SAT LESSONS

Introduction to the SAT

Start Here

All SAT materials can be found on this page. Those materials include PDF documents for both lessons and practice drills as well as videos that will walk you through lessons or explain how to solve practice problems.

Format

Even though the SAT is taken on a computer, we're going to study it first in pencil-and-paper format because it's much easier to internalize the curriculum when doing problems on a physical page. Tactile, visual, and spatial interactions are an important part of the learning process, so we will always work with printed documents when learning the curriculum and then switch to the computer later.

SPECIAL NOTE: Keep in mind that the SAT is now computer adpative. That means it adjusts to your performance, but there is only one adjustmet: if you do well in the first of two math sections, the second math secion will be slightly more difficult. If you don't do well in the first math section, the second section will be slightly easier. The same is true for the two verbal sections.

You actually want the harder second sections. Being served those questions means your score will probably be higher, even if you miss more questions.

Curriculum

There are now two sections on the SAT and eight "domains." They include the following:

MATH:
    * Algebra
    * Advanced Math
    * Problem Solving
    * Geometry

VERBAL:
    * Information & Ideas
    * Craft & Structure
    * Expression of Ideas
    * Standard English Conventions

KEEP IN MIND: The SAT doesn't involve a wide range of concepts. In fact, the curriculum is surprisingly limited and can be memorized completely. That's especially true now that we've switched to the shorter version of the test.

Method

Your job in preparing for the exam is to do an enormous number of practice problems — many more than your competitors are doing.

Material: We'll use only official SAT problems because questions from test-prep companies can be inaccurate and don't always reflect the reasoning skills tested on the exam. That's why it's important to buy the Digital SAT Study Guide. We'll also work with downloadable practice tests in PDF format and with official practice software called Bluebook.

Repetition: Our main technique will be to do problems slowly and patiently, never timing ourselves while working through the curriculum. And we'll do each problem set multiple times in order to memorize every concept tested on the exam and every variation. Repetition is the key to mastering the curriculum.

Pencil-and-Paper First: Perhaps most importantly, we'll do the majority of our practice work in pencil-and-paper format, not on the computer. Only after we've internalized the material tested on the exam will we switch to the computer and focus on timing.

Lessons

We definitely won't be doing lots of long, boring lectures with me talking and you listening. That's a bad way to learn. Instead, I'll be structuring material and feeding it to you in a logical, bite-size manner. I don't like doing long study sessions, so we'll use many short, focused sessions that allow us to walk away with a few nuggets of information.

How to Compete

Most people taking the SAT are bad at competing. They don't have a lot of experience competing against others in any arena, they don't know how to train, and they don't understand the direct relationship between disciplined, focused training and their performance. We're going to take advantage of that weakness.

We're going to outwork our opponents and take a seat from someone who didn't train as hard as we did. And the good news is that college applicants aren't particularly hard to beat. It's not like we're trying to secure a spot on an MLB roster against the world's greatest athletes. There are thousands of students admitted to top universities every year. We just want to be one of them.

Our Process

Notes on How We'll Train

We want to use the most time-efficient training process possible. I know your schedule is demanding, but we need to do a ton of practice problems in order to internalize the SAT curriculum. So we can’t waste time covering lots of concepts you already know or spinning our wheels on unique, super-difficult, one-off questions that you’re unlikely to see on test day.

To be efficient and effective with our training, I’ve set the following process for how we’ll work together:

        1. We have separate study sections for each of the 8 SAT test modules.
        2. You can find those sections on our SAT homepage: www.mbafellows.com/sat.html.
        3. The work is broken up into two parts: Lessons and Drills.
        4. For the lessons, download the PDF documents, print them out, and then follow along with the associated video.
        5. After finishing each lesson, do the corresponding drill.
        6. Download and print out the drill. Do the problems on your own and check your answers. Then watch the videos for any problems you didn't understand.
        7. Finally, we’ll Zoom to cover any questions you might have.

This method enables you to train when your schedule allows and to move as quickly as you see fit. At the same time, we’ll still get together for live sessions to cover difficult topics.

I’ll make the videos short and direct so you won’t have to listen to me babble about stuff you already understand. But be sure to tell me whenever you want more information about a specific question or concept. (Just email or text something like, “How do you solve question 4.” I’ll get a video back to you immediately.) That way, when we Zoom about that lesson, you should be well prepared to understand it completely.

In the end, we’ll do lots of practice problems from real exams. In fact, we’ll repeat those problems over and over until we can do them quickly and accurately. I guarantee that you will see similar problems on the test, so speed and accuracy are important.

SAT Class Schedule

Class 1 — Math: Algebra

Let's start with the Algebra Domain, which you'll find in the link below. I want you to download both the "Algebra Lessons Document" and the "Algebra Drills Document." Print out both and then start with the video titled "Algebra Video Lesson 1." Follow along on your printed page. There are three video lessons for the Algebra Domain. Once you've gotten through all of them, do the associated Drills.

Every problem is solved for you in video format. That includes the problems in the Lessons (which are taught as classes) and the problems in the Drills (which are individual practice problems). If you get stuck on a Drills problem, simply click on the associated link and watch the video for that question. All answers appear at the end of the Lessons and Drills documents.

We have a lot more to talk about, but let's get started doing SAT problems. Again, work in pencil-and-paper format for now, and don't time yourself. You're just trying to internalize the curriculum, not get an actual score.

P.S. Invite your friends to join us if they like. This prep course is free and open to everyone.

LINK TO ALGEBRA PAGE >>

Class 2 — Verbal: Information and Ideas

For Class 2, let’s switch to our first verbal domain. Specifically, we’ll start with the “Information and Ideas” domain. There are three question types in this domain:

What is the main idea of the passage?
Find evidence in the passage or in a data table or chart.
Infer a conclusion from what the passage says.

LANGUAGE CLUES: You’ll be surprised to learn that the language in the answer choices often gives away the right answer. That’s especially true for Inference and Main Idea questions. As we’ll see when we get into the lesson, the correct answers to those two question types often contain what we call “wimpy” language — language that doesn’t take a hard stand. For instance, it might say something like the following:

CORRECT: “It is possible that Bill’s theory regarding gravitational waves is correct.”

The clue telling me that this might be the right answer is the phrase, "It is possible." By contrast, what we call “absolute language” tends to be wrong on Inference and Main Idea questions. An example would be:

INCORRECT: “Bill proved that his theory about gravitational waves is correct.”

The language “proves that” is too absolute for Inference and Main Idea questions on the SAT. Correct answers for these question types almost always take a softer stand.

(NOTE: Absolute language can be correct on the SAT, but it rarely is in these two question types.)

METHOD: The key to doing well on all SAT verbal questions is to eliminate three wrong answers, rather than find one right answer. When evaluating answer choices in pencil-and-paper format, I want you to cross out just the words that make a wrong answer wrong. Focusing on just those key words is the secret to mastering the verbal section.

NEXT STEP: Click on the Information and Ideas link below. Download the associated “Lessons” and “Drills” documents and print them out. Do the Lessons document while following along with the coordinated videos. When you’ve finished the Lessons videos, do the Drills document, watching the explanatory videos whenever you get stuck on a question.

LINK TO THE INFORMATION AND IDEAS PAGE >>

Class 3 — Math: Advanced Math

For Class 3, we're back to math. Specifically, we're going to cover the "Advanced Math Domain."

The first math domain was mostly about linear algebra. In other words, we didn't raise a variable in an equation above the power of 1. But in the Advanced Math Domain, we can see variables raised to the second, third, or even fourth power — and that makes these questions harder than the linear algebra questions.

Some of the topics include:
        * Solving and Rewriting Polynomial Equations
        * Solving Quadratic Functions and Equations
        * Solving Exponential Functions, Equations, and Radicals
        * Solving Systems of Equations
        * Understanding Graphical Representations of Functions
        * Understanding Function Notation
        * Interpreting Complex Equations in Context

This is a lot tougher than the linear algebra we saw in our first math module (the Algebra Domain), so don't be surprised if you stumble a bit with this Domain. Most people do. Just go slowly, look up the solutions when you need to, and do the problems repeatedly until they seem obvious.

NEXT STEP: Click on the Advanced Math link below. Download the associated “Lessons” and “Drills” documents and print them out. Do the Lessons document while following along with the coordinated videos. When you’ve finished the Lessons videos, do the Drills document, watching the explanatory videos whenever you get stuck on a question.

LINK TO THE ADVANCED MATH PAGE >>

Class 4 — Verbal: Craft and Structure

For Class 4, we're back to verbal. Specifically, we're going to cover the "Craft and Structure Domain."

As the name implies, questions in this domain focus on writing craft and on the structure of passages.

Some of the question topics include:
        * Vocabulary in Context
        * Structure of the Passage and Purpose of that Structure
        * Connections between Two Paragraphs

This domain is not too difficult, but keep in mind that the point of most questions is to analyze the STRUCTURE of the passage, and not necessarily the content. For instance, does the passage start with a conclusion and then follow up with supporting evidence? Does it present an outdated theory and then show how it was proven to be wrong? The structure is always key to questions from this domain area, not the subject matter.

NEXT STEP: Click on the Craft and Structure link below. Download the associated “Lessons” and “Drills” documents and print them out. Do the Lessons document while following along with the coordinated videos. When you’ve finished the Lesson videos, do the Drills document, watching the explanatory videos whenever you get stuck on a question.

LINK TO THE CRAFT AND STRUCTURE PAGE >>

Class 5 — Math: Problem Solving and Data Analysis

Class 5 is the "Problem Solving and Data Analysis Domain." This domain involves reading charts, data, and tables and using the information you extract to answer questions. Often you'll need to do math with the data you extract.

The topics include:
        • Ratios, rates, proportional relationships, and units
        • Percentages
        • One-variable data; distributions and measures of center and spread
        • Two-variable data: models and scatterplots
        • Probability and conditional probability
        • Inference from sample statistics and margin of error
        • Evaluating statistical claims: observational studies and experiments

NEXT STEP: Click on the Problem Solving and Data Analysis link below. Download the associated “Lessons” and “Drills” documents and print them out. Do the Lessons document while following along with the coordinated videos. When you’ve finished the Lessons videos, do the Drills document, watching the explanatory videos whenever you get stuck on a question.

LINK TO THE PROBLEM SOLVING AND DATA ANALYSIS PAGE >>

Class 6 — Verbal: Expression of Ideas

Class 6 is the "Expression of Ideas Domain." This is one of the easier domain areas because it involves only two question types, and both are easy.

In the first quesiton type, you'll be required to read notes taken by a hypthetical student while studying a topic and to answer questions based on those notes. The notes are very brief and always in bullet-item format, so you won't need to interpret and digest a long reading passage.

The second question type involves reading two sections of a short passage and choosing a transition word or phrase that approporiately links the sections together. Usually, the task will be to show that the sections agree or disagree with each other.

NEXT STEP: Click on the Expression of Ideas link below. Download the associated “Lessons” and “Drills” documents and print them out. Do the Lessons document while following along with the coordinated videos. When you’ve finished the Lessons videos, do the Drills document, watching the explanatory videos whenever you get stuck on a question.

LINK TO THE EXPRESSION OF IDEAS PAGE >>

Class 7 — Math: Geometry and Trigonometry

Class 7 is the "Geometry and Trigonometry Domain." This is one of the more difficult domain areas on the SAT. Keep in mind, however, that you won't be required to calculate values such as sines and cosines, but you'll need to know the definitions of those terms and you'll need to infer answers from those definitions.

NEXT STEP: Click on the Geometry & Trigonometry link below. Download the associated “Lessons” and “Drills” documents and print them out. Do the Lessons document while following along with the coordinated videos. When you’ve finished the Lessons videos, do the Drills document, watching the explanatory videos whenever you get stuck on a question.

LINK TO THE GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY PAGE >>

Class 8 — Verbal: Standard English Conventions

Class 8 is the "Standard English Conventions Domain." It's one of the easier domains because it mostly tests English grammar.

There are two question types:
• Boundry Questions: These questions test whether the words presented constitute a full English sentence.
• Percent, Form, Structure, and Sense Questions: These test grammatical issues such as verb tense, subject-verb agreement, and pronoun agreement.

NEXT STEP: Click on the Standard English link below. Download the associated “Lessons” and “Drills” documents and print them out. Do the Lessons document while following along with the coordinated videos. When you’ve finished the Lessons videos, do the Drills document, watching the explanatory videos whenever you get stuck on a question.

LINK TO THE STANDARD ENGLISH CONVENTIONS PAGE >>

PDF PRACTICE TESTS

Official SAT Practice Test 1 (PDF)

Below you'll find Official SAT Practice Test 1. Be sure to download and print out parts 1 and 2. Part 3 contains explanations to each question.

        1. SAT Practice Test 1
        2. SAT Scoring Sheet 1
        3. SAT Explanations 1

There is no reason to take this test under timed conditions. We'll do timed practice tests in computerized format later (using the Bluebook software from the College Board). It's better to use this exam as a practice session to internalize the SAT curriculum. Go slowly through this material and skip problems you can't solve.