How to Study for the SAT/PSAT English Sections

🧠 How to Study for SAT Reading and Grammar

The SAT Humanities sections, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Language, can be difficult to study. In one section you are tasked with knowing the ins and outs of the English language and in the other, you must read, understand, and answer questions for multiple passages. However, with a solid plan and an approach that works for you, studying for the SAT humanities sections will be a breeze!

🤓 Find an Approach that Fits Your Learning Style

Are you someone who learns best by trial and error? Are you someone who learns best by reading a study guide? Are you someone who learns best by watching a video or interacting with an in-person tutor? It is crucial to know the best way to make your brain retain information as you embark on your SAT studying journey. Having an idea of the best studying approach for your learning style will help you choose resources and methods of preparation best suited to your individual needs!

Most students learn by doing lessons and practice questions on websites like Khan Academy while others might prefer using a prep book, or simply completing multiple SAT practice tests. Find out which what learning style fits you and implement a plan to effectively study!

🔤 Learn Basic Grammar Rules

One of the easiest ways to obtain a high score on the SAT Writing and Language section is to learn basic grammar rules. While it may sound trivial, many students, especially native English speakers, tend to judge grammar based on what sounds right in their head, which can be dangerous on the SAT's tricky questions ⚠️

Thorough knowledge of grammar rules will equip you with the necessary tools to logically figure out every grammar question and significantly increase your chances of correctly answering these questions. Some easy ways to integrate grammar studying into your preparation regiment are to use a grammar prep book, watch instruction videos, or visit our study guide that covers numerous grammar rules.

To help you with these grammar rules, we created a study guide covering Standard English Conventions you should know!

🚶🏿‍♀️ Pace Your Prep

Especially for SAT Humanities, cramming is not a practical option for studying to achieve the best possible score. Although the grammar section's content can be learned fairly quickly due to its strict and universal rules, it requires lots of practice to fully develop a concrete understanding of the applications of said rules in all contexts in which they will appear on the SAT.

📚 Take Advantage of Outside Resources

One of the easiest ways to plan and stay organized in your SAT humanities prep is to use a prep book and/or other online resources such as mobile apps or websites! These resources house a wealth of knowledge such as strategies and demonstrations of exam questions. Prep books such as the College Board's Official SAT Study Guide or the SAT Black Book contain practice questions directly from SAT exams as well as question explanations. The College Board's book also has ten practice SAT tests and they are also available for free online. Additionally, there is an array of SAT prep apps available for free that offer a variety of services such as practice questions, study timers, and tools for implementing SAT prep into a busy schedule!

Courtesy of Prep Scholar

📖 Read Regularly

Try to get in the habit of reading a variety of texts: news articles, books (both fiction and non-fiction), etc. This will assist you in comprehending complex passages and answering vocabulary-based questions and massively improve your reading speed, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. As you come across words you might not know, make sure you search up their definition on Google and write then down. Reading other texts, especially new books, is an entertaining and rewarding break from typically SAT passages.

✍🏿 Practice, Practice, Practice

The absolute best way to make sure you perform to your fullest potential on the SAT is to consistently practice! For both grammar and reading, the SAT always uses the same types of questions. The more you practice, the more exposure you will have to every question type on the exam. You will become familiar with the format and style of passages and questions. This way, you are not blindsided or surprised when you sit down to take the official exam. Some SAT questions can be tricky, so the more comfortable you are with the exam, the better! 

SAT practice also does not have to be rigorous and intense. As long as you stay consistent, completing a question a day or a practice test every week will astronomically increase your chances of earning a higher score. Make sure you actively engage with the text while reading. Take notes, underline, or highlight key points, and summarize main ideas. This will help you retain information while answering questions and helps with any review later.

Furthermore, while doing any practice questions, review and analyze your mistakes. Make sure you understand the reasoning behind correct answers. You may notice patterns in your results that will help you better assess your strengths and weaknesses. For example, maybe you always miss the most questions on the history passage or you consistently miss questions about comma rules. These patterns may not be so clear if the practice is not completed regularly. Once you see these patterns, it will become crystal clear exactly what you need to work on as you get closer to your exam!

More practice can also allow you to try out different test-taking strategies and figure out what works best for you. For instance, during the reading section, some people prefer to read the questions first before reading the passage, while others might prefer skimming or reading the passage in depth before tackling the questions. These elements of how you prefer to take the test is best established when you've set a large enough studying window. So try to avoid cramming!

Additionally, completing practice exams/questions will help improve your reading skills such as speed and comprehension which are essential for the SAT humanities sections. Being able to read and understand the questions/passages quickly will maximize the amount of time you have to logically think through and answer the questions.

💫 Overall

And that's a wrap, six tips for studying for the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sections. Ultimately, only you can decide the best way to study for the SAT, but hopefully these suggestions can help guide you in your preparation for your next SAT exam! Best of luck on your exam, you've got this! 🙌🏼