How to Study for the SAT in One Night
Understandably, the night before the SAT can be quite nerve-wrecking. And students may feel torn. Is it time for some last-minute studying? Time to go to sleep early? Though it was almost ten years ago, I remember the anxiety as if it were yesterday. For many students, this anxiety can become a real hindrance that continues into test day and negatively affects performance. Therefore, managing this anxiety is just as important as studying for the SAT.
One proven way to reduce test anxiety is to improve self-confidence. However, this confidence should not be merely manufactured. Instead, it should be based on the well-founded and correct belief that a student has prepared well and learned the necessary material.
While students should not be learning new material the night before the SAT, there is something that they can do. I like to call it the SAT ‘Cheat’ Sheet. It may be called a cheat sheet, but of course, it is not actually brought into the test site. It is for the week before, the night before, and even the car ride to the test. It should include key formulas, grammar rules, and any other information that needs to be memorized for the SAT. While the SAT Math section does provide a formula sheet, it’s not nearly comprehensive. Indeed, it’s limited to geometry, which is a relatively small portion of the test.
Based on my experience as an SAT tutor, even when students master a concept while studying, they often have trouble recalling the necessary formula or rule when it reappears weeks later. The SAT Cheat Sheet puts all the information that needs to be memorized in one place for easy review. With this cheat sheet, the night before the test becomes simple. A student can look over the sheet, making sure that all of the formulas and rules are committed to memory. Having an SAT Cheat Sheet to review reassures students that they have prepared well for the test.
While it should be reviewed the night before the SAT, this cheat sheet should be created weeks before the SAT as a part of the student’s studying plan. Not all cheat sheets will look the same. Rather, students should tailor their cheat sheets to meet their specific needs. In general, cheat sheets should include commonly forgotten information that is often required on the SAT but not provided. Students should try to reduce their cheat sheets to one page so that they are not too overwhelmed the night before the test. Here are some ideas to get started.
SAT Math Section
This part of the cheat sheet should contain mostly formulas. Students may want to add a few example questions for concepts they often struggle with as well.
For example, information can be geared towards:
- Memorizing the Quadratic Formula (and Discriminant Rules)
- Memorizing the Equation of a Circle
- Distinguishing between Mean, Median, Mode, and Range
- Mastering Slope-Intercept Form and the Slope Equation
- Graphing Parabolas
- Knowing the Rules for Parallel Lines and Transversals
- Memorizing Basic Trigonometric Relationships
SAT Reading and Writing Section
This part of the cheat sheet should include mainly grammar rules and key tips for answering reading questions. For example, information can be geared towards:
- Using Semicolons Correctly
- Using Apostrophes Correctly
- Separating Nonrestrictive Clauses with Dashes, Commas, or Parentheses
- Structuring Introductory Phrases and Clauses
- Zeroing in on the Question Asked
- Avoiding the Trap of All or Nothing Answers
SAT Cheat Sheets provide a substantial but manageable way for students to study the night before the test. These cheat sheets can be seen as the culminating step in SAT preparation and are instrumental in improving self-confidence. Indeed, SAT Cheat Sheets are the perfect answer to test anxiety.
Unfortunately, the SAT Cheat Sheet is not a replacement for studying for the test. Rather, it is an addition. Undoubtedly, memorizing the quadratic formula will not help much unless a student knows when and how to use it. The SAT Cheat Sheet works best when a student has worked diligently with a qualified tutor in the months leading up to their test. Tutoring for Success has SAT tutors who can help students master the concepts required for the SAT and create their own personalized SAT Cheat Sheets.
By Bethany Gedzelman, SAT Tutor
