Setting a Digital SAT Studying Strategy
The Digital SAT is a marathon, not a sprint; be strategic about how you study!
Making a study plan for the Digital SAT can be overwhelming. With so many practice tests, practice questions, workbooks, and classes, it’s difficult to figure out which tools to utilize, when, and for how long. Between APs, Regents, extracurriculars, and college applications, students don’t have time to make their entire lives about this one test, no matter how important it might be. Laying out a plan of attack for your SAT prep is crucial to getting the most out of the time you spend studying.
Lay out a thoughtful study timeline
Don’t leave all your studying to the night before the test. Contrary to popular belief, cramming has been shown to be a surefire way to damage test-day performance, leading to
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Anxiety
- Frustration
Check out our planning timeline and checklist here for advice on an efficient and thoughtful study timeline that won’t leave you grappling for night-before advice!
Pace out your Practice Questions and Practice Tests
Many students assume the primary benefit of practice tests is to review types of content they’ll find on the SAT. This is sorely mistaken! Practice tests aren’t just sets of questions for you to complete at your own pace—they’re tests! Use the limited number of official SAT practice tests to focus on your strategies for the big day. Use question sets to prepare for the content; use practice tests to hone your test-taking skills!
So, when setting up your study schedule, strategize when you’ll focus on studying content versus studying the form and conditions of the test. Both are important! Don’t rely on any single strategy to carry you through something as important as this test.
Focus your studies on the areas you need it the most
Like Polonius says in Hamlet: “To thine own self be true.” Let’s listen to Shakespeare on this one. By paying attention to your unique needs as a student, you can focus on your weakest subjects to elevate your score. If you’re an algebra wiz, but feel yourself falling asleep during geometry, spend more time working with shapes! Take inventory of your strengths and weaknesses, then respond accordingly. There’s no improvement without challenge!
Practice with intent. Think of practice tests and questions like physical exercise. If you pick up a weight and flail your arm about wildly, you’re never going to get stronger. In fact, you might hurt yourself. If, however, you learn good form and exercise with intention and concentration, you’ll see results that last.
Our SAT Mastery Modules let students construct the course they want with the timeline they need. Want to take 18 classes on every SAT topic over 9 weeks? Sure! Want to take classes on 5 topics over 2 weeks? Of course! Let your SAT prep fit itself to your needs!
SAT Mastery Modules
Flexible, modular, and rigorous.
Build the course you want around the topics you need the most. Unlimited classes during your access period!