| Officially the dreaded SAT experimental | | | | experimental one. Don’t panic. Stay |
| section is called the variable section. The | | | | positive. Just tell yourself it’s the |
| first section is going to have essays that | | | | experimental one and move on. |
| are 25 minutes long. The essay will then be | | | | |
| followed by another six 25 minute sections. | | | | Now, if you get three 25 minute critical |
| There are then two 20 minute sections and one | | | | reading sections, one of them will have been |
| 10 minute section. | | | | the experimental one. If you get three 25 |
| | | | minute math sections, one of them will be the |
| One of those multiple choice 25 minute | | | | experimental one. And if you get two 25 |
| sections is going to be an experimental one. | | | | minute writing sections, you’ll know |
| The people who administer the SAT need to | | | | one of those will be the experimental |
| test questions for future exams. This is to | | | | section. |
| see if enough people get them right and/or | | | | |
| wrong. So they use you as guinea pigs! | | | | So it’s kind of hard to tell which one |
| | | | it is until you’re almost finished, but |
| Since one of those sections is going to be | | | | if you get to one that’s weird and |
| experimental, it does not count toward your | | | | totally throws you off, don’t think |
| grade. It’s very difficult to pick out | | | | “Oh my gosh, the whole thing’s |
| the experimental section, but I’ll give | | | | going down the tube now!” Tell yourself |
| you a little bit of a tip: | | | | “You know what, that one was weird, |
| | | | that one was harder than I expected. |
| If you get to a section that seems really | | | | It’s probably the experimental |
| weird or has questions that you haven’t | | | | one”. Stay positive. Keep moving. |
| seen before and it’s somehow different | | | | That’s the way you maximize your SAT |
| from the rest, it’s probably the | | | | score. |