After five months of trying different strategies to prepare for the SAT exam (), I felt fairly confident that I knew what to expect on my November test date. With just about two weeks between the exam and the deadline for my early decision application, I had been studying hard to get a score that would enhance my application. I still faced lots of challenges to getting the score I wanted, but I was sure at least I knew what those challenges would be.
However, the day . That is, it started out well enough, as I sat down and tackled the first sections the SAT threw at me.
The first section of the test is always the essay. Although I had always used an outline while practicing, I decided it wouldn?t be necessary this time. I remember writing as fast as I could for almost the full 25 minutes. As I read back through the essay with about 2 minutes to go, it felt like it was the best one I had ever written.
The second section was a Mathematics section, and that turned out to be great as well. I completed the section 10 minutes early, and I even managed to recheck my answers. It was in fact a pretty good start.
After the second section, it was time for a five minute break.
Then came the Writing section. Although I did not finish ahead of time, I finished exactly in time and the questions, in my opinion, were somewhat easy compared to what I had been practicing with.
The same with the next section, which was a Critical Reading one.
After another short break came the second Mathematics section, which also went well. Things seemed pretty smooth so far.
The one thing I made sure of during practice was never to get bogged down on a single question. I have a habit of staring at difficult questions until I get a satisfactory answer, but on the SAT you have to just move on. But I guess some habits are just too hard to break.
Section six was my first Critical Reading section. I got stuck on one question in that section. I even remember the question number; it was 13. All of the potential answers seemed false, so I read the passage through again. And then again. As I read the question once more, the test proctor called out, ?5 minutes to go.? I had 10 questions still to go! I was terrified ? petrified, to be honest.
It took me a minute to realize what I had to do next. I skimmed through the rest of the questions, hoping that I guess right. By the time the proctor said, ?Pencils down,? I was still four questions from the end.
Thankfully, at least it was time now time for the third break.
I remember going out for the break, and I remember forgetting to eat the snack that I had brought. All that was going through my mind was, ?I?m doomed.?
I was feeling thirsty from all the nervousness and pressure. And whenever something bad happens, another bad thing follows ? the water dispenser was not working. Thirsty and hungry I entered the test room with a pale face. My stomach was growling as if mice were wrestling there for the piece of bread I had eaten that morning.
I was relieved to find out that the next section was Mathematics, my strongest. But in all the nervousness I was unable to complete the Mathematics section ahead of time like I always did. I completed just in time with a random guess on one question, which I left for the end.
After that, frankly, I do not remember much of the other sections. I felt like something was choking my brain and making it harder and harder to think. But I do remember one thing: the next two sections were both Critical Reading, and the passages were very long and difficult.
I?m sure the final section was a Writing section, but only because the last section is always the writing section.
After the test is over, the last step is to complete the Certification Statement, promising that I had been honest in my test-taking.
I literally felt like crying as I wrote down the statement, but I held back because I never cry in public, at least not visibly.
I got my results just about a month ago. I was having snacks at my brother?s house when a friend called to ask me about my results. There was no internet there, so I asked him to tell me my scores. ?Critical Reading ? ? he began. My heart stopped momentarily and I ceased chewing. 580.? I swallowed my rice, half-chewed in a single gulp. After that was a 780 on Mathematics ? I banged my head on the wall beside me for the one question I had guessed so carelessly. Then, finally, a 640 on Writing, with an 8 on my essay.