SATs and ACTs

There are a few things that you can do: 1) Talk with your math teacher about what they believe you might want to brush up on. You may want to ask them to assign you some extra "homework" that he or she can look over for you. 2) The SAT prep books are a good way to learn some of the "tricks". They also offer various practice problems. 3) Hire a tutor. Working one-on-one with someone is incredibly beneficial. Some points to remember: 1) When you sit for the test, if you are 100% sure that you don't know an answer, don't guess! Don't forget that you lose points for answering incorrectly. Skipping the answer will not harm your score. 2) Finish the section and go back to those questions that you weren't so sure about. If you have the extra time, why not try to wrestle with the problem a little. You might come up with the correct answer! Best of luck!

Almost all schools accept either the SAT or ACT. Some students find that one test works better for them than the other. If possible, take the PSAT and PLAN tests your sophomore year to get a sense of which test you're more comfortable with. If you can't do a "pre-test", visit the SAT and ACT online to try some sample questions and get a sense of how the tests are organized. Ideally, you should take the SAT or ACT in the spring of junior year, leaving time to re-take the test in late spring of junior year or early fall of senior year if necessary. Re-taking the test can be helpful, but taking it more than two or three times rarely results in improved scores and may even backfire and result in lower scores overall. If you're applying to colleges that require the SAT Subject Tests, it's helpful to take tests in subjects you're currently studying as close to the end of junior year as possible. The information will still be fresh in your mind and you won't have to go back and bone up on skills and concepts after having been out of class for several months. Keep in mind, though, that you can't take the SAT reasoning test on the same day that you take the subject tests. Be sure to construct your testing timeline carefully so that you have adequate time to complete all tests, especially if you are planning to apply early decision or early action, as the colleges will expect all testing to be completed by the November administration.

Memorize the directions before taking the test. Answer the easy questions first and mark any questions you skip so you can go back to them quickly.

A private tutor will provide the most targeted, personalized and efficient help. Students need to not only be able to do the math, but do it quickly. Know the test, know the tricks.

After the PSAT, which I would take as sophomore for practice and as a Junior for the National Merit competition, either the SAT or ACT if not both. Most of my students decide which test they are going to focus on and take it twice. Unless you prepare in a drastically different way, taking the test a third time usually does not result in a higher scores. Also, the most selective schools require two or three SAT subject tests, and as many AP tests as possible.

Paying for a private tutor will often yield a high return on investment. You will be admitted to more schools and earn more merit aid.

Private tutoring with an experienced expert.

There are basically 3 ways students can prepare for standardized tests. 1. They can buy a study book and work through it on their own. This is the least expensive method (30 dollars), but is also the least effective for most students. 2. Students can take a course with other students. This will provide structured overview of the test and general strategies. It can cost anywhere from 500 to 1500 dollars, but will be impersonal and therefore inefficient. 3. Private tutoring is the usually the best way to prepare. It will be the most expensive, costing between 100 and 400 dollars an hour based an the level of expertise and experience of the tutor, but will be the most effective, efficient and convenient way to prepare. I recommend some amount of private tutoring for almost all of my clients.

The answers to these questions vary radically from student to student. Anyone who tells you there's one right answer for everyone isn't as knowledgeable about the tests as they should be! There's no way to thoroughly respond in this format, so I'll just provide a few guidelines. All students should take a full-length practice SAT and ACT before deciding which one to pursue. The PSAT or PLAN is not an acceptable guide since these tests are truncated versions of the real thing. Having the full experience of each test (in all it's exhausting, mind-tangling glory) is essential for making an informed decision. Other factors may include available test accommodations for students with disabilities, preferred test dates/centers and access to prep materials. Most students develop a clear preference for one or the other, so when you know which one is for you, stick with it! Many students think they need to take both tests, but I disagree. The SAT and ACT are very different animals and it can be confusing to prep for both, not to mention a giant time-suck in your already busy schedule! As for when to take your test of choice, the only guideline is to allow ample time to retake it at least once before applications are due in the fall/winter of your senior year. In general, you should take it for the first time no later than May/June of your junior year. But if you prefer to get it out of the way earlier, please do! If you have plenty of time to devote to preparation the summer after your sophomore year, do it. Then take the test in the fall while the information is still fresh. Be sure to also plan for AP exams and SAT subject tests if they're on your agenda. The answer to the last question is a little easier to answer. If you're applying to a selective school, many (most?) require you to submit all of your test scores from the SAT or ACT. A general guideline is to take the test no more than three times, unless you have a very good reason for doing so. More attempts implies that you're hoping luck is going to shine down on you rather than putting in sufficient preparation before test day. Each time you take the test should be "for real," with you putting in your best effort. Don't use a real exam for practice...that's what prep materials are for! Hope that gets you thinking about a plan. I recommend talking to a test prep pro to discuss your specific needs, especially if you're intending to apply for testing accommodations. Good luck!

Practice, practice, and more practice. It's absolutely essential to get in as many practice questions as possible before test day. The SAT tests the same topics repeatedly, so the more questions you see, the more likely you'll have "seen it all" when you get to the real thing! There are some very good math specific prep guides out there. I happen to like Phil Keller's SAT Math Game Plan. It's good for both strategy and concept review. Consider working with a tutor as well. And "tutor" may mean your friend's math genius brother. Getting a little extra help with a question that stumps you can be worth points on test day.

As an educator with 18 years’ experience in test prep, I find it promising that you are thinking ahead to the PSAT and SAT!  That’s good news—no matter what approach you take, your effort will be the key to a strong test score.   Official College Board questions should be the foundation of any study plan; I like The Official SAT Study Guide and the online “SAT Question of the Day.” Then, supplement with a strategy guidebook from the library or bookstore.  And if you have the budget, ask around to get recommendations for effective prep classes or private tutoring.

The best preparation for the SAT or the ACT is to take challenging courses over the entirety of your high school experience. During your sophomore year the PSAT, offered by the College Board, or PLAN, offered by the American College Testing Program, can be helpful in pointing out areas of strength and areas which need more work.  When planning to take either test the best preparation should involve taking practice tests. These are available on line or through bookstores. Take the tests, grade them and work on areas where your scores are not as strong as you would like.

We recommend that students take their college entrance exam in April of their junior year. If you decide you want to take the test a second time to improve your score, we have found that the greatest gains have occurred by taking the test again in June when the test experience is still fresh in your mind. The one exception is for students with English language barriers who tend to do better retaking the test later (October of their senior year, ideally). This gives you the benefit of several extra months of speaking, reading and writing in English. 

Before investing in any expensive SAT program, students may want to consider a self-study program first. One on-line program that I recommend is ineedapencil.com. The practice questions offered through this site can provide students with an understanding of what the SAT is testing and which questions require more of their attention. If students try this method first and find that they are unable to commit to a regular practice schedule, then it’s time to find a local class that offers a small class size and individual attention on test-taking tips and content sections where more support is needed.

The SAT has three parts: Critical Reading, Math and Writing.  If you're trying to strengthen the Reading and Writing parts, the best work you can do this summer is to read difficult 19th and very early 20th century British and American literature. You should also be working on vocabulary.  Marks Education's online vocabulary games and quizzes, free for anyone, are the best in the business. Marks Education's free online vocabulary quizzes and games are located here: http://markseducation.com/onlineresources/index.asp. Finally, if you haven't already done so, purchase the College Board's "The Official SAT Study Guide".  This book has 10 actual practice tests that are the closest thing you'll find to the real test.  

The best way to prepare for the SAT is to get some strategic advice, obtain individualized guidance and take practice tests. Many students take test prep courses which are good for learning about the test, the timing, various sections, and how it is graded. Individualized tutoring help can be most effective because the student’s errors are carefully analyzed so that similar mistakes are not made on the actual test. Online practice tests are the most cost effective and in some cases provide excellent guidance.  The E-prep Program is unique in that a video screen appears that explains a student’s mistakes and clarifies the questions. Information and discounted rates are here: http://college-connections.com/online-test-preparation.html