The third year of high schools poses many new things for most teens; college level courses, prom, driver’s licenses, and choosing a college. No biggie, right? Just pick a place where you will live for four years and learn the necessary skills to start a career and a life in adulthood…..WOW! That IS a big decision! And to top it all off, all colleges and universities require students to take the S.A.T: Scholastic Aptitude Test. Spring of the junior year in high school is when most guidance counselors suggest taking the S.A.T and it is often smart to take it more than once to insure the best possible scores reported to the colleges you apply to. There are many strategies to doing well on the S.A.T and it is important to know the basics before launching into the process of completing the S.A.T.
It is always important to understand the backbone of any exam before taking it. The S.A.T is no exception to this rule. The purpose of the S.A.T is to test your general high school knowledge and is used by colleges and universities as a predictor of academic success post-high school. To do this, the S.A.T is broken into three sections: Math, Verbal and Writing. The skills for each section are tested by a series of multiple choice questions and one essay, each with a specific amount of time allotted. Don’t worry, you can’t technically “fail” S.A.T: each section is graded on a scale of 200-800 points and the highest possible score is 2400 (perfect 800 on each section). Colleges and Universities set minimum S.A.T scores for their candidates and this number will vary depending on the degree of competition at the specific institute. Your guidance department can assist you in all aspects of the S.A.T from signing up and picking a location to take the test to interpreting your scores.
After you sign up, there is a considerable amount of practice that should go into preparing yourself for the S.A.T. Thankfully, many years of the test have led to some great discoveries on the best tips and tricks.
Have everything you need right from the beginning: a dictionary for unfamiliar vocabulary, plenty of number 2 pencils with erasers and a working calculator for the math section.
It’s amazing what an internet search for “S.A.T review material” will yield you! Do some searching to find the best review books, study guides, vocabulary lists, etc. that will work best with your learning style.
The S.A.T has been around for a very long time. This is great news for new S.A.T students because it means there is a plethora of old materials out there and there is no better way to prepare for the test then to practice on the past exams.
Mimic the test. During the S.A.T, all examinees will be in a very quiet room, so it is good to practice and study under the same conditions.
Allow yourself some breathing room. You will not be listening to your IPod, watching Jeopardy and eating dinner during your exam, so it is probably not best to study this way. Make sure you have a quiet, well-lit place to focus and mimic, as closely as possible, the way the test will be on the real day.
There is also another study option available to many students: a formal S.A.T prep course. Companies like Princeton Review and Kaplan hire qualified teachers to tutor groups of students in preparation for the S.A.T exam. Some high schools even offer such a class for credit. Students gain the opportunity to work in a small group setting, studying and preparing with other students with the same goal and an expert. These courses offer students access to tips and tricks of the exam as well as valuable test taking skills over a series of sessions that meet for 1 to 1 hours per each section, Math and Verbal. This setting works for many students who are looking for a guide to navigate them through studying and preparing for the S.A.T.
If the S.A.T prep course sounds appealing to you, there are a few things you should know before diving into one. First, these classes, unless offered by your high school for credit, cost money. Eight-ten sessions over a span of months can cost anywhere from 200.00-600.00 dollars, which may or may not include your supplies for class such as a review guide and vocabulary book. Secondly, these classes cost valuable time each week. It is important to make sure that your schedule allows you to attend all of the sessions; missing just 1 or 2 could put you behind the other students and leave you feeling lost on some aspects of the test. Lastly, the amount of effort you put into the homework and assigned studying will be equal to what you get out of the course.
The S.A.T is an important part of finishing your high school career. Often, the test looms in junior Year as something big, scary and difficult. With a little practice and some research, the fears can be lifted and being successful on the S.A.T can be manageable and stress free. No matter your decision to study solo or join a prep class, completing the S.A.T to the best of your ability will ensure that you head down the right path as you move out of high school and on to college.
Alan Greene is a university administrator who writes on a wide variety of education subjects which include online degree programs and online college options for working professionals.
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