If I Could Take the SAT ACT All Over Again

If I Could Take the SAT ACT All Over Again With test taking season in full swing, I thought I’d write a post for all of you prospective applicants out there. I realize this post might be too late for some  high school seniors, but hopefully you can still gain some relatable insight. And for any juniors reading this, I hope it’s helpful! It’s been a while since I’ve had to take any standardized tests, but I do remember that time of high school pretty well. I took the SAT twice during my junior year, and the ACT once during as a senior. Looking back, I did reasonably well on both, but there were definitely some things I think I could’ve done differently in my preparation. There are also some skills I picked up along the way. These tips pertain â€" but are not limited to â€" preparing for college entrance exams:  Start early I can’t stress enough how important this is. In fact, I’ve actually only began to understand it now that I’m taking exams in college. Tests like the SAT and ACT are pretty consistent in terms of content and format. I wish I hadn’t been so scared to start; I think that’s half of the problem right there. The reality is that you can easily get a hang of how to answer certain types of questions by just being diligent and practicing. Commit to doing wellâ€"there isn’t just one path Options range anywhere from free practice tests at the local library to private tutoring.  While the effectiveness of test prep courses remains an open debate, there is a general consensus regarding one thing: the amount of personal effort you put in makes a huge difference. So no matter how you choose to studyâ€"whether it’s at the library for free, or through  a prep classâ€"the key ingredient to getting a good score is that you’re giving 100%. Don’t make the same mistake twice When I’m checking my answers on practice tests, I like to write down what mistakes I made when I get a problem wrong. I usually jot down a few notes on the margin next to the question so that I remember the details of where I went wrong, and what I need to do so that I don’t repeat the mistake. Keep it positive Taking tests can be scary, and yes, your scores do matter to certain colleges. But the world goes on. Don’t psych yourself outâ€"peers, counselors, and parents might say things that rattle your confidence, but it’s a stressful time for everyone. So all you can do is keep a positive outlookâ€"it’s imperative that you do. Try to approach practice tests constructively and reward yourself for your hard work. From what I recall, my treat of choice was frozen yogurt loaded with sour gummy worms. photo from the Odyssey Online I wish  all of you a trauma-free test taking season (you can do this!!!), and for those of you who’ve already completed the process, congrats on being done! Ria Class of 2018 I'm studying both Finance and Information Systems and Information Technology in the Gies College of Business. I’m from Los Altos, California.