Strategies

There are ways to approach this test that will allow you to maximize your score. Read through these
strategies before you begin your diagnostic practice test. Try to internalize each of them so that on
test day they will be second nature to you. If you accomplish this, you will be rewarded with a higher
score on your SAT Subject Test: Chemistry.

Do  classification  questions   first;  they    require less    reading and you’ll  get the most    points  for

your    time    invested.

1.

Next,   do  the Type    1   and Type    2   five-choice completion  questions.  Again,  you will    get more

points  with    less    time    invested.

2.

In  the relationship    analysis    questions,  look    at  each    statement   individually.   If  either  statement

is  false,  then    you will    never   choose  C   or  E.  You are required    to  determine   if  it  is  the correct

explanation only    when    both    statements  are true.

3.

This    test    emphasizes  general trends  and basic   chemistry   concepts,   so  you probably    won’t   see a

question/graph  that    would   take    a   rocket  scientist   30  minutes to  figure  out.    Look    for trends

and outliers    in  graphs. If  a   value   or  a   plot    is  vastly  different   from    the others, it  is  likely  that

there   will    be  a   question    about   it.

4.

Look    for opposing    answers in  the answer  selections. If  two answers are close   in  wording or  if

they    contain opposite    ideas,  there   is  a   strong  possibility that    one of  them    is  the right   answer.

5.

By  the same    token,  if  two answers mean    basically   the same    thing,  then    they    both    cannot  be

correct and you can eliminate   both    answer  choices.

6.

Use the structure   of  a   Roman   numeral question    to  your    advantage.  Eliminate   choices as  soon

as  you find    them    to  be  inconsistent    with    the truth   or  falsehood   of  a   statement   in  the stimulus.

Similarly,  consider    only    those   choices that    include a   statement   that    you’ve  already

determined  to  be  true.

7.

Predict your    answer  before  you go  to  the answer  choices so  you don’t   get persuaded   by  the

wrong   answers.    This    helps   protect you from    persuasive  or  tricky  incorrect   choices.    Most    wrong

answer  choices are logical twists  on  the correct choice.

8.

9. Eliminate    answers and guess.

10. Think,  don’t   compute!