Spring is the time of year when teens across the country participate in standardized testing to help determine their readiness for college. Your score on the SAT will dictate which schools you are eligible to apply for, and it can even determine whether or not you are offered scholarships to help offset the costs associated with college.
Scoring well on the SAT is important, so extensive preparation is advised. Taking tests is a skill and, like any other skill, it can be honed through practice and experience. Try these three approaches to preparation to ensure you are ready to achieve the highest possible score on your SAT test this year.
1. Time your practice tests.
The SAT test can be stressful because you are only given a certain amount of time to complete each section. This adds pressure on test day, and this pressure can negatively affect your score if you are not prepared.
Although there is little you can do to eliminate all of the stress that comes with taking a timed test, you can learn to adapt to the time limit by simulating this time crunch during practice tests. Each time you take a practice test in preparation for your SAT, give yourself the same time limitations you will face on the actual test day. As you become familiar with the pressure, you will be able to pace yourself accordingly.
2. Work on becoming more precise.
The SAT features many different types of questions that are designed to test your knowledge. Most students do well with the multiple choice questions but can run into trouble when it comes to the essay questions.
Since the SAT is timed, you want to ensure that your writing is as precise as possible. Being able to state your ideas in a concise manner will help reduce the amount of time it takes to complete each essay question, and it will improve your overall score.
3. Invest in a tutor.
One of the easiest things that you can do to prepare for the SAT is invest in the services of a professional tutor. Your tutor will be able to help you focus your study efforts to maximize your readiness in preparation for the standardized test.
SAT tutors can also offer you helpful tips and insight when it comes to learning what you can expect on test day. This helps eliminate some of the test anxiety that a lot of teens feel going into the SAT test.
For more information and tips, contact local SAT tutoring services.