SAT Review Mr. Dreeson

Sentence Completions  Circle any clues (word/phrase)  Box any trigger words: yet, but, however, except, unless, despite although, rather than, instead of  Put symbols in the blanks: + for positive; - for negative  Eliminate wrong answers  Do hard SC after reading comp

Sentence Completion (cont)  Easy question – easy answer Hard question – hard answer  Order of difficulty Easy – Medium – Difficult  If you’re not dictionary sure, keep it  40 seconds per question!

Reading Comprehension  Actively read the passage  Line # questions first  Attack specific answer choices  Avoid strong emotions  Respect professionals

Reading Comp (cont.)  No order of difficulty  If a word or phrase is repeated several times in an answer choice, choose from those choices  p. 826(712), #12; p. 829(715), #23  VIC (Vocabulary in Context)  Secondary definition important, p. 829(715), #21

Attack specific choices  Kill words (easy to argue) Each, all, will, totally, most, must, always, only, solely, never, any  Keep words (tough to argue) May, can, some, sometimes, might, suggest

Sentence Correctness  Answer choice with fewest words often correct 844(954) #1  Misplaced modifiers 844(955) #5, #11  Check for –ing, -ed words  Watch for fragments 844(954) #2  Avoid choices starting with “Because…” 844(954) #3

Sentence Correct (cont.)  Watch for weak pronoun references (we, they, it) 844(954) #4, #10  Watch for comma splices (putting comma between sentences) 845(955) #6, #7  Know parallel structure 844(954) #1; 845(955) #9

Grammar  About 1/3 of answers are “no error” (Choice E)  Subject verb agreement  Sing sub – sing verb  Plur sub – plur verb  Tense (present – present) (past – past)

Grammar (cont.)  Case  Nominative vs. Objective  Neither nor, either or  Usually singular  Trust your ear! If it sounds wrong, it usually is!

Essay  Short intro – thesis statement  Prepare “stock” paragraphs ahead of time  1 literature example  1 history example  Short conclusion - clincher  5 min plan – 20 min write time

Calculator requirements  No PDA (Pers. Digital Asst.)  No QWERTY keyboards  No Printer calculators  No calculators that make noise  No electrical outlet calculators  No phone or laptop calculators

Math Section  Know directions ahead of time  Limit time per question  Order of difficulty  Easy – Medium – Difficult  Work out problems in your book

Math Section (cont.)  Eliminate wrong answers  Make educated guess when you eliminate at least one choice  Leave blank when you have no idea  No points lost for grid-ins

Math Section (cont.)  Replace variables with numbers  Practice with the calculator you will use on the test  Lines, graphs, coordinates drawn to scale (unless otherwise shown)

Math Section (cont.)  Don’t panic with special symbols  Take solution one step at a time  Check answer makes sense  Know conversion grid  Use plug-in strategy

Math Section (cont.)  Know special triangles  1-1-radical 2    Know decimal, percent, ratio, fractions – all related!

Math Section (cont.)  Interior angles of triangle=180  Interior angles of other figures = 360  Know rise over run (y over x)  Know basic math vocabulary

Best Books  Princeton Review (SAT)  The Underground Guide to the SAT  601 Words (Barron’s)  Tooth and Nail

What to bring?  Admission ticket, photo ID  4 sharpened #2 pencils  A quality eraser, a sweater  A calculator, a water bottle  A healthy snack (no candy!)  A good night’s sleep

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