By Laura Whitmore
Hey, SAT students (and supportive parents)! I have some exciting insights for all of you last-minute crammers who have just started studying for the August SAT. If you're one of them, honestly, I don't know how you do it - if it was me, I would have a heart attack! But no worries, because I'm here to run through all my predictions for things I think will be on the test.
I've been constantly looking at all the new tests that are released just to look for trends. It's part of my job as a test prep instructor to analyze trends in the data, trends in the questions, and then pass them on to my students. They often score amazing, and I want you to score amazing too!
August SAT English Predictions
Prediction #1 The Hug/Slug Passage will be a Science
For those of you that don't know, the hug slug is the two passages that go back-to-back. Sometimes the hug slug is historical, like an old one written in the 1800s, and sometimes it's a science passage. By analyzing past tests and looking at patterns, I predict that the next hug slug is going to be a science passage. If you really like reading science passages, this is going to be awesome for you. If not, I would suggest you practice as many science passages as you can.
Prediction #2 Know Past Perfect and Present Perfect Tenses
I've noticed a trend, especially in the digital SAT, where they're starting to emphasize time periods and time frames. Be ready to choose the correct tense based on the context.
Past perfect = ongoing in the past, but done now (i.e. "During his travels in 1903, he had been....")
Present perfect = ongoing in the past and continuing in the present (i.e. Since she was a little girl, she has been...)
Prediction #3 Know When To Pick a Conjunction, Not a Transition
You'll need to pick a conjunction (i.e. but or yet) and not a transition (i.e. however or nevertheless) if there are two complete sentences separated by a comma.
August SAT Math Predictions
If you need more context while reading the predictions for this part, please watch my YouTube video.
Prediction #1 Understanding Growth and Decay Functions
Growth Function: If the number inside the parentheses is greater than one (e.g., 3.5%), it signifies a growth function.
Decay Function (DK): If the number is less than one (e.g., 0.87), that is a decay rate, and in this case, your rate is 13.
Prediction #2 Quadratic Equation Scenarios
Sum of Solutions: Use −b/2a
Number of Real Solutions: Focus on the discriminant using b^2 - 4ac, and remember the relation to real solutions (if positive, there are two solutions; if zero, there is one solution; if negative, there are no real solutions).
Finding Solutions: You might have to use the quadratic formula to actually solve a quadratic question. You must know this by heart; it is not provided on the cheat sheet.
Prediction #3 Axis of Symmetry and Parabolas
Understanding the axis of symmetry, calculated with −b/2a, is vital.
Know the x-coordinate of the vertex, the midpoint between the two solutions.
Prediction #4 Margin of Error
To decrease the margin of error, increase the sample size.
Prediction #5 Circle Equations
You must know how to interpret and calculate the center and radius of a circle. College Board has been upping their game lately with this type of question. You will likely need to use the midpoint formula to calculate the center of the circle this round, as well as the distance formula to get the length of the radius.
Predition #6 Vertex Form Interpretation
Vertex form is useful for interpreting the coordinates of a vertex in a quadratic equation.
Prediction #7 Exponent Rules
Beware of tricky scenarios involving exponent rules and follow PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction) carefully.
Prediction #8 Tricky Ratio Problems
Don't get tricked by ratio problems. Consider the total parts when setting up a ratio, e.g., 5 parts to 6 parts leads to 11 total parts.
Conclusion
These predictions aim to provide a glimpse into the types of questions and tricky scenarios you might face on the August test. Practice these concepts, keep an eye on nuances, and you'll be ready to tackle the test with confidence.
Thank you for reading through, and feel free to comment below with your thoughts or questions!
