Time Management

Time per question by section:

| Section | Time | Questions | Per Question | |---|---|---|---| | Reading | 65 min | 52 Q | ~75 sec | | Writing | 35 min | 44 Q | ~48 sec | | Math No-Calc | 25 min | 20 Q | 75 sec | | Math Calculator | 55 min | 38 Q | ~87 sec |

Key takeaway:

• Writing has the LEAST time per question (~48 seconds)
• Math Calculator has the MOST time per question (~87 seconds)
• Reading requires ~13 minutes per passage (including reading + questions)

Strategy: Don't spend the same amount of time on every question. Easy questions: 30-45 seconds. Hard questions: 60-90 seconds. If a question takes more than 2 minutes, skip and return.

Answer: Times range from ~48 sec (Writing) to ~87 sec (Calculator Math) per question.

Do your strongest passage type FIRST.

Common ordering strategies:

Strategy 1: Strength-based

1. Start with your strongest passage type (e.g., science)
2. Then your second strongest
3. Save your weakest for last
4. Even if you run out of time, you've maximized your score

Strategy 2: History First Some tutors recommend doing the history passage first while you're freshest, since it's often the hardest.

Strategy 3: Paired Passage Last The dual passage set takes longer. Do single passages first.

What NOT to do:

• Don't always do passages in order (unless they're all equal for you)
• Don't spend 20 minutes on one passage and rush through four
• Don't skip a passage entirely — at least guess on its questions

Time checkpoints:

• After passage 1: ~13 minutes elapsed
• After passage 2: ~26 minutes elapsed
• After passage 3: ~39 minutes elapsed
• After passage 4: ~52 minutes elapsed
• After passage 5: ~65 minutes (done!)

Answer: Do your strongest passage type first to maximize score; do paired passages or your weakest last.

Triage strategy for the final minutes:

Step 1: Scan all 8 questions (30 seconds) Identify which ones you can answer quickly vs. which require complex work.

Step 2: Answer the EASIEST ones first

• Multiple choice where you can backsolve
• Questions where you can estimate
• Short, straightforward calculations

Step 3: For questions you can't solve:

• Eliminate obviously wrong answers
• Make an educated guess from remaining choices
• NEVER leave anything blank (no penalty for guessing on the SAT!)

Step 4: In the final 30 seconds:

• Fill in an answer for EVERY remaining question
• Random guess on multiple choice = 25% chance (better than 0%)

The math:

• 8 questions × 25% random = ~2 correct = ~2 raw points
• With elimination of 1 choice: 33% = ~2.7 correct
• Skipping them = 0 points

Answer: Quickly solve what you can, eliminate wrong answers on the rest, and NEVER leave anything blank.

Complete SAT Time Plan:

SECTION 1: READING (65 minutes, 52 questions)

• 13 minutes per passage (5 passages)
• Read passage: ~4-5 minutes
• Answer questions: ~8-9 minutes
• Set checkpoints at 13, 26, 39, 52 minutes
• If behind, speed up reading and use process of elimination

SECTION 2: WRITING (35 minutes, 44 questions)

• ~8 minutes per passage (4 passages, 11 questions each)
• Read paragraph → answer questions in order
• Most questions take 30-45 seconds
• Don't over-think grammar — trust your ear + rules
• Set checkpoint at 17 minutes (should be through 2 passages)

SECTION 3: MATH NO-CALC (25 minutes, 20 questions)

• First 15 questions (multiple choice): ~18 minutes (~72 sec each)
• Last 5 questions (grid-in): ~7 minutes (~84 sec each)
• Questions get harder as you go — spend less time on early, more on later
• Skip anything taking >2 minutes; return if time permits

SECTION 4: MATH CALCULATOR (55 minutes, 38 questions)

• First 30 questions (multiple choice): ~40 minutes (~80 sec each)
• Last 8 questions (grid-in): ~15 minutes (~112 sec each)
• Use calculator for complex calculations, NOT for simple algebra
• Checkpoint at 27 minutes: should be through ~19 questions

Universal rules:

1. Never spend more than 2 minutes on one question
2. Never leave anything blank
3. Mark skipped questions clearly and return to them

This student needs to SLOW DOWN and use extra time for checking.

Adjusted strategy:

Phase 1: First Pass (original pace minus 10 min)

• Work through all questions at current pace
• Mark answers you're uncertain about with a star (★)
• Note questions that required complex calculations

Phase 2: Review Starred Questions (4-5 minutes)

• Return to uncertain questions
• Re-read the problem — did you answer what was ASKED?
• Try a different approach if your first method seemed shaky

Phase 3: Error-Check Strategy (5 minutes) For each "check," spend 15-20 seconds:

1. Plug answers back in — substitute your answer into the original equation
2. Estimate and verify — does your answer make sense? (negative distance? 200% probability?)
3. Check units — did you convert correctly?
4. Re-read the question — did they ask for $x$ or $2x$? Perimeter or area?

Common careless errors to watch:

• Sign errors (negative signs)
• Reading the wrong answer choice
• Solving for the wrong variable
• Calculator entry errors
• Misreading graphs

Answer: Use the 10 minutes of spare time to systematically check work: plug in answers, estimate reasonableness, re-read questions, and verify calculations.