This article is continued from SAT/ACT Prep.
How Should You Prepare for the SAT and/or the ACT?
After years of SAT and ACT tutoring on Long Island, we have developed an ability to view test taking with a different approach. It is more of a holistic approach that involves viewing the student already in college, and then working backwards to evaluate the best (and least stressful) ways to get him or her there.
The Personal Testing Strategy
Part of this is something we call a “Personal Testing Strategy.” It is very smart to create your own Personal Testing Strategy for both the parent and the student. This not only helps to start the college planning conversation, but also helps to create buy-in for the student, which is something that is necessary in order to reach the end goal: getting into the best possible colleges.
Since all students have different schedules and goals, it is wise to plan out which tests the student will be taking well ahead of time to maximize preparation, avoid testing conflicts, and limit stress. This is something Laurence covers in Setting Yourself Up for Success: A Guide to Help You Make the Best Decisions about the SAT, ACT, and College Admissions Process.
Strategy is critical to success
A Personal Testing Strategy takes into account the following criteria:
- What you need to know about the tests
- Which exams to take and why (SAT, ACT, or both exams)
- AP Exams
- Budget
- Other factors
Here’s an example using a fictional student named Mary:
Two years from now, Mary is out to dinner with her family celebrating her acceptance to a number of different colleges. Before that, she wrote an amazing college essay and crafted exceptional responses to the questions in her college applications. Prior to that, she took both the SAT and the ACT twice each.
This is where the Personal Testing Strategy really helps
Mary and her parents were able to visualize the end goal (getting accepted to colleges) and work backwards to plan out all the necessary components (college essay, college application, SAT, and ACT).
Together, they looked at Mary’s schedule and decided that she would take the:
- October PSAT
- March SAT
- April ACT
- June SAT
- September ACT (if needed)
They skipped the May SAT because Mary enrolled in an AP class and the May SAT fell the same week as AP test. They all felt that this approach could limit the amount of stress that Mary would face.