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Time management strategies

Learn to work within the time limits of the SAT

Time management strategies

One of the difficulties of the SAT is managing your time so that you can answer as many questions as possible. The resources found here should help!
SAT section times:
TestTotal timePacing guide
Math (calculator)55 min.87 seconds per question
Math (no calculator)25 min.75 seconds per question
Writing35 min.48 seconds per question
Reading65 min.13 minutes per passage

Learn how skipping questions and circling back later can help you optimize your time on test day

How can knowing about the Level of Difficulty of a question help you take the SAT?

Want to join the conversation?

  • blobby green style avatar for user anniethelovely
    In the Reading test I find it difficult to read the passages actively and be alert while doing that. It is quite difficult to manage. Do you have any reading tips?
    (115 votes)
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  • piceratops sapling style avatar for user Mary San
    I tend to have trouble with math. I often feel as though if I had more time, I would get more answers right. I answer the easy ones and then end up guessing on the hard ones at the end out of panic. How can I better allocate my time? Someone recommended a time allocation system that I've tried, but I was really wondering if someone else had a suggestion...would be very much appreciated.
    (38 votes)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user pagidi.saiabhinav79
    How do I keep track of time? I tend to stress uncontrollably and cannot think straight when I realize that I am on a time limit, leading me to forget everything about the question that I am on and the problems ahead. Are there any techniques that help me reduce my fear of time and reduce stress?
    (19 votes)
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    • stelly blue style avatar for user Bella H.
      Hey there! My best advice to you, and I know I'm going to sound like some cliche yoga instructor, but breathe. I've found when I'm stressed, the time gets eaten away because I'm too busy freaking out in my seat and not paying attention to what I'm doing. Although it is important to look at the clock, especially while taking such an exam as the SAT, try limiting yourself just a bit on how much you stare at the time. Practice also comes with that. On Khan Academy, you can always pause the practice tests if you are feeling too overwhelmed, but keep in mind you cannot run and come back to your test while taking the real SAT. Just remember to stay calm, you will do great! A little bit of practice everyday comes a long way. Hopefully this helped you!
      (24 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user Christopher Noordman
    I like to take my time on math questions, how can I be both efficient and thorough on either one of the math tests?
    (15 votes)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user MeMa
    How can I improve my English score to reach 740+? Especially in the reading section,it is a nightmare. Any tips?
    (12 votes)
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  • leaf green style avatar for user Noel Premkumar
    How can I be able to improve my SAT score? I take the SAT in April and my PSAT score that I got was 890. How can I improve it and get it to a score of 1440 or higher?
    (6 votes)
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    • piceratops sapling style avatar for user Mary San
      I am also trying to improve my score. I recommend working on math, english, and reading about an hour a day. Skills improve over time and the more practice tests you take, the easier it is to take the exam. There's also an SAT-specific course I take called Powerprep that helps a lot (not advertising but just saying what works for me). I hope you do well on your exams!
      (12 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user TOMIWA AKINTUNDE
    will writing practice tests on khan academy put one in realistic conditions of the actual exam
    (3 votes)
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    • piceratops ultimate style avatar for user Hecretary Bird
      Of course it won't be exactly the same. Instead of being in the test center, with its stress and all, you'll be in your house looking at a computer screen, with distractions all around you. However, you can try to make it as similar as you can. Clear your desk or the space you're working in, and choose a time where you'll be in a quiet space. Make sure to take the breaks the test tells you to, and only for that amount of time, no more and no less. Don't split up sections and take the test all in one sitting. Only eat and drink, or stand up and use the bathroom during the breaks. Things like that will make your practice tests seem more like the actual SAT and will prepare you better.
      (12 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user funmiayodele003
    i took the SAT in march and i had 1000. how can i improve my score by 400 points? how many hours in a day can i study to bring about this improvement
    (5 votes)
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  • spunky sam orange style avatar for user sadman.jilani
    If I save time from any section, will I get the saved time added to another section?
    (2 votes)
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    • piceratops ultimate style avatar for user Hecretary Bird
      Sadly, you cannot. You have a set amount of time for each section. Even if you wanted to, you can't go ahead onto a different section if you've finished with one. And you definitely can't get extra time added to any section either. You can try thinking of the 4 sections as 4 distinct, separate tests.
      (5 votes)
  • starky seedling style avatar for user Bug
    How should you combat zoning out during the test? I know after the reading test my brain gets very tired and I end up doing worse on the math test because of this.
    (3 votes)
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