CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1     FAQs about the SAT

What does the SAT Test?

What is the Format of the SAT?

How is the SAT Scored?

What will Colleges do with my SAT Scores?

What Control do I have over my SAT Scores?

How Should I Prepare for the SAT?

How can I get the most out of my SAT Study Sessions?

When should I take the SATs and Subject Tests?

What should I do the Week before my SAT?

CHAPTER 2     Diagnostic SAT

Reading Test

Writing and Language Test

Math Test – No Calculator

Math Test – Calculator

Essay (optional)

CHAPTER 3     SAT Vocabulary: The Language of Ideas

The Language of Ideas and Learning

The Language of Argument, Reasoning, and Persuasion

The Language of Dissent, Criticism, and Rebellion

The Language of Power and Submission

The Language of Language and Literature

The Language of Judgment

The Language of Extremism and Exaggeration

The Language of Care and Restraint

The Language of Freedom

The Language of Change and Force

The Language of Dullness and Stasis

The Language of Truth, Truthfulness, and Beauty

The Language of Deceit, Error, and Confusion

The Language of Creativity and Productivity

The Language of Mystery, Surprise, Adventure, and Discovery

The Language of Harm, Deficit, and Decline

The Language of Kindness, Favor, and Benefit

The Language of Wisdom, Strength, and Skill

The Language of Capital and Wealth

The Language of Passion, Emotion, and Sensation

The Power Roots and Affixes for the SAT

CHAPTER 4     The SAT Reading Test

The Core Analytical Reading Skills

The Three Key Questions

The Three Secondary Questions

Advanced SAT Reading Techniques

CHAPTER 5     The SAT Writing and Language Test

Writing and Language Question Types

Parsing Sentences

Trimming Sentences

Verb Agreement

Developing and Coordinating Ideas

Transitions and References

Parallelism

Coordinating Modifiers

Using Modifiers Logically

Making Comparisons

Pronoun Agreement

Pronoun Case

Verb Tense and Aspect

Diction and Redundancy

Idiomatic Expression

The Active and Passive Voices

Verb Mood

Punctuation

CHAPTER 6     The SAT Essay

Understand the Analytical Task

Read the Passage Using the “Three-Pass Approach”

Construct Your Thesis and Outline

Write the Essay

Sample Essay

CHAPTER 7     The SAT Math Test: The Heart of Algebra

Word Problems

The Order of Operations and Laws of Arithmetic

Simplifying Expressions

Conversions

Constructing and Interpreting Linear Equations

Solving Equations with the Laws of Equality

Analyzing Linear Graphs

Absolute Values

The Laws of Inequality

Graphing Inequalities

Linear Systems

Solving Systems with Algebra

CHAPTER 8     The SAT Math Test: Problem Solving and Data Analysis

Averages

Medians and Modes

Data Spread

Direct and Inverse Variations

Rate Problems

Ratios

Percentages

Percent Change

Proportions and Scaling

Tables and Venn Diagrams

Conditional Probabilities from Tables

Analyzing Relations with Tables

Scatterplots

Nonlinear Relationships

Drawing Inferences from Graphs

Pie Graphs

CHAPTER 9     The SAT Math: Passport to Advanced Math

Functions

Representing Functions

Compositions and Transformations

Analyzing and Factoring Quadratics

Solving Quadratic Equations

Analyzing Graphs of Quadratic Equations

Higher Order Equations

Higher Order Systems

The Laws of Exponentials

The Laws of Radicals

Solving Exponential and Radical Equations

Rational Expressions

Simplifying Rational Expressions

Solving Rational Equations

CHAPTER 10   The SAT Math Test: Additional Topics

Angles and Parallel Lines

Triangles

Working in the xy-Plane

The Pythagorean Theorem

Circles

Radians, Chords, Arcs, and Sectors

Areas and Volumes

Similarity

Basic Trigonometry

The Pythagorean Identity

The Cofunction Identities

Imaginary and Complex Numbers

CHAPTER 11   Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2

Practice Test 3

Practice Test 4