As juniors are beginning to jump into the wonderful journey of standardized testing, here are some tips on how to prepare for these oh so fun tests.
The good news is that students have already begun their preparation just by being a student! The SAT/ACT are meant to measure what students have already learned in their high school classes. The absolute best way to prepare for these tests is to take challenging courses offered by your school. Fortunately, no matter what class a student is taking here, they are most likely being challenged and already preparing for these tests even though they may not realize it. Junior year is a stressful year in terms of academics but taking these classes seriously is ultimately the best test prep a student can do; however, there are some additional things that students can do to prepare outside the classroom for the standardized tests season.
Take the PSAT/Aspire
One important practice opportunity for the SAT is the PSAT, offered in October. The PSAT is taken by students as preparation for the new SAT, which began in March of 2016. It contains content that is slightly less complex than the real SAT; however, it allows our students to become familiar with the format and types of questions that are ultimately asked on the SAT. Several high schools will offer their benefits of these practice tests, make sure students treat this practice test seriously, timing themselves and taking it in a quiet place with minimal distractions. This will allow them to see what they would actually score if you took the test, and it will give a benchmark for measuring their progress as they continue with test preparation.
Score your practice test and identify areas of weakness
After your student has completed the practice test, go back through the results with them and identify what type of questions they consistently missed. Was it a particular section or subject? Were questions consistently missed in algebra or grammar? Did they miss easy questions because they weren’t paying attention? Once you go through the results, you will most likely be able to identify some pattern and areas of weakness or a particular section where your student struggled. You can then sit down and make a plan on how to improve that particular section or sections that need improvement. You can purchase a book with practice questions and explanations on these topics, or use one of several resources available for free online such as Khan Academy’s SAT prep materials or Applerouth test prep. Regardless of which resource you use to study, the most important thing is to be targeted, focusing your energy on specific areas of weakness.
Take the SAT/ACT and evaluate
When it comes time to finally take either the SAT or the ACT for the first time, help your student realize this is the first time they are taking it and try to relax. The practice tests should really help them understand the flow of the test and the type of questions that will be asked, which should put their mind at ease a little bit. Typically students will take either test a number of times, which is normal. If a student scores lower than they thought they would, it’s time to evaluate their results and focus on what areas need improvement, just like you did for the practice tests and start thinking about your options. A face to face tutor may be a suitable option for your student or it may be utilizing more practice tests. It entirely depends on your family, but we are also here to counsel and help guide you and your student through this process.
A recent trend in higher education and college admissions is “test optional schools.” Here are a few that currently do not require standardized tests: Agnes Scott, American University, Bowdoin College, Christopher Newport University, DePaul University, Dickinson College, East Tennessee State University, Furman University, George Washington University, and Temple University.
As you can see, there are many schools that embrace the test optional policy in their admission process and the list is continuing to grow each year. We hope you all will approach this process with seriousness, but also understanding that this is only one factor in the admissions process. Yes, it is important, but college admissions counselors are looking at the entire student and a student is never just their test score.