December SAT Last-Minute Tips (2025)
- Laura (Heslin) Whitmore
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
By Laura Whitmore
Ho ho ho — we’re kicking off the holiday season with a little academic cheer. With the December SAT right around the corner, I’m here to gift you my best last-minute strategies to help you squeeze out every possible point on test day. Think of these as your “SAT cheat codes,” wrapped up and delivered just in time.
I’m Laura Whitmore, founder of Strategic Test Prep, and after 18 years of coaching SAT students, I can tell you this: even the smallest shortcuts can save precious time and add real points to your score. That’s why I’ve pulled together these top last-minute tips — from performance and mindset prep to targeted English and Math strategies — all designed to help you walk into test day feeling calm, confident, and fully prepared to perform your best.
👉 Don't feel like reading? Watch the full video here.
💡 Tip 1: Start at Question 27 on the English Modules
This is a strategy I will preach until my last breath: the questions at the end of the English modules tend to be easier. Jump straight to question 27, work backward, and save the five hardest reading passages for last. You’re re-engineering the module so the time constraints work in your favor, not against you.
💡 Tip 2: Break Down Vocabulary Words Into Their Parts
Sometimes, you simply won’t know the definition with a words-in-context question — and that’s okay. You can still make strong educated guesses by analyzing roots, prefixes, and suffixes. When I took the November SAT, I encountered a word I didn’t know, but the prefix “in-” told me the word should have a negative connotation. That clue alone helped me choose the correct answer.
💡 Tip 3: Redo Every Question on Math Module 1
Module 1 is generously timed, and while that sounds great, it also makes students more prone to careless errors. If you’re aiming for a 700+ in math, plan to redo every question. Solve once using Desmos, then again by hand to catch mistakes you might have glossed over the first time. This two-pass approach dramatically improves accuracy.
💡 Tip 4: Know How and When to Use Regressions in Desmos
Regression questions on Module 2 can look intimidating, but Desmos makes them so much easier — if you know what you’re doing. If the word “regression” feels foreign, pause right now and watch the regression tutorial linked in my video. Knowing how to run linear, quadratic, and exponential regressions can turn some of the test’s hardest problems into straightforward ones.
💡 Tip 5: On Reading Passages, Look for Three Wrong Answers
Most students try to find the right answer first. I want you to do the opposite. The SAT is notorious for providing trap answers that sound reasonable at first glance. Instead of asking, “Which one is right?” shift your mindset to: “What is wrong with this one?”
Eliminating three choices with a critical eye makes the correct answer stand out far more clearly.
💡 Tip 6: Be Careful When Guessing Quickly at the End
Old-school “Christmas treeing” — choosing the same letter all the way down — behaves differently on the digital SAT. If you click answers too fast, the adaptive algorithm can detect random guessing and may discount correct guesses.
If you truly run out of time and must guess, select your answer and wait a few seconds before moving to the next one. A quick count to ten can protect your score.
💡 Tip 7: Skip Time-Consuming Questions and Come Back
One of the most underrated skills on the SAT is knowing when to skip. Geometry questions and long, wordy problems often require more time, and if you dive into them too early, you risk getting stuck. When I took the November exam, I made the mistake of working through several long questions instead of skipping them immediately, and I paid for it in the final minutes. If a problem looks like a multi-minute commitment, flag it confidently and move on.
Remember: the SAT is half knowledge, half psychology. Staying calm, composed, and strategic is just as important as knowing the math or grammar.
💡 Tip 8: Prioritize Self-Care Leading Up to Test Day
Your brain can only perform at its highest level when your body is supporting it. Sleep, nutrition, hydration, movement — all of these play a role in cognitive performance. If your self-care hasn’t been great lately, don’t beat yourself up. Just commit to better habits from now until test day. Even a few days of better sleep and nutrition can make a meaningful difference in your focus and stamina.
⏰ Final Thoughts
This is your last-minute SAT survival guide. And remember — Rudolph was once underestimated too, until he led the entire sleigh team. Even if you feel behind or unsure right now, you can still rise to the top with consistency and confidence.
Get some rest, stay focused, study smart, and go into the SAT believing in yourself. And once you finish, drop a reply and let me know your goal score and which tip helped you the most.
And if you want expert guidance to make sure you’re ready for 2026 exam season, our team of tutors is here to help. We’ve helped hundreds of students boost their scores, and we’d love to do the same for you. Book a consultation here.
Good luck — I’ll see you on the other side of your score report.
