Attention juniors!  Now that the PSAT has come and gone, it’s time to gear up for the SAT.  Hopefully, you’ll find these tips to be helpful.

1. Don’t worry if there are questions you don’t know.

• The SAT is an exam that you are most likely unfamiliar with.  The best part about the new 2015 version is that there is no penalty for guessing.  (On the old exam, you’d get a quarter point deducted for each wrong answer.)  Therefore, you can guess as much as you need without the concern of losing points.

2. Be prepared to burn-out at the end.

• Don’t be surprised if you want to pull your hair out by the end of the test.  While this seems harsh, it is likely that fatigue will hit once you reach the home stretch.  If this is your first time taking it, you probably have not experienced a test of this length.  Just remember that after 3 hours and 45 minutes, you can relax and go about your normal day.

3. Do not go overboard in preparation.

• While it’s always good to look at practice questions, your preparation for this test is entirely up to you.  While the test does not affect your grade in school, keep in mind that college admission officers do look at your scores seriously.  Even so, it is not something to lose sleep over. According to College Board, the makers of the test, the key to a high score is not to memorize challenging words and facts.  Instead, the best method of preparation is to take hard courses, do your homework, prepare for tests and quizzes, and ask lots of questions in school.
• In addition to private tutors and prep classes, you can study with online prep courses.  Here are some helpful websites:

https://www.testive.com/

https://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-practice-questions

4. Expect to take it more than once.

• If you are not happy with your first score, the best thing about the SAT is that you can take it as many times as you wish. Although it may seem like a pain to keep retaking, your work will be worth it in the end.  Reaching your goal score will make the extra effort worth it.

5.  Do not feel pressure to share your scores.

• Once you receive your scores, it is likely that most students will want to compare amongst their friends.  However, your score is personal and it is ultimately up to you whether or not you want to share it with others.  Do not feel ashamed of a “low” score because you are not used to this type of exam.  There is plenty of time to prepare for the test again.

6. Check out College Board for comfort.

• If you’re feeling nervous about what to expect, check out the College Board website to get a better feel for what the SAT is like.  This company creates the exam and releases helpful hints about how to prepare.

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test

7. A score does not define you.

• Although it’s easy to get caught up in a certain number, do not let this overtake your life. Colleges do not look at test scores only and several schools don’t require you to send scores at all.  Remember that this test is just one part of you that will mean very little in the long run.  Do not drop everything just to study.