“Good practice leads to a good result” is a mantra that I constantly reiterate to my students. The idea seems simple enough, but what constitutes “good practice?” Basically, it means making the most of each and every practice test. Students should not do practice tests just to get them done; instead, students should emphasize improving fundamental (reading, writing, and math) skills as well as test taking strategies.
Many students erroneously think that “good practice” starts from the moment that they open a practice test. It does not! It starts much earlier, sometimes as much as a week before. If a student does not plan out his schedule, taking into account his various academic, athletic and social obligations, and ends up rushing through the practice test during his lunch break, how effective was the practice? Time management is important not only within the sections of the practice test but also within the larger context of schedule management.
Most important is taking the practice tests SERIOUSLY. That basically entails finding a quiet place and eliminating distractions such as cell phones and computers. Students should take the full allotted time for each section and practice the techniques that they have learned. Applying certain test taking strategies, such as POE, is mentally taxing. Without repeated practice, it will be just too easy to revert back to easier but less accurate methods of arriving at correct answers.
Taking the time and the effort to do the practice tests in the “right” way is truly the key to success on the SAT.
