Prepping for a standardized test
During the past few years, many, in fact, most, colleges and universities have shifted from requiring either the ACT or SAT to making them optional on their applications. It was a prudent move given the inability of students to find open testing centers during the height of Covid. However, some colleges are reverting to requiring test scores. And even with those who remain test-optional for now, students can choose to report scores if they want to. While some students should take advantage of this change, there are still many who are willing to sit for the ACT or SAT in hopes of submitting a good score.
Most students (and parents) we talk to understand that the recent surge in high-school grade inflation has hindered their ability to stand out. As mentioned in an earlier post, at a recent large high school graduation, 48% of the students graduated with honors. Additionally, one student recently showed me their full freshman, sophomore, and junior report cards, full of straight-A grades (not one single B in any quarter in any class!) in college prep courses (AP and or IB), yet they were ranked 25th out of about 500, just making the top 5% in their class. That’s a lot of A grades given out in their high school. Submitting a good standardized test score is one way for students to show colleges that they earned their high grades and didn’t resort to other means during remote learning to get them.
If you choose to sit for the ACT or SAT, here are some suggestions on how to best prepare:
Choose one test and stick with it. The ACT and SAT are different, and efforts to study for one won’t necessarily immediately transfer over to the other one. Hopefully, a pre-ACT or PSAT score can point you in one direction. If not, do some research on the differences. You certainly can move from one test to the other, but it’s a lof of work.
Pick a test date that works for you. Students have many distractions during the school year: AP courses, athletics, school activities, and family obligations, just to name a few. Pick a test date where you have a less scheduled 6-7 weeks prior to the exam. This may mean testing in the spring (away from your fall sport) or in the summer (free from all school obligations). Tests are given year-round. Find the date that works best for you and your family, allowing free time in the weeks leading up to it.
Make a schedule and stick with it. We believe that getting fully prepared takes weeks, not days. There’s no one perfect schedule that works for everyone, but about five hours per week for 6-7 weeks is a good place to start. To make it a priority in your life, create a calendar with daily goals or assignments. If using a tutor, they can do this for you.
Try to use verified study material, if you can. There’s a lot of study material out there …. and some of it is actually good. Try to incorporate material from the College Board (SAT) or the ACT. Use actual prior tests if you can find them. Practice tests created by third parties can be sorely lacking and ineffective.
Supplement with recommended workbooks. Find highly recommended books for self-study and learning. We believe that most good prep books focus on just one topic (Math OR English OR Grammar). The one-size-fits-all books are convenient, but generally not the best. Invest in your workbooks. We can recommend a few (none of which we have any affiliation with) if you ask.
Realize that, for most, two sittings will probably be enough. There’s a point at which, if you actually study for these exams, you just won’t continue to increase your score. A good number of students can get a better score on their second sitting just from the experience of having taken the test before, but it’s unrealistic to expect your score to continue to go up every time you take the exam. Put in a lot of effort, take the test, and then rested quickly (within 6-8 weeks if possible) if needed and be done with it.