Simarn Regmi, CollegeFindMe Intern
It seems like people won’t stop talking about the SAT and ACT. For some reason a 1600 or 36 are the most important numbers for a high schooler, even though the numbers themselves don’t seem to make a lot of sense. That’s because these tests are not like any test you’ve taken before – but that doesn’t mean they have to be scary. Like most things in high school and college, these tests just require some practice, focus, and time management skills. Luckily, we’re here to share some tips we’ve learned along the way to help you prepare.
Try it out
It’s helpful to take the SAT, ACT, or pre-test before your senior year just to try it out. They’re big and challenging, but once you go through the real deal the first time, you’ll know what it’s like and won’t have to focus on the “unknowns” anymore. Also, when you get your score back, you can identify which subjects you’re strongest in, and which ones you need to work on.
Study consistently
Studying one time before the test will not prepare you. SATs, ACTs, and standardized tests do not measure your intelligence, but rather how many questions you can correctly answer in a short period of time. Often, they will try to trick you with their wording, so the best way to overcome confusion is to understand the test inside and out. Work slowly and steadily over several months to build up your understanding, rather than tackling it all at once. It can also help to take full length practice tests so you can build up endurance as well.
A really good tool to plan out your studying is Khan Academy, where they can help you understand what areas of the test you should focus on. The platform gives you freedom to plan according to your schedule and you can always sneak in a little practice whether you are on your way to work, school, on the train, etc.
Read!
It is proven that reading makes you smarter and exercises your brain, and it especially comes in the reading sections, which contain hefty non-fiction and historical texts that can be a lot to take in. Try to read more nonfiction articles and familiarize yourself with their structure so that when the big day comes, you’re ready to go.
Recognize your mistakes
After taking practice tests and seeing where you went wrong, it is crucial to not be discouraged by your mistakes, but to learn from them instead. On Khan Academy, when you get your results back, they break down the problem when showing you the right answer. Additionally, if you do not understand a concept, they have videos with tutorials and walk through examples that range from easy, medium, and hard.
Challenge yourself
When practicing, don’t just stick with the easiest questions. You definitely don’t have to dive into the “hard” section head-first, but you can work your way up each week or until you think you can handle more intense problems. You are doing yourself a disservice if you just practice with easy problems that you are already familiar with. When you push yourself to tackle advanced problems over time, you’ll be ready for any curveballs on test day.
Time management
On the SAT and ACT, every question is worth the same amount of points, so if you get stuck, move on. Focus first on the questions you can confidently answer to boost your score, and then come back to the tougher questions. Even if you still don’t know the answer, use process of elimination to get rid of wrong answers and improve your chances of guessing correctly.
You’ve got this!
Believe in yourself, even though it can be hard and you might not feel the best about these tests. Just know that at the end of the day, you are not a number. While we can’t ignore the seriousness of standardized tests, remember that in no way do they measure your intelligence or what you can achieve. Be ready to roll your sleeves up and work on your critical ready and time management skills, but also don’t forget that confidence and a clear head can take you far, both in the testing room and in all of high school. Good luck, and remember that these tests are just one of many paths to college!