The 15 Most Common Mistakes
As you prepare for the new SAT, keep the
following common mistakes in mind. Some are mistakes to avoid when
taking the actual test. Others are mistakes to avoid during your
preparation for the test.
-
Looking at the answer choices without having some
idea of what the correct answer should be.
- Spending
more than a minute or so on any one item in a set.
- Failing
to practice sufficiently—reading this book is not
enough!
- Refusing
to guess when you’ve eliminated one answer choice.
- Trying
to manipulate equations in your head instead of writing it down
and solving it.
- Not
picking the answer the item asks for. Often this is not the same thing
as finding the critical value needed to solve the item.
- Answering
every item in order.
- Rushing
through a set instead of thinking each item through.
- Refusing
to fly Bombing Runs—that is, not doing items out of order based
on your assessment of which will be easiest.
- Not
establishing a baseline score.
- Setting
an unrealistic target score.
- Not
building up your vocabulary.
- Not
creating a study plan.
- Not
taking a full-length practice test before test day.
- Doing
SAT prep work the day before the test.
