Ten Tips For Taking The New S.A.T.

The Arizona Republic has published a list of ten tips that might help make a positive difference on the day of The Big Test:

1. At a minimum, buy a book that gives advice on test-taking strategy. The College Board publishes The Official SAT Study Guide: For the New SAT. The book features eight practice tests and reviews concepts and test-taking approaches.
2. Reading newspapers and magazines will help prepare for the SAT's critical reading section, said Liza Fischer, assistant director of outreach for the Princeton Review.
3. Review basic math vocabulary.
4. If your teen is taking the SAT again because he wants to improve his score, change preparation. If he studied on his own the first time, consider getting a test-prep book or CD or taking a test-prep class.
5. Take a practice SAT test. This will help your student understand the nature of the exam and boost confidence on test day, said Jennifer Karan, national director of SAT and ACT programs for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. To get a free practice test, go to the company's Web site: www.kaptest.com/shoppingcart.
6. If your teen needs extra help and isn't taking the test until May or June, consider a tutor or sign up for an intensive test-prep course. Both the Princeton Review and Kaplan offer these services.
7. Two weeks before the SAT: Get supplies ready: pencils, erasers, a fresh battery for the calculator. Buy a watch that doesn't "beep" on the hour or it will get taken away during the test.
8. A week before the SAT: Drive to the exam site and scout where to park and how long it takes to get there. You don't want to panic about those details on test day.
9. The night before: No studying. It's too late to cram. Encourage your teen to relax and get a good night's sleep.The day of the test: Make sure your teen dresses in layers. Test sites can sometimes be too cold or too warm. Don't forget the SAT admission ticket and photo ID. No pagers or cellphones are allowed.
10. The day of the test: Make sure your teen dresses in layers. Test sites can sometimes be too cold or too warm. Don't forget the SAT admission ticket and photo ID. No pagers or cellphones are allowed.

One thing that the piece didn't mention was the importance of eating a good breakfast on the day of the test. And lastly, even though everyone wants to get the best score that they can, this test just represents one component of the college admissions process.

Main Page/Latest Posts