We all dread the thought of having to take the SAT/ACT, but not everyone realizes that he/she could offset his/her grades with a high testing score. The key to coming out of the testing room with a satisfied grin is preparation; lots and lots of it!
The year before taking the test of your choice, it's recommended to buy an SAT/ACT book and take one of the practice tests without any preparation. This way, you know how much work you're going to have to put in to achieve the score you would ideally like to receive.
Now, for setting your goal. You want your ideal testing score to be reasonable, but high enough that it will take a year of hard work and determination to achieve it. For example, if you take the practice test and receive a 1560, I would suggest making your goal an even 2000.
You're finally ready to get to the good stuff. Find out the type of questions asked on the SAT/ACT, how many sections, how long the test takes, if you are penalized for incorrect answers, if you can bring a calculator, and the middle 50% score the current admitted freshman class had for your "reach" college. It is crucial to understand the basics of the test before you get into the practice; you don't want to waste your time studying the wrong material!
For preparation, you have a few choices; study from a practice book, hire a tutor, and/or take a prep class. The practice book is a must, and if you decide not to do any of the others, you should be religiously plowing through that book so that you start seeing results.
One of the best ways to ensure a higher testing score is to create a calendar with the time & dates of when you will study for the test. An hour every other day should suffice, but make sure to take a full practice test every other week; those are the best way to increase your score!
The night before test day, you're going to want to get a good night's sleep. In the morning, you should eat a protein-rich breakfast and drink some coffee or tea if that is what it will take to keep you focused during the test. If you haven't been to the testing location, you may want to head out fifteen minutes early to make sure you don't get lost and end up missing the test!
When you are taking the test, keep calm and collected; just have the mentality that you're going to ACE it. Make sure to read the instructions carefully for each section, and to read each question slowly to make sure you internalize each detail. Also, keep track of the time and if you are running short on time, fill in the rest of the questions (if you won't be penalized for wrong answers) and keep working through the rest of the section until time runs out. Another important tip is to not get distracted by other testers in the room; it will ruin your score if you let the guy next to you breathing obnoxiously loud ruin your mentality, and waver your focus. Lastly, when you are finished with each section, make sure you have completed each question, and go back to the questions that you were unsure of to see if you can solve them better now.
I hope these tips & tricks help you out when it's time for you to get ready for that big test, but just remember; preparation and confidence are key!
The year before taking the test of your choice, it's recommended to buy an SAT/ACT book and take one of the practice tests without any preparation. This way, you know how much work you're going to have to put in to achieve the score you would ideally like to receive.
Now, for setting your goal. You want your ideal testing score to be reasonable, but high enough that it will take a year of hard work and determination to achieve it. For example, if you take the practice test and receive a 1560, I would suggest making your goal an even 2000.
You're finally ready to get to the good stuff. Find out the type of questions asked on the SAT/ACT, how many sections, how long the test takes, if you are penalized for incorrect answers, if you can bring a calculator, and the middle 50% score the current admitted freshman class had for your "reach" college. It is crucial to understand the basics of the test before you get into the practice; you don't want to waste your time studying the wrong material!
For preparation, you have a few choices; study from a practice book, hire a tutor, and/or take a prep class. The practice book is a must, and if you decide not to do any of the others, you should be religiously plowing through that book so that you start seeing results.
One of the best ways to ensure a higher testing score is to create a calendar with the time & dates of when you will study for the test. An hour every other day should suffice, but make sure to take a full practice test every other week; those are the best way to increase your score!
The night before test day, you're going to want to get a good night's sleep. In the morning, you should eat a protein-rich breakfast and drink some coffee or tea if that is what it will take to keep you focused during the test. If you haven't been to the testing location, you may want to head out fifteen minutes early to make sure you don't get lost and end up missing the test!
When you are taking the test, keep calm and collected; just have the mentality that you're going to ACE it. Make sure to read the instructions carefully for each section, and to read each question slowly to make sure you internalize each detail. Also, keep track of the time and if you are running short on time, fill in the rest of the questions (if you won't be penalized for wrong answers) and keep working through the rest of the section until time runs out. Another important tip is to not get distracted by other testers in the room; it will ruin your score if you let the guy next to you breathing obnoxiously loud ruin your mentality, and waver your focus. Lastly, when you are finished with each section, make sure you have completed each question, and go back to the questions that you were unsure of to see if you can solve them better now.
I hope these tips & tricks help you out when it's time for you to get ready for that big test, but just remember; preparation and confidence are key!
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