Initial Reactions to the August 23rd SAT
This morning’s SAT is in the books, at least on the East Coast, and I wanted to share some of my initial impressions while the experience is still fresh.
General Impressions
Overall, both the Reading & Writing and Math sections felt relatively straightforward. There weren’t any unusual twists or surprises—everything came straight out of the typical SAT playbook. In fact, I noticed a lot of overlap with the March test, especially in the number of rhetorical synthesis questions that appeared in the first module. Several of the predictions I shared during Friday’s review session actually came true, which is always encouraging.
Vocabulary Connections
One highlight for me was seeing at least one or two vocabulary words that we emphasize each week in lessons and quizzes. These exact terms came straight from the official SAT vocab quizzes on my website. Hopefully, those of you who have been diligent with vocabulary practice recognized them immediately and picked up a few easy points.
The web's best SAT vocabulary quizzes.
Scoring Concerns
If there’s one thing that gives me pause, it’s that the test felt a bit on the easier side, particularly in Reading and Writing. Historically, easier tests mean that the scoring curve is less forgiving. That means every mistake could carry more weight. My hope is that you all navigated the first module without any issues and minimized errors in the second. That will make the biggest difference in your score.
Final Thoughts
All in all, this was a very approachable SAT. Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing overly tricky—just a fair test of the skills we’ve been practicing. I’m proud of the progress so many of you have made leading into today.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Did you notice anything familiar? Did some of our drills or strategies pay off? Send me an email at support@mrjohnstestprep.com and let me know how it went.
To everyone who tested today, take a breather this weekend—you’ve earned it. For those of you gearing up for the next round, the September SAT is just around the corner on Saturday, September 13th. That’s less than a month away. Keep sharpening your process, reviewing your mistakes, and building confidence each day.
We’re in this together, and I can’t wait to see the results of your hard work.
– Mr. John
