The SAT, originally known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, provides percentile scores that many college admissions committees use to evaluate college applications. The test mainly covers reading, writing, and Math reasoning skills. Today, several additional SAT subject tests also enable young people to demonstrate advanced knowledge in specific fields, such as Physics, World History, or Korean.
How to Study for the SAT
Many parents seek to help their teenagers study more effectively for this important battery of standardized exams. A few study tips may prove useful:
Discuss The SAT Early
Parents can help their children prepare for the SAT by briefly discussing the exam with them several years before the test dates. By mentioning the test and its role in college admissions, they reinforce the importance of thorough preparation. Students entering high school should understand that they will likely need to score well on the SAT as a Sophomore or Junior to gain admission to college.
Emphasize Core Subjects
During your child’s junior high and high school years, make certain that core math and communications skills receive a high priority in the curriculum. For instance, by encouraging your youngsters to obtain high marks in math-related subjects, you help ensure that they learn important problem-solving skills. Similarly, urge them to study hard in English classes in order to score well on the SAT’s grammar and vocabulary questions.
Obtain Practice Test Opportunities
Another very helpful step in studying for the SAT involves gaining some experience answering questions using a standardized testing format. Fortunately, many young people today automatically gain experience with this type of testing as high school students. If your child attends a small private school which does not administer standardized examinations, you’ll want to encourage them to gain practice during an SAT preparation course. The SAT sells ten official practice tests for prospective test-takers.
Schedule The SAT Early
To study effectively for the SAT, it helps young people take the examination as early as possible. If they don’t score as well as expected the first time, they’ll have the opportunity to retake the test later as High School Juniors before their scores are transmitted to college admissions committees. During a “practice run” taken in the Sophomore Year of High School, your youngster’s scores in each of the core areas might help you determine whether additional study in those subjects might prove helpful.
Consider SAT Preparation Classes
Some public high schools and private tutoring services offer formal SAT preparation classes. These sessions usually meet for an hour or two a week after school or on weekends. Students who participate benefit from gaining experience with standardized testing formats. They may also gain greater confidence in their skill levels. Although most youngsters who take the SAT do not attend preparation classes, scoring well on the SAT may inspire parents to emphasize these sessions. Students who perform well on the SAT sometimes receive attractive scholarship offers from colleges and universities.
Succeeding on the SAT
Students score comparatively on the SAT. They cannot “pass” or “fail” this standardized examination. However, by studying effectively during Junior High and High School, they may acquire the academic reasoning and communication skills needed to perform well on this important college entrance examination. Some academic admissions committees place very high weight on SAT scores; others do not. Families anxious to obtain attractive scholarship offers may want to stress the importance of the SAT to their teens.
