Master the Format, Own the Pace: The digital SAT throws a timer at you, but knowledge is power. Familiarize yourself with the exact number of questions and allotted time for each section (check the College Board website for the latest details). This lets you calculate your ideal time per question and avoid last-minute scrambles.
Two-Pass Triumph: For Reading and Writing, a two-pass strategy is your BFF. Blast through the easy questions first, marking the tougher ones for round two. This ensures
you snag all the low-hanging fruit and leaves you time to dissect the complex stuff later.
Prioritize Like a Pro: Don’t get tangled in a web of difficult questions. If you’re stuck, flag it and move ahead. Remember, it’s better to answer the easy questions definitively than waste precious minutes on a brain teaser. Come back to the marked questions only if you got time on your hands remaining.
Embrace the Clock (But Don’t Be Its Slave): Keep an eye on the timer, but don’t let it control you. Develop a sense of internal pace through timed practice tests. This way, you’ll know instinctively when to move on from a question without feeling rushed.
Guess estimation is Your Ally: There’s no deduction of marks for incorrect answers on the SAT. So, don’t leave a question blank! Even an educated guess can be your saving grace. Employ strategic guessing techniques like eliminating answer choices you know are wrong.
Review When You Can: After conquering the easy questions or at the end of a section (if time permits!), revisit your marked questions. Double-check your answers, especially for those you were unsure about. This final sweep can snag valuable points you might have otherwise missed.
Practice Makes Perfect (and Fast): Remember, time management is a skill, and like any skill, it needs practice. Take full-length, timed practice tests under realistic conditions. This not only builds stamina but also helps you refine your pacing strategy in the
pressure cooker of a simulated test environment.
By implementing these battle-tested tactics, you’ll transform from a time-crunched test-taker into a time management master. Now go out there and conquer that SAT!