How to Prepare for the SAT: Top Study Tips ⭐️ 1. Read lots of nonfiction outside of class The SAT is heavy on reading. Even though the passages on the digital SAT are short, they are complex and dense enough that they can give you a lot of trouble if you are not used to reading more advanced texts. So do lots of reading when preparing for the SAT (especially nonfiction). Pick up a magazine (Time for the newbies, The New Yorker for the more ambitious) or a newspaper (The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal). Since your “reading brain” won’t sprout overnight, this is an area in which you’ll want to get a jumpstart. So hit the books (er, online magazines) now. 2. Learn how to do mental math Even though you’re allowed to use a calculator on the SAT, you’ll save a lot of time on test day if you know the answer to, say, 3 × 13 right off the bat. Not sure where to start? Magoosh’s free, downloadable Math eBook has shortcuts and example problems to make mental math easier. 3. Brush up on grammar A good portion of the SAT Reading & Writing section is made up of grammar questions. While many have to do with “big picture” questions, others rely on basic grammar. You might dread the thought of learning grammar, but it is one of the easiest topics to improve on when preparing for the SAT (check out our free guide to SAT grammar rules). 4. Use the best SAT prep materials There are lots of study materials out there. Not all are created equal; in fact some will hurt your score by providing you with questions that aren’t representative of the actual test. Make sure to incorporate official practice resources from the College Board and Khan Academy in your study schedule.