuation and verb tense), and interpreting data from visual elements like charts and tables.
- Strategy: Develop the ability to skim passages efficiently to extract key points, aiming to summarize each passage in approximately one minute. Reinforce your understanding of commonly tested grammar concepts, such as correcting comma splices (e.g., revising “I ran, I fell” to “I ran, and I fell”).
- Key Insight: According to the College Board, approximately 25% of Reading and Writing questions focus on punctuation and sentence structure. These areas offer high-impact opportunities for improvement through targeted review.
Math (70 minutes, 44 questions):
- Focus Areas: The Math section evaluates proficiency in linear equations, percentages, quadratic expressions, and geometry, including concepts related to triangles and circles.
- Strategy: Ensure familiarity with essential formulas, such as the slope-intercept form (y = mx + b) and the area of a circle (πr²). Develop efficiency by using strategic approaches, such as substituting answer choices into algebraic equations to identify correct solutions.
- Key Insight: An analysis conducted in 2024 indicated that approximately 40% of Math questions are algebra-based. As a result, students should dedicate significant practice time to mastering systems of equations and inequalities.
How to Use Practice Questions and Review Smarter
Target Weak Areas: Use diagnostic tools (e.g., College Board’s Bluebook app or The Princeton Review’s test analysis) to identify low-scoring topics. Spend 60% of your time on these.
Example: If you miss questions on percentages, practice 10 problems like “What is 15% of 80?” (answer: 12).
- Analyse Mistakes: For each wrong answer, note:
- Why you missed it (e.g., misread the question, forgot the formula).
- How to fix it (e.g., underline key terms, review exponent rules).
- Simulate Test Conditions: Practice with the digital SAT’s interface to master pacing, aim for 1.2 minutes per RW question and 1.6 minutes per Math question.
Prioritising Your Weak Spots with Laser Focus
A 2023 Magoosh study showed that students who spent 70% of prep time on their weakest section improved by 50 points more than those who studied evenly across sections. Use score reports from practice tests to pinpoint weaknesses (e.g., “Data Analysis” in Math or “Command of Evidence” in RW), then drill those topics using official SAT questions. The Princeton Review online study material also provides this detail.
Example: If grammar is your weak spot, practice 20 questions on verb agreement (e.g., “The team is running” vs. “The team are running”) and review rules for 15 minutes daily.
Chapter 5: Strategic Cramming (The Right Way)
Here’s how to cram effectively, with plans for different timeframes based on expert recommendations.
48-Hour Cram Plan
Goal: Reinforce known material and boost confidence. Avoid new topics.
Day 1 (4–5 hours):
- RW (2 hours): Review grammar rules (e.g., parallelism, modifiers). Practice 20 questions on punctuation and sentence structure.
- Math (2 hours): Memorise 5–10 key formulas (e.g., quadratic formula). Solve 15 problems in your weakest area (e.g., percentages).
- Review (1 hour): Analyse errors from one practice section to avoid repeating mistakes.
Day 2 (3–4 hours):
- RW (1.5 hours): Practice one RW module (27 questions) under timed conditions. Focus on pacing.
- Math (1.5 hours): Solve one Math module (22 questions). Test shortcuts like estimating answers.
- Relax (30 minutes): Visualise the test day to reduce anxiety.
1-Week Cram Plan
Goal: Balance review, practice, and stamina-building.
Days 1–2: Take a full-length practice test (Bluebook app). Score it and identify the top 2–3 weak areas per section.
Days 3–5:
- RW (2 hours/day): Study one grammar topic daily (e.g., commas, pronouns). Practice 20–30 questions per weak area.
- Math (2 hours/day: Review one topic daily (e.g., quadratics, geometry). Solve 15–20 problems, focusing on accuracy.
- Review (1 hour/day): Update an error log to track progress.
- Day 6: Take a timed practice test. Review errors thoroughly.
- Day 7: Light review (2 hours total)—key formulas, grammar rules, pacing strategies. Rest to avoid burnout.
What to Do the Night Before and Morning Of
Night Before:
- Sleep 7–9 hours. A 2023 Sleep Research study found that 8 hours of sleep improves cognitive performance by 15% compared to 5 hours.
- Prepare essentials: admission ticket, ID, calculator (TI-84 recommended), snacks and water.
- Avoid studying and reviewing late increases stress without benefits, per a 2024 Kaplan survey.
Morning Of:
- Eat a balanced breakfast (e.g., eggs, toast, fruit) to sustain energy.
- Arrive early to avoid rushing. Do a 5-minute warm-up (e.g., 2–3 easy Math problems) to ease nerves.
Chapter 6: Mistakes to Avoid While Cramming
These pitfalls can derail your prep, backed by research and student outcomes:
1. Pulling All-Nighters
Sleep deprivation impairs memory consolidation and focus. A 2022 Nature study showed that one night of poor sleep reduces problem-solving accuracy by 10–20%. Protect your rest.
2. Ignoring Mental Fatigue
Overloading your brain diminishes returns. A 2023 Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience study recommends 5-minute breaks every 25 minutes to maintain focus. Try the Pomodoro technique: study for 25 minutes, rest for 5.
3. Trying to Learn New Content Too Late
New topics require weeks to master. A 2024 Princeton Review report found that students who focused on familiar material in the final week scored 30–50 points higher than those chasing new concepts like trigonometry.
4. Skipping the Digital Format
The digital SAT’s tools (e.g., highlighting, calculator pop-up) take practice. Students unfamiliar with the interface lost 20 to 40 points due to navigation errors, per a 2024 College Board study.
Conclusion:
Let’s be honest, in a perfect world, we’d all have weeks (or months) to prep for the SAT with a calm routine and a detailed study plan. But if you’re reading this with just days or a couple of weeks to go, don’t panic. You can still make it count.
Start by reviewing what you already know. go back to key algebra topics, common grammar rules the stuff you’ve seen before. no need to master new material. the goal now is to sharpen your accuracy.
Practice with official SAT questions under timed conditions. it trains your brain to think fast and focus under pressure way better than just reading notes.
Also, sleep. Seriously. Tired minds make silly mistakes. A rested brain performs better than a stressed one with five hours of cramming behind it.
Final tip? Trust what you’ve done. even short, smart prep can go a long way. test day is about being ready enough — not perfect.
How We Help You Prepare for the SAT – The Princeton Review Singapore
We’ve been helping students for 40+ years, across 17 countries, and every student we’ve worked with reminds us: no two prep journeys are the same. That’s why we focus on what works for you whether that’s live classes, 1-on-1 support, or just getting more used to the real test format.
Our instructors are experienced, and our materials are updated regularly. We focus on building your confidence, not just your scores. With the right plan and support, test day feels a lot less stressful and a lot more doable.
Let’s make your SAT goals happen together.