Top 10 Tips for Surviving ACT or SAT Tests
For any high school students out there who plan to apply to college, acing the SAT or the ACT is the best way to boost your chances of admission! Whether you choose to take the SAT or the ACT, you will want to use similar study techniques and test prep strategies. These high-pressure, nearly four-hour long tests take a lot of preparation, but there are a few ways to increase your ability to score well.Sometimes, it just seems too frustrating to keep studying. Maybe your scores on practice tests haven't increased, or you keep getting the same kind of questions wrong. Perhaps you always run out of time on the reading comprehension questions.
No matter what the hardest part of test prep is for you, try to keep in mind the big picture: taking this test is going to lead to an exciting new part of life! All your hard work is going to pay off.
The best way to guarantee a higher score for yourself is to start a consistent practice and prep schedule, and then stick with it! Consistency is key to improving your score, so start studying now and make it a habit.
I went to prep and now I'm not even stressed. No stress whatsoever. My SAT is in 2 days, but I did really well on their tests, which were at the same level or harder. I'm kind of excited.
If you have lingering questions about the SAT or ACT, or if you're overwhelmed and don't know where to start, finding a tutor to work with individually can help demystify either test. While this option may be a bit more pricey than self-study with a prep book, working with a real person will give you the chance to ask any questions that come to mind.
A tutor can also ensure that you stay on track with your test prep and help tailor your practice to the areas you want to improve. If you want to learn more, www.originstutoring.com has a great blog that provides more information about tutoring.
After you've done some significant review, try taking a practice test. Compare your results to those from your diagnostic test, and note any progress you've made.
Using this information, choose a new mix of practice questions to answer to better prepare in areas where you didn't do as well.
That's why I chose the option to take the PreACT. I'm commenting on this today, several hours before I have to take the test early in the morning. 12:59 AM 10/7/20
I haven't received my results yet, but I feel that I did very well on the PreACT. That's how confident I feel. 10/9/20 3:47 AM
The SAT has an essay section, and the ACT has an optional essay section. The easiest way to prepare for writing an essay on the spot is by looking at old prompts and practicing how you would outline an essay on that topic.
The most important things to remember are to make sure that your essay argues something and to write about relevant personal or historical events that you can use as evidence for your thesis.
Not all your test prep involves answering questions! Do your best to get a good night's sleep and eat a good breakfast before the test. Your brain will need all the help it can get, and you'll want to spend your time answering questions, not falling asleep or feeling hungry!
Once you know what areas you most want to improve, you need to buckle down and commit to studying for your test. Using your test prep book, do as many practice questions as you can in the areas you'd like to improve.
Read the advice and test strategies the book provides, as those tips can help you save time during the actual test.
That's what I'm planning to do once the PreACT is over. This means everything to me. 1:00 AM 10/7/20
This book helped me in every possible way. Better buy a good one.
You can usually find one or two practice SAT or ACT tests online. Many test prep companies also publish books with practice SAT and ACT tests. The best way to begin your test prep is to take one of these practice tests to get a sense of how you're doing.
Once you calculate your scores, you can choose the subjects to focus on during your review.
On both the SAT and the ACT, many reading comprehension questions depend on your knowledge of extensive vocabulary. The best way to build up your vocabulary is to read frequently, but you can also use test prep flashcards if you want extra review.
There are also some dedicated test prep books with lists of vocabulary words to memorize. Learn as many as you can.
To kick-start your test prep routine, consider signing up for the SAT or ACT Question of the Day. You'll receive one real test question emailed to you each day, along with a detailed explanation of the answer choices and topics you might want to study to improve.
In just a few minutes each day, this can help you get used to the question format on the test you will take and get you in the habit of doing practice questions.