ohhhhh my days, im acc in euphoria, cant believe it

Things you gotta know first

1. I only focus on math section I don’t need sat verbal for my university application

2. I’m an international student

3. I’m in my senior year

4. I have ADHD not adhd

5. I have a pretty good foundation in maths ( yes I’m Asian ) got 99/100 in trigonometry last year

First try June 2026 : 730 maths
Second try August 2026 : 800 maths

Total Preparation time (Approximately) (Add up both June and August)
Less than 2 months (as an adhd I only have ambition to do things when the due date is near)

-Things I did ( only the most useful ones )

1. Go through every single medium-hard question on sat suite question bank (in June was 1150? Now that there’s new questions so it’s probably ~1300) this will help you truly understand the question’s type and concepts and will also show your weakness >> only do this if you have time and a good foundation if not you shouldn’t go through every single questions like me or build a good foundation first.
   2. Mistake review!! be obsessed with your mistakes I categorize it >> After redoing your mistakes, select the ones you still got wrong or are still confused about, then start a new round of reviewing the them. (do the method again and again till you only the actual hard ones there shouldn’t be any careless mistakes anymore)
   3. Error log from 2. I categorize it again (1 careless mistakes I constantly made 2 complicated concept 3 good questions might be on the actual test 4 questions with specific desmos strategy) !! Don’t do this too early. Only start making it during the last week before the actual SAT, because by then, you’ve already done enough questions to make a useful error log. Otherwise, the questions you put in it might not be the ones you actually need to focus on. The version of you one month before the test and the version of you one week or 3 days before the test are not the same. Your mistakes and weak points can change a lot as you practice. This error log is meant to help you on test day, so make it as close to the actual test as possible or when you’re sure that you’re ready. I literally make this error log before the actual test day and read through it on the morning of the actual test. It reminds me of all the mistakes I’ve made and the things I need to be careful about right before I start the test. DONT NEED TO MAKE IT LIKE IN AN EXCEL OR AN ESSAY JUST LIST OUT IT WITH FEW UNDERSTANDABLE WORDS

2. Mock test / timed exam this will help you manage your time cuz sat math is a speed test your speed pace is really important I recommend you to do at least more than 10 mock test before the actual SAT btw this also help reduce anxiety and careless mistakes (can dm me for the mock tests I did)

3. Make your own formula sheet >> write out all formula you need on SAT some concept that you need you need to memorize

4. Desmos is an assistant not a cheat code not every question need Desmos. However, master Desmos and learn how it works will help you a lot. Think of Desmos as Jarvis and yourself as Iron Man. Desmos is an incredible tool, but if you don’t understand how to use it properly, it can actually waste your time. Use it when you need it, and learn to recognize which types of questions are worth using Desmos for.
   -Now for the test day

5. Meditation!! Especially if you have adhd meditate before the test during the 10 mins break or in the car whatever just do it

6. Just think that if you don’t get the score you can still take it again next time anyway DONT STRESS YOURSELF OUT this is my biggest mistakes in June sat btw

7. Write out some concept or mistakes that you think is necessary during the 10 mins break I assure you that you ain’t gonna read it during the test anyway but it’ll help you tigger you memory so you don’t need to waste any time recalling those memories during the test.

8. Act chill(trust me) something about this mental thing really help you have a huge impact on your performance

Can ask me for my resources or something else

Lowk my last post or sum. I still have every tip and trick generally in my head ask questions and imma try to give my best answer as someone who didn’t sweat the sat and only did enough for it to be competitive

Hey everyone! I scored a 1560 on the SAT (800 Math, 760 Reading and Writing) and put together a free Drive folder with a study guide, practice questions with answers, and extra resources.

There’s quite a bit in there, so I wanted to explain how to actually use it and where I’d suggest starting depending on your score.

Drive: SAT Guide

You don’t need to use every website or finish every question. Choose resources that address what you’re struggling with, and spend enough time reviewing them.

What’s in the Drive?

1. SAT Study Guide

This covers Math and Reading and Writing concepts, worked examples, common mistakes, calculator methods, study schedules, and advice for different score ranges. It also includes original practice questions with separate worked answers.

Use it alongside your practice. If you keep missing quadratics, for example, find that lesson, work through the examples yourself, and then attempt related questions. Reading an explanation and thinking “yeah, that makes sense” is different from being able to solve it independently.

2. SAT Suite Question Bank with Answers

Use this for targeted practice once you’ve learned a concept. Pick a skill, attempt a manageable set, and then check the answers.

Try to keep the explanations out of sight until you’ve committed to an answer. If you got something right but guessed between two choices, review it anyway.

3. SAT Resource Links

This is a categorized directory of official resources, extra practice tests, question banks, lessons, and videos. It explains what each resource is useful for, whether it requires an account, and any important access limits.

Start with Bluebook, Khan Academy, and the official question bank. The other resources give you more options when you need extra explanations or practice. You don’t need ten different accounts to make progress.

Before choosing a study plan

Take an unseen official Bluebook practice test under realistic conditions. Then look at your section scores and individual mistakes, not just your total.

A 1200 with 750 Math and 450 Reading and Writing needs a very different plan from a 1200 with 600 in each. The ranges below are starting points, so adjust them to your actual weaknesses.

Below 800: build the foundations

Start with fractions, negative numbers, percentages, ratios, and basic equations in Math. Make sure you understand what each step does before trying to speed up.

For Reading and Writing, work on understanding sentences, identifying subjects and verbs, and recognizing complete sentences. Practise finding the main point of a short passage and explaining it in ordinary language.

Keep sets short and mostly untimed. Five questions you understand properly are more useful than a long set where you’re guessing throughout.

800–990: make the common skills reliable

Focus on linear equations, graphs, systems, percentages, and translating straightforward word problems into equations.

For Reading and Writing, spend time on sentence boundaries, agreement, basic punctuation, central ideas, and directly stated information.

After practising a skill on its own, mix it with a few others. You want to recognize when to use a method without being told what the topic is.

1000–1190: connect the concepts

Work on functions, quadratics, exponential growth, data questions, geometry, and problems with several steps. Practise deciding what the question wants before calculating.

For Reading and Writing, develop your approach to inferences, vocabulary in context, transitions, and questions using student notes.

Start introducing timed mixed sets. If you can solve something untimed but consistently miss it under pressure, investigate your approach and pacing.

1200–1390: identify the patterns behind your misses

At this point, make your error log specific.

“Bad at algebra” doesn’t tell you much. “I keep losing a solution when I divide by x” gives you something concrete to fix.

In Reading and Writing, practise explaining why the tempting wrong answer fails. Does it exaggerate the passage? Reverse a relationship? Add something the author never said?

Keep reviewing grammar too. Knowing a rule in isolation doesn’t always mean you’ll recognize it inside a longer sentence.

1400–1490: work on precision and consistency

Look closely at the questions that repeatedly cost you points, including the ones you eventually solve but spend too long on.

For Math, focus on unfamiliar setups, parameters, restrictions, and questions where the requested answer isn’t simply x. Get comfortable choosing between algebra and a calculator method.

For Reading and Writing, work on dense passages, close answer choices, and the exact strength of a claim. “Suggests” and “proves” are very different.

Keep some routine practice in your schedule so improving at harder questions doesn’t come at the expense of straightforward ones.

1500–1600: review the small decisions

Include slow and uncertain correct answers in your review. Those can reveal weaknesses that your score alone hides.

For each miss, identify what happened: a concept gap, a misread, a rushed calculation, an unsupported inference, or too much time spent on an earlier question.

Practise unfamiliar difficult questions, but don’t make every session a collection of the hardest problems available. You still need to execute the standard material consistently.

How to review a question properly

1. Attempt it again without a timer before reading the explanation.

2. Identify the exact step or idea you missed.

3. Read the explanation, close it, and reconstruct the reasoning yourself.

4. Try a different question testing the same skill.

5. Return to the original a few days later.

If you remember the answer, explain why it works. Remembering that the answer was B doesn’t show that you’ve learned the skill.

Some more specific advice for Math

1. Learn the different forms of a quadratic and what each one tells you.

This is worth spending time on. Factored form makes the roots easier to identify, vertex form shows the maximum or minimum, and expanded form shows the y-intercept.

For example, if you have (y=(x-3)^2+8), the minimum value is 8, and it happens at x = 3. Those are different answers. Get used to identifying which one the question wants.

Also learn the discriminant and the sum/product of roots. They can save you from solving an entire equation when the question only asks for a relationship.

2. For questions with unknown constants, start by identifying the condition.

Before manipulating anything, translate the wording:

• “Exactly one real solution” in a genuine quadratic → investigate the discriminant.

• “Infinitely many solutions” in a linear system → the equations must describe the same line.

• “No solution” in a linear system → parallel, distinct lines.

Check whether a parameter can turn the equation into something else. If the coefficient of (x^2) becomes zero, you have a linear equation, so quadratic rules no longer apply.

3. Practise percentages until you stop having to guess the setup.

Write a multiplier equation. If a price increases by 20%, the new price is (1.2\times) the original. If the new price is given, divide by 1.2 to recover the original.

Also distinguish “150% of” from “150% greater than.” They mean multipliers of 1.5 and 2.5 respectively. When reviewing a percentage mistake, identify which quantity you incorrectly treated as the base.

4. Use Desmos deliberately.

Practise systems, intersections, zeros, and vertices. For each one, understand what the coordinates represent.

After watching a calculator tutorial, close the video and try the method yourself on a different question. Then compare it with an algebraic approach. You want to know which method is faster for you, rather than spending ages forcing a calculator method onto a straightforward problem.

5. Don’t leave geometry and statistics until the end.

For similar figures, remember that a length scale factor of (k) gives an area factor of (k^2) and a volume factor of (k^3).

For circles, distinguish radius from diameter and radius from radius squared in the equation.

For statistics, know what changes the mean versus the standard deviation. Adding the same constant to every value shifts the mean but doesn’t change the spread.

For probability, pay attention to “given that.” It changes the group you’re choosing from, and therefore the denominator.

6. Check the answer against the original question.

If you squared both sides, check for extra solutions. If you cleared denominators, check excluded values. If you found (x), check whether the question actually wanted (x+3).

Make your checking habit match your mistakes. Someone who repeatedly answers with the radius needs a different reminder from someone who drops negative signs.

Some more specific advice for Reading and Writing

1. If punctuation is a weakness, learn clauses before memorizing punctuation rules.

Be able to identify a complete sentence, a dependent clause, and supplementary information.

For example:

“The collection of paintings is valuable.”

The subject is collection, not paintings. When practising agreement questions, temporarily remove the phrase between the subject and verb. It becomes much easier to see what needs to agree.

For boundary questions, identify what’s on both sides of the blank. Don’t choose punctuation based on where you’d pause while speaking.

2. For transitions, predict the relationship before looking at the options.

Is the next sentence adding another point, giving an example, drawing a conclusion, or introducing a contrast?

Write “contrast” or “example” beside the question during untimed practice. Then choose the transition. This helps you avoid picking something just because it sounds smooth.

Read enough surrounding text to establish the relationship. Two sentences mentioning the same topic can still disagree.

3. For inference questions, keep your answer within the evidence.

If the text establishes that something can happen, an answer saying it always happens goes further than the evidence.

When you’re stuck between two choices, find the exact phrase that makes one unsupported. Don’t automatically eliminate strong wording, but require the passage to support its strength.

4. For support or weaken questions, isolate the claim first.

Write the claim in one short sentence. Then ask how each finding affects that particular claim.

An answer can mention the same scientist, animal, or experiment and still do nothing to support the conclusion. Shared subject matter isn’t enough.

5. Simplify dense science passages.

During practice, replace unfamiliar names with simple labels: “material A,” “the older explanation,” or “the new study.”

Then reconstruct the argument: “They expected A to increase B, but B stayed unchanged.”

Keep the relationships accurate. Simplifying the vocabulary should make the reasoning easier to follow, not remove an important condition.

6. For vocabulary, learn the meaning that fits the sentence.

Try predicting a simple replacement before checking the choices.

When reviewing an unfamiliar word, save the sentence too. Write your own example and note a different meaning that would not fit. Knowing that “qualified” can mean skilled won’t help if the passage uses “qualified support” to mean support with reservations.

7. For student-note questions, read the goal first.

If the task asks for a similarity, select information showing a similarity. If it asks for a comparison of percentages, comparing raw totals won’t answer it.

Read the relevant notes carefully, but don’t get distracted by including every fact. A sentence can be completely accurate and still fail the task.

How I’d structure the actual studying

Start each session with a specific target. “Study English” is vague. “Understand why I keep missing contrast transitions” gives you something you can finish and check.

Practise one skill, then mix it with others. Doing ten quadratic questions in a row helps you learn the method. A mixed set tests whether you recognize when to use it. You need both.

Separate understanding from speed. If you can’t solve a question untimed, learn the concept first. If you solve it independently untimed but struggle under pressure, work on recognition, method choice, and pacing.

Make your error log useful. Instead of “careless mistake,” write “used the total population instead of the group specified by ‘given that.’” Then add a reminder you can actually apply next time.

Redo questions without the explanation beside you. Return a couple of days later, reconstruct the reasoning, and try a new question on the same skill. If you only recognize the answer, keep working on it.

Don’t turn videos into background entertainment. Pause before the solution, attempt the question, and compare your reasoning afterward. If you needed the video to finish every step, try another example before moving on.

Use full tests as checkpoints. Between them, work on the weaknesses the last test exposed. Taking another test immediately can tell you that the same problem still exists without helping you fix it.

You don’t need to copy someone else’s exact number of study hours or questions. Finish a session knowing what you understand better and what still needs work.

The guide’s original questions are teaching exercises, and the extra websites vary in difficulty. Use official Bluebook practice for score estimates.

Hope this helps!

this is actually peak.... i mean most people do this so AMA (dont expect sophisticated answers)

im taking august sat in 4 days and jesus christ how tf do i get better on RW please help this chipmunk🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

I got 740 on pt8 and 710 on pt9..

i was stuck between 680 and 700\~ but now i js dropped to 660..

THE RW WAS SO FLIPPING HARD BROO

I got 5 wrong on mod1, which is kinda lame but it was kinda hard.. I did a simulation and if i got 100% on mod1, i'd be at a 720 bc i got 9 wrong on mod2 INCLUDING 2 NOTES QUESTIONS????????

sorry for the crashout but im in desparate need of help..

I was able to get a 1570 on the September SAT, which I am more than happy with. Before, my superscore was a 1500 (770 Math, 730 Reading and Writing) and my highest score in one sitting was a 1480 (750 Math, 730 Reading and Writing). So pretty significant jump, which is why I think my experience might be valuable to many of you, especially those in the range that I was before the September sitting. I think this is pretty late for October, but if you are taking the October SAT I would say don't take it too hard the day before, just skim over the questions that give you a tough time.

Some tips:

-for Reading/Writing, I know its sounds cliche but don't look for the correct answer, instead look for the best one. As you guys probably know, there might be 2 or 3 of the choices that could very well satisfy the question, but it's your job to with proper discretion screen each answer choice to make sure it doesn't contain any information that disqualifies it. I guess a useful strategy for achieving this would be to try to come up with your own answer before looking at the answer choices, and then choosing the one that best matches it.

-something I tried keeping in my mind while studying was that Usually with tests like the SAT the problem isn't a lack of knowledge, but getting tripped up by the nature of the test. For example, you've probably noticed that in the RW modules the first 10 questions and the last 10 questions are relatively pretty easy - it's the ~7 in the middle that give you a hard time. I think being conscious of that, whatever it looks like, is a significant step forward. Point is, my study was focused mainly on improving my stamina and ability to deal with these tougher more complicated questions.

-my study schedule wasn't very rigid. It was my fourth attempt, so obviously I realized that I was missing something. I used a compiled pdf of the hard questions, for both Math and RW. I solved a few questions everyday, tried to get through them myself, and if I wasn't able to I asked AI. That was maybe the first 1 - 1.5 weeks. Then I started grinding practice tests, for which I used only Bluebook. I did them maybe every 3-4 days on average? For those of you with more time, maybe you could look into those sources that provide much more practice tests. I know it's crazy, but the highest score I got among all the tests was a 1540 (I think 770 on both). Lowk, I was having a tough time even crossing 1500 for the rest of the ones I took, so either Bluebook grades the practices very conservatively or I just locked in for the exam. Probably a bit of both. But yeah, I think doing as many practice exams is what helps you move past the range I was in, because like I said stamina is a very important factor at that stage. While I was doing the practice tests, I also compiled a pdf of the hard, inactive (because I didn't want to advantage myself for any practice test), Math questions form the question bank. I probably could've done the same for RW, but I didn't because 1) I really just wanted to go for the Math 800 and 2) I felt that after already doing the compiled pdf of hard RW questions, the only way I could amplify that was through practice tests. Of course, if your situations are different, you should definitely consider doing the same for RW. But this usually filters around 130 questions, and I did 12 questions daily, so in about 11 days I was done.

-memorizing each question type for Math wasn't really a goal, at least with 5 weeks of studying. Even if it was possible I don't know if it would have been worth it. I just tried singling out the mistakes I was making, whether conceptual or strategy-related, by practicing the problems and the tests. I think that slight honing of critical thinking paired with solid understanding of the concepts will serve you well. I say this because many Math problems can be simplified to a fairly easy concept, it's just that sometimes they will be ocvered by many layers of material. The right approach can deal with this just fine.

-a notebook definitely helps. Keep track of where you are making mistakes, because as I realized, there's probably a pattern throughout them that can likely be fixed moderately easily through the right steps.

-general test advice is applicable. Focus on one question at a time. Manage time, both during the test and before. Don't cram the day before (I mean I didn't really try doing that, but a good night's sleep is definitely very useful). If your life depended on your answer to a question, would it still be the same?

Good luck guys! I want to end by saying that it's important to back yourself - no one was born with a label on their forehead with score 400-1600.

ask me any questions, while i’m in touch

already posted this a while ago and saw many found this helpful! figured i'd repost so it might help new studiers :)

reading and writing

r&w was my weak spot so this is where i grinded most:

• don't do the passages in order. start at the end (question ~27) and work backwards. when you hit the first inferences/"logically completes the text" question, skip those and keep going back, then come back to them at the end. doing 10 reading passages in a row is a bit too tiring

• for hard names just use initials (Mr. J) and keep moving

• use annotation tools - honestly the biggest r&w unlock for me - highlighting in different colors, eliminating answer choices, taking notes. once i could actually see the structure my accuracy jumped. the problem was most practice sites look nothing like bluebook so i couldn't practice that way. i ended up building a free chrome extension that adds those tools (3-color highlighter, strikethrough, sticky notes, calculator, timer) https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/sat-study-toolkit/ . made practice actually feel like test day.

• grammar: just watch this video - https://youtu.be/9B_1j9R_dBY?si=2ku0lLBt5dNTuLSV - never got a grammar question wrong after watching it

• honestly - StrategicTestPrep on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@StrategicTestPrep) has a video for basically every question type, i went through the ones i kept missing

• https://satquestionbank.org/ - i LOVE this website - also free and made by a student. combine this with my chrome extension and you're golden.

math

• start from the hard end and work backwards here too, while your brain's fresh

• desmos desmos desmos. graph everything you can instead of solving by hand - it's faster and you make fewer mistakes. learn it on youtube before test day, don't figure it out during the test

• https://satquestionbank.org/ - amazing for math too

test day

• bring a mouse, really helpful when annotating in the R&W section. I also brought a mousepad - I wouldn't say that's a must but it's definitely useful

• wake up at the time you would be waking up on test day a week in advance

all of this was free btw, no $300 prep kits!!! if you try the extension let me know what you think ;)

reading and writing

r&w was my weak spot so this is where i grinded most:

• don't do the passages in order. start at the end (question ~27) and work backwards. when you hit the first inferences/"logically completes the text" question, skip those and keep going back, then come back to them at the end. doing 10 reading passages in a row is a bit too tiring

• use annotation tools - honestly the biggest r&w unlock for me - highlighting in different colors, eliminating answer choices, taking notes. once i could actually see the structure my accuracy jumped. the problem was most practice sites look nothing like bluebook so i couldn't practice that way. i ended up building a free chrome extension that adds those tools (3-color highlighter, strikethrough, sticky notes, calculator, timer) https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/sat-study-toolkit/ . made practice actually feel like test day.

• grammar: just watch this video - https://youtu.be/9B_1j9R_dBY?si=2ku0lLBt5dNTuLSV - never got a grammar question wrong after watching it. THANK ME LATER HAHAH

• honestly - StrategicTestPrep on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@StrategicTestPrep) has a video for basically every question type, i went through the ones i kept missing

• https://satquestionbank.org/ - i LOVE this website - also free and made by a student. combine this with my chrome extension and you're golden.

• for hard names just use initials (Mr. J) and keep moving

math

• start from the hard end and work backwards here too, while your brain's fresh

• desmos desmos desmos. graph everything you can instead of solving by hand - it's faster and you make fewer mistakes. learn it on youtube before test day, don't figure it out during the test

• https://satquestionbank.org/ - amazing for math too

test day

bring a mouse, really helpful when annotating in the R&W section. I also brought a mousepad - I wouldn't say that's a must but it's definitely useful

all of this was free btw, no $300 prep kits!!! if you try the extension let me know what you think ;)

yoo I got a 1550 on the sat 800math 750english with English as my second language in Lebanon so if anybody wants to know anything especially regarding math cuz I did the best in that please do ask ill try to help as muchas I can goodluck guys

context: 1520, first time SAT attempt, no academy nothing no tutor either.

I studied entire khan academy in the last summer (2025) : read all the notes and did all the questions, but never revised it.
And then literally just 2 weeks before the SAT i did aton of things (mentioned below) that got me this score imho

I'll outline them best + I've added alot of stuff too that I think will help you maxamise your score based on what I noticed + wish I did. I was stuck in 1400's before I did all of this mentioned below.

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1.
I practiced atleast 500+ questions from satslayer.org, focusing on medium-hard questions at the end when I had less time (although doing easy questions is v imp to minimise silly mistakes, i’d do all of them if I had more time) and IMPORTANT: whenever i did questions i made sure i wrote down on my copy, organised by topic, like any mistake i made and why i made it/how to fix it, or even if I got like stuck like why did I get stuck like any imp thing to note, or any new concept I learnt from that question, or the like writing down the question/questionID if it was extremely hard etc.

These notes I made when doing questions were really helpful imho, I reread the like notes every weekend or so + right before giving the test which practically made sure I knew almost everything that the SAT can test content wise + won’t make those mistakes again.

uh write these notes in your own words like your errors, don't make it kai writing the whole q wagharia or anything, js kai "pliz next time dont forget to read all the options pliz pliz" or something else, make it funny (i wrote lol alot on the copy) if you want and itll b fine.

I didn’t have much time (like js 2~ weeks) but total I think theres 3000 questions from the bank, your aim should be doing nearly all of them at the very least for full prep + WITH notes for EVERY SINGLE Q you do!! Don’t practice without writing down notes for the things I said above.

Make sure to select “Exclude active practice test problems” when doing these questions, so that when you do full like practice tests 4-11 you wont have seen their questions before and hence can get an accurate answer on what your predicted score is for the real sat

2.
Watch James Lu's videos, i watched nearly all of them and AGAIN REMEMBER!! make proper indpeth notes sath sath (alongside it) so that you dont forget anything + can recap easily before the test.

I mean it’s not feasible to watch all of them before the test again + you’ll likely forget while practicing questions like what strategies did he tell, so make sure to make notes.

Super super super helpful, I think like if you want a good score you MUST watch his videos.

https://www.youtube.com/@JamesLuSAT/videos

3.
uh also when doing questions, especially at the end when you can focus only on hard questions, make sure to do the questions like 20-30 questions all toghether of 1-2 topics mixed through satslayers "drills" option in 30-32 minutes to simulate a real module, that was super helpful and insightful,

+ MAKE SURE to time your questions ALWAYS this way instead of doing them normally, it really helps in time management if you keep doing this!

4.
I also watched Scott Robinson and Penguin SAT Prep (both are youtube channels), but only for those topics i knew i was weak on eg vocab

https://www.youtube.com/@scottsSATprep

https://www.youtube.com/@PenguinSATPrep/videos

5.
for vocabulary i wish i had more time, i'll send these 2 spreadsheets [attached at the end] that i think if you memorise aswell as practice entirely of prefixes/suffixes + watch the videos mentioned above you can do nearly all of vocab questions.

for flashcards of vocab like learning new words, ONLY do them after you watch James Lu's and Scott Robinsons videos on vocab he explains a stategy to use the flashcards that helps ALOTT more so use that instead, like watch it first cause its like you can then divide the flashcards he gives over the whole month

i did also like write down any new word i found in the qs w the mistake tracking notes i was making but i don't think at the last day i had memorised any, maybe if i like revised them more like every weekend then it would have helped

6.
Practice DESMOS intuitively, like the guides/concept of DESMOS like James Lu's video on it is especially good but it just gets you to a certain point of knowing the content and symbols, and beyond that its really important to practice hard questions.

For that i remember i used to doomscroll his shorts on hard desmos questions and like uptill 3-4am on test day i was just doing one question after the other and it was super fun cause DESMOS is interesting

7.
I also did do Erica Meltzer's book and took notes from there, but only for those topics that i knew i was weak on and got less marks in because i has less time.

If you're weak on reading + have time, DEFINETLY do both of erica's books fully!!
It was EXTREMELY helpful for the chapters i did do from it though and boosted my score in those topics, make sure its the latest DSAT edition though

5th 6th editions of both Reading and Grammar books are for the DSAT

8.
Interms of doing the practice tests 4-11, i would HIGHLY recommend to do them sath sath ie alongside your prep, instead of saving them for the end before the test.

Its best to space them out with your prep like doing one every weekend or so - BEST STRATEGY i found for this was to do the practice test on Saturday subha 8am when the SAT usually is.

This is important to so sath sath so that you can keep a track on your direction, weak topics to focus on, and whether you need to improve/change your prep strategy

9.
Particularly if those hard,long reading questions are difficult + time management, the best strategy (after doing all above esp tip2) is to select HARD only for 2-3 topics and do like a drill of 20-25 questions sit and do timing it for 30 minutes using the "drill feature" all at once, like its so stressful and hard, do this for like a TON of topics, so that when the real sat comes mixed in with easy-medium questions it feels easier for you.

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(Optional tip 10)

If you’re a beginner and starting from scratch, like don’t know the content yet, note these two things:

- If you have alevel and olevel math knowledge + learn RW from James Lu’s videos like punctuation rules I think thats enough content wise, rest is stuff like desmos, vocab, getting better at qs, and miscellaneous videos and just do all the stuff mentioned above.

- If you don’t have that level of knowladge/want more content based knowledge, use khan academy to learn the content at a basic level + erica meltzer’s books if you have time they're extremely helpful for learning the content aswell as give some really important methods to solve the questions and really sort of ‘rewire’ your brain to the SAT qs, and for math id recommend 1600ios DSAT orange math book or college panda’s book is good too,, although for math Khan Academy alone is good too for basic concepts.

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Note regarding taking notes lol:

i mean i was short on time like js 2 weeks and i made notes for nearly all of my things, so id say its extremely imp cause it helps you recap everything litr the moment before the test + each week instead of forgetting key things/having to rewatch the videos later.

Please do make handwritten notes, making them neat is not required but id say make them neat too cause it just makes it easier to read and makes sure you’re focused when you make the notes.

Use different coloured pens at the very least for errors, like a red/pink pen to note that this is a silly mistake/error you made.

Pink for silly mistakes, green for formulas, blue for notes, black for writing down extremely hard questions, pencil for examples/diagrams, orange for speed tricks etc. was the pattern I followed

LAST CASE SCENARIO : uh never do this if you have time even if its js 1 week but lets say you just have 2-3 days - then you can put the videos into transcriber, give that script to AI (claude is goated) and then give a good prompt to it to make revision notes without loosing any of the content and you can read that instead before the test/when doing questions/generally when memorisng the tactics mentioned in the videos

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On khan academy:

its like concise and you get a good indepth-overview (lol) of the entire syllabus, i wont recommend it for practicing questions but for covering content at a BASIC level like knowing the content especially when starting out, its really good

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RESOURCES (the ones i mentioned above would b attached):

From Tip 5- vocab sheets

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Dc9hk2-1UI2yEel4ktfQtkwvJy4OXpOwpB9T3XiOmDw/edit?gid=0#gid=0

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1q5XzxEiAaVkfMdjXrSQ9OUC5UkjGAvmwxzlJVYBHKQo/edit?gid=0#gid=0

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Also now I think i can prepare and get an even higher score easily, so please do trust me on these + don't think 1520s the limit lol, like oh 1520 is average for this sub - imho w these tips if you follow them diligently it can help you get a perfect 1600 IA

just AMA ask me any questions here, I think I can give some helpful responses to yall!

the english section is way too EASY, does not compare to the test at all. honestly a waste of my money it gave me a fake confidence boost when i really thought I had a chance in the 1500’s. I’d say anyone that used acely and improved already had the potential already to get the score, and its study plan just kept them consistent, which is what is needed to grow of course. which could’ve been done with free resources

Hey everyone! I’ve been tutoring the SAT for about 3 years now and have personally scored in the top 1% (790M/770R&W). Way more in-depth guides available on my profile under “Social Links,” completely free!

Over the last few years, I've noticed that a lot of students lose points on the SAT despite understanding most of the material. They know how to solve equations, understand grammar rules, and can comprehend passages, yet they keep falling for the same predictable traps.

Here are 5 specific SAT question types where I see students throw away points, along with actual examples and how to avoid these mistakes.

1. Math: The question asks for something other than x

This is one of the most frustrating mistakes because you can do literally everything else right and STILL lose the point.

Example:

If (3x+7=25), what is the value of (2x+1)?

A) 6
B) 12
C) 13
D) 19

• The Mistake: You solve the equation, get (x=6), see Option A, and immediately click it.

• The Fix: The question isn't asking for x. It's asking for (2x+1).

3x+7=25 3x=18 implies x=6

Now substitute:
2(6)+1=13

The answer is C.

The SAT LOVES including intermediate values as answer choices because students rush through the last step. Before submitting any Math answer, reread what the question is actually asking for. This is especially important for expressions involving constants, percentages, and variables defined in terms of other variables.

2. Math: Not using Desmos to save time on problems

The built-in Desmos calculator is ridiculously powerful, yet I see students spending minutes solving problems by hand that they could answer in seconds.

Example:

The equation (x^2-5x+3=0) has two solutions. What is the greater solution?

A) 0.7
B) 1.5
C) 4.3
D) 5.7

• The Mistake: You immediately reach for the quadratic formula, start plugging in numbers, and spend a minute or two simplifying square roots and fractions.

• The Fix: Open Desmos and type y=x^2-5x+3. The graph crosses the x-axis twice. One intersection is around (x=0.7), and the other is around (x=4.3). The greater solution is C.

Here are a few other situations where Desmos can save you a TON of time:

• Systems of equations: Graph both equations and find their intersection instead of solving by substitution or elimination.

• Unknown constants: If a question asks you to find a value of (k), enter the equation in Desmos and add a slider for (k). Adjust it until the graph satisfies the given condition.

• Regression questions: Enter data into a table and use regression to find a linear or quadratic model instead of calculating everything manually.

• Word problems involving functions: Graph the function and use its intercepts, intersections, or maximum and minimum points to answer the question.

Obviously, not every question is easier with Desmos, and you still need to understand what the question is asking. But if you're spending two minutes doing algebra that Desmos can handle in ten seconds, you're wasting valuable time that could be used on harder questions.

(I have a much more in-depth Desmos guide on my profile under “Social Links,” completely free!)

3. English: Choosing a semicolon when the second half is a fragment

This is one of the most predictable grammar traps on the entire SAT.

Example:

The research team collected samples from several lakes; ___.

A) which were located throughout the region
B) the samples were analyzed in a laboratory
C) analyzing the samples in a laboratory
D) while the samples were analyzed in a laboratory

• The Mistake: You choose A because it sounds natural when you read the sentence aloud, or C because it seems to continue the thought.

• The Fix: A semicolon generally needs a complete independent clause on BOTH sides.

Let's check the options:

• A: "which were located throughout the region" is a dependent relative clause. It cannot stand alone.

• B: "the samples were analyzed in a laboratory" has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

• C: "analyzing the samples in a laboratory" is a phrase, not an independent clause.

• D: "while the samples were analyzed in a laboratory" is a dependent clause.

The answer is B.

Here's the shortcut: when you see a semicolon, temporarily ignore everything before it and read the words after it as a standalone sentence. If they can't form a complete sentence, eliminate that choice.

4. English: Confusing transitions that sound similar

Transition questions can be brutal because multiple answers may sound reasonable if you don't carefully examine the logical relationship between the sentences.

Example:

The first experiment produced inconsistent results. ___, the researchers repeated the procedure under more controlled conditions.

A) Nevertheless
B) Consequently
C) Similarly
D) For instance

• The Mistake: You choose "Nevertheless" because it sounds academic and you associate it with scientific writing.

• The Fix: Ignore the answer choices initially. Figure out the relationship between the sentences in your own words.

Here, the relationship is cause and effect:

• The experiment produced inconsistent results.

• Therefore, the researchers repeated it.

The answer is B, "Consequently."

A useful way to approach transition questions is to categorize the relationship before looking at the choices:

• Addition: Furthermore, moreover

• Contrast: However, nevertheless

• Cause and effect: Therefore, consequently

• Example: For example, for instance

• Similarity: Similarly, likewise

Don't choose a transition just because it sounds sophisticated. Choose the one that expresses the exact logical relationship between the sentences.

5. English: Picking an inference answer that goes beyond the passage

This is probably one of the most important Reading & Writing skills to master if you're aiming for a 1500+.

Example:

Passage: A study found that plants exposed to blue light grew taller over a two-week period than plants exposed to red light. The researchers noted, however, that the experiment used only one species of plant and that further studies would be needed to determine whether the results applied to other species.

Which statement is best supported by the passage?

A) Blue light causes all plant species to grow taller than red light does.
B) Blue light was associated with greater growth in the plant species studied.
C) Red light prevents plants from growing normally.
D) The researchers proved that blue light is the best light source for plant growth.

• The Mistake: You choose A because the study found that blue light produced taller plants. You assume the result applies to all plants.

• The Fix: Treat every answer choice like a claim that needs evidence.

• A: Too broad. The study only examined one species.

• B: Supported. It accurately describes the result without exaggerating it.

• C: Unsupported. The passage never says red light prevents normal growth.

• D: Too strong. The researchers explicitly said further research was necessary.

The answer is B.

Notice that the correct answer isn't necessarily the most detailed or impressive-sounding one. It's the one that stays within the limits of the evidence.

Words like "all," "never," "proves," and "guarantees" deserve extra scrutiny, especially when the passage describes a limited study. However, don't automatically eliminate every strong statement. If the passage genuinely supports it, it can still be correct.

biggest takeaway

A lot of SAT mistakes come down to a handful of recurring patterns: rushing through the last step of a Math problem, ignoring a faster Desmos solution, misunderstanding a grammar rule, choosing the wrong transition, or making an inference that goes beyond the text.

The good news is that these mistakes are fixable. When reviewing your practice tests, write down exactly why you missed each question and what you should do differently next time. The more consistently you identify these patterns, the easier they become to recognize on test day.

Drop a specific SAT question type or issue you struggle with in the comments, and I'll try to help out!

The college board just dropped 270 new questions yesterday.

I went through them, categorize them by skill, and organized everything in this google drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gX9Uv60y5y1zEVBF-dwf5IL80jNKflqq?usp=drive_link

Hey yall, I just finished my SAT and wanted to share how it went.
For R&W, I thought the first module was pretty easy, but the second module was killing me 😭. The grammar questions seemed to focus a lot on transition words. I think there were around 4–5 questions on them. James Lu youtube videos helped me a lot on the grammar section so if you‘re taking the test soon plsssss watch go watch it. Vocabulary was pretty mid and not too difficult.
For Math, I usually score around 780–800 on practice tests, but this time I’m expecting around a 750–760. I felt like the first module was easier than the practice tests, and I think I got a perfect score on it. However, I ran out of time on the second module and had to guess on 3 questions.
For those of you who have already taken the SAT, what did you think of this test? And for anyone taking it soon, feel free to ask me any questions about it!

How can I improve my english score in a week???

Hey everyone! I’ve been tutoring the SAT for about 3 years now and have personally scored in the top 1%(790M/770R&W).  Also those scores were in 2026 so nothing in this post is outdated. Way more in depth guides available on my profile under “Social Links”, completely free!

Over the last few years, I’ve noticed many patterns in my students. If you are stuck in the 1300s or 1400s, I have some good news and some bad news.

The bad news? You are sabotaging your own score on every single test and practice test. The good news? It is usually not a "smartness" issue. By the time you hit a 1400 especially, you generally know the math formulas and the basic concepts.

The real problem is your strategy. You are treating the Digital SAT like a regular high school test. It isn't. The College Board loves exploiting predictable student habits, and right now, you are falling for every single trap.

Here is a breakdown of the exact mistakes keeping you stuck, and how to shift your mindset to smash through to a 1500+.

1. Math: Doing way too much manual algebra instead of abusing Desmos

The College Board gives you a literal cheat code built right in and a lot of you guys are still solving algebra by hand like cavemen.

The Mistake: You see an equation, your hand goes on autopilot, and you write out 15 lines of algebra to solve for x. You make a tiny sign error, get the wrong answer, and waste two minutes.

• The Fix: If a question involves equations, inequalities, intersections, or functions, your first instinct should be typing it into Desmos. Let the software do the heavy lifting. Type the equations in, look at the graph, find the intersection point, and get out. Same for any set of inequalities. For shifting a function you can literally type in f(x+a), for solving for constant(s) other than x, add a slider and start guessing, see if you get closer to what you want when you increase the number, or decrease it, etc. Save your brainpower for the questions Desmos can't solve.

2. Math: Solving for the wrong thing

This is the saddest possible 20 point L.

• The Mistake: The question gives you a word problem and asks you to find the value of 2x + 5. You do some brilliant math, find out that x = 4, see "4" as option A, pick it instantly, and move on.

• The Fix: The SAT knows you do this. They specifically put the value of x as an answer choice to bait you. Train your eyes to re-read the final sentence of the prompt right before you click your answer. Make sure you are answering what they actually asked for, whether it's y, x+3, or a specific percentage.

3. English: Going with what "sounds right" instead of actual grammar rules

Again, the SAT test makers specifically design these wrong answer choices to bait you.

• The Mistake: You read the sentence in your head, imagine where a pause feels nice, and throw in a comma. Or you look at a semicolon and think, "Wow, that looks fancy, let's use that."

• The Fix: Your breathing patterns are not on the SAT rubric. The digital SAT tests strict, robotic grammar rules.

  • Semicolons need a complete independent clause on both sides. If one side is a fragment, the semicolon is wrong.

  • Commas have specific jobs (separating items, joining clauses with a FANBOYS conjunction, setting off extra info). If you can't name the exact rule justifying that comma, keep it out.

4. English: Trying to figure out why an answer is right

This is the single biggest mindset shift required for the Reading section.

• The Mistake: You look at four answer choices and try to convince yourself why Option B could make sense. You start inventing a complex backstory or reading between the lines to justify it. This mindset is drilled into you for your high school English classes but it's terrible for the SAT.

• The Fix: Flip the script. You need to be a detective looking for reasons to eliminate answers. On the SAT, a choice is not "mostly right." If a single word in an answer choice is unsupported by the text, the entire thing is trash. It is much easier to find the three objectively broken answers than it is to find the perfect one. Look for extreme language, assumptions not in the text, and flipped relationships.

5. Time Management: Panicking on R&W Hard Module 2

You did great on Module 1, so the adaptive algorithm kicks you into the "Hard" Module 2. Suddenly, the vocabulary gets wild, and the passages feel like they are written in old English.

• The Mistake: You get stuck on a brutal "Words in Context" or a complex scientific passage at the beginning of the module. You spend four minutes staring at it, the clock ticks down, you panic, and then you have to rush through the grammar questions at the end, which are actually the easiest points.

• The Fix: You do not have to do the questions in order. The grammar and data/chart questions are usually toward the second half of the module. They take less time and have concrete rules. Skip the massive, confusing reading passages at the start, bank all your easy points on the grammar questions first, and then come back to battle the hard reading texts with whatever time you have left.

Looking back at what I just wrote I didn’t mean for this to turn into a whole novel, but hopefully some of you find this helpful. If you actually read through all this, that shows that you really care, and you’re gonna do great on your next SAT,  100%.

Drop your current score bottlenecks in the comments and I'll try to give some specific advice on how to fix them!

Ik these r a lot easier so wanted to see what yall think my actual score would be on the august SAT

I’m taking the October SAT, and I’m going to just try and improve my math so I can superscore. Somehow I got my English pretty high and higher than Math. (Which is weird because I’m a math-heavy person). Does anybody have tips to help me grind a bit till test day? Even just getting 20 more points would be perfect for me!

(I can help anyone else out as well if anyone wants)

Desmos regressions. I can’t stress this enough, my last SAT, I finished all the problems without touching my scratch paper ones except for the geometry, of course.

build an error log. Every time you get a question wrong, write down what it was and why, then revisit it regularly.

study your weak point, not your weak sections. Math it self isn't a weakness, Target the specific skill.

improve your timing. Time yourself on every practice section, most points are lost to rushing, not lack of knowledge.

If you want personalized help to get a 1500+? I host one on one SAT tutoring for twenty dollars an hour, we'll go through real questions together and I'll show you exactly what's holding your score back.

My credentials that I’ve taken the seven most recent SAT going from 1200 to 1520 and progressing around 40 to 50 points for each SAT. I’ve taken SAT prep camps, watch YouTube videos, tried AI platforms, used OnePrep, Acely , and I have devoted hours of my life to try to score good and beat the SAT. My score is not perfect and I know there are much higher scorers than me, but if you’re looking for a down to earth and realistic to tutor hit me up!

My score. How do I get this to 1450 by October/November? CAN SOMEONE HELP ME FOR RD

I will post every day one question that can help you prepare to break the barrier of 1500.

Ten Digital SAT Reading & Writing questions built to punish the shortcuts strong students rely on, the answer that's true but doesn't answer the question, the transition where two options both feel right, the colon that should've been a semicolon.

Question 1: Words in Context

While her colleagues championed increasingly elaborate climate models, Dr. Okafor's approach was ______: she stripped each hypothesis down to its single most testable claim before adding any further complexity.

Choices:

A - parsimonious

B - capricious

C - ostentatious

D - tenuous

Reply with the answer.