SAT Prep Scores for Students: Q & A with Shaan Patel
New SAT Scoring: 1600 vs. the old 2400
Shaan Patel: Background
SAT 2400 in Just 7 Steps has sold over 20,000 copies and was a #1 bestseller on Amazon for SAT prep.
How did your appearance on Shark Tank come about?
My Yale roommates encouraged me to apply. I auditioned, submitted a creative video pitch, and was invited to the show. The taping process was intense—sessions that lasted many times longer than the final TV segment—but the exposure and the deal I made with Mark Cuban made a major difference.
Tell us about working with Mark Cuban.
Working with Mark has been incredible. He and his team helped scale our operations, provided marketing and business strategy, and ensured our systems handled the surge in traffic after the show aired. Mark is accessible, responsive, and invested in helping our company grow—help that has enabled expansion to multiple new locations and growth online and offline.
Working with Mark gave us the support and infrastructure to expand nationwide. His team assists with accounting, marketing, and technology, which allowed us to open new centers and improve our online offerings.
Shaan, can you share last-minute tips for students taking the new SAT?
The College Board’s redesigned SAT returned to a 1600-point scale and introduced substantial content and format changes. Here are practical strategies to boost your score on test day.
SAT Scores: Last-Minute Prep Tips for the New Test
General test strategy — Don’t flip back and forth: Many students mark answers in the test booklet, flip to the answer sheet to bubble each response, then return to the booklet. That wastes time and breaks your focus. Instead, complete and circle answers for a whole page in the booklet, then transfer them all to the answer sheet at once. This saves time and keeps momentum.
Math strategy — SAP (Substitute Answers in Problem): When a problem contains variables and the answer choices are numbers, try substituting the choices into the original equation. This often avoids algebra and is especially useful for exponential growth or decay problems on the revised SAT.
Reading strategy — BOSS (Build Your Own Simple Solution): Before you look at answer choices, form a concise answer in your own words. Cover the choices if you have to. Creating your own solution prevents tempting but incorrect options from distracting you and increases accuracy on evidence-based reading questions.
Writing strategy — COP (Cross Out Prepositions): Grammar errors rarely occur inside prepositional phrases, which often distract from the real issue. Mentally remove or cross out prepositional phrases (think of common prepositions: in, on, under, over, etc.) to simplify the sentence and expose pronoun agreement, verb tense, or modifier errors more quickly.
Example: “Until it is managed by a new, more effective, and more understanding administration, the teachers will continue to strike.” Remove the prepositional phrase to see the mismatch: “Until it is managed, the teachers will continue to strike.” The pronoun “it” does not correctly refer to “teachers.”
Essay strategy — use templates wisely: The essay is optional but often required by competitive schools. Practice a flexible, well-structured template for analyzing argumentative passages so you can write clearly and efficiently under time pressure. Templates help you deliver a coherent analysis that highlights evidence, reasoning, and rhetorical techniques without wasting precious minutes.
Prep Expert’s recommended introduction template:
“In [Article Title], [Author Name] advances a clear argument that [Passage’s Key Point]. While some critics argue [Opposing View], the author rebuts these claims by demonstrating [Major Idea], and supports the argument through [three key rhetorical or evidentiary techniques].”
Example applied to a humanities passage: “In ‘The Enduring Value of a Humanities Education,’ Jane Smith argues that humanities knowledge is essential to society’s development. Although some critics prioritize technology-focused education, Smith counters these views by demonstrating how humanities training cultivates adaptable, well-rounded thinkers through examples, authoritative citations, and contrasting scenarios.”
Shaan, what has been the most rewarding outcome of your work?
The most rewarding moments are when students tell me they were accepted to their dream schools and credit our instruction for helping them get there. Knowing we helped change someone’s future is incredibly fulfilling.
Further information on SAT performance and scholarships
High SAT scores can improve college admissions opportunities and scholarship eligibility. Consider combining strong test preparation with targeted scholarship searches to maximize financial aid options. Many entrepreneurial tools and resources aim to help students improve scores and discover scholarship opportunities.
State-level data on average and top SAT scores can help students set realistic targets and measure progress. Focused study, effective strategies, and dedicated practice remain the most reliable paths to improving SAT performance.