Practice Makes Progress -- But Not So Fast!
Frequent readers of this newsletter know that next month, the College Board will deliver the DSAT – or the Digital SAT – for the first time in the United States. You’ll also know that as an SAT tutor for more than three decades, I recommend 8-10 weeks of sustained preparation to most students aiming for their personal best score.
Usually, best practice includes taking tests produced by the actual test maker. However, because the DSAT is so new, there’s a scarcity of College Board-produced practice tests.
During their first consultation with me, many families reveal that their student took one, two, or more actual tests before other preparation. As an SAT tutor, I beg you to stop this practice! Before diving into test prep, families need to plan on when students will use which test prep materials. A little bit of planning can maximize time, effort, and the benefit of the precious few real practice DSATs.
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For current high school juniors, I recommend the study schedule below to prepare for a first March and a second May or June DSAT in 2024. (I advise all my SAT tutoring students to take the exam at least two times. Studies show that scores rise on the second attempt and level off after the third.) You don’t need to follow this plan to the letter. You can also adapt its basic chronology to later and even other exams, such as the ACT, GRE, SHSAT, SSAT, and ISEE.
PHASE I: SAT Tutor Advises PREP FOR THE FIRST TEST (6-10 weeks)
February 1-21: Review Content.
Using a mass-produced guide that you can purchase for about $25, spend about 4-6 hours per week reviewing all of the content on the exam. Start with the section you scored lower on the PSAT. If you don’t know a grammar rule or a geometry formula, don’t just read it. Make flash cards by hand and study until you know it by heart. As an SAT tutor, I use The Princeton Review series with my students, but any of the big names will do. (Note: you extrapolate this process for later test dates. Start 10 weeks before the first test. You might only need to spend 2-3 hours per week to review content.)
Once you finish reviewing content of your weaker section, you can start the step below by taking half of a real old paper SAT. For example, if you reviewed math content first, take Sections 3 and 4 of old exams while you’re reviewing Reading and Writing content.
February 22-29: Take Whole OLD Practice Tests in One Sitting
Take at least one and hopefully two of the pre-digital tests. See below to official links to eight of them. Google “SAT Practice Test <INSERT NUMBER HERE> scoring guide” to find the answer key and score your test. Spend time analyzing wrong answers. Keep a list of them. In April, go back to these questions and make sure you can get them right!
The benefit of practicing with an older version of the test is that you can build your test-taking stamina. (The digital test is shorter than the older version.) Make sure, however, you use only the time you’re allotted. (Students who receive accommodations for 1.5 or double time should, of course, use that extra time – but not more.) Always take the test in a single sitting – unless your accommodation allows you to take it over more days.
The old paper and new digital tests are not exact replicas. Nevertheless, the math and grammar questions will be similar to those on the new digital test. New reading passages are much shorter, but the main idea and vocabulary questions resemble those on the old test. (Don’t sweat the detail-oriented reading questions, which don’t appear much on the new test. If you want to learn more about the new Reading & Writing modules, you can listen to this podcast by a fellow SAT tutor.) The goal for this week is to build stamina and understand why you got questions wrong, especially on the Math and Writing sections.
March 1-8: Take Two and ONLY Two DSATs.
Using the Bluebook app www.collegeboard.org, take DSAT 1 and 2 in a single setting, using only the time you’re allotted. Spend time analyzing why you got certain questions wrong. If you spot a pattern – for example, you missed every question involving a semicolon versus a comma – go back to your original materials and study that concept.
Do NOT take more than two actual DSAT practice tests before the first SAT. You need to save the last two for Phase II.
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March 9: Good luck on your first SAT!
March 10-16: Take a week off from studying. You deserve it!
PHASE II: SAT Tutor ADVISES STAY SHARP FOR THE SECOND TEST
March 17-April 21: The goal of this month is to keep your test-taking skills sharp for May or June. Once you receive your score report for the March 9 exam, study those topics that challenged you. In the meanwhile, return to the old, pre-digital tests you can find below. As an SAT tutor, I would prefer that students take one test per week. However, considering AP study, even one test every other week will do. Continue this practice until two weeks before your actual second test.
Week of April 22 (or May 20, if taking the June test): Take and analyze your responses to DSAT 3.
Week of April 29: (or May 27, if taking the June test): Take and analyze your responses to DSAT 4.
May 4 or June 1: Good luck on your second SAT!
Remember, with a little bit of planning, you can prepare for this new digital test. And of course, if you would like a customized plan or more assistance preparing for the SAT or any standardized test, feel free to email me or schedule a consultation here.
‘Til then, happy prepping!
Links to Old Paper SAT Practice Tests
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