3 Ways to Study Smarter, Not Harder for the SAT
When it comes to SAT prep, the goal should not necessarily be to study harder—you should study smarter. However, you may wonder what this looks like. Smarter test prep means that you will retain more information to increase your chance of achieving the score you hope for. Learn a smart way to prep for this exam.
1. Study at the Right Time
Be conscious about when you plan to study. You want to pick a time of the day in which you are most attentive and focused, not a time when you feel the opposite. For example, if you typically feel a burst of energy after your morning workout, but start to feel sluggish after 3 pm, schedule your test prep session for the morning.
If you schedule your sessions during the part of the day when you're less attentive, you will also be less likely to retain any of the information you read. To make the most of your time, you want to study when you're most focused.
2. Teach Your Teacher
If your prep involves partnering with a tutor or other instructor, spend some of your study time teaching your teacher. For example, after the instructor goes over a learning segment, test your knowledge by then explaining the subject to the instructor as if you were teaching them.
For instance, with a math concept, you could identify the factors in the equation and outline the step-by-step process to come up with a solution. This unconventional method of study is excellent because it requires you to apply the information you have learned, which will be a critical skill you'll need to complete the SAT exam.
3. Write What You Know
Another way to study smarter is to write down the information you have learned. Reading is an excellent way to collect information, but writing is equally, if not more, helpful. First, writing can encourage retention more rapidly than reading. For instance, when you write, not only are you reading the information as you go, but you're also processing the information in order to formulate it into words.
Second, writing often requires more focus than reading and can make it easier to process information. While you can still read your test guides, handwriting notes can help you retain the information you are reading more easily.
Make certain you keep these tips in mind as you prepare to take your SAT exam. Contact services like High Performance Tutoring to learn more about SAT prep.