Practice makes perfect. Nothing substitutes for frequent practice. You should get started with answering the test immediately. This is possible when you are completely aware of,

• the directions for all six question types – do not lose time reading the instructions on the day of the test.
• the general type of questions you would encounter in each section
• the time you have to spend on a question page or a section, including the time for revision.
• the way to eliminate wrong answers
• technique for guessing and relaxation

• Eliminate choices.Consider elimination only if you don't know or cannot arrive at the correct answer to a question. It's sometimes easier to deduce what the answer cannot be. As you narrow down your answer choices, you are better placed to make a calculated guess of what the right answer might be and you increase your chances of getting it right. If you leave the answer blank you get no points; if your answer is wrong you only lose ¼ of a point. For example, in a multiple-choice math problem, the answers are usually in either ascending or descending order of their values. When you deduce that the value of the middle choice is either too high or too low to be correct, you can eliminate all answer choices either after or before the middle one, as appropriate.

• Plan your time when answering. Your practice sessions would have given you an idea of how long you would need to spend on a question to give you sufficient time to review your answers at the end of each page of your screen. Remember:

• to try to work at an even, steady pace;
• to aim at completing a 30-minute section in no more than 25 minutes when working on your practice test so that you can be sure you will complete it in the real test.
• that all questions are worth the same number of points;

When you realize you have spent too long on a question, move on to the next one. You can always come back to it when taking the actual SAT test (though not in our practice test).

• Don't assume you can’t work out the answer. Sometimes the question may seem confusing, include words whose meaning you are not sure of, or involve a concept that you are not acquainted with, however, don't pass over such a question without at least reading through it. You may still be able to solve it by elimination, rule of thumb or plain common sense. Take each question as it comes and avoid careless mistakes.

1. Read the question carefully. A good understanding of the question is vital. A "not" or "no" or the prefix "un" conveys an opposite meaning. Pay attention to the construction of the question.
2. Always read all the answers to a verbal question before choosing your answer. Two answers can be very similar except for a subtle variation.
3. It sometimes helps to check whether an answer is patently absurd. Does your answer make sense? Is the amount of discount higher than the original price? Is Joe earning $100 an hour delivering newspapers? Is John running 80 miles per hour? Is Mary baking 60 cakes a minute? Is the average age of a high school student 52 years? Etc.
4. There will often be a variety of methods to solve a math problem. For example, a linear equation with two variables can be solved in several ways: graphically; by elimination of one variable; by comparison; by substitution; by cross-multiplication, etc. Here again, practice helps you to identify the fastest method to adopt to solve a given problem. You may also re-solve the problem using a different method to double-check that your answer is correct.

• Have a notepad or scratch paper handy. It helps to have a scratch pad and a calculator to solve math problems. You may want to plot a graph or redraw a diagram and make additional markings on it. In the written test, it is important to keep your answer sheet neat and free of stray marks; you can mark up your test booklet.

• When working on a question, to mark an answer choice for elimination click on it with the Shift key pressed down to put a line through that choice.

When taking the paper version of SAT: You can write whatever you want, wherever you want, in the section of the booklet you're working on. You will not receive credit for anything written in the booklet, however.

• Mark each question that you don't answer so that you can easily go back to it – only in the actual SAT test – not in our practice test.

• Mark sections, sentences, or words in reading passages.

• In math, make drawings to help you understand problems describing a figure. Mark key information on graphs. Add information to drawings and diagrams to help you figure out the problem.

Pacing is all about the minimum or maximum time that you can spend on a question in comprehending and answering it. You should plan on answering all the questions and have enough time on hand to re-examine your answers. Ensure that you follow this method in your practice tests and finish at least five minutes ahead of the time allowed, to be sure of completing the real test.

• Questions arranged from easy to hard. The questions in each section of the SAT (and the PSAT/NMSQT) are organized in increasing level of difficulty (except for questions on Critical Reading). This means that you should be able to finish your initial set of questions more rapidly to give you sufficient time to tackle the more difficult ones in the latter part.

• Look for questions that you are sure of. It often helps to quickly browse the questions on a page of the screen to see which ones you are sure of answering. Answer such questions first before concentrating on the more difficult ones. Always check that you have answered all questions before you move to the next page.

The message at the bottom of the screen will display the number of unanswered questions on the page.

• Keep track of time during the test. An occasional glance at the "countdown" clock tells you the time in minutes left for completing the section. A good time to check the clock would be before you click to move to the next page. If you find the time is short, you know you have to rush through the remaining questions. However, remember that you cannot move back through the pages, so if you find you have sufficient time left, consider reviewing the answers on the current page before moving ahead.

Guessing on the SAT when you're not sure of an answer is a good idea only if you have an effective approach. Remember each correct answer on the SAT is worth one point and each wrong answer subtracts ¼ point.

Understanding how the test is scored will help you develop an effective strategy for the multiple-choice questions and for math questions that are not multiple choice and for which you supply the answer.

When you are not sure of an answer to a multiple-choice question, eliminate all the answer choices that you know are wrong and guess from the remaining ones. One way of elimination is to try the middle value among the answer choices and based on its relation to the answer (that is, is it proportional or inversely proportional? In other words, does the required result increase or decrease with the variation in the answer choice? Eliminate choices based on this variation.) The more choices you can eliminate, the better your chance of choosing the right answer. You will lose a fraction of a point for each incorrect answer. Our studies have shown that random guessing rarely improves your score. In fact, it could lower your score. So move on if you can't eliminate any choice. You can return to the question later if there is time.

• Avoid substitution, if possible.Always try to arrive at the answer mathematically; there is nothing more sure than this. However, in questions where you have to determine whether the given statements are true or false, it may not be a good idea to substitute different values to see if it fulfills the given condition, assuming there is no mathematical alternative. You may have to try positive integers, negative integers, zero, negative or positive fractions, etc. to be sure of the logic of the statement. You will often be better off and more certain of the answer if you approach it mathematically.

• Student-produced-response math questions. For math questions that are not multiple-choice (grid-ins), make a calculated guess. You lose no points for incorrect answers to these problems. If you have no idea how to approach a problem, move on. You can return to it later if there is time.

Relaxation Techniques

The SAT is not only a test of how much you know and how well you can apply what you know, but is also a reflection of your attitude. Some students who do well in their practice tests become a bundle of nerves when taking the actual test and end up losing their concentration and faring poorly. Remember, being nervous is natural. In flight and fright your adrenalin pumps harder and prepares you to face the situation. A feeling of nervousness can keep you sharp and focused. However, too much anxiety can keep you from concentrating and working effectively. So,

• Get a good night's sleep.

• Avoid last minute cramming. It rarely helps.

• Ensure at least a day before that you have taken everything that you need for the test:

- The appropriate ID, which must include your photo, or a brief description of yourself. The description must be on school stationery or a school ID form, and you must sign it in front of your principal or guidance counselor, who must also sign it.

- Admission ticket

- #2 pencils

- Calculator with new batteries

• Make sure you know the way to the test center and any special instructions for finding the entrance on weekends.

• Plan on being at the test center at least half an hour in advance, giving you enough leeway against mishaps and emergencies. Remember, if you're not there when the test starts, you can't take the test.

Think positively and be optimistic. Focus on the question paper and don't let your thoughts stray. To calm yourself down, take a few slow, deep breaths. Concentrate on your own work; don't be carried away by what other test-takers are doing.

The SAT is not the sole criteria for your college admission. It is only one of the factors, albeit an important one. Your high school grades, extra-curricular activities and any recognition you may have received for this, personal recommendations, etc. are also significant. Remember, if you are not satisfied with your SAT score, you can take the test again.