Hey guys! I know the SAT has changed a bit over the years, but I'm curious about those who took the past SAT exam. How did you find it compared to the current version, and what resources did you use to study for it?
Hey there! Although I didn't take the old SAT myself, I can fill you in on some differences between the old and the current version of the SAT, as well as some study resources that were popular at the time.
The old SAT (pre-2016) had three sections: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. The Writing section contained an essay that was mandatory and factored into a student's overall score, unlike the now-discontinued optional essay from the newer SAT. The Critical Reading section had sentence completion questions that tested vocabulary knowledge, which isn't present in the current version.
As for studying, students often used a combination of test prep books, online resources, and study groups. The College Board's The Official SAT Study Guide was very popular, as it had real past SAT exams. Other widely-used books included those by Kaplan, Princeton Review, Barron's, and McGraw-Hill. In addition to books, students used websites like Khan Academy and CollegeVine both then and now for tailored practice.
Even though the old and new SATs are different in structure and content, developing strong test-taking skills, a good study schedule, and using a mix of resources remain essential to succeed on any standardized test. Hope this information helps!
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