SAT Test Prep
Lesson #1 – Introduction
Source: AVID Coordinator’s Training on February 6, 2014 by Study Smart Tutors http://studysmarttutors.com/
“To succeed, we must first
believe that we can.”
-Michael Korda
Comparison of Old SAT and Redesigned SAT
Old SAT
Total
Testing Time
3 Hours, 45 Minutes
3 Hours*
50 Minutes for
Optional Essay
Critical Reading
Writing + Essay
Mathematics
Evidence-Based
Reading & Writing
* Subject to research
Components
Redesigned SAT
- Reading
- Writing & Language
Math
Essay (Optional)
Comparison of Old SAT and Redesigned SAT
Old SAT
Important
Features
Emphasis on general
reasoning skills
Emphasis on
vocabulary, often in
limited contexts
Complex scoring (a
point for a correct
answer and a deduction
for an incorrect answer;
blank responses have no
impact on scores)
Redesigned SAT
Reasoning + strong focus
on knowledge, skills, and
understandings most
important for college and
career readiness and
success
Greater emphasis on the
meaning of words in
extended contexts and on
how word choice shapes
meaning, tone, and impact
Rights-only scoring (a
point for a correct answer
but no deduction for an
incorrect answer; blank
responses have no impact
on scores)
Comparison of Old SAT and Redesigned SAT
Old SAT
Essay
Required and
given at the
beginning of
the SAT
- 25 minutes to
write
the essay
- Tests writing
skill; students
take a position on
a presented issue
Redesigned SAT
Optional and
given at the end
of the SAT
- 50 minutes to write
the essay
- Tests reading,
analysis, and
writing skills;
students produce
a written analysis
of a provided
source text
Comparison of Old SAT and Redesigned SAT
Old SAT
Scoring
600-2400 Scale
- Critical Reading
(800)
- Mathematics
(800)
Insight
Scores
- Writing (800)
Redesigned SAT
400-1600 Scale
- Evidence-Based
Reading & Writing
(800)
- Math (800)
- Essay score
Multiple Insight
Scores
8 Key Changes to the SAT
8 Key Changes to the SAT
Students will need to:
Interpret meaning based on
context
Master relevant vocabulary
Engage in close reading
8 Key Changes to the SAT
Students will be asked to:
Interpret, synthesize, and use
evidence found in a wide range of
sources
Support the answers they choose
Integrate information conveyed
through both reading passages
and informational graphics
8 Key Changes to the SAT
The redesigned essay will:
More closely mirror college
writing assignments
Cultivate close reading, careful
analysis, and clear writing
Promote the practice of reading a
wide variety of arguments and
analyzing an author’s work
8 Key Changes to the SAT
Current research shows that three
key areas most contribute to
readiness for college and career
training:
Problem Solving and Data
Analysis (quantitative literacy)
Heart of Algebra (mastery of
linear equations)
Passport to Advanced Math
(familiarity with more complex
equations)
8 Key Changes to the SAT
Students will engage with questions
that:
Directly relate to the work
performed in college and career
Include charts, graphs, and
passages likely to be
encountered in science, social
science, and other majors and
careers
Feature multistep applications to
solve problems in science, social
science, career scenarios, and
other real-life contexts
8 Key Changes to the SAT
Students will apply their
reading, writing, language, and
math skills to answer
questions in science, history,
and social studies contexts.
8 Key Changes to the SAT
The redesigned SAT will include one
of the following:
An excerpt from one of the
Founding Documents
A text from the ongoing Great
Global Conversation about
freedom, justice, and human
dignity
No prior knowledge of the text will
be required.
SAT Changes Effective March 2016
• The overall score will return to 1600
• The essay will be optional
• Vocabulary will come form words used in
college courses
• Reading passages will come from on of the
nation’s founding documents
• Administration format will be available in
both paper and digital formats
SAT or ACT
• SAT is tricky, but not conceptually
advanced
• ACT is difficult but straight forward
• Student will do better on one or the other.
The only way to know is to take both.
• Waivers for both test are available to
those who qualify
How many times should students
take the SAT?
• Almost every college will combine a
student’s best scores regardless of test
date
• A new policy called “Score Choice” allows
students to completely omit an entire test
from their records
• Students have nothing to lose by taking
the SAT multiple times (except the cost of
the tests)
When Should You Guess on SAT
Questions?
• Generally speaking, if you can eliminate at
least one of five multiple choice answers,
you should guess
• No penalty for wrong answers!
Example
Question: What is the capital of North Dakota?
Testing Tip: By eliminating wrong answers, you can
improve your success rate with guessing.
(A) Billings
(B) Dallas (this is obviously in Texas)
(C) Bismarck
(D) Fargo
(E) Boston (this is obviously in Massachusetts)
Now that you’ve narrowed the question down to only
three answer choices, it benefits you to guess.
UC Application Data Fall 2015
Campus
Admit Rate
Average G.P.A.
Average ACT
Score
Average SAT
Score
Berkely
19%
4.19
31
2094
Davis
33%
4.07
29
1924
Irvine
33%
4.04
28
1878
Los Angeles
16%
4.18
31
2064
Merced
66%
3.67
24
1616
Riverside
57%
3.78
26
1746
San Diego
30%
4.13
30
2035
Santa Barbara
34%
4.05
29
1937
Santa Cruz
46%
3.88
27
1828
Application Fee is $70.00
Cal State Application Data Fall
2015
Campus
Admit Rate
Average G.P.A.
Average ACT
Score
Average SAT
Score
Bakersfield
62%
3.2
16.21
X
Channel Islands
X
3.19
21
994
Chico
79%
3.21
21
1013
Dominguez Hills
80%
3.0
17
851
East Bay
68%
3.1
19
1366
Fresno
60%
3.33
17-22
929
Fullerton
44%
3.48
21
1018
Humboldt
75%
3.2
23
1000
Long Beach
31%
3.43
18-24
X
Los Angeles
68%
3.14
18
880
Maritime Academy
61%
3.36
21-27
990-1210
Monterey Bay
44%
3.2
18-24
X
Application Fee is $55.00
Cal State Application Data Fall
2015 Continued
Campus
Admit Rate
Average G.P.A.
Average ACT
Score
Average SAT
Score
Northridge
75%
3.09
19
926
Pomona
53%
3.43
23
995
Sacramento
71%
3.25
17-23
985
San Bernardino
83%
3.22
16-20
894
San Diego
37%
3.6
22-26
1103
San Francisco
64%
3.14
21
997
San Jose
76%
3.28
X
X
San Luis Obispo
31%
3.88
27
1244
San Marcos
67%
3.18
X
X
Sonoma
80%
3.2
19-24
450-560
Stanislaus
93%
3.2
20
949
Application Fee is $55.00
Every Little Bit Helps
• How many points on the SAT do you think
make the difference between a student
being accepted or rejected from a given
university?
• The Wall Street Journal found that 30
points is all it takes to differentiate certain
students from the competition
• 30 points is 2-4 questions!
Process of Elimination
• Every multiple choice question on the SAT
has four wrong answers and only one
correct answer.
• By eliminating the wrong answers, you will
be left with less answer choices to make
an educated guess from.
• Remember, you may write on your test
booklet.
Be Quick, But Don’t Hurry
• Every question is worth the same amount
• There are approximately 1/3 easy
questions, 1/3 medium questions, and 1/3
hard questions
• Spend time on easy and medium
questions and leave hard questions blank
The SAT and Family Income
Order of Difficulty
• Some sections get increasingly difficult as
you move to the end of the section.
• Other sections have challenging and easy
problems mixed throughout
• Always answer the easy questions for easy
points