Last Minute SAT and ACT Prep
As a veteran teacher and lifelong planner, I’m constitutionally opposed to cramming. But if you’re a student taking the SAT on December 6 or the ACT on December 13, here are three last minute SAT prep (or ACT prep) tips for you!
1. Last Minute SAT Prep Tip #1: Take a practice test.
Familiarize yourself first with each section’s directions so you won’t need to waste time reading them during your practice exam. Make your environment as close as possible to what it’ll be like on the actual test day – light, minimal distractions. If you’re not taking a digital test, set a timer at the start of each section. (Give yourself more time if you’ve been approved for testing modifications.) Getting a feel for how quickly you need to move from question to question will help prepare you to finish and manage time on your actual exam.
An important part of this last minute SAT prep (or last minute ACT prep) is to stick it out. Don’t press pause if you need a break or skip ahead if you finish early. Sitting through the entire test in the time allotted will help build needed stamina for Saturday.
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2. Last Minute SAT Prep Tip #2: Examine the practice test score report for clues.
Did you get a bunch of wrong answers in a row? If you lost focus because your dog was barking, you might not need to vary your last minute SAT prep (or last minute ACT prep). But if you notice a chunk of wrong answers and can’t remember anything that distracted you, you might need to work on building your focus.
Next, try to identify patterns in wrong answers to guide the rest of your last minute SAT prep (or last minute ACT prep). Did you miss the comma versus semicolon questions? Review those rules. (I recommend books to consult in the “Test Prep” section on the Resources page of my website.)
If you’re overwhelmed, focus more on the wrong answers in the first two-thirds of the ACT Math section or the first modules of the SAT.
3. Last Minute SAT Prep Tip #3: Get Comfortable with Desmos and Memorize Some Grammar.
Sadly, there’s not much you can do to improve your reading comprehension one or two weeks before an exam. However, your last minute SAT prep should include familiarizing yourself with these rules to bolster your Reading Writing (or ACT English) score:
Passive voice, 4 reasons to use a comma: Grammar & Writing Principles
Questions to ask yourself when you see commas & semicolons/periods in the answer choices (flowchart)
Likewise, familiarizing yourself with Desmos should be top on your list of last minute SAT prep (or last minute ACT prep) to raise your Math score. (If you’re taking a paper version, master your graphing calculator instead.
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Last Minute SAT Prep Conclusion
Last minute SAT prep (or last minute ACT prep) can seem futile if you view it as Mount Everest. By breaking your prep into small, manageable chunks, however, you can use the last week or two before the test to make meaningful changes to your scores.
Let me know how these tips work for you in the Comments below!
If you need more assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out here or to schedule a complimentary consultation.
AUTHOR’S BIO: Dominique Padurano, MS, Ed, PhD, founded Crimson Coaching in 2014. Since then, she’s helped hundreds of students reach their dreams through her academic tutoring, test prep, and college essay coaching and counseling services. A solopreneur, she runs the business and does 98% of its coaching. Dr P speaks regularly at nonprofit organizations and has also been quoted in national and international publications. For more info, feel free to read her Google reviews or schedule a complimentary consultation.
