The 2016 revision of the SAT showcases major changes from previous versions of the test. You know how important the SAT is for college admissions, so you want to be ready. The best way to start is to figure out what’s new, what’s different, and how you can best prepare. Whether you need top SAT Writing tutors in New York, SAT Writing tutors in Chicago, or top SAT Writing tutors in Los Angeles, working with a pro may take your studies to the next level.
A lot of resources will start by telling you what you don’t have to know: no more esoteric vocabulary, for example. But what topics have replaced the long-standard features of the exam which have been removed? The 2016 revised SAT is broken into some roughly familiar categories, with two broad divisions. As in years past, you can expect to face a reading section and a writing section, now combined into a single section called Evidence-Based Reading & Writing, as well as a Mathematics section.
Students face the Evidence-Based Writing and Language section whether or not they opt to complete the optional essay offered as part of every exam. The Evidence-Based Writing and Language section is a forty-four question, thirty-five minute exam that challenges test-takers with about four passages. These passages are accompanied by a number of questions that ask about mechanics, word use, and even challenge students to make content corrections. For instance, you may see a passage that includes a chart. You might be asked to determine if a specific sentence conflicts with the material in the chart. If so, you’ll have to identify the correction that needs to be made.
Compared to the SAT Writing section given in years past, the new SAT Evidence-Based Writing section is more grounded in the skills that you will use every day in college and in your career. Despite this, you are still faced with the need to answer well over a question per minute while facing down complex passages and challenging questions. As a result, maximizing your score demands that you both master content and develop a strategy for approaching this section. Varsity Tutors also offers resources like a free SAT prep book to help with your self-paced study, or you may want to consider an SAT Writing tutor.
You may find that you lack materials to consult during your preparation and are not confident in your understanding of certain test content or question types. If so, Varsity Tutors’ free SAT Writing help can assist you in checking your understanding and correcting any misunderstandings you may have developed over the course of your studies or review. Our SAT Writing help page is organized so as to help you investigate concepts at a variety of levels of detail, and each specific concept is treated by presenting you with model problems complete with correct answer and explanation, allowing you to work through the problem with step-by-step guidance. When you want to face problems without such assistance or the help of SAT Writing tutoring, you can do so by checking out our free SAT Writing practice tests and diagnostics.
The key to success on the SAT Evidence-Based Writing section is more or less the same as in previous years. You have to remain aware that each question is testing your ability to analyze information and draw conclusions. Mastering your ability to think critically, work efficiently, and not be discouraged by complicated material is best achieved by regular practice. The SAT Evidence-Based Writing section is not a test for which you can begin studying a week prior and expect to learn all you need to know in that week. Instead, this test values the long, gradual development of skills. Think of it more like a marathon than a sprint, a test that you want to dedicate a little time to each day for several months. With such dedicated effort, your confidence can grow, your skills can sharpen, and you can be on your way to a top score!
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