How I (The Perfect Score Tutor) Prepare for the SAT and ACT
- Thinque Prep
- Sep 16
- 5 min read
You’ve probably been scrolling through random YouTube videos, TikToks, and Reddit threads trying to figure out how to prepare for the SAT and ACT. But instead of feeling confident, you’re frustrated. Here’s the truth: most of those creators want clicks, not results. If you’re serious about raising your SAT or ACT score, you need a real plan - not 60-second tips that barely scratch the surface.
As The Perfect Score Tutor, I’ve earned perfect scores on the SAT and ACT multiple times and helped countless students dramatically improve their ACT and SAT results. This blog post is just a summary of all the ways I used to help me earn a perfect 1600 on the SAT and a perfect 36 on the ACT. This approach is the same one I use with families who seek private SAT Prep in Irvine and private ACT Tutoring ing Lake Forest.
Step 1: Take a Diagnostic Test with Purpose
Everyone says, “Take a practice test.” Cool, but then what? Most students just check their score, sigh dramatically, and move on.
This is not the way to do it. I put on my detective hat and analyze every mistake. Did I mess up because I panicked? Because I forgot a formula? Because I misread a line? Then I tag each error by category so my mistakes never leave memory.
Here’s a list of the most common reasons I see students missing questions (aside from not knowing how to solve them).
Not answering the question
Careless arithmetic or calculation errors
Weak content foundation
Overthinking easy questions
Falling for common trap answers on hard questions
Rushing, which causes sloppy work or poor reading comprehension
Vocabulary and context confusion
Not checking units or formats
Conceptual misunderstanding of how to solve the problem
More importantly, I review each question I got correct as well. Surprisingly, this isn't immediately obvious to a lot of students. Just because I got a question correct doesn't mean I fully understood the nuances of that question. Maybe I guessed. Maybe I eliminated my way to the right answer. As you're reviewing your test questions - right and wrong - you should would write down my thought process to see what patterns you're falling into. It turns lucky guesses into real learning. This is what researchers call metacognition. It’s one of the fastest ways to raise your SAT or ACT score.
Pro Tip! My most successful students make an error log in Excel/Google Sheets to see patterns in their thinking.
Step 2: Identify Questions with Confidence
Too often students are only broadly aware of what a question is testing. For example, if I ask a new student to identify the question type, it’s not uncommon to hear “this is a grammar question” or “this is an algebra question.” That is not good enough!
On the Reading and Writing side, you need to know whether a sentence is testing subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, appositive clauses, or punctuation rules like independent vs. dependent clauses.
On the Math side, you should recognize recurring SAT/ACT question types: linear models in standard form, quadratic vertex form conversions, exponent rules with negatives, systems of equations by substitution, and function transformations.
Specific identification familiarizes you with the vocabulary that this test draws from. It allows you to stop guessing and start executing.
Step 3: Build Solid Foundations
Here is a mistake I see all the time: students believe they can jump 100–200 points without knowing the basics. These are the same students who buy into shady TikTok pitches about “tips and tricks” that supposedly work on test day (I apologize if you wasted money purchasing one of these awful products!)
Trying to apply testing hacking without solid foundations is like trying to learn a foreign language without knowing its alphabet. Could you do it? Sure. Should you? I wouldn’t recommend it.
Instead, start with the fundamentals: basic grammar, number theory, and algebra. It’s not fun, it’s not glamorous, but I promise it will pay off. Once you can confidently identify what a question is asking and walk through the core concepts, then you’ll be able to tackle test questions with nuance.
This is why families searching for the best SAT Tutors in Orange County end up working with us — we focus on core skills, not shortcuts.
Step 4: Drill Weaknesses
After reviewing the fundamentals, the next step is to drill your weaknesses until they become strengths. Think of it like training for a sport or an instrument. Nobody masters basketball by only scrimmaging, and no pianist improves by only playing through entire pieces. Improvement comes from targeted practice on problem spots.
The goal is to practice making smart decisions under time pressure while still maintaining a high level of accuracy. Resources like IXL, DeltaMath, and Khan Academy are good places to start. Drilling builds muscle memory for the test. The SAT and ACT are standardized exams, which means the same concepts appear again and again (even if they look different. By drilling, you shorten the time it takes your brain to recognize the pattern, choose the right strategy, and execute it under time pressure. That’s how students move from “sort of knowing” to consistently scoring higher.
Step 5: Build a Cheat Sheet
Even with strong prep, you’ll still miss questions. That’s normal. The SAT and ACT are known for spending millions of dollars designing questions to exploit silly mistakes. They understand teenage and test taker psychology. The key is turning mistakes into a weapon.
Make a personal cheat sheet with every recurring trap you fall for:
Oh... The proportional solids question that plays with unit conversion.
Ah... The reading question where three answers copy/pasta but only one utilizes the contrapositive statement
Oops! The dangling modifier question that starts with a participial phrase.
By test day, your cheat sheet should be your personal playbook that you'll bring with you to your test site. While everyone else is doom-scrolling TikTok while in line, you’ll be reviewing a customized SAT/ACT guide that actually helps you perform your best.
Step 6: Rinse and Repeat
Improvement takes time. Research shows it takes at least seven exposures for information to stick in long-term memory. That means you should start at least three months before your test date and commit to reviewing your old practice.
During that time...
Take weekly practice tests
Review your answers - right and wrong
Add mistakes to your error log/cheat sheet
Drill your weak areas constantly
Make flashcards
Play fun review games on Quizlet or Anki
This process is how my students raise their scores, whether they find me by searching SAT/ACT Test Prep near Irvine or Private SAT Tutor in Orange County.
Why The Perfect Score Tutor's Approach Is Different
Most test prep companies rely on “tips and tricks.” I focus on foundation-building and study skills that not only raise your SAT and ACT scores but also prepare you for college success.
That’s why families looking for SAT Prep in Irvine, ACT Tutoring in Lake Forest, or the best SAT tutor in Orange County choose to work with either me or one of my expert tutors.
Want to see more of how I do it in real time? Follow me on TikTok (@thinque.prep) and Instagram (@thinqueprep) where I share strategies, hot takes, and breakdowns that will help you crush your test.
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