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Top 10 Tips for SAT Writing, pt 1

By posted February 9, 2012

During your SAT review, make sure to familiarize yourself with each section and some of the types of questions that show up over and over again.  As you do your SAT prep and SAT practice tests, keep this helpful information in mind and you will be on the road to acing the SAT!

The good news about the multiple choice part of the SAT writing section is that the same twenty or thirty grammatical concepts are tested over and over.  The more you practice, the more familiar you will become with these patterns.  This top 10 list gives some of the most common grammatical patterns on the SAT as well as some general strategies to keep in mind.

Find out how Grockit predicts your score based on your answers and tracks your performance and improvements.

1. Keep it simple! - The number one thing to keep in mind is that you want to pick the answer that is the most concise and simple, while still grammatically correct.  I throw in “while still grammatically correct” because following grammar rules means that the best answer choice is not always the shortest one.  If an answer choice seems wordy or overly elaborate, it’s probably wrong.

2. Don’t be redundant. - If something has already been stated or implied, there is no need to state it again.  For example, if a man’s name is included in a sentence, there’s no need for a phrase stating that he is a man.  The reader can infer this without the extra words.  Similarly, pronouns should not be thrown in that serve no purpose.

3. Look for parallel structure. - Parallelism shows up often in the writing section.  A sentence that is parallel contains phrases that match each other in structure.  For example, if the first item in a series of three contains a verb in present tense form, the other two items should also be verbs in present tense form.  This applies to all different types of speech.

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SAT Math: What to Expect

By posted February 7, 2012

Get to know the structure of SAT Math before test day so there are no surprises!  It’s a great idea to know the directions ahead of time so you can get started answering questions right away on the real thing.

Timing: SAT Math is comprised of two 25 minute sections with approximately 20 questions and one 20 minute section with 16 questions.  Some questions will be strictly computational and take only seconds to complete; others could take up to a few minutes.  If you are totally baffled by a question or have been working on it for too long, move on to an easier question and come back to it at the end if you have time.  Each question is worth the same amount, so don’t waste your time on one question you might not even answer correctly.

Try this SAT math practice question and test your quantitative skills!

Format: There are two question type formats, multiple choice and student-produced response.  For multiple choice you will select one out of five answers.  For student-produced response, you will not be given any choices and will have to write your answer in a grid on the answer sheet, as well as fill in the corresponding bubbles.

Content Overview: The math section covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, statistics, and probability.  So don’t sweat it if you never made it to calculus!  You will be given some basic formulas to refer to, such as the area of a triangle and the volume of a cylinder.  Refer to the collegeboard.com website to see exactly which formulas appear on the test so you don’t have to worry about memorizing them.

SAT Math has the least variety of question formats for you to learn, so you can focus on brushing up on math concepts, practicing solving problems, and learning relevant strategies.

Find out how you can get customized tutoring on SAT to hone your skills with a Grockit tutor.

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SAT Reading: What to Expect

By posted February 3, 2012

Timing: SAT Reading is made up of two to three 20-25 minute sections, depending on which subject is unscored.  Pacing for SAT Reading can be a little more complicated than for other sections since there are passages to read.  Some people only feel comfortable answering the questions on a passage if they have read the whole thing; however, for many people, time constraints won’t allow them to both read the whole passage and answer all the questions.  If you find that time is an issue for you, first just read the opening and closing paragraphs, which usually contain the main idea, and perhaps skim the middle.  Then read the questions and go back into the passage knowing what you are looking for.  Try out a few different approaches to passage-based reading.  Ultimately, the right way to do it is the way that works best for you.

Try this SAT reading question for practice before test day!

Format: The two question types on SAT Reading are sentence completion and passage-based reading.  Both are standard multiple-choice.

Sentence Completion: You will have to choose the word or words (two) that best complete the sentence.  Unless you are a vocabulary genius, there are probably going to be some words on the test that you don’t know, so learn some strategies to up your chances of answering correctly even if you aren’t familiar with all the choices.

Passage-based reading: You will be given several passages throughout the course of SAT Reading, some short and some long.  Some may be easy to read; others might be dense and filled with unknown terminology.  Each passage will be followed by questions about the passage.

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The SAT Essay: What to Expect

By posted February 1, 2012

The thought of writing an essay before delving into three hours of multiple-choice testing might send shudders down your spine, but the more you know about the SAT essay, the less daunting it will seem.  Read on to learn all the basics of the SAT essay.

Timing: The essay portion of the SAT comes first on the test.  You will have 25 minutes to read the prompt, decide on your viewpoint, brainstorm, outline, write, and proofread your essay.  Whew, that’s a lot in such a short time!  Obviously steps such as outlining are going to be very condensed versions of what you would do with a take-home essay for school, and some steps you may have to skip altogether.  Definitely write timed practiced essays at home before the big day so you’re prepared for what a time crunch it can be.

Format: You will be given a short paragraph relating to the prompt, usually a quotation from a historical figure, literature, etc.  Don’t ignore this information!  It can give you valuable ideas for your essay.  This will be followed by the prompt itself, which will ask you to formulate a point of view on an issue and support that viewpoint with examples and analysis.  You will be writing your essay on the lined pages provided.

Content Overview: Read through old SAT essay prompts to get an idea of the type of topics the test makers typically use.  You can find the most recent ones at collegeboard.com.  You will find a common thread through the prompts of “life’s big questions,” covering everything from ambition to honesty.  Every prompt will tell you to use examples from “your reading, studies, experience, or observations.”  Go into the essay armed with several examples from these areas that you feel comfortable writing about to support a thesis.

Now that you know the basics of the SAT essay, start writing!  Find out how Grockit’s expert tutors can help you to critique your practice essays so that you can learn from your mistakes.

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SAT Writing: What to Expect

By posted January 31, 2012

The SAT Writing multiple-choice sections test your knowledge of grammar, mechanics, and written conventions of the English language.  This section can be especially tricky for non-native speakers.

Timing: SAT Writing is made up of one or two 20 or 25 minute sections (depending on the unscored section), and one 10 minute section.  As with every SAT subject, time yourself during practice so you can adjust your pacing accordingly.

Format: There are three different question types on SAT Writing, each with a different format.  All three do offer the familiar five multiple-choice answers.  Get to know these three formats well so that you feel comfortable with them come test day.

Try this SAT writing question for practice!

Improving Sentences: These questions give you a sentence with an underlined portion and ask you to pick the answer choice that best fits the underlined area.  The first choice will always be the same as in the original sentence, while the other four choices will offer different options.

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SAT Essay-Using the prompt to your advantage

By posted January 30, 2012

The SAT essay is a source of anxiety for many test takers.  Becoming familiar with what to expect on the essay portion is key to calming your nerves and doing well.  Knowing some strategies to use the prompt to your advantage can also be very beneficial.

Message one of Grockit’s expert SAT tutors before test day and find out how you can get personalized online tutoring.

You will be given 25 minutes to write your essay.  The essay prompt will include a quote, typically a short paragraph, that relates to your prompt, followed by the prompt itself and the directions.  The quotation could come from a book, a famous public figure, or the SAT writers themselves.  Don’t skip to the prompt and ignore the quotation!  The quotation is there to give you ideas and key words.  Often the prompt question itself may seem confusing–what are they really asking about?  The quotation can steer you in the right direction.  A good strategy is to circle key words in the quotation that you can then use in the essay.  You should pick out the “big words” that relate to the issue at hand.  For example, if the question asks about conformity, some words and phrases you might circle are: pressures, conform, modern free society, failure to conform, influences, reshape ourselves, appeal, belonging, destroy our individuality.

Strike a balance between using key terms from the quotation and including your own original vocabulary.  You could even jot down a few synonyms for some of the key terms before you get started.  If you are going to use a longer phrase or a whole sentence, do not try to pass it off as your own.  Include it as a quotation, which is perfectly acceptable.

Remember that the essay prompt is not just about the question you will be addressing.  If you ignore the quotation, you will be missing out on a lot of clues that can make a big difference in your essay.

Need more SAT advice? Check back to Grockit’s college prep blog often for the latest in SAT news!

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SAT Essay-Punctuation

By posted January 27, 2012

One of the five categories that make up the SAT essay rubric deals with written conventions such as grammar, mechanics, and punctuation.  Although a few mistakes in this area might slide by, too many will bring down the overall quality of your essay and could leave your reader confused.  Small as they may seem, mistakes in punctuation such as a missing comma or indent can drastically alter the meaning of a sentence or paragraph.  Here’s some common punctuation mistakes to avoid:

1. Indentation: Make sure to indent at the beginning of a new paragraph.  This gives your essay structure and communicates to the reader where one idea ends and another one begins.  If you do not use indentation, your essay will seem like one long paragraph of sentences strung together with no clear organization.

2. Commas: A good rule of thumb for commas is that if you read the sentence aloud to yourself and pause in between words, a comma should probably go there.  The places your reader pauses in a sentence can greatly affect how he or she interprets it.  If you have a list of three or more things (nouns, phrases, etc), make sure to put commas between them.

Try this SAT Passage Based Reading practice question.

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SAT essay–structure

By posted January 25, 2012

There is not necessarily one “right” structure for the SAT essay, but if you are not sure where to start, this is a solid typical essay structure that will cover all your bases.  Remember that these are just guidelines and the specifics of a well-written essay can vary widely.

Find out how you can have fun, attain mastery, get personalized instruction when you need it on Grockit! 

Introductory Paragraph, typically 3-4 sentences

-2-3 opening sentences: often called “the hook,” should draw in the reader

-1-2 closing sentences (usually just 1): the thesis, which tells the reader your point of view on the issue addressed in the prompt

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SAT Essay–Vocabulary

By posted January 23, 2012

Word choice is an extremely important aspect of SAT essay writing.  A common trap that many writers fall into is repeating the same two or three key words or phrases over and over again in their essay.  While it’s a plus that you are not straying off topic, repetitive vocabulary makes your essay very, very dull to read.  It can be difficult to vary vocabulary since throughout your whole essay you want to keep the same theme going, reinforcing your thesis throughout.  Therefore, it is crucial to think of some synonyms for the key words from your thesis.  If you find yourself repeating “achievement” over and over, think of a few alternatives and use those as well.  It’s fine if you use a key word more than once, but try to keep it to a minimum and space them out from each other, using synonyms in between.  Sometimes you do not have to think of a straight synonym–a phrase representing the same idea might fit well with the wording of a sentence.  Try to be aware of whether you find yourself writing the same word or phrase throughout the essay as you are writing.  You can also take a quick glance over each paragraph as you finish it to get a picture of any vocabulary repetition going on.

Find out how Grockit can provide you with the ideal environment for improving your SAT score.

Another common issue with word choice is the SAT vocabulary versus the less fancy words debate.  Hopefully you’ve been studying SAT vocabulary for the reading section and now have in your arsenal some big impressive words.  But only use these words if you really feel comfortable with them.  That does not just mean you know the definition; it means that you can easily use them in a sentence in the correct manner.  Remember that it’s always better to use a word you truly understand and create a clear idea in a sentence than to overextend yourself and use vocabulary incorrectly, obscuring your message.  On the other hand, do not use language that is too informal.  This should not be written with the word choice you would use when talking to a friend or writing an informal essay.  So, use the best vocabulary possible whose definition and usage you understand, and avoid too much repetition.

Need some SAT practice? Try this student produced response question and test your skills today!

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SAT essay—grammar

By posted January 20, 2012

While a few minor grammatical mistakes are not going to affect your SAT essay score too much, exceptional grammar could give your essay the extra push it needs to get a higher score, and too many grammar mistakes can make your message less cohesive and strong.  Here are some tips to perfect your essay writing skills in the grammar department:

1. Keep it simple.  It is better to be concise than wordy and redundant.  Also, don’t worry about using lots of “fancy” words—your grader will appreciate a clear argument more than big vocabulary words, especially if they are used incorrectly.

2. Avoid phrases such as “in conclusion,” “to summarize,” and “my example is…”  These things are implied by the fact that you stated them, so it’s not necessary to repeat them.

3. If you’re not sure if you need commas, read the sentence to yourself and add one anywhere you find yourself pausing.  Comma usage can affect the reader’s understanding of a sentence substantially.

Did you know that Grockit predicts your score based on your answers and tracks your performance and improvements, projecting accurate score improvements? Find out how and be prepared for test day!

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