The SAT® and ACT tests are probably the most nerve-wracking and important tests you will have to take in your life (no pressure!) While you may feel overwhelmed by the mammoth task that faces you, good planning and plenty of preparation time will give you the scores you need to succeed. Remember; if you don’t get the scores you want, you can take the tests again. Stress is your worst enemy, so take a deep breath and make a realistic plan that works for you.
Be realistic
You can’t cram for this one! Aim high, but don’t set yourself impossible study schedules. Inevitable failures to comply with your schedule will only leave you feeling nervous and will damage your confidence. Instead, be realistic about how much time a say you are likely to study. Leave time for exercise and socializing so that you can recharge your batteries.
Get a tutor
Tutors are a great way to fill in the missing building techniques and skills you will need to pass. You can also ask your in-home tutor to help you identify your learning style. This will help you to compile the information you need to remember in a format that suits you. This means you will be working smarter and not harder and it will save you time. For example; if you are a visual learner, you can video tape your science experiments to remember the process better. You can make infographics and mind maps to improve your understanding. Compiling information in a way that suits you learning style will really improve your exam performance.
Brush up on your writing skills
No matter how amazing your knowledge and skill, if you can’t communicate your thoughts effectively, you won’t get good marks. Write practice essays and short answers to hone your writing skills and ensure that you are able to get your points across.
Exam Prep
One of the biggest problems for most students are the ways in which the questions are asked. The formats for the SAT® s and ACT’s are very different. Ensure that you do as many past exam papers as possible so you can get accustomed to the way in which the questions are asked. Go through the answers carefully to see how and where mistakes were made so that you can improve your exam performance. There are many sites where you can download past exam papers, some of which are listed below.
Remember; there are no short cuts to exam success. Take your time to prepare and you will do much better than you imagined possible!
Test Prep Sites
ULS
Test Prep Practice
Test Prep Review
