Preparing Your Child
for the SAT
Priority #1 - Timing

All juniors who are college-bound or considering college
should take the SAT as a junior

January Test


June Test


For students completing Algebra II or higher level math class Semester 1
of their junior year
For students completing Algebra II or higher level math class Semester 2
of their junior year
Most students take the test at least twice

June of Junior Year


Mainly for students who are weak in English and have junior English
Semester 2
October of Senior Year

Students should complete SAT study plan during summer between junior
and senior years to best prepare for this retesting date
Retaking the SAT

Seniors taking the test a second time
 55%
Improved their scores
 35% Had lower scores
 10% Had no change in score

On average, juniors repeating the SAT as
seniors improved their combined critical
reading, mathematics, and writing scores
by approximately 40 points
Priority #2 - Preparation

The best preparation for the SAT is a
rigorous high school schedule comprised
of Honors and AP courses
The Path to College/Career Readiness
C o llege/C areer
C o llege/
R ead y
C areer R ead y
A P T ests
H on ors/A P
C ou rses
SA T
PSA T
Priority #3 – Use the PSAT

Take the PSAT in Grades 9, 10 and 11

Why the PSAT?

Best preparation for the SAT






Uses similar questions and same directions
Qualify for scholarships
Compare scores with other college-bound students across the
country
Forecast SAT scores
Get personalized feedback on skill strengths and weaknesses
Identify your child’s potential for AP courses in high school
Priority #4 – Test Prep Sessions

Test Preparation Sessions @ NCHS

Sessions Occur During SET
2
Test Confidence Sessions
 4 English Sessions
 4 Math Sessions

SAT Blast
 Occurs
day prior to the SAT
 Students take two 80 minute sessions


80 minutes on English
80 minutes on Math
Priority #5 – Preparation at Home

Use online resources to prepare a study plan
sat.collegeboard.com/practice/sat-skills-insight

Complete practice tests including at least one
full-length practice test
 Can
be found online
 Can be purchased in SAT study guides
 Take mock SAT in March @ NCHS

Carefully evaluate test taking strategies to figure
out what works best
 www.sparknotes.com/testprep
Other Suggested Ways to Prepare

Take SAT Prep class at NCHS


This year there was only one section Quarter 1
Considering offering two ½ credit options




All courses run based upon student request
College Board offers an online prep course


SAT Prep – English
SAP Prep – Mathematics
Cost $69.95
CCPS is exploring companies who are interested in
offering SAT Prep services such as Kaplan, etc.

Unclear at this time if this will be available and if there will be a cost
to the student
Proven Keys to Success

Practice makes perfect!

READ, READ, READ!
 Turn
off the electronics (unless it’s an eReader) and
pick up a book.

Students consistently tell us the most
challenging part is the vocabulary
 Get top 100 SAT words
 Consider purchasing a SAT words book
 Suggestion: Hot Words for the SAT published by Barron’s at
cost of $9.99
The SAT
Things You
Might Not Know
Myth
The SAT is a logic test.
Tips and shortcuts can help you
ace the SAT.
Reality
The SAT does not test logic abilities
or IQ. It tests a students skills in
reading, writing and mathematics.
The SAT isn’t designed to trick test
takers. It measures what they
already know and how they can apply
that knowledge.
Short-term prep is the best way for Quick prep courses can’t replace
a test taker to boost his/her score. years of solid schoolwork. Students
who take rigorous, challenging
courses in high school will be the
best prepared for the test.
What does the test look like?
Section
Content
Number of
Questions
Critical Reading
Extended Reasoning
Literal Comprehension
Vocabulary in Context
Sentence Completions
Total
36-40
4-6
4-6
19
67
Number & Operations
Algebra & Functions
Geometry & Measurement
Data Analysis, Statistics & Probability
Total
11-14
19-22
14-16
5-8
70 minutes
Two 25-minute sections
One 20-minute section
Mathematics
70 minutes
Two 25-minute sections
One 20-minute section
54
Writing
60 minutes
One 25-minute essay
One 25-minute multiple choice
One 10-minute multiple choice
Essay
Improving Sentences
Identifying Sentence Errors
Improving Paragraphs
Total
1
25
18
6
50
How difficult is the SAT?

On average, students answer 50 or 60
percent of questions correctly

80 percent finish nearly the entire test

Almost all students complete at least 75
percent of the questions
Timing is Everything!

Test is 3 hours and 45 minutes of testing time, plus three
5-minute breaks, for a total of 4 hours to complete the
entire test.

Can’t spend too much time on any one question.
 Spend seconds on the easiest questions
 Hesitate to spend more than 1-2 minutes even on the
hardest questions

The SAT consists of a series of small, timed, mini-tests.
 Students must keep track of the time allotted for each
one and how much time remains.

Test takers should wear a watch to the testing center.
Understanding the Scoring!




Test takers get a point for a right answer.
Test takers lose one-quarter point for a wrong
answer.
There is no deduction for omitted answers, or for
wrong answers in the math section’s studentproduced response questions.
Each of the 3 sections is on a 200 to 800 point
scale.