If you're one of the many students fretting over the SAT test, here is a useful list of SAT resources and tips that will be immensely valuable to you. Take advantage of these resources from free online tests, vocabulary lists to prep courses.



Whatever your modus operandi might be, here are some suggestions to help you in your SAT preparation.

Test Preparation Websites

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Students of this generation are increasingly turning to online resources over textbooks, and the multitude of test-prep websites on the Internet offers valuable advice and opportunities for practice, many of which are reasonably priced or even free. First, though, you'll have to sort out the good ones from those that are a waste of time.

Number2.com is a gem of a site that's free to use! The SAT Companion Prep Course provides a customized course through tutorials with immediate feedback on every wrong answer and practice sessions that adapt to your personal skill level as you progress. The vocabulary builder will aid you in learning new words and allows you to build up your own set of electronic flashcards. Parents and teachers can monitor your progress by viewing the real-time progress report that details the student's time spent on the site and performance.

Another useful site is ePrep which believes that the way in which students learn from their mistakes is instrumental to them not committing it again. Hence, it emphasizes on the “show versus tell difference”. ePrep does the ‘show' by providing a video explanation for each of the answers to ensure students understand the answer. Courses cost $$99 to $599.

Vocabulary List

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Online vocabulary lists are an excellent source to drum in vocabulary words in preparation for the test. A quick search on common SAT words would bring up links to useful resources like the one provided by Number2.com. SparkNotes has a compilation of the 1,000 most common SAT words. College Board seems to favour certain words that have popped up in time and again so make sure you know what they are. Going through practice tests should give you an idea of the important ones.

To keep motivation high, practice your vocabulary on FreeRice.com, an initiative that helps fight hunger by donating 10 grains of rice to the UN World Food Program every time a vocabulary question is answered correctly. You know you're actually doing a good deed by religiously practicing your vocabulary!

Keep a little notebook to jot down every word you came across during a practice test or word list that stumped you, then look up its definition and write it down. Put the meanings to memory and look through your book every week. There's no excuse not to know these words if you come across them again!

With the vocabulary that you've learnt, incorporate it into your essay to score that six level essay! Most students use unimpressive and everyday language in their essay so you can stand out with your strong diction. However, make sure you fit it in such that your sentence flows smoothly and it doesn't sound like you forced the word in for the sake of using it.

Practicing with Official Tests from the College Board

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Who better to practice with than the College Board which administers the SAT tests. Sign up to receive by email the Official SAT Question of the Day to practice with, and get hints and an explanation to it.

Prepare with The Official SAT Study Guide with which you'll have access to test-taking approaches, practice questions, samples essays, 10 official SAT Practice tests and exclusive access to online answer explanations for each practice test. You can also enroll in The Official SAT Online Course for a personalized online course, featuring lessons and quizzes, immediate essay scoring, and ten official practice tests.

Never Leave Any MCQs Blank

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Even if you don't know the answer, take a chance because you have a 1 out of 5 chance of getting it correct. Due to the rounding up effect of raw scores to whole numbers, a quarter mark deduction might be inconsequential on your score. Therefore, someone who fills up all the MCQs would have a slight score advantage over someone who doesn't take his chance with a guess.

Choose a Reliable Test Prep School

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If you prefer to mark your progress through a test prep class, make sure you choose a reliable school with a proven track record, and beware of those who are only there to capitalize on anxious students and parents.

Enrol in a class that's well-suited to your learning pace and choose a class size that will give you enough personal attention you might require. The teachers should also know the structure, components and trends of the SAT test inside out. Good teachers will help you identify your weak areas you need to work on and provide useful strategies to tackle these areas.

One school in Singapore that has sent students through the gates of Harvard, MIT, NYU, NUS and other premier institutions is ICON+. It specialises in test preparation courses using an approach of ‘blended learning', combining intensive classroom interaction, individual attention through personal coaching and a comprehensive e-learning program.