SAT Time Management

The SAT is a classic challenge in itself. You need to work with the difficult parts but have to do it at speed. Many students face immense challenges in completing the SAT in the desired time and balancing the quality of their performance with the pressure of the assigned time. In several cases, this time pressure results in students making many errors even after knowing the right answers. While each student follows different strategies to master time management during the SAT, certain principles can be applied to master time management in each SAT section.

SAT Exam Structure

Before you learn how to increase your time management skills for the SAT, it is good to understand the structure of the exam in order to be well-prepared beforehand. The digital SAT writing and reading sections include two 32-minute modules for a complete 64 minutes. Each module includes 27 questions, resulting in a total of 54 questions in the section. This means all you get is one minute per question.

The first module of the section consists of a combination of medium, easy, and hard questions. Depending on your performance in the first module, the questions in the second module can be more or less difficult. Students cannot proceed with the second module in the real test until they have completed the first module’s 32 minutes. 

However, you can move towards the second module earlier in the practice test; however, this is not advised. Remember, there is no break provided between the first and second reading and writing modules. Instead, you will get the first break at the end of the section and before the beginning of the math’s section of the first module.

SAT Time Management Tips

Explore the key strategies and tips for SAT writing and SAT reading time management:

Save Time on Easy Questions 

Some of the questions in your test need more reading than others, which might slow your process. However, many questions can be attempted quickly, saving you more time. Working on the questions that can be solved in just a few seconds will save you more time to invest in complex questions.

Make Predictions 

To get the correct answer, make predictions and choose the option that aligns well with them. Doing so avoids spending ample time reading the choices repeatedly and making comparisons against one another. This strategy is a good time saver for revising reading and writing questions, and it also helps and improves the chances of getting the answer right.

Implement the Elimination Process

If you face a challenge in making a prediction or finding the right option, read the given choices and eliminate them one by one. After eliminating the other options, go with the one that’s left at the end.

Do Not Second Guess

Even if the question is very easy, do not continue with the second choice. Believe in your first instinct, especially when you have been practicing plenty of questions earlier.

Save Time For Revision At the End of The Module

If you get stuck on a certain question or in the options given, move on by taking your best guess. Following this strategy, you will have enough time to return to the complex question after completing the module for a revision.

Attempt all the Questions

The SAT has no rule of deducting marks for the wrong answers. Hence, no matter how confused you are, always attend to all the questions and leave no question blank. Go with the choice that you feel is the right one and move to the other question.

Don’t Begin With the Second Module Early in Your Practice Test

Even though practice tests provide you with an option to begin early with the second module before the time completion of the first model, in the real test, it is the opposite. Hence, even if you finish the first module before the time completion of your SAT practice test, it is advised to use the leftover time for the revision instead of beginning with the second module, as following the strategy will help you with efficient time management in the real test.

Select Questions for Review

At the end of the module, you’ll reach a review page where any questions you’ve marked for review will be flagged. You can click on these flagged questions to re-read them and check your answers. At the bottom of the question page, where it displays the question number out of 27, you can click to return to the review page. You can revisit any question until time runs out, not just the ones you’ve marked. 

However, marking questions for review helps you remember which ones to revisit. For Reading questions, a good review strategy is to return to the passages and ensure there’s evidence supporting your answers.

Know Your Splits

In the Reading section, you should track how long each passage takes, noting both the time spent reading the passage and the time spent answering the questions. This helps you understand how your time is being used and make adjustments to improve efficiency. Many students spend too much time reading the passage. 

Remember, understanding the passage is pointless if you don’t take the time to understand the questions and compare your answers to specific evidence from the text. A common effective ratio is about 1:3 for time spent reading versus answering questions, but you’ll need to practice to find what works best for you.

In the Writing section, many students feel comfortable with the timing, but the main challenge is slowing down to read around for context when answering each question. Managing your pacing is crucial, aiming for around 8 minutes and 30 seconds per passage, though some passages may take longer. If you finish this section with extra time, use it to slow down and be more meticulous, particularly with questions that focus on rhetoric rather than grammar.

Conclusion

To manage time effectively, you must implement the SAT time management tips and strategies discussed above. In addition to these tips, make sure not to be nervous, as it can result in making errors even after knowing the correct solutions. For efficient preparation for your SAT, take the learning courses on the Turito learning platform and clear your exam in a single go!

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