most colleges accept either the sat or the act, so it’s up to you to figure out which test to take.

both the sat and act have undergone significant changes in recent years and they now look a lot more similar than they have in the past. however, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some key differences between the tests.

our updated “should you take the sat or the act?” quiz can give you some clues on which test might be best for you. try it out below! it only takes a couple minutes and will give you an instant result.

after you take the quiz, consider taking our free sat practice test and our free 2022世界杯入门名单 to compare the tests and see which one feels better suited to your strengths.

and scroll below the quiz to see some of the key changes between the sat and act as of 2025 that will help you better understand which test might be best for you.

differences between the sat and act

the following information compares the latest version of the sat (as of 2024) to the latest version of the act (as of april 2025).

length of the sat vs the act

as of 2025, both the sat and the act are of similar lengths.

• the required sections (reading/writing and math) on the sat add up to about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
• the required sections (english, math, and reading) on the act add up to about 2 hours and 5 minutes.

note that if you decide to take the optional science section the act (which is 35 minutes), the act will be longer.

so it’s a toss-up for sat vs act as far as the endurance required for the entire exam.

time per question on the sat vs the act

although pacing per question varies per section, the updated digital sat gives students more time per question (about a minute and a half per question) than the act (just under a minute per question).

while you should pay more attention to how your pacing shakes out on different question types with practice tests, on balance, the sat wins for giving students more time per question.

relative weight of verbal and math on the sat vs the act

your total score for the updated sat is based on 50% combined reading/writing and 50% math.

your composite score for the updated act is based on 33.3% english, 33.3% math, and 33.3% reading. this means that about 2/3 of your score is weighted towards verbal skills on the act, so if you feel stronger on english than math, the act might be the better test for you.

science on the act vs the sat

only the act gives you the option to take a science section and receive a stem score and percentile, so if you are planning to pursue a science major at a competitive university, you may want to consider taking the act (assuming you can get similar scores on the other sections between the sat and act.)

computer vs paper options on the sat vs the act

the sat has fully converted to a digital computer-based exam, whereas the act gives students the option to take the test either on paper or on computer. if you feel more comfortable taking tests with pencil and paper, the act might be a better test for you.

length of reading passages on the sat vs the act

the updated sat has very short reading passages (1-4 sentences) and only 1 question per passage, whereas the act has 4 long reading passages and 9 questions per passage. students who struggle with maintaining focus while reading or students for whom english is a second language may feel more comfortable with the sat.

math formula reference sheet on the sat vs the act

the sat gives students a formula reference sheet for basic algebra and geometry formulas, whereas the act expects you to have these memorized. this isn’t a huge deal, as it’s a short list of formulas, but worth keeping in mind!

for full details on the updated tests, check out our respective guides on how to prepare for the sat and act.

the post should you take the sat or act? (updated for 2025) appeared first on magoosh blog | sat.

this post has been fully updated for the digital psat.

maybe you’ve realized that you’re taking the psat next week, or maybe the exam’s still a few months away and you’re hoping to score a national merit scholarship. in either case, welcome! whether you need psat practice stat (aka cramming for the psat) or want to set up a psat study plan, we’ll take a look at all the info you need to make sure you get the score you want on test day, from psat questions to psat tips.

what, exactly, will we look at in this post? first, we’ll start out with some psat basics: what, when, why. then, we’ll take a deep dive into psat tips for prep: what you’ll see on the test and how to set yourself up for a great score. we’ll finish up with some psat questions and psat tips.

ready? let’s go!

table of contents

• psat tips: mastering the basics
  • what is the psat?
  • when is the psat?
  • what does the psat test?
  • how is the psat different from the sat?
  • how hard is the psat?
• psat tips for prep
  • psat tips for prep 1: evaluate whether you need to prep
  • psat tips for prep 2: set up your practice schedule
  • psat tips for prep 3: work with the correct timing
  • psat tips for prep 4: use great materials
  • how can i cram for the psat?
  • how can i practice for the psat over the summer?
• other faq
• a final word

psat tips: mastering the basics

what is the psat?

the preliminary sat, or psat, is a test administered by the college board, creator of the sat, that most students take in october during their junior year of high school, and possibly during freshmen or sophomore year.

when do i take the psat?

usually, the psat is offered on a wednesday in october. individual schools determine what day they will offer the test and it may be on a weekday or a saturday.

the psat is also the qualifying test for the national merit scholarship, one of the more prestigious scholarships in the united states. (for this reason, the psat is also sometimes called the national merit scholarship qualifying test.)

for aspiring national merit scholarship winners, qualifying psat scores are only taken from third-year high school psat scores. so psats must be taken during junior year of high school for the purposes of the scholarship. if you’re planning to apply for the national merit scholarship, it can still be helpful to do a practice run in your sophomore year (and maybe freshman year as well) to see how close you’re getting to the score you’ll need when you apply for merit as a junior.

what does the psat test?

the psat has a “reading and writing” section and a “math” section. the psat mirrors the digital sat. this means that psat questions are really similar to sat questions: there are the same number of questions on the psat as on the sat and the test is section-adaptive, meaning that the questions you are given in the second module of each subject depends on how you performed on the first module.

the official college board psat/nmsqt student guide and official psat practice tests are your best resources (in addition to magoosh!) to get ready for the psat.

here’s an overview of the questions you’ll see on the test:

reading and writing questions on the psat

reading and writing questions include very short passages and only one question per passage. reading questions are designed to measure how well you can read, comprehend, and use information and ideas in texts. writing questions ask you to analyze the structure of texts, revise them and edit them to follow correct grammatical conventions.

math questions on the psat

math questions on the psat are all multiple choice and you are allowed to use a calculator on all of them (either your own or a provided on-screen calculator). about 30% of math questions are word problems.

on algebra questions, expect to see a linear expression or an equation with one variable. you will also be asked to work with linear inequalities with one variable. you’ll build a linear function to show the relationship between two quantities. you’ll do similar work then with a variety of other equations, some of which may have two variables or include two linear variables.

problem solving and data analysis questions will include an entirely different set of topics. these include: ratios, rates, proportions, percentages, measurements, units, unit conversions, scatterplots, relationships between two variables linear versus exponential growth, two-way tables, making inferences from data and statistics (this might include mean, media, mode, range, and/or standard deviation), and evaluating data collection methods. whew!

advanced math will have questions about quadratic/exponential functions, equivalent expressions with rational exponents and radicals, showing algebraic equivalencies, quadratic equations, working with polynomial expressions, one-variable equations with radicals, systems of equations, simple rational expressions, parts of nonlinear expressions, the relationship between zeros and factors of polynomials, nonlinear relationships, function notation, and isolating a quantity of interest in an equation.

geometry and trigonometry questions cover area and volume, lines, angles and triangles, and right triangle trigonometry (the most basic trigonometry questions there are). if you haven’t studied trigonometry yet in school, don’t worry, the trigonometry tested on the psat and sat is very learnable.

how is the psat different from the sat?

the psat is basically an sat with smaller teeth and a less overwhelming purpose (it can get you scholarships, but it doesn’t get you acceptance into college). all of the same basic sat topics show up in psat questions, but the questions are a little easier. because of this, the psat is scored differently:

while the maximum total score you can get on the sat is 1600, the maximum total score you can get on the psat/nmsqt or psat 10 (for 11th and 10th graders) is 1520.

the maximum total score you can get on the psat 8/9 (for 8th and 9th graders) is 1440.

how hard is the psat?

the psat is a tad easier than its big brother, but the difference is pretty minimal. it’s all toned down slightly, though. questions that would be on the easy end of sat math show up more frequently on the psat. you might get 5 questions on psat math that are as easy as the first 2 questions of an sat math test, for example. and the most difficult psat questions don’t quite reach the difficulty of the hardest sat math questions.

the higher end of sat math topics might still show up on the psat, but they’ll be more straightforward. you’ll see easier “advanced math” questions, for example, and you may see only one very basic trig question. or you might get a graph of a parabola that simply asks for an intercept and requires no algebra.

so don’t freak out if you’re going to take the psat and are just taking geometry 1: the test mostly asks for basic number skills, algebra, and basic geometry, nothing more.
 

psat tips for prep

psat tips for prep 1: evaluate whether you need to prep

the psat is a preliminary sat—it isn’t used in college admission—so you might be wondering: is it even worth prepping for the test? what’s the point of studying for a test that colleges won’t even look at?

there are actually two really important reasons to study for the psat! first of all, remember that it’s not just the psat—it’s also the nmsqt, or the national merit scholarship qualifying test. if you’re a junior, prepping for the test can set up you for a far higher score, putting you in the running for more money for college.

if you’re a sophomore, that’s still a great reason to prepare! think about it this way: your scores on the psat this year will help you get a better idea of what prep you’ll need to do within the next year to reach that qualifying range. if you prep beforehand, it’ll not only set you up for greater success as a junior, but you can also tailor your study this coming year to really focus on your weaker areas, now that you’ve mastered psat tips.

even if you’re not aiming for a national merit scholarship, studying for the psat will give you an incredible baseline for your sat prep. by reviewing the more basic concepts you’ll find on the sat and picking up psat tips and tricks, you can then focus your sat prep on the higher-level areas you’ll see on the real sat. win-win!

psat tips for prep 2: set up your practice schedule

ideally, your practice will consist of a mixture of fundamentals and practice questions, with some test strategy (psat tips and tricks) thrown in. for instance, you’ll want to revisit algebra concepts you learned a year back, or are maybe learning right now before you tackle actual test questions.

you don’t want to spend too much time on fundamentals, however. throw yourself into practice questions to get a feel for the way the test works. often a good idea is when you miss a psat question to review the fundamentals at work, assuming you didn’t make a careless error. that’s better than trying to memorize a bunch of fundamentals but then waiting an indefinite period before actually reviewing them.

here is a great sat one-month study plan that you can use, tailoring it to your schedule.

psat tips for prep 3: work with the correct timing

our biggest psat tip if you’re studying with sat materials? make sure you get the timing right!

how long is the psat? 2 hours and 14 minutes overall. this means that the psat is the same length as the sat, so you’ll need to bring the same level of stamina to the psat as you will to the sat. pacing on both tests (in terms of the amount of time you have to answer each question) is comparable as well, so you aren’t going to get more time to answer questions on the psat.

psat tips for prep 4: use great materials

make sure to do your research on practice materials. the best bet is to use sat practice materials since the questions that pop up on each test are indistinguishable. it is the ordering of the difficulty of the questions that differs between the two tests.

while you should definitely check out the college board official resources for the psat, because the content is so similar, using sat study materials is also a perfectly good way to study for the psat.

the psat will give you a leg-up on test day (and probably a wednesday morning you don’t have to spend in class). and if you think you can score in the top range, you can also benefit from the student search service (colleges will come looking for you and your awesome test scores) and the national merit and other scholarship programs, which can earn you some scholarship money along with a pretty sweet feather in your cap. so give it your all!

how can i cram for the psat?

first of all, it’s almost impossible to “cram” for the psat…but if you have limited practice time, here are our top psat tips to get the most out of your prep!

psat cramming tip #1: take practice test(s)

take a psat practice test. take two, if you can. use the practice tests provided by the college board or a free sat practice test.

that’s not groundbreaking advice by itself, though. the important part (the part you might be tempted to skip, too) is reviewing the answers. take the time to figure out what you did wrong, and how you can avoid it. even if you’ve only got a few days, that’s enough time to learn from your mistakes.

psat cramming tip #2: know your grammar rules

most high-school teachers don’t spend much time on grammar, which is a shame because a) it will affect everything you ever write (seriously) and b) standardized tests like the psat love grammar.

you don’t have to diagram sentences, but you do have to know the common errors. there’s a limited number of them, so it’s pretty manageable to just read up on them and come away with an improved test score—provided you do a bit of practice along the way.

psat cramming tip #3: review math formulas

i would never suggest that a student with ample time to study and practice instead memorize a bunch of formulas. actually getting better at psat math means training and learning from mistakes (as i mentioned in #1, above). but if you’re running on a tight schedule, this is the fastest way to review what’s in the psat math sections.

so take this with a grain of salt, but here’s even more stuff to memorize. pair this with at least one practice test, please! just reading a bunch of formulas and not learning to apply them is pretty much useless.

how can i practice for the psat over the summer?

school’s out for summer! and by now, you’re several weeks into your summer break. if you haven’t started some summer psat studying, you should. here are a few reasons summer is a great time for both fun and a little bit of test prep.

why is the psat’s fall date a good reason for psat summer study? because summer leads into fall! if you start studying for the psat at some point in the summer, you’ll have weeks or months of study time before fall arrives and it’s time to take the psat.

and yes, i did say weeks or months. the best part about summer psat studying is that you don’t have to study all summer. you could choose to really focus on your psat study in the month of august. or you start your psat study earlier in june or july, if stretching your studies over the whole summer works better for you.

here’s one of our key psat tips: it’s easier to focus on test practice if you don’t have other homework. summer is a time of minimal academic stress. and when you’re less stressed out, it’s easier to focus on mastering an exam.

during the school year, anytime you’re studying for a test, you have to balance your test practice with homework from other classes. but in the summer, you don’t even have to attend other classes, much less do other homework. this gives you a unique opportunity to just focus on the psat, with no other stressful distractions.

and bear in mind that preparing for the psat is not as time-consuming as regular high school studies. you’ll still have plenty of time for summer fun between your psat practice sessions. and that summer fun can keep you energized and focused when you study.

unique psat study opportunities are available in the summer. speaking of classes, it’s much easier to enroll in a psat practice course in the summer. private tutoring centers and test practice academies keep longer hours in the summer. and you have more chances to go to these places for test practice during the day, instead of later in the evening when you’re more tired and less able to concentrate on your studies. not only that, but there are also a lot of summer camps for psat and sat prep.

other faqs about the psat

can i take the psat if i’m not in the united states?

if you’re living outside of the united states, you may still be able to find a nearby school that offers the test. the school search on the college board website can help you figure out where to go and who to contact. many countries have several schools in different cities offer the exam.

do it early, though: the college board recommends making preparations at least four months in advance of the exam—that’s july (although there’s no harm in asking later if you didn’t know you could take the exam as an international student)!

can i take the psat if i’m home-schooled?

yes! like international students, students who have been home schooled should identify a local school through the college board school search. similarly, the college board recommends getting in touch with the school at least four months in advance—this way, the school can be sure to have materials, like a test booklet, ready for you.

i need special accommodations to take the test. how should i set those up?

if you have a disability that requires special accommodation, make sure you get approval from the college board at least seven weeks before the test date. you should make sure that you talk to a guidance counselor or the person in charge of the test at your school, as well, around this date, to ensure that the requirements are met on test day.
 

i’m planning on taking the act. does the act have a similar test like the psat?

it does, actually! it’s called the preact—check out our complete guide to the preact to learn more.

a final word

after all of the psat tips in this post, here’s one final tip: because the psat is not offered as often as the sat, it’s important to create your study plan with the october test date in mind. unlike the sat, the psat tends to be an exam that students take just once.

it’s a significant test—after all, national merit scholarships ride on it—so make sure that you start preparing early! the preparation that you do now will definitely help you in the future, as you prepare for the sat and finish your high school career.
 

 

the post psat practice: how to prepare and why you should appeared first on magoosh blog | sat.

1. be supportive, not authoritative!

believe me, as someone who is very much invested in the academic success of my younger sibling, i understand how easy it can be to slip into that role of constant nagger. as mastering the sat can be boring and difficult for a lot of students, the best thing you can do is to always remember to show sympathy with their position and encouragement throughout the entire process.

also, think about how to incentivize test prep for your teen, whether it’s through money, material objects, or treating them to their favorite restaurant (of course, this would depend on how much you can invest on test prep in the first place). incentives go a long way particularly for students who have the potential to be self-directed, but may need the right push; i myself am a testament to that! instead of spending a lot of money on test prep, my mother incentivized me when i was taking the sat to self-study and it was the absolute best decision for both parties ;).

2. start the conversation and the prep early

although this may cause some grumbling from your teen, start the conversation with them about the sat during their sophomore year. it is truly the best time to start studying because they are not yet burdened with a junior-year course load, they can make sure they are prepared for the psat for the year that counts, and they can also have a longer and therefore less stressful time to work with for achieving their target score. explain to them that you understand that the last thing they might want to discuss is the sat (hence, the supportiveness) and reason with them why it’s in their best interests to start now.

3. make sure the sat is indeed the right test

although the sat and the act are now fairly similar in terms of content and structure, there are notable differences between both tests as well. since either test is accepted by virtually all colleges and universities that require standardized tests, have your teen take an official practice test for both the sat and the act (they’re free on the college board and the act websites) to identify which one they are more comfortable with, and then go from there. you can also discuss whether or not it is worth it to prepare for and take both the act and sat.

4. figure out the best prep method together

students have different learning styles, so it is very important to consider which prep method or combination of methods would be best for your teen. in this day and age, there are also a lot of online prep options, including the college board’s partnership with the khan academy. magoosh sat is an example of online prep that strives to provide affordable and accessible online test prep without compromising the teaching quality or level of support you can get in classes or tutoring.

when i worked as an instructor for a major test prep company, i also noticed a definite overlap between students who didn’t want to be there and students whose parents enrolled them without their consent. so, even if you are itching to enroll your teen in a program, it is really important to make this decision with them rather than for them. this will also allow your teen to feel more ownership and investment in their prep success.

5. help with the actual prep

whether it’s helping them schedule study time, reviewing their practice essays, or simulating a real testing experience, ask your student how you could be useful in making their prep experience as effective as possible. you can also refer them to this blog as we’re constantly updating it with the best sat strategies!

6. remind your teen (and yourself!) that there’s more to sat prep than just studying

healthy practices like eating the right foods and exercising can also have a significant impact on your student’s sat success, so they shouldn’t be ignored in favor of more studying.

7. stay on top of logistics

students are often overwhelmed with homework and extracurricular activities, which means that logistical things, such as registering for the sat by the deadline or applying for fee waivers (if applicable), can slip through the cracks. if you stay on top of any logistical considerations regarding the sat, that could be a huge help to your teen.

8. never stop being supportive!!

one more reminder doesn’t hurt :).

the post how parents can help with sat prep appeared first on magoosh blog | sat.

so you took the psat in your sophomore or junior year and you just got your scores back. congratulations! now you’re probably wondering: what is a good psat score?

to begin with, the psat score range is from 320 to 1520. the average psat score is around 920 (460 in math and 460 in reading and writing), while an outstanding psat score (one that will qualify you as a national merit scholarship semi-finalist) is between 1420 and 1480.

table of contents

• how is the psat scored?
• what is a good psat score?
• when do psat scores come out?
• how will psat scores compare to my sat scores?
• psat score range vs. sat score range
• what is an average psat score?
• next steps: sophomores
• next steps: juniors
• faq
• a final word on psat scores

how is the psat scored?

you’re sitting down with your psat score report. what does it mean?

the psat is score range runs from 320 to 1520, while the sat is scored on a 400-1600 point scale. the college board has deliberately made this scale similar but not identical to the sat scoring scale. psat scores start and end lower specifically because the psat is just a little bit easier than the sat.

what is a good psat score?

with the psat scoring scale set 80 points lower, the score you get on the psat will be–in theory–about the same as the score you’d get on the sat. a 1300 on the psat is meant to be the same as a 1300 on the sat, for instance.

at the higher end of the scale, exact equivalency is less clear. if you get the highest psat score, a perfect 1520, you might be able to get a perfect 1600 on the sat. since 1520 is the highest psat score, a perfect psat score indicates an ability to get 1520 or higher on the sat. whether or not you do well on the psat, you should still study for the sat.

still, there are some decent ways to guess what is a good psat score based on a university’s sat requirements. to see if your psat score is good as it relates to sat scoring, check the sat score requirements at schools you plan on applying to. if your psat score is the same as the required sat score—or higher than it—your score on the psat could be considered “good.”

when do psat scores come out?

when you will get your psat scores back depends on when you took the test in october; however, you should get them between the end of october and mid-november.

you can find out if your scores are available by looking in your account on the college board’s website. you’ll need to use your access code to get to those online scores. if you’re not sure what yours is, check with your school counselor/guidance counselor.

how will psat scores compare to my sat scores?

like a lot of students taking the psat, you may look at your psat score report and think, uh, okay…but what does that mean? the short answer is that how well you do on the psat is a strong indicator of how you might perform on the sat. the psat is very similar to the sat in terms of content and skills measured, although it’s a little easier. the main purpose of the psat is to help students get an assessment of their sat readiness and college readiness.

but be forewarned—there is not a 100% correspondence between psat and sat scores, nor is there any official charts of psat/sat equivalencies.

the main reason for this is that the sat tests more advanced content than the psat tests–info you’re likely to pick up by the end of junior year or the start of senior year (that’s why it’s called the “preliminary sat”). while the composite scores, or overall scores, on the tests can be roughly compared (a 1200 total on the psat is very roughly comparable to a 1200 on the sat if you put in the same coursework and preparation over the coming year), the individual sections’ subscores can’t really be compared in the same way.

that composite score comparison, by the way, is one reason the psat max score overall is 1520–the college board is basically saying that even if you ace every psat question, it’s still no indicator you’ll get a 1600 on the actual sat (though it is likely you’ll score high with enough test prep!).

a better way to look at your psat scores is to look at your percentile. each student score report comes with corresponding percentiles, which tell you how well you did on the test compared to other students. if you scored in the 99th percentile, you scored better than 99 out of every 100 test-takers. again, this would put you in a great position to ace the sat, but it’s still no guarantee of a perfect 1600!

psat score range vs. sat score range

here’s a closer look at how the psat score range and sat score range compare.

as we’ve already seen, the reason the psat is scored out of 1520 instead of 1600 is because it is an easier test. it’s made for high school sophomores and juniors, unlike juniors and seniors (like the real sat is). the idea is that you’ll be able to better predict your sat scores using your psat results this way.

although, honestly, this probably creates more confusion than it is worth. and i am willing to bet if you score a perfect 1520 on the psat, you sure are going to set your sights higher for the sat exam!

what is an average psat score?

the average psat score for high school students is around 460 in each section (evidence-based reading and writing, and math), for a total average psat score of 920.

next steps: sophomores

so you have your psat scores, you know what they mean in terms of benchmarks and percentiles–now what?

first of all, you may want to use your psat results from this year to aim for a national merit scholarship next year. while sophomores aren’t eligible for national merit scholarships, juniors are. if you scored pretty well on the test, you may want to do some prep to see if you can boost your score into the qualifying range for next year!

while it’s tempting to use your psat test scores to try to predict your sat scores, the more useful way to use them is to identify your current strengths and weaknesses by studying your score report. are you super strong in problem-solving but need an algebra brush-up? great at critical reading but need some grammar review? once you’ve identified these, you can zero in on your weak areas, boosting your strong ones, during your coming sat prep.

now is the perfect time to make a plan for your sat prep. first, decide when to take the sat based on your current preparation and goals. if you’ll be taken it in the coming year (i.e. in 11th grade), you may want to pick a longer-term sat study schedule to help you reach those goals, too!

next steps: juniors

if you’re starting junior year and just got your psat scores–or if you took the exam last year and haven’t thought about your psat scores in ages–that’s okay! it’s not too late to use them.

first things first: pull up that report, either the one available through your college board account or the paper score report you received in the main or printed out.

now that you have your scores in hand, it’s a great idea to take an sat practice test to see how your current strengths and weaknesses still match up.

you may have a better idea of which colleges you want to attend than you did last year. if you don’t, start narrowing down your list of schools and researching their sat scores to see how your psat and practice test scores compare.

finally, choose an sat date based on where you are now in terms of your psat/sat scores and your college goals. once you have those, zero in on an sat study plan that can help you reach those goals in plenty of time for your applications!

faq

what psat score do i need for a national merit scholarship?

yup, that jumble of letters after the “psat” part is pretty important–nmsqt stands for the “national merit scholarship qualifying test.” in other words, scoring over a certain threshold on the psat can qualify you for a national merit scholarship.

keep in mind that only juniors (11th graders) who take the psat are eligible for the national merit scholarship.

unfortunately, it’s hard to predict exactly what the cut-off point is for the national merit scholarship program, given that varies by state and changes from year to year. recently, state cut-offs for semi-finalists have varied from around 1420 to 1480 (we’re estimating because the nms translates these onto their own 228 point scale, the “selection index score”—on that scale, they look for nmsqt scores of between 214 to 223).

should i submit my psat scores to colleges?

nope! school admission departments are interested in your sat scores, not your psat scores. however, getting a national merit scholarship is impressive—and taking the psat is likely to improve your score on the sat, so there’s a double benefit!

a final word: what is a good psat score?

what’s a good psat score? the answer: one that helps you prep for the sat. and if it qualifies you as a national merit scholar, all the better! so how do you reach these goals?

before you take the test, make sure you know what’s on the psat. then, review as much as you can in the time you have left and take at least one practice test. and with that done, you’ll be on your way to a great score!

all magoosh sat prep plans are digital sat ready! start studying today.

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but don’t spend just a weekend. whereas a month can make a big difference in your score, depending on the materials and whether you have a teacher, a weekend isn’t going to make much of a difference on your score (and all-nighters are never fun).

on the flip side, don’t fritter your life away, attending sat schools every weekend, year after year (colleges do want well-rounded students). of course, most students do not fall into this category, but if you are a super-achiever keep this advice is mind.

ultimately, how long you study for the sat has a lot to do with your current score and the average score of the school you hope to go to. figure that out first, and then you’ll have a better sense of just how much time you’ll need.

the 70-150 point plan = one month

life is busy, and you just don’t have time to dedicate it all to one thing. but as long as you can give sat prep a month of your time, you can—with hard work and a good teacher—expect to improve about 30 to 70 points in both math and reading/writing, or up to around 150 points overall.

the 150-250 point increase = three month (one summer!)

with the right materials and a good teacher, a summer is ample time for you to raise your score by as much as 250 points (assuming you are not starting off with a score of over 1350). you will need to take practice tests every week and go through them with a really good teacher/tutor. that person will also help determine your weak points.

if you are unable to get a teacher/tutor, you can still see such a point increase. it’ll just be a little tougher; you’ll have to be more disciplined and attuned to the errors you tend to make.

the 250-350 point club

first off, i’m here to tell you that such a score increase is possible. secondly, the higher your baseline score (the score you start out at), the less likely it is to see such an increase. so yeah, if you are already scoring 1400, then it is impossible to increase by 300 points.

but for students scoring in the 900-1200 range, a 300-point increase is possible, given lots of hard work and, of course, time. you will need to become an avid reader, a math machine, and a grammar maven (or at least think like one). but these are all learnable skills, with the right guidance and materials. you will probably need more than a summer; in fact, you might find yourself working back-to-back summers. but that’s okay, if you are in between your sophomore and junior years. with the determination, you can do it.
 

the 1350+ plan

let’s say you are already starting at the 1350- or 1400-level. increasing 100 or more points is going to be tough. but you are probably already a strong student. you might only need about 6 weeks, but that will have to be an intense 6 weeks (you will be dreaming in fourth-degree polynomials and reading passage quotes). going through multiple practice tests a week with an sat tutor may be necessary. with an entire summer, and the right instruction, you should be able to break the 1500-point threshold.

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what exactly is on the sat math section?

first steps first: so what exactly is on the sat math section? when you take the test, you will find:

• 2 math modules. each module has 22 questions and is 35 minutes long.
• all questions are multiple choice.
• you can use a calculator on both modules (either your own, or a provided on-screen graphing calculator).
• sat math is “section-adaptive.” you will get an easier or harder second module depending on how many questions you got right on the first module.

what are the sat math topics?

now, what exactly should you study to prepare for these sections of the test? will you need to uncover every math concept you’ve ever learned since pre-school? thankfully, no. spend time reviewing just these topics:

• algebra
• averages
• combinations and permutations
• data interpretation
• exponents
• functions
• geometry
• integer properties
• probability
• percentages
• sequences
• statistics

where can i find sat math practice?

oh no, that list looks like quite a lot! but don’t panic just yet, because you’re in exactly the right place. if you’re ready to start tackling these subject areas, take a look below. you’ll find all of our sat blog posts, complete with test strategies, review tips and everything else you need to succeed on the sat math. so go ahead and get started here:
 

• should you take the sat or act? (updated for 2025)
• psat practice: how to prepare and why you should
• how parents can help with sat prep
• what is a good psat score?
• how long should i study for the sat?
• sat math
• sat math study guide
• digital sat math formula sheet
• top 10 ways to prepare for the sat
• how to improve your sat score by 300 points (or more!)
• states that require the act or sat
• how to improve sat vocabulary with 104 essential words (plus a bonus quiz!)
• sat trigonometry – here’s what you should study
• 50+ sat grammar and punctuation rules to know
• sat math standard deviation
• how to get a perfect sat score
• sat score calculator
• the best 6 free resources for sat prep
• sat prep games
• what’s a good sat score for scholarships?
• good sat scores and average sat scores (2024-2025): the complete guide
• two month sat study schedule
• three month sat study schedule
• sat practice questions — free diagnostic quiz (2024)
• sat question types (2024)
• what is the sat test? all you need to know (2024)
• top 10 sat reading & writing tips
• how to study for the sat: your one month study plan
• 3 days to the sat review guide
• one week sat study schedule
• new digital sat format vs. old paper sat format (2024)
• average sat scores by state (2024): how does your state stack up?
• sat practice test (2024) – digital, adaptive, and free!
• when do sat scores come out? and other sat score release facts you should know
• sat test dates: your best test date (2022-2023)
• best sat books 2021-2022 | book reviews
• top 7 sat essay tips
• free sat tests by state
• sat math: word problems
• the sat test: news and updates
• sat passport to advanced math: tips and practice (video)
• sat math: problem solving and data analysis
• sat math: algebra
• is the sat cancelled? digital tests possible by fall
• how to handle sat test cancellations due to covid-19
• what is the highest sat score?
• does the sat curve really exist? how the scoring actually works
• sat accommodations from the college board: sat extra time and more
• sat last minute tips: how to cram | video post
• sat math section: work formula – sat practice questions | video post
• sat math section: distance rate – sat practice questions | video post
• sat summer study tips – august 2018 sat | video post
• how to get a perfect sat score – sat 2018 | video post
• ultimate sat guessing tricks | video post
• sat vs act 2018: which is easier? | video post
• sat math: how to score a perfect 800 [plus a downloadable guide]
• sat writing essential tips and strategies | video post
• the vocabulary builder workbook is published!
• tips to crush the sat math section | video post
• announcing the vocabulary builder workbook by chris lele
• sat reading practice: everything you need to know to score big
• sat math practice: how to study smarter and score higher
• sat writing and language practice: how to get a great score
• your complete, free sat study guide (ebook)
• what is the integral of f(x)?
• sat writing: verb tense & mood
• 5 sat math tricks every student should know
• scholarships based on sat scores
• mental math shortcut: perfect squares – 1 | sat video post
• sat test in canada
• equilateral triangle | sat monday video post
• sat math: equation of a circle
• sat math: circle arc length
• tips for managing your sat study time
• sat writing: frequently confused words
• sat test proctoring
• sat test statistics
• sat writing: syntax questions
• should i order the sat question and answer service?
• sat math: how to solve linear functions
• taking the sat in community college
• printable resources for sat prep
• sat math: similar and congruent triangles
• sat writing: end-of-sentence punctuation
• sat test standard deviation
• how to take good sat prep notes
• sat writing: everything you need to know about pronouns
• sat math: solving quadratic equations
• difference between sat 1 and sat 2
• new sat math: how to solve linear equations
• do i need sat exam coaching?
• mock sat tests: how to stage the perfect practice exam
• [redirected] sat math easy question example
• sat writing: concision, style, & tone
• new sat math: how to handle complex numbers
• how reliable is the sat?
• sat writing: subordination and coordination questions
• do 8th grade sats count?
• running out of time on sat math: what to do
• mental math division | sat video post

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as you follow along, you will be creating your own personalized sat math study guide. after all, each student is unique, so customize your study plan in a way that makes the most sense to you.

take some time to look over each section and think about how well you did in school when you were learning those topics. perhaps you aced all of your algebra classes, but you didn’t do so well while learning trigonometry. in that case, you will want to allocate less time studying linear equations and put in more time refreshing the basics of sohcahtoa.

let’s get started!
 

the four sat math domains

algebra – 35%

this section makes up the bulk of the math problems covered on the test. linear equations, functions, and inequalities are what’s in store for you here. you’ll also be expected to know how to interpret graphs and know how to manipulate them.

what you learned in your algebra classes should be more than sufficient to cover what’s necessary in order to answer the wide array of problems you’ll run into. these types of questions should pose little threat to your hopes of getting a high sat score.
 

advanced math – 35%

don’t be fooled by the fancy wording; advanced math is essentially just another algebra section. however, like the topic name suggests, the questions here will be harder and test your logic and reasoning ability.

while the first section deals with all things linear, this section deals with its non-linear counterparts. instead of straight lines, you’ll be looking at curves. you’ll also be expected to know how to handle quadratic equations, polynomials, radicals, and exponents.
 

problem solving and data analysis – 15%

this section is about quantitative reasoning on ratios, rates, and proportional relationships, and analyzing and interpreting one-and two-variable data. you’ll also see perdcentages, models, scatterplots, statistics, and probability questions. you also need to know mean, median, and mode like the back of your hand.
 

geometry and trigonometry – 15%

this section covers area and volume; lines, angles, and triangles; circles; right angles and basic trigonometry. if you haven’t gotten to trigonometry yet in school, don’t worry. there are only a few questions in this category and they cover very learnable concepts.
 

what to do now to prepare your sat math study guide

now’s the time to do a mental checklist and think about how you want to break down your study time.

get out a pen and paper and write down how much time you will devote to brushing up on each topic. focusing on your biggest weaknesses first will help improve your score the most.

the post sat math study guide appeared first on magoosh blog | sat.

math formulas provided for you on the sat formula reference sheet

here are all the math formulas that will be provided for you for reference on the digital sat with more details on the most important ones below:

1. circumference and area of a circle

recall this formula as naturally as you can recall your home address. it’s easy:

area = πr^2

circumference = 2πr

and don’t mix the two up!

2. area of a rectangle

this one should be pretty intuitive. to find the area of a rectangle/square multiply length x width (they are the same in a square). perimeter, which is not part of the sat cheat sheet, is found by adding the length and width and multiplying by 2.

3. area of a triangle

it’s 1/2 of the base x the height. don’t waste time flipping the pages back and forth. know this cold.

4. volume of a box

don’t memorize this—just refer back to the page if necessary. one thing you don’t get is the surface area of a box. for a cube, things are much easier: volume is s^3, in which s = the side; surface area is 6s^2.

5. cylinder

you probably won’t see a problem relating to a cylinder. anyhow, it’s not that easy to memorize. so it’s great to see it as part of the cheat sheet at the beginning of each section.

6. pythagorean theorem

know this cold. and be fluent and being able to find the missing sides.

7. 30:60:90 triangle

don’t feel you have to know this cold, though it will make things faster. just make sure you know what everything stands for when you refer to the diagram.

8. 45:45:90

as a tutor, i always want to make sure my students know this well. but at the end of the day, if you don’t know memorize the formula, you can just use the cheat sheet. just make sure you know how the sides are connected.

for instance, sometimes you can have a √2 as one of the sides. the relationship between the two equal sides and the hypotenuse is that the hypotenuse will always be √2 times greater.

the post digital sat math formula sheet appeared first on magoosh blog | sat.

you have to perform well on the sat exam in order to have your pick of colleges, but where do you start? we’ll share our ten best study tips to help you in preparing for the sat. best of all, some of the tips are easier than you might think!

how to prepare for the sat: top study tips

1. read lots of nonfiction outside of class

the sat is heavy on reading. even though the passages on the digital sat are short, they are complex and dense enough that they can give you a lot of trouble if you are not used to reading more advanced texts. so do lots of reading when preparing for the sat (especially nonfiction). pick up a magazine (time for the newbies, the new yorker for the more ambitious) or a newspaper (the new york times or the wall street journal).

since your “reading brain” won’t sprout overnight, this is an area in which you’ll want to get a jumpstart. so hit the books (er, online magazines) now.

2. learn how to do mental math

even though you’re allowed to use a calculator on the sat, you’ll save a lot of time on test day if you know the answer to, say, 3 × 13 right off the bat. not sure where to start? magoosh’s free, downloadable math ebook has shortcuts and example problems to make mental math easier.

3. brush up on grammar

a good portion of the sat reading & writing section is made up of grammar questions. while many have to do with “big picture” questions, others rely on basic grammar. you might dread the thought of learning grammar, but it is one of the easiest topics to improve on when preparing for the sat (check out our free guide to sat grammar rules).

4. use the best sat prep materials

there are lots of study materials out there. not all are created equal; in fact some will hurt your score by providing you with questions that aren’t representative of the actual test.

make sure to incorporate official practice resources from the college board and khan academy in your study schedule.

5. try some mixed sample tests

there are essentially three different parts to the sat test: math, reading, and writing. often when students prep they think, hey, i’ll just do a bunch of math tonight. studies have shown that it is much more beneficial to do study sessions in which you do, say, 35 minutes of math and 35 minutes of writing and language. this will mimic what you’ll do on test day,–switching from section to section.

our free, full-length sat practice test is a great way to prepare for sat test day—you’ll be comfortable with the format, as well as switching between sections after a certain time limit.

6. don’t cram!

cramming is a bad idea. while you are doing it, it feels like you are retaining so much information. but within a week much of that information vanishes. (cramming is much like trying to build a skyscraper from a deck of cards.)

instead, you should make sure to prep at least a few times a week and review what you’ve learned. you’ll find it is easier for you to learn when you are re-exposed to information you recently attempted to learn.

and there is no need to do more than three hours total prep on a day; you’ll start to get diminishing returns. you’ll also want to take a break in between all that studying to let the information sink in. so break up studying throughout the week, and break it up throughout the day. this one-month sat study schedule is a good way to structure your study time.

7. figure out, and work on, your weaknesses

you’ll naturally be good at some things on the sat, and it’s good to maintain that edge by practicing those concepts from time to time. but it is better to figure out where you struggle. take a diagnostic test to see which areas you need to work on when preparing for the sat.

8. sneak in sat prep during “dead time”

many of us have certain parts of the day where we are just, well, sort of hanging out. maybe we’re waiting for a friend, the bus, or an annoying commercial break to end. well, don’t be a victim of waiting; use these easy ideas!

• review vocabulary flashcards on your phone
• work on your mental math (quick, what’s 5 × 16?)
• discover top tips from students who got a perfect score on the sat

9. find an sat study partner

don’t go at it alone. find a partner (or two!) and keep each other accountable when preparing for the sat. share strategies, resources, and sat study tips. test each other, compete against each other, and, most importantly, commiserate with each other. the sat is a rite of passage, full of its ups and downs. it is best not to go at it alone.

10. prepare for sat test day by reviewing this checklist

don’t be fooled by the title of this video—this is definitely not about cramming! instead, use it to prepare for sat test day, including what to bring to the test center and how much sleep you should get beforehand.

good luck!

need more help?

with magoosh sat, you can choose between self-study or on-demand classes from an expert instructor.

all magoosh sat prep plans are digital sat ready! start studying today.

the post top 10 ways to prepare for the sat appeared first on magoosh blog | sat.

so you want a better sat score…

you’ve taken the sat — or maybe even just a practice test — and you’re not so happy with your score. so what did you do? you googled! well…that’s not a bad start — it may have led you here!

lucky for you, here at magoosh we’re ready to guide you towards the study strategy that will be most effective for your unique test-taking skill set. so maybe googling wasn’t so bad after all!

how much is it possible to raise your sat score?

the amount and rate at which you can raise your sat score depends on how willing you are to change the way you study — and they way you take the test. here are some general factors that will influence what kind of improvement you can expect to see:

• how much time you have to prepare (more = better).
• how much dedication you have to improving (again, more = better).
• the higher you’re already scoring, the less dramatic your improvement is likely to be.

so let’s start talking numbers. for every 50 points you want to raise your overall sat score, you will need to pick up roughly 4 or 5 more questions on the test.

in the official sat statistics published by the college board, the average sat score improvement on a retake is around 40 points. that makes a 150-point improvement pretty darn good. a 300-point improvement is incredible. and improvements of 500 points would be incredibly, incredibly rare, but not entirely unheard of for students who are not natural test-takers, but prepare at length for the exam (maybe a year or more).

how to improve your sat score by 300 points

1. only use high quality study materials
2. stick to a study schedule
3. take practice tests (make sure to include as many digital ones as possible)
4. optimize your studying techniques
5. defeat your mental blocks

so your sat goal is a 300-point overall score improvement — it can be done! on average, you’re trying to pick up 150 points in each section (reading & writing and math) and make no mistake, this is going to take a lot of work.

let’s say you’ve scored similarly across the board. in that case, you’ll want to focus on each sat section more or less equally. however, if one of your sections was much weaker than the others, that’s definitely where you should direct more attention.

it’s time to take a look at some concrete strategies for how to improve your sat score by 300 points. we’ll start with a few things that will benefit you across all parts of the exam, and then get more specialized in later sections of this post.

strategy #1: only use high quality study materials

unfortunately, doing well on the sat is not just about how much you know about math, reading, and writing. your final score will depend largely on how much you know about taking the sat. this is an exam that follows some very specific sets of patterns. if you don’t know the question types, you’re going to have some trouble. luckily, how to take the sat is a skill you can totally learn — but to do this, you must study with realistic sat materials. if you don’t, you’ll develop bad habits and learn the wrong skills.

i (of course) recommend magoosh’s sat prep. our experts know the sat inside and out, and they make sure that the difficulty and types of questions match those on the actual test. plus, the materials are constantly being updated to match the newest versions of the sat, and we’re a lot more affordable than the other test prep resources of our caliber.

if you choose to go with a different study resource, just be sure that whatever materials your using are extremely high quality. if you see bad reviews, or you’re not 100% sure about a company, don’t use their materials!

strategy #2: stick to a study schedule

it’s basically impossible to effectively study for the sat without a schedule. there are a lot of areas to cover, and you need to break things up into bite-sized chunks, so that the information isn’t just going in one ear and out the other. luckily, there are a lot of free sat study schedules available to keep you on track. just pick the schedule that best fits how much time you have before the exam, and follow it!

strategy #3: take practice tests

taking the sat is a lot like running a marathon. it’s long, and if you don’t train for it you might not make it to the end. the absolute best way to prepare for test day, is by realistically simulating what the test will be like (ideally more than once). taking realistic practice tests will not only familiarize you with the format of the sat, but also increase your stamina so you can make it through the big day. our study schedules include a number of realistic practice tests, but worst-case scenario, make sure that you at least take the official sat practice tests that are put out by the college board — you can be confident that those tests are the real deal.

magoosh also has a free sat practice test updated for the adaptive digital sat.

strategy #4: optimize your studying techniques

most high schoolers have a super demanding schedule. whether it’s sports practice or band practice, homework or friends (or you know, occasionally sleep), you probably just don’t have that much extra time to study for the sat. so you better make the time you do spend studying count for as much as it possibly can.

at this point, the most efficient way for you to improve will be to identify and understand your weaknesses — and learn from them. your goal is to find the areas where you have the most room for improvement and really go after those.

don’t just buy an sat book and read it cover to cover. that’ll be a drag, and also a waste of your time, i promise.

here’s how to study smart:

• take a practice test. as you go through it, mark every question that you don’t feel super sure about.
• after the test, grade yourself. then go back and review every question you marked — even if you got them right — and every incorrect question.
• as you review, write down the general idea of each question, why you missed it, and how you could have gotten it correct.

if you do this, you will start to see patterns in what kinds of questions you’re missing…and learn how to stop missing them! this is the key to improving your sat score.

strategy #5: defeat your mental blocks

it can feel like a lot is riding on this test, which is pretty scary. and while some of us work better under pressure, most people will not find *fear* to be the optimal mindset for taking a timed-test. so what do you do?

to ward off fear and stress, work on developing a more positive attitude towards the sat. it sounds corny, but learn to treat every mistake as a learning opportunity. after all, every time you make a mistake it gives you a tiny clue on how you can improve.

of course, you’re still allowed to stress, just not so much that it gets in the way. the sat can be intimidating, but once you understand that you can do well on it if you study, it can start to look a bit more like an opportunity to show everyone what that you have what it takes to work hard. and that’s cool.

strategy #6: optimize for the harder second module on the digital sat

if, like most students, you’re taking the digital sat now, you won’t be able to achieve a section score higher than 700 unless you are get the harder second module of the adaptive test. so if your goal sat score is over 1400, you’ll need to break the barrier into the harder module.

in order to get served the harder module, you need to get around 2/3rds of the questions right in the first module, so as you are practicing, work on your pacing and accuracy to comfortably hit this mark.

how to improve your sat score by 500 points

as i’m sure you realize, 500 points is a lot. that’s 250 points per section, which would be an impressive overall improvement, let alone an improvement per section.

whether it is realistic (or even possible) for you to improve your sat score by 500 points depends enormously on several factors:

• what score are you starting from?
• have you done test prep already?
• how much time are you able to commit to studying?

if you scored very low in each section, you didn’t do any sort of preparation before taking the sat, and you’re willing to commit 6 to 18 months to consistently studying with some sort of test prep program or class — then it might be possible for you to see something in the ballpark of a 500 point improvement on your next sat.

however, my advice is to just focus on making progress, rather than on getting a specific point improvement. if you follow all the advice in this article, your sat score will improve…maybe a lot!

how can you improve your sat reading & writing score?

there are many areas that students tend struggle with on the sat reading & writing section…which means you’re about to get a lot of advice. so, to avoid confusion, i’m going to break down the sat reading & writing strategies into two categories: how to study better and how to work faster. that way you can focus on the area you’re having the most trouble in.

how to study better:

beyond the strategies we’ve covered already (better study materials, defeating mental blocks, etc.), the best tip i can give you for the sat reading section is to read more!

i can hear you rolling your eyes already, but stay with me. students who score poorly on the sat reading section typically aren’t comfortable with the types of reading passages that appear on the sat. this can all change if you start actively reading the kinds of non-fiction that the college board likes.

i would suggest reading the new yorker magazine and scientific american on a weekly basis. if you stick to this schedule, you will not only seriously improve your critical reading skills, but you’ll also learn a lot of cool stuff!

for the writing questions, know your grammar rules! our free guide to grammar and punctuation on the sat can help.

how to work faster:

1) always practice with a timer.

this one is pretty straightforward. it goes back to our idea of studying with realistic materials; this is a timed test, so you need to study using time limits, or at least keeping track of how fast you’re going.

2) skip hard questions (but guess)!

while reading & writing questions are not ordered from easy to hard in the entire section, they are ordered by difficulty within each of the four question types (craft and structure, information and ideas, standard english conventions, and expression of ideas). as you practice, you’ll get familiar with these question subsections, and know that the easier questions come first. since easy questions are worth exactly the same number of points as hard questions, you don’t want to get bogged down with the hard stuff and end up running out of time before you get to some questions that you could have breezed right through. if you can’t answer a question within 30 seconds, skip it.

the sat does not have a wrong answer penalty, which is a big deal! since there is no penalty for getting a wrong answer, there’s absolutely no reason to be leaving questions blank. remember that if you can eliminate even one answer choice on a question you’re not sure about, your chances of guessing correctly go way up. so obviously don’t just randomly select answers, unless you’re down to your very last seconds (and hopefully it won’t come to that).

3) figure out if you should read the passage or question firsthow can you improve your sat math score?

the sat math is a notoriously difficult section for a lot of students. so let’s break things down the same way we did with sat reading & writing.

how to study better (math edition):

everything we’ve talked about as far as identifying weaknesses is completely applicable to sat math as well. so i’m just going to assume that you already know that you need to be taking practice tests and figuring out what you need to work on.

now let’s focus on some good strategies you can use for tackling sat math questions.

strategy #1: plug in values (instead of variables)

the sat math exam is multiple choice. which means the truth is out there! ()

one of the answers you’re looking at is definitely correct…you just need to narrow things down. so instead of starting from scratch, pick some values and plug them in to see which one of the answer choices it produces!

this strategy works super well for problems where the answer choices are percentages, algebraic expressions, or variables.

strategy #2: plug in answers

this one is similar to the last strategy, except you take the actual answers and work backwards to see if the answer choice works in the situation presented in the problem.

this strategy works best for complex word problems with numeric answer choices. this strategy is not ideal when the answer choices are given in terms of variables, radicals, or fractions.

strategy #3: estimate!

estimating is a great strategy when you’re dealing with problems that ask you to draw or interpret a diagram, because you’ll be able to visually see that you’re in the ballpark. in questions that have no diagrams, you can also use the given information to sketch your own diagram…this can be a really useful way to get an idea of the approximate value of the correct answer — and if this allows you to rule out even one answer, your chances of getting the question correct go way up!

how to work faster (math edition):

1) always practice with a timer. okay, you know that one.

2) skip hard questions (but guess)!

the sat math section is ordered according to difficulty from start to finish. the hardest questions will always be at the end of each module. if your score goal does not involve getting higher than a 700 on math, you likely will be better off spending more time on easier questions and entirely skipping the hardest questions.

but don’t forget, skipping does not equal leaving blank! fill those bad boys in!

3) learn how and when to use your calculator
a calculator is allowed on both modules of sat math, and you can choose to use your own calculator or an on-screen desmos graphing calculator. if you choose to use the desmos calculator, it takes some getting used to, so make sure to practice with it before test day. knowing how to use all functions of the calculator can save you time on test day, but don’t automatically assume using a calculator will save you time. on many questions, using skills like estimating, mental math, and paper-and-pencil calculations will serve you better, so get good at analyzing each question type and deciding if you should use a calculator or not.

you can reach your sat goals!

for everyone taking the sat, please remember: you got this. if you start to feel anxious, take a few deep breaths and remember that the sat is testing you on things you already know. you may need to brush up here and there, sure, but you’re being tested on high school content. you can totally learn how to improve your sat score, and we’re here to help you.

you got this!

the post how to improve your sat score by 300 points (or more!) appeared first on magoosh blog | sat.