| SAT and ACT Study Tips Written by: Kiana Fleming If you’re planning to attend college after high school, the ACT and SAT tests are essential to your acceptance. ACT and SAT tests are standardized tests for admission to colleges in the United States. How you score will help determine where you will be accepted and how you compare to other students. Depending on which college or university you apply to, you may have to take one or both exams. The ACT consists of multiple- choice tests which covers four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science and an optional writing test that measures skills in planning and writing a short essay. The SAT consists of four sections; critical reading, mathematics, writing and other subsections that are scored separately. Start early! Practice! If you are a sophomore or even a freshman, it is wise to begin taking practice tests as often as possible so you can be prepared for the test. It is important to take the ACT and/or SAT test during the last semester of your junior year or first semester of your senior year. This will allow you enough time to join a prep class or get a tutor if your score is not as high as you would like. Prep classes and private tutors are provided nationwide by companies such as Kaplan and Princeton Review. If you work better alone, it may be helpful to get an ACT or SAT study book or software and practice at home, but practice you must! If you plan to take the test more than once, which many students do, request the testing agency submit your scores to the colleges of your choice after you have the score you desire! You may find helpful the following tips helpful when taking the test: 1. Don’t spend more than one or two minutes on any one question. If you need to, skip it and come back. 2. Mark the test book in any way that will help you. 3. Keep track of time. It is very important! Pace yourself. 4. Bring water and a healthy snack to renew energy during your break. 5. Math tip: There is no penalty for wrong answers, guess if you can’t figure out the answer. 6. For the reading passages, it is important to quickly skim the questions before reading the passage. This allows you to have a general idea of what you are looking for while reading the passage. 7. While reading the passage looking for main ideas; little details can be found when rereading the passage. 8. For the writing portion, the standard five-paragraph essay is the best format to use. 9. Keep your writing as simple and straight to the point as possible. 10. Avoid slang, text and IM versions of words. Have a good night’s rest and eat a good hearty meal before taking the exam. Don’t worry if you have to take the exam more than once to get the score you want. Most college bound students take the exam at least twice. For information about SAT and ACT preparation classes and tutors, go to: www.kaplan.com www.princetonreview.com For practice tests check out The College Board: www.collegeboard.com |
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