10 myths that every SAT test taker must know : Most common false assumptions about the SAT.

1. www.neoeducators.com
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2. • Exam myths and rumors are like fire, spreading through
forests of susceptible students; targeting their anxiety and
nervousness. Being such an important event in their academic
life, these students are vulnerable to filling their mind with all
kinds of information that may have a negative impact on their
SAT score.
• At NeoEducators, we don’t wish to fill you up with some of
our own. Instead, we give you a heads up on ten
misconceptions you are bound to encounter during your SAT
prep.
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3. This one is not to be blindly believed! If you play a probabilistic game, you
can use guessing to your advantage. There are two types of guesses – a
blind guess and an educated guess. While we discourage the former, we
encourage you to use the latter. If you can eliminate even once choice, it
is statistically better to go ahead with a guess. The College Board deducts
one-quarter for a wrong answer in an SAT. Thus, even one correct guess in
four gives you a positive result.
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4. This is one of the most prevalent ones. Many students, due to varied
reasons, believe that June and September testing dates are better
because they believe tests are simpler during that time. However, the SAT
is well-known for its consistency and thus, choosing your test dates
according to your preparation and convenience is a smarter decision.
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5. A difference of ten marks is not a ‘do-or-die’ situation. Admission
counselors are aware that even a difference of fifty marks is a result of a
few questions, and do not make it a critical parameter for assessment
when you have achieved a high percentile.
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6. The College Board will tell you that the length of an essay does not affect
the score. Perhaps, they’ll even throw in a ‘Quality over quantity’ quote.
However, studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between
the length of one’s essay and one’s SAT essay score. Therefore, it is always
better to write a lengthier essay by including details and life experiences.
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7. Unless you have supernatural tendencies, there is no way you can guess
which section is the equation section. So, this one is garbage talk. Work
less in any section at your own risk. NeoEducators will haunt you with a
‘told you so!’ if you do so!
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8. There is a reason behind lower mean scores in the writing section – it’s
new! However, the writing section can be made into a major weapon.
Students who undertake test preparation courses experience the highest
increase in Writing; and find it easier than the reading section. Colleges
may claim not to look at the writing section, but that option is not in your
hands. So, do not take a risk! The section score is right there on your
scorecard.
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9. This one is debatable. However, there is no reason you should waste time
debating it. SAT is a necessary criterion for your college entrance and you
should not let your personal opinion cloud your goal – which is to score
well in SAT and earn admission in a top quality college.
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10. It does not matter. Most students retest in hope of increasing their score.
Many succeed, but many don’t. Virtually all colleges are unaffected by the
fact that you are re-attempting the SAT. It’s how you perform on the
retaken SAT that matters. Re-testing does not significantly change in your
score. If it does, then the interpretation would be that your previous test
was not an indicator of your right ability. So, retesting is a costly, but good
option!
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11. The toppers, the nerds, those darn 800's! It’s not their efficient use of
calculators that propel them to the top. They are not masters of
technology any more than you! They are just better prepared. Calculators
require time and effort and are still prone to human errors. Practice for
math section without the use of calculators, as much as you can.
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12. Perhaps, this one is only for your ego. Unless something went drastically
wrong on your testing day, re-testing is unlikely to boost your score.
Research has shown that a ‘bad day’ is generally not the cause of a low
score. So, gear up, and prepare harder!
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13. Personalized, Private SAT Tutoring – Live, Online!
The most effective and convenient SAT Preparation
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