With the 2024 SAT coming up, it may be time to start studying for some. It’s importance has changed and the way the test works has as well many times over the years, so it may be helpful to provide an updated breakdown and information about the test as it will appear this year.
- The test is going to be online again this year
- The test has no essay section, it has a math which is broken into calculator, (38 questions) and non calculator (20 questions), a Reading section, which is 52 questions, and a writing and language section of 44 questions where you do not write yourself.
- The math test will have Algebra I & II content as well as Geometry and some trigonometry
- The reading section involves analyzing passages and the writing section involves looking at writing samples to show knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and editing in context.
- Timing: 65 minutes reading, 35 minutes writing, and 25 minutes math no calculator, and 55 mins math calculator
- The test will be offered for free to juniors at Crofton High School on April 17 and more information on locations and such will be provided through the school
The SAT may feel very important, but many colleges have been going test optional, and the way it impacts applications has been changed significantly during the post-pandemic period. However, a solid score can boost your application depending on the college, and more places are pivoting back to a required SAT submission post pandemic. It can be overwhelming to prepare for what can feel like such an important test, but studying just a bit can really improve scores, and since the content on the test does not change vastly year to year, it can make it easier to prepare.
Khan Academy offers a great resource where you can link your PSAT scores and it will help you review everything you missed and help you learn it or relearn it.
I’ve taken one prep class, and it was moderately helpful, the practice test is good, but most of the information shared was really straightforward. To overview what the class went over, there was the breakdown of the test, emphasizing that there is no penalty for guessing so make sure to answer every question.
Eliminate any answers you can and try to narrow down options any times you may have to guess to give yourself better odds. In the math sections, the answers are placed in order least to greatest, so if you are plugging in the answers to an equation or such, start with the second or third one, and see if you will need to go higher or lower.
Lastly, if you really want to do as well as you can, start studying now, just a little bit each day. It will be overwhelmingly more helpful then studying in the few weeks or days before. Make sure to sleep well, studies have continually shown that cramming the night before is much less beneficial then sleep. Make sure to eat a breakfast, a healthy one if you can but anything is better than nothing. And remember, this isn’t going to define you, just do your best and relax.
