The 3 Biggest Mistakes Students Make on the SAT (And How to Fix Them)

Preparing for the SAT isn’t just about grinding through practice tests. It’s about learning how to take the test strategically. As a tutor and MIT student who scored a 1590, I’ve worked with a lot of students—and I’ve seen a few common mistakes come up again and again.

If you want to boost your score, start by avoiding these three pitfalls:

1. Rushing Through the Reading Section

The digital SAT gives you less text per question, but that doesn’t mean you should fly through it. Many students skim and miss the nuance—especially on evidence-based questions.

Fix it:
Slow down just enough to actually understand the passage. Underline keywords. Ask yourself, “What’s the main idea?” before even looking at the choices.

2. Using the Wrong Math Strategy

A lot of students rely too much on shortcuts or tricks that don’t actually apply to SAT math. Others try to brute-force every problem with algebra.

Fix it:
Learn to recognize question types. If it’s a geometry or word problem, sketch it out. If it’s a quadratic, think about factoring or using the answer choices. SAT math rewards pattern recognition and smart estimation—not overcomplication.

3. Not Reviewing Mistakes

This might be the biggest reason people get stuck at the same score. Doing 10 practice tests is useless if you’re not learning from the questions you miss.

Fix it:
For every missed question, write down:

• What type of question it was

• Why you got it wrong

• What you’ll do differently next time

That process alone can push your score up faster than just more practice.

Takeaway

The SAT is beatable—but only if you’re intentional. If you focus on quality over quantity in your prep, your score will follow.

Want someone to help guide you through it? At ZarPrep, I help students avoid these common traps, build strategy, and study smarter. Reach out if you're ready to see real results.