The 2025 SAT season is arriving fast, here are some tips and tricks to start off your studying right.
The test is graded out of 1600 with the minimum score of 400. It is split into two equally weighted sections of 800, one for english and writing, as well as one for math.
Students are allotted 64 minutes to complete the english and writing portion, along with 70 minutes for the math section. For a total testing time of two hours and fourteen minutes.
“It’s a test that demonstrates college readiness and may qualify a student for merit-based opportunities, it’s important for students to recognize the weight of the SAT,” Lillian Gilbert, Jupiter High School AP English teacher, said. “However, the SAT isn’t for everyone. There are other tests (ACT, CLT) that students can sit for instead. Even several test-optional colleges factor in whether or not a student reports his/her scores.”
Every public school in Florida that is under the State University System (SUS) is required to collect test scores when students are applying for admission. Some of these schools include The University of Florida (UF), Florida State University (FSU), Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and the University of Central Florida (UCF).
“I took it the first time really without studying, then that second time around I focused on improving my math score a lot… I think the standard english conventions is probably one of the easiest ones that you can gather points on just because there are rules you follow,” Mia Barrows, senior, said.
When applying to colleges you can superscore different subjects at different times and this will create a SAT superscore, allowing you to focus on different subjects at different times.
“Superscore is when a college uses the highest score in each section (Reading and Writing/Math) from multiple test dates to calculate a higher overall score,” Gilbert said. “So if you score a 550 Reading and writing (RW) and a 650 Math on the August test and a 650 RW and a 600 Math on the October test, colleges will use the 650 RW and 650 Math as the superscore.”
To obtain a high score, dedication is crucial to studying and practice. With the internet advancing so much, there are many online resources that students can utilize.
“Khan Academy is a solid resource if a student is disciplined. Schoolhouse World provides free peer tutoring from students who have been vetted by Khan Academy. YouTube videos also help (SuperTutor, for example). AND pay attention in your ELA and math classes,” Gilbert said.
With tutoring being very expensive ranging from $45 to $100 an hour, these online resources can help to relieve pressures on the big day of your tests. So believe in yourself as well as in your preparation. The hard work will pay off if you put it in.
“If you stress yourself out, you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself, you’re gonna make mistakes that you wouldn’t make if you were in the right mindset,” Barrows said. “So give yourself grace.”
