August SAT Last-Minute Tips (2025): 10 Strategies You Need to Know

By Laura Whitmore

With the August SAT just around the corner, you might be feeling nervous, rushed, or unsure about how to make the most of the final days before test day. Don’t worry—you’re not alone, and you’re not out of time. In this post, I’m sharing 10 powerful last-minute SAT tips (straight from my YouTube video) that can help you boost your score fast.

👉 Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-EjhxatuKA

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⭐️ College Board just released brand-new questions to their question bank this week! They’re tricky to find since you can’t filter by “new,” so I pulled them together for you in one place. If you’d like free access, just subscribe to our newsletter and we’ll email you the complete set.

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💡 Tip 1: Read the Bullet Points on Rhetorical Synthesis Questions

Sometimes, you can’t skip the notes section on these questions. If two or three answers seem right, the bullet points act as a tiebreaker. Focus on the last two bullet points—that’s where the correct answer usually hinges.

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💡 Tip 2: Ignore Graphs in SAT English Modules

Most graph questions in the English modules are just time traps. Instead of analyzing the whole graph, read the last sentence of the paragraph under the graph—often that’s all you need. Only use the graph if two answers look equally correct.

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💡 Tip 3: Use Desmos Strategically

Desmos is a powerful tool, but you need to use it smartly. Great times to use it:

• When there’s only one constant in the equation.

• When you have at least two points and the equation of a line or quadratic (run a regression).

If you want deeper practice, purchase our Desmos Crash Course recording.

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💡 Tip 4: Read the Last Sentence First (Questions 4–10)

For the first half of the reading passages, the correct answer is often in the last sentence. Starting there can save you serious time.

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💡 Tip 5: Start at Question 27 and Work Backwards

Why waste energy on hard vocab at the start? Instead, begin at the end of the English module with the easier questions, then work backwards. This warms up your brain and helps you secure points quickly.

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💡 Tip 6: Adjust Your Pacing for Module 2

Module 2 is tougher, and many students run out of time because they stick with their relaxed Module 1 pace. Go in with urgency—expect harder questions and move faster.

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💡 Tip 7: Don’t Leave Anything Blank (Smart Guessing)

Never leave a question unanswered. For math free-response, type in “3” if you’re stuck (it’s right more often than you’d think). Use common sense for word problems and at least give yourself a shot.

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💡 Tip 8: Save Geometry for Last (Math Module 2)

Geometry often requires extra drawings or outside-the-box thinking. It’s time-consuming and lower-yield. Knock out the quicker problems first, then circle back to geometry if you have time.

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💡 Tip 9: Skip “Logically Completes the Text” Until the End (English Module 2)

Just like geometry, these take longer and stress students out. Save them for last so you can maximize your points elsewhere first.

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💡 Tip 10: Prioritize Test-Week Self-Care

Your brain only works well if your body does. Get sleep, water, exercise, and good food leading up to test day. Taking care of yourself is just as important as studying.

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⏰ Bottom Line

If you’ve made it this far, you’re already ahead of the game. Follow these 10 last-minute SAT tips to maximize your score on the August test. And don’t forget—practice is key!

👉 Get extra SAT practice anytime with the Preptly app. It’s packed with 1,000+ unique SAT questions, including hundreds of new ones for 2025, and has built-in features to track your progress.

Good luck—you’ve got this! 💪