How I Improved My SAT English Score from 640 to 760

Introduction

• The speaker is an international student who improved their English SAT score significantly.
• Main challenge for international students: English is not the first language.
• Purpose: Share tips to help fellow international students.

Key Tips for Improving SAT English Score

1. Time Management

• Importance: Crucial for doing well on Digital SAT.
• Differences between Paper SAT and Digital SAT:
  • Paper SAT: One long passage with multiple questions.
  • Digital SAT: Short passage for each question, approximately 70 seconds per question.
• Strategy:
  • Begin with easier questions to save time for harder reading questions.
  • Steps:
    • Directly skip to Standard English conventions (grammar) questions around question 14-16.
    • After completing grammar, move to vocabulary questions.
    • Aim to complete grammar and vocab in 10-15 minutes to save time for reading questions.
  • Flow: Don’t disrupt it by overthinking; mark difficult questions to revisit.
  • Vocabulary: Don’t panic over unknown words, often not essential to full understanding.
  • Efficiency: Skip reading questions for certain sections:
    • Standard English conventions: Do not read questions, they follow a pattern.
    • Vocabulary questions: Don’t read full questions, they are similar.
    • Simplify names and long phrases to save time.

2. Focus on Grammar

• Initial Focus: Grammar is more formulaic like math—easier to learn and practice.
• Resources:
  • Crack SAT
  • Khan Academy (both old and new versions)
  • YouTube channels like Hayden Rhodea, Prep Expert, and SupertutorTV for strategies.
• Practice:
  • Apply rules consistently.
  • Use old SAT writing tests for grammar practice.
  • Daily practice is crucial for confidence and speed.

3. Review and Reflect

• Importance: Reviewing practice tests is as important as taking them.
• Approach:
  • Understand why each answer was right or wrong.
  • Analyze mistakes and learn from them.
  • Document mistakes and strategies to avoid them.
  • Use College Board explanations to spot patterns.

4. Understand Adaptive Testing

• Digital SAT is adaptive:
  • Performance in Module 1 affects difficulty of Module 2.
  • Strategy: Practice both easy and hard Module 2 questions using Bluebook tests.

Additional Tips

• Vocabulary Learning:

  • Avoid memorizing large word lists; focus on improving comprehension through diverse reading.
  • Engage with complex texts from various disciplines to improve understanding.

• Resources for Practice:

  • Use Khan Academy and old SAT tests for consistent practice.
  • Review mistakes thoroughly to understand patterns in questions.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to focus on comprehension and strategic practice over rote memorization.
• Invitation for further video suggestions from viewers.