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Before You Take the SAT

By Kelly Roell, About.com

Finding out more about the SAT isn’t difficult; it just requires a little studious planning. I know – that sounds like a bummer, but if you’d like to get the SAT score of your dreams, you’ll do a little preparation first. And I don’t mean just cramming your noggin full of those Greek and Latin roots. Sure, you need to know them, but there’s a whole mess of other things you need to wrap your head around, too. Start with these.

Learn the SAT Basics

Can you waltz into a testing center and demand a test booklet? Do you have to sign up? When do you sign up? What about the cost? These are questions you’re going to need the answers to. Thankfully, I have them for you.

Learn About the SAT Test Itself

The SAT test is more than just a booklet full of random questions. There are timed sections with varying degrees of difficulty, varied content areas, and different ways to earn points. Read through each of the sections below to make sure you understand what you'll be asked. It's imperative that you understand each section!

Practice Answering SAT Questions

At the very least, you certainly need to buy an SAT book that will allow you to practice taking the SAT tests with all of the varied questions. You can even find some practice questions online, because there are dozens to choose from. Just make sure you choose a site that arranges the SAT questions like you’d see on the actual test. Here are a few sample questions and explanations of how to solve those questions to get you started.

Effectively Prep for the SAT

Sure, you can read all you like about the SAT, but if you don’t prep effectively, you’ll just be running around in circles, getting yourself all sweaty, but ending up nowhere near the SAT score you deserve. Below are some test prep tips you definitely need to follow before you go anywhere near an SAT testing center

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