Photo: buzzle.com

As a high school junior, you’re probably starting to think about studying for the SAT or ACT. Check out these eight steps you can take to get yourself pumped and prepared for your big exam!

Give Yourself Six Weeks

When it comes to standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, many find that six weeks is a good amount of time to really buckle down and start preparing. It’s enough time to really get the hang of what you’re doing, but not such a long time that you begin forgetting things. This doesn’t mean you can’t familiarize yourself with words or problems in the meantime.

Familiarize Yourself with the Test

You don’t want to study all vocabulary and algebra for the SAT, only to find out later there’s geometry as well. Similarly, you don’t want to spend too much time studying trigonometry for the ACT and completely forget there’s a reading portion. Know exactly what’s on the test, how long it takes, and what format it’s in.

Consider a Class

Taking an SAT or ACT prep course can be one of the best things you can do for your score. Even if it’s just a three hour review class offered on a Saturday, you might want to think about grabbing some of your buddies and attending!

Find Your Best Study Method

There are dozens of materials you can use to prep for these kinds of tests on your own, and it all depends on what works best for you. Review books can be bought at book stores, flash cards can be made, and online sites can offer practice problems, explanations, and advice for the big day. Try learning from multiple sources.

Baby Steps

While you may find it helpful to take a practice test at the very beginning, just to give yourself an idea of where you are without any studying at all, you probably don’t want to start with a bunch of these the first week. Instead, spend an hour each night reviewing the material and completing problems related to that material.

Review As You Go

As you begin your second and third weeks studying for the SAT or ACT, you may want to begin adding things back in that you brushed up on your first week. Keep familiarizing yourself with what you have studied, weeks after you studied it, so you can retain everything that you’re learning!

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Unfortunately, just reading a list of vocabulary words and their definitions, or material on how to do an algebra problem will not be very helpful when it comes to test day. You will have to actually do practice problems. Get as much practice as you can and take practice tests from start to finish.

Know What You Need Test Day

Before going to take your exam, make sure you know when the exam starts, what to bring, and what rules to follow, as forgetting something simple like your school ID could prevent you from taking the test.

Image: www.actstudent.org

The ACT (American College Testing), is a test you can take in addition to, or sometimes in place of, the SAT depending on the college to which you are applying. In some ways, it is like the SAT, but in other ways, it’s completely different, so students who struggle with one might perform better on the other.

The Difference Between the SAT and the ACT

The SAT is made up of English, math, and writing sections, while the ACT contains English, math, reading, science, and an optional writing section. These additional categories provide an opportunity for students who aren’t as strong with vocabulary and algebra to still score well!

SAT questions are designed to be a little tricky and confusing, while ACT questions tend to be more straightforward. For this reason, the SAT allows more time for each question than the ACT. This means that students who tend to get bogged down and behind with wording might have an easier time with the ACT.

On the SAT, wrong answers convert to points scored against you. On the ACT, wrong answers don’t count as anything, which means you can guess all you want on the ACT without taking any penalty for it. Many ACT test takers like the comfort of knowing they will not be penalized for guesses. That alone can really take the stress level down a notch!

The SAT tends to focus more on algebra and geometry whereas the ACT has some of that, as well as trigonometry. Students who sometimes do poor on the SAT because of the algebra tend to be better at the geometry and trig offered on the ACT.

The SAT costs $50 while the ACT (minus the writing portion) costs $35. If you want to include the writing portion, the cost ends up being about the same as the SAT, so you’re not spending anything more to take the ACT.

The ACT is offered six times a year (September, October, December, February, April, and June) in the US. Like the SAT, there are web sites, practice tests, and review books, all designed to help you do your best. You can also retake the test more than once to work to attain the highest score possible. Registration can be done online.

If you’re unhappy with the results of your SAT score, or if you just want to try your hand at a different kind of exam, taking the ACT might just be worth a shot! With standardized testing, particularly the SAT, being under criticism for not being a true reflection of student knowledge, the ACT is believed to be better at creating a snapshot of what it is you’ve really learned in school and how prepared you are for college-level learning.

Source: http://www.actstudent.org/

The Week Before

• Get plenty of sleep each night from now until the exam. A full 8 hours the night before the test is good, but building up to that is even better. Your body and brain need to rest so they can be ready to focus the day of.
• Read newspaper articles in their entirety. Do this every day. It’s easy to skim articles when you see them online, but getting in the habit of reading an entire article on paper in front of you will prepare you for the test. Really ambitious? Write a few summarizing sentences describing the article and your response to it.
• Check the ACT Test Prep website for their Question of the Day!
• Get together with friends who are taking or have taken the test to discuss it. They can offer you pointers and you can quiz each other on vocabulary.

The Day Before

• Get everything you need ready to go in one pile the night before. Seriously do this! It will make your life so much easier to wake up early, grab your backpack and go. This includes your calculator, photo ID, admission ticket, and pencils.
• Double and triple check your test center address, the route you’ll take to get there, and your reporting time.
• Go to bed at a reasonable hour!

The Day Of

• Eat some breakfast! Even if you are not normally a breakfast person, eat or drink something so you aren’t operating on a completely empty stomach.
• Pack a snack to have during your break to keep your fuel levels up!
• Bring water, but don’t chug it before you enter the test. You’re going to be in there for a while and you don’t want your brain focusing more on the bathroom than the test questions.
• Bring a sweater – some test centers might be cold! Again, you don’t want to be uncomfortable or focus too hard on anything other than the test.

The Day After

• Let it all go! You’ve done all you can and now the only thing you need to do is wait for the results.
• If you get the results and you’re less than pleased, register to take the test again and spend more time on practice questions this time around.
• If you get the results and you are satisfied, CONGRATS! You did it.

For more information on college admissions and preparations, visit Cappex and make your profile today!

Here is the breakdown for approaching test dates:

SAT

May 5th SAT
Registration for this date has passed; however, if you’re taking that test, good luck! Remember to eat a good breakfast, bring plenty of number two pencils and erasers, and show up early to the testing facility

June 2nd SAT 
Registration for this test date is quickly approaching. Registration for this test closes on May 8th. Late registration is May 22nd. Remember, all deadlines expire at midnight (Eastern Standard Time) on the day of the deadline.

ACT

June 9th ACT Registration for this date is fast approaching.  To register without a late fee for the June test, you must register by May 4th at the latest. Have you taken either test already and received your scores? With the Cappex What Are My Chances (TM) Calculator you can get a handle on what are realistic admissions options for you with those scores and help you narrow down where you should be applying. It is always important to have combinations of safety, realistic and reach schools. Utilizing Cappex along with your guidance counselor is a great way to figure out where you should be applying. Remember, the results of your SAT/ACT tests are not the end of the world. If you do not do as well as you hoped on your first or second try, you can always take the test again! So do your practice tests, study your vocabulary words, and walk in to the test with confidence and a calm demeanor! RELAX!

While you’re sitting at home taking practice tests, going over a mountain of vocabulary cards, and trying to decide where the comma should be in a sentence, you do not want to forget the most important thing: actually signing up for the test before the registration deadline! The logic is simple here. If you don’t sign up, you can’t take the test!

Here is the breakdown for approaching test dates:

SAT

April 14 SAT
Registration for this date has passed; however, if you’re taking that test, good luck! Remember to eat a good breakfast, bring plenty of number two pencils and erasers, and show up early to the testing facility.

May 5th SAT
Registration for this test date is quickly approaching. Regular registration closes on April 6th, and late registration ends on April 20th. Remember, all deadlines expire at midnight (Eastern Standard Time) on the day of the deadline.

June 2nd SAT
Registration for this test closes on May 8^th. Late registration is May 22^nd.

ACT

April 14th ACT
Registration for this date has passed. Remember if you’re taking the test to arrive early and make sure you remain calm and composed.

June 9th ACT
If you are not ready to take the April 14th test, sign up for the June 9th test. To register without a late fee for the June test, you must register by May 4th at the latest.

Have you taken either test already and received your scores? With the Cappex What Are My Chances (TM) Calculator you can get a handle on what are realistic admissions options for you with those scores and help you narrow down where you should be applying. It is always important to have combinations of safety, realistic and reach schools. Utilizing Cappex along with your guidance counselor is a great way to figure out where you should be applying.

Remember, the results of your SAT/ACT tests are not the end of the world. If you do not do as well as you hoped on your first or second try, you can always take the test again! So do your practice tests, study your vocabulary words, and walk in to the test with confidence and a calm demeanor! RELAX!

Get rest. I know you hear this all the time, but sleep is so good for you! In the weeks leading up to the test, not just the night before, make sure you are sleeping enough each night. It’s hard with homework, applications, extra-cirricular activities, and a social life, but even a nap here and there will add up.

Practice! There are FREE online tests you can take and SAT/ACT practice books you can buy at bookstores. Practice different subjects each day, in addition to taking an entire practice exam as though it were the real deal (time yourself, take a break where noted, etc.). These practice exams really pay off. You’re exercising your brain and training it to jump between subjects quickly. The real test will be much less stressful after the practice ones because it will be familiar.

If you need more incentive to practice the SAT, keep in mind that by registering for and taking the PSAT (Preliminary SAT) you become eligible for the National Merit Scholarship, just by practicing for your SAT! Cool!

ACT or SAT? Make sure you know which test scores your top schools want from you. Some schools require the ACT while others require the SAT or SAT II. The SAT II is a more specialized test offered in a variety of subjects.

Register in time! The SAT is offered several times a year and the deadline is usually about 30 days in advance. Check the SAT College Board Homepage for more information on how to register.

Whatever you do, don’t cheat on an exam. That would be stupid. A large cheating scandal that broke last fall in New York City ended with 20 students being arrested (Goodbye, colleges that accepted me!) and new security measures for students taking the SAT (Hello, multiple forms of photo identification!). Steer clear of cheating, and you’ll do great.

Good luck!

Want to get matched to your college and scholarship fits? Make your Cappex profile!

With over 200 multiple-choice questions, the ACT takes about 3 and a half hours to complete, including the writing section and a quick break. To prepare for the test, students enroll in prep classes, hire private tutors, and purchase monstrous test-prep tomes so that they can earn a good score and hopefully be accepted into the college of their choice.  That said, some students go into the test without much prep at all. But, it’s probably wise to at least familiarize yourself with how the test will look before you get there and spend 3 hours freaking out at what’s in front of you.

Why do students waste a perfectly good Saturday afternoon on a never-ending test? Well, the test is often a heavily weighted factor in whether you’ll be accepted to a school or not. Most 4-year universities and colleges require either the ACT and SAT. And some of those schools what to see super high scores.

Here are the colleges and universities whose students have the highest average ACT score:

California Institute of Technology 
Average ACT score: 34

Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
Average ACT score: 33

Harvey Mudd College
Average ACT score: 33

Washington University in St Louis
Average ACT score:  32

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Average ACT score: 32

Northwestern University
Average ACT score: 31

University of Notre Dame
Average ACT score: 31

Pomona College
Average ACT score: 31

Stanford University
Average ACT score: 31

Harvard University
Average ACT score: 31

Princeton University
Average ACT score: 31

Columbia University in the City of New York
Average ACT score: 31

Vanderbilt University
Average ACT score: 30

University of Chicago
Average ACT score: 30

Rice University
Average ACT score: 30

Duke University
Average ACT score: 30

Middlebury College
Average ACT score: 30

Reed College
Average ACT score: 30

University of Pennsylvania
Average ACT score: 30

Amherst College
Average ACT score: 30

Bowdoin College
Average ACT score: 30

Yale University
Average ACT score: 30

Williams College
Average ACT score: 30

Tufts University
Average ACT score: 30

Dartmouth College
Average ACT score: 30

Haverford College
Average ACT score: 30

Carleton College
Average ACT score: 29

Tulane University of Louisiana
Average ACT score: 29

United States Air Force Academy
Average ACT score: 29

What’s your experience with the ACT or SAT? Tell us your story in the comment section below!

For high school juniors, it’s coming down to crunch time. It may seem like you have all the time in the world to prepare for your college applications, but with all of your other responsibilities and school work, getting everything done in time for next fall’s deadlines requires that you help your future self out by starting to prepare now!

So, if you’re a high school junior with college goals, here are some important benchmarks you should make sure you hit during November:

Meet with your guidance counselor
November of your junior year is a great time to meet with your school’s guidance or college counselor to discuss your goals and make sure you’re on track for high school graduation. Your counselor will not only be able to provide you with information for preparing for college, but they can also let you know what credits you still need to graduate and how you can make sure you will accomplish that. You don’t want to find out that you didn’t earn enough credits in fine arts the day before you walk across the stage at your graduation ceremony (remember when Zach Morris had to perform in the ballet recital in order to graduate from Bayside??? That was crazy!!!).

Prepare for testing
During your junior year, you should take time to study for the tests that apply to the school you want to go to. That may be the ACT, SAT, SAT II’s, etc. Whatever the appropriate tests are, give yourself enough time to study and then take the test over again if you did not earn the score you want.

The next registration for the SAT is today(!!!) for the December 3rd test. The next registration for the ACT isn’t until January 13th for the February test. See? It’s important to plan ahead.

Think about future recommendations
It’s still a bit early, but you should get the gears moving about which teachers/coaches/community members/employers you can ask for recommendations in the near future. You’re going to want to ask them as early as the end of your junior year. Also…it’s better to get thinking early on this because you might just realize you don’t have a good person in mind for a recommendation. If that’s the case, start forming a relationship with you teachers. Be active during class; stay after to further discuss what happened in class, etc.

Are you prepared? Or, do you have advice for juniors at this stage in the game? Leave a comment below!

Today’s question:

This week, 7 students in New York have been charged with hiring someone to take the SATs for them.

What would lead a student to actually pay someone else thousands of dollars to “be them” on test day?

Would you?

Leave your answer in the comments below or tweet at @Cappex to chime in (we’ll post your answer below).

Today’s question:

A new study shows that 28% of students didn’t score high enough to meet any of the ACT standards for expected college success.

How well can a standardized test predict college success? Do schools need to improve or do the tests need to change?

Leave your answer in the comments below or tweet at  @Cappex to chime in (we’ll post your answer below)!