Start Here 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 2 Where to Go from Here 2 Block 1: SAT Overview in 20 Minutes 3 Signing Up for the SAT 3 Choosing when to take and retake the test 3 Requesting accommodations 4 Getting financial help to cover fees 5 Registering for the test 5 Knowing What to Expect on the SAT 6 What's on the SAT 6 Taking the adaptive (computer) test 6 Knowing what the SAT really looks for 7 Preparing to Take the SAT 7 Understanding Your Score 8 Composite score 8 Score reports 8 Block 2: Reading and Writing Section 11 Getting Up to Speed on Test-Taking Strategies 12 Reading faster with better comprehension 12 Finding the right answer fast 13 Putting the strategies to use 14 Focusing on Specific Content Areas 18 Social studies 18 Science 19 Literature 21 Poetry 22 Tackling English Vocabulary and Conventions Questions 23 Becoming sentence completion and in-context vocabulary savvy 24 Reviewing grammar, punctuation, and usage 26 Working in the research questions 32 Sorting Out Critical Thinking and Data Questions 33 Recognizing the question formats 33 Applying the strategies 34 Exploring the question formats 34 Practicing with Sample Questions 41 English vocabulary and conventions questions 41 Answers to English vocabulary and conventions questions 45 Critical thinking and data questions 46 Answers to critical thinking and data questions 49 Block 3: Math Section 51 Adopting Effective Test-Taking Strategies 51 Starting with formulas 52 Typing your answers 53 Reviewing the SAT Math topics 53 Simplifying Numbers and Operations 55 Brushing up on number types and order of operations 55 Simplifying numbers and operations 57 Solving Algebra and Functions 70 Solving for x 70 Solving for more than one x 74 Setting up equations 79 Graphing coordinate geometry 85 Drawing Geometry and Trigonometry 100 Drawing basic shapes 100 Drawing 3-D shapes 114 Solving trigonometry problems 117 Measuring Statistics and Probability 123 Measuring the mean, median, and mode 123 Measuring probability 125 Measuring graph data 126 Block 4: Taking a (Shortened) Practice Test 133 Section 1: Reading and Writing 135 Module 1 135 Module 2 139 Section 2: Math 145 Module 1 145 Module 2 148 Answers and Explanations 153 Section 1: Reading and Writing 153 Section 2: Math 156 Answer Key 161 Block 5: Ten Tips for the Night Before the SAT 163 Give Your Brain a Break 163 Stay Home and Healthy 164 Maintain a Positive Mindset 164 Find Your Admission Ticket 164 Check for Your Photo ID 165 Gather Your Water Bottle and Snacks 165 Practice Your Stress-Management Strategies 165 Plan to Dress in Layers 165 Set Your Alarm and Have a Backup 166 Review Your Travel Plans to the Test Center 166 Index 167.