Getting ready for the SAT can be stressful especially for students aiming for that perfect score. The truth is, most students don’t lose marks because they lack knowledge; they lose them over small, preventable mistakes. Over the years at NowClasses SAT coaching classes, we’ve seen some clear patterns among students like struggling to manage time, second-guessing questions, or slowing down while reading in English.
This blog breaks down those common SAT slip-ups across Reading, Writing & Language, Math, and test strategy. More importantly, it shows you exactly how to avoid them so you can walk into test day confident, prepared & ready to perform your best.
Mistakes in the Reading Section
* Running out of time / poor pacing
A frequent issue: you hit the last reading passage with just a minute or two left. That’s often because unfamiliar vocabulary or slower reading pace makes the earlier passages tougher. This is the reason why many students run out of time, misread the question & ignore context.
How to fix it: Practice full reading sections under timed conditions, target roughly 12-13 minutes per passage in the SAT format & if a passage takes too long, skip ahead and return if you can.
* Misreading the question or ignoring context
Often students pick an answer that “sounds right” but fail to match the exact wording of the question.
How to fix it: Underline key terms in every question (“best”, “most likely”, “according to”), and after selecting an answer, check that it is supported by a line reference in the passage.
* Using outside knowledge rather than what the passage says
You might have strong English skills but on the SAT Reading section you must answer based on what the passage says, not what you already know.
How to fix it: When you feel tempted to rely on your prior knowledge, stop and ask: “Did the passage explicitly state this?” If not, discard that answer. Make the passage your sole source of truth.
Mistakes in the Writing & Language Section
* Relying on what “sounds” correct instead of following grammar rules
A lot of errors come from picking an option that “feels right” but actually fails a rule (for example, verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent mismatch)
How to fix it: Make a mini-list of the top 5-10 grammar rules and before choosing an answer, ask: “Does this correctly follow these rules?”
* Choosing the first plausible answer without reviewing all options
Students sometimes stop at the first answer that fixes the underlined error but don’t check if a better, cleaner option exists.
How to fix it: Always scan all answer choices before locking in an answer. Use elimination: cross out choices that violate grammar rules or add unnecessary words. SAT often rewards the most direct phrasing.
* Overlooking conciseness and clarity
The Writing & Language section regularly tests whether you can pick the clearest, most direct sentence. Redundant or wordy options often lose points.
How to fix it: When options are grammatically correct, choose the one that is simplest and direct. During practice, flag any choice that has extra words without added meaning.
Mistakes in the Math Section
* Careless arithmetic or skipping writing steps
Even students who know the content make errors by doing too much mentally or rushing. One analysis states that misreading, arithmetic errors, or skipping units are major pitfalls.
How to fix it: Write out all substitution and calculation steps on scratch paper or digital note screen. Always double-check your final computation before entering the answer.
* Forgetting or mis-applying formulas
The SAT expects you to apply formulas under time pressure; forgetting or mixing up a formula can cost points.
How to fix it: At the start of every timed practice session write down a “formula dump” of key formulas. Review these regularly until you don’t need to refer to them anymore.
* Mis-interpreting graphs, units & question wording
The SAT will present data in graphs, tables or word problems with hidden unit conversions. Misreading scale or units is common.
How to fix it: For every graph question, pause and label the axes, note units explicitly on
scratch paper. For word problems, rewrite units and check if you’ve been asked “what is x + y?” vs “what is x?”.
Test-taking Strategy & Mindset Mistakes
* Not simulating realistic exam conditions
With recent changes (e.g., digital formats) and for students in UAE, unfamiliarity with format or timing can cause unnecessary errors.
How to fix it: Take full-length practice tests under timed, quiet conditions. Use the same hardware (laptop/tablet) you’ll use on test day if it’s digital.
* Arriving on test day unprepared (sleep, materials, mindset)
A poor night’s sleep, missing required ID or calculator, or arriving late can hamper focus and increase errors.
How to fix it: Make a “checklist” one week ahead for things like required ID, calculator with batteries, water bottle/snack, light breakfast etc. Ensure you’ve had 7-8 hours the night before.
* Neglecting review of mistakes after practice
Doing practice tests is great but if you don’t review what you got wrong, you’ll keep repeating those mistakes.
How to fix it: Maintain an “error log”. For each wrong question write: which section, what mistake (careless, concept, time-pressure), how I’ll avoid it next time. Review this weekly.
Prepare Smart with NowClasses
Avoiding common SAT mistakes matters just as much as knowing the content. When students spot issues like time pressure, second-language reading slowdowns, or unfamiliar test formats and then pair that awareness with focused practice, scores improve noticeably. At NowClasses, we help students do exactly that in our SAT tuitions in Dubai and beyond. We teach pacing, careful reading, accurate calculation habits, grammar shortcuts and review techniques so those small, repeatable errors stop costing points.
We’re a hands-on centre with a physical hub in JLT that local students can visit and we also run a full online platform so anyone, anywhere, can join our sessions. Our tutors work across SAT and other exams, curricula and subjects, building personalised plans that fix the real mistakes students keep repeating. If you want guided, practical practice (not just more hours of study), our SAT Test Preparation Centre in JLT offers small classes, mock tests under realistic conditions and ongoing error-analysis to make every practice minute count.
In short, prepare smart, practice the right things & learn from every mistake.
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