Last month, I was staring down the SAT with just 30 days to go, and honestly, I was freaking out. I was scoring in the mid-1200s and knew I needed to raise it for my college applications. I tried full practice tests almost every day, but it was overwhelming and didn’t help much.
What really turned things around for me was focusing on reviewing my mistakes. After each practice test, I created a spreadsheet where I noted down the question type, why I got it wrong, and what I should focus on. It was super tedious but crucial.
Within a week, patterns started to emerge. For example, I noticed I consistently struggled with geometry questions and certain reading comprehension strategies. Once I identified these weaknesses, I could direct my study sessions more effectively. I started searching for specific resources to help with those areas.
I also mixed in some strategy sessions where I practiced timed sections. This helped tremendously with pacing. And, let me tell you, the day before the exam, I really focused on calming my nerves and getting a good night's sleep. Turns out, that was just as important as any study session!
In those 30 days, I ended up boosting my score by over 100 points! So, if you’re in a similar boat, don't stress too much about cramming. Instead, analyze your mistakes, focus on your weaknesses, and don’t forget to give yourself time to relax!