Being widely established at academic level, SAT has numerous misconceptions among students which easily misleads them and minimizes their chances to clear the test for college admissions. Given below are 10 such points which explain most common myths about SAT.

1. You Should Never Assume an Answer on a Question (partly rational)

Assuming that you have no clue on a given question does not mean you simply ignore it just because you are not scored negative for omitted questions. However, remember if you are able to eradicate even one of the choices, the probability is higher that you may get the answer right.

2. Essay Length Does Not Matter

There is common understanding among students that keeping their essay length short will help them score well when actually this does not hold true. Studies have revealed that chances of getting good score on essay are higher if the essay is lengthy. It should be rich in contents focusing the subject with good real life examples, experiences, properly formatted and thus implicating you know well about the given topic.

3. The Right Time to Appear for the Test is on (specific) Date

This is sensibly incorrect. Many of us as well as students assume that test being held in the months of June and September is easier than other dates. Reason for such belief is simply because students who did not perform well in their first attempt are re-appearing or only fewer numbers would give exam on next test date. There has been no co-relation with such assumption with dates and it merely depends on your preparation for exam on any given date. So the right date to appear for an exam is solely your decision.

4. You Think you know which is Experimental Section

There is no way you can have a clue about which section is experimental. The section could be easier or difficult and cannot be guessed by simply reading it. And therefore, you must not take a section easier and not work hard on it just because it is experimental.

5. 2100 Sounds Better than a 2090

However, it does not hold true to admission counselor, instead they find 2090 looks equivalent to 2100. The counselors do know the variation in-between these numbers and this difference do benefit for college admissions.

6. Writing Section being new can be Ignored and it is Difficult

Being new in the test pattern, the writing section is lesser in mean score, however, majority prepared students find this section easier than other sections.

The students who have gone through preparation exams before have found the writing section much easier and scored easily. You might want to ignore this section considering it is new/hard; however, if you try, scoring on this section is not that difficult as it is believed.

7. Re-test Does not Sound Good

Whether one is re-appearing for a test or not, colleges consider all students at same level. If you are not satisfied with your scores, you may apply for re-test. The re-test does not mean you did badly at first attempt simply because it testifies your intelligence and not knowledge. And the intelligence does not improve in-between such tests. It just gives you a good time to prepare for the test.

8. Calculator Must be Used for Math Questions

Most of the students who scores 800s in the math section do not use a calculator and are simply well prepared. We know there are simpler math questions which do not require a calculator, in fact, if used it will simply consume your more time. The best method for preparation is to practice without a calculator.

9. SAT Never Gauge your Intelligence

This can be argued all day long however SAT really matters when it comes to college entrance. Always remember, you may not be obsessed with SAT but you should not ignore it too. What your personal opinion about SAT is not that of college you intend to take admission at.

10. You Did not Score Well Could be Due to a Bad Day

Except you were drowsy while appearing for a test and did not do well, a re-test is a good option. But just because you think it is a bad day won’t help you in re-test. Rather acknowledge what your scores are saying, try finding the reason for such score and work on it.

Author Bio: This article is written by Ted Mosbi on behalf of Georgetown Learning Centers. GLC provides Academic Tutoring & SAT Prep Courses in Northern Virginia (Mclean, Great Falls) and Charlottesville. For more details, please visit www.learnglc.com

Category: Education
Keywords: SAT, Tutoring, Tutor, SAT prep, SAT course