Week 7, Session 3: Pacing, Guessing, and Review Systems

Learning Objectives
Calculate and apply the 71-second per-question benchmark, use strategic guessing when necessary, and build a review system that converts final-minute checking into net score gains.

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The 64-Minute Math

• 64 minutes ÷ 54 questions = approximately 71 seconds per question across both modules
• More practically: 32 minutes for 27 questions per module
• Early questions are usually easier — budget 45–55 seconds each to bank time for harder ones

Time Allocation Strategy:

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The Two-Pass Approach
Pass 1: Answer every question you can confidently answer. Flag anything that requires re-reading or feels uncertain. Mark a provisional answer before flagging.

Pass 2 (last 3–4 minutes): Return only to flagged questions. Don't re-examine questions you already answered confidently — you are statistically more likely to change a right answer to a wrong one than the reverse.

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Strategic Guessing
The SAT® has no penalty for wrong answers. Never leave a question blank.

If you must guess:

1. Eliminate any choices you know are wrong — even eliminating one or two improves your odds.
2. For grammar questions: if unsure, the shorter, simpler choice is often correct (the SAT® rewards concision).
3. For reading questions: if stuck between two choices, the one that makes a more specific, limited claim is usually safer than the one making a broad generalization.
4. Make your guess, record it, and move on. Do not dwell.

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The Error Log Review Cycle
Your error log should be reviewed on a regular schedule:

The goal of the error log is not to remember individual questions — it is to stop making the same type of mistake.

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Mental Endurance
64 minutes of focused reading is cognitively demanding. Train for endurance:

• Practice full 32-minute modules without interruption
• Practice reading for 10–15 minutes straight before doing questions
• On test day: if you feel mentally fogged mid-module, take 5 slow breaths and continue — do not freeze

[[check:What is the SAT®'s penalty for wrong answers?|there is no penalty|Never leave a question blank on the SAT®. Even a random guess gives you a 25% chance of a correct answer.]]
[[check:Why should you not re-examine confident answers during the review pass?|you are statistically more likely to change a correct answer to a wrong one|Unless you have a specific, concrete reason to doubt an answer, your first instinct is usually correct. Reserve the review pass for genuinely uncertain or flagged items.]]