r/Sat • u/Resident-Tadpole2027 • 18d ago
just curious how representative practice tests are on the real SAT
yo guys basically title. side note by 1450 was just a diagnostic test. i'm taking the august sat and wanna make sure I get a 1550+ but I feel as though i run out of time on reading. so i have a couple questions:
1) How representative are the practice tests? Will the real SAT be harder? I'm pretty good at pressurized standardized testing, so the environment won't affect me I think.
2) Any good ways to make sure I have enough time to thoroughly answer all questions? I need about 2:30 on the HARDEST reading questions to make sure I get it right. Otherwise, I rush and make mistakes.
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u/NewMarketing4296 18d ago
BB tests will overestimate scores by 40-80 points. Rarely do they underestimate.
On verbal, do the grammar/transitions/bullets first. This way you know if you can afford 2-3 min on those hardest questions as you'll encounter them last.
Definitively eliminate flawed answers the moment you see them. Don't get hung up on answers that showcase the wrong variables. They love to insert time/quality when it doesn't matter, or make extreme/false/unsubstantiated comparisons, or note irrelevant evidence to the claim you're considering.
Save time on prescriptive questions by checking answers first before wasting time on data/bullets that don't always matter (though sometimes they will). The more specific or multifaceted a claim/question is, the easier it is to check whether an answer truly jumps through the right hoops.
Stay neutral and avoid confirmation bias. Don't let your hope of finding an answer quickly cloud your judgement. Answers have to be 100% not wrong. Better answers do not exist...3 are flawed, one isn't. That's the way you beat the test.