Summer Prep Guide for the SATs
Most juniors took the SAT for the first time this past May, but if you have yet to do so, don’t worry- there’s still time! For all students planning to apply to colleges in the fall, the summer is a great time to do some preparatory work for the fall SATs. Offered in November at Whitman-Hanson and October at other locations, the SATs are one necessary component to the college application process. Here’s some information to help guide you through the summer, should you choose to take advantage of the time off from school to get a jump on the test prep! This is often a good time when you can work around sports and work schedules, and there’s no homework to compete with your SAT prep time!
About the SAT: The SAT Reasoning Test is the nation's most widely used admissions test among colleges and universities. It tests students' knowledge of subjects that are necessary for college success: reading, writing, and mathematics. Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200-800, with two writing sub-scores for multiple-choice questions and the essay. The SAT includes several different question types, including: a student-produced essay, multiple-choice questions, and student-produced responses (grid-ins). The SAT is comprised of 10 total testing sections. The first section is always a 25-minute essay, and the last section is always a 10-minute multiple-choice writing section. Sections two through seven are 25-minute sections. Sections eight and nine are 20-minute sections.
How to Prepare Over the Summer:
Sign up for “The Official SAT Question of the Day” on collegeboard.com topractice with an official SAT question, hint, and answer explanation every day.
Decide how you will allocate time to prep over the summer: will you work a little each day, several days a week, or block of a larger chunk of time over one day a week? Whatever you decide, stick with it! Mark it on a calendar, and make it a priority to stay with your schedule. Without a plan, you might just reach September having done no practice. Remember, SAT scores are one of the only aspects of the college admissions process you can alter through effort! Your freshman, sophomore and junior grades and activities are already completed, but you still have time to change your upcoming SAT preparedness!
Set a score goal. If you’ve taken the test before, or even seen your PSAT scores, you have a baseline for where you’re beginning. As you begin to look at schools, you can learn more about the types of SAT scores of accepted students, and begin to set your own goals for SAT scores in the fall. Often, college websites will have information about scores, and the schools’ program, Naviance, offers comparison information, as well. Set a realistic score that is reachable through attentive work and dedication. Work in a range that’s best for you.
Sign up for a free preparatory website. There are several great, free websites on which you can prepare right on the computer. Number2.com and Ineedapencil.com are two such sites, and you can also prep through Naviance, which you can access from home!
Don’t think Internet prep is the best choice? You can also purchase a test-prep book. For a one-time fee, you can purchase books like, Cracking the SAT, 2009 Edition (Princeton Review)for under $15, and have the opportunity to work on timed sections and simulated paper-and-pencil tests. If you choose to purchase a book, make sure it had full-length practice tests, so you get a feel for the length of the test and can practice times sections. Many libraries also have test prep books, as well.
Read more. One of the hardest parts of the SAT is the vocabulary. Reading more can help expand your vocabulary, give you examples for the essay prompt, and make you more comfortable on the critical reading sections.
Review math fundamentals. Knowing math is the most important ingredient to doing well on the Math portion of the SAT. Knowing how to approach math questions strategically can make your math skills shine. There are often several ways to answer an SAT math question: you can use trial and error; you can set up and solve an equation: for some questions, you might be able to answer the question quickly, intuitively, and elegantly, if you can just spot how. Practicing these methods over the summer will help you, both in your next math class in the fall, and on the SAT!
Enlist a buddy in prepping for the SAT. Two people can work together and help talk each other through tough questions, and can add more fun into extra summer work! Work on the same sections online or in a book together and check your answers for extra support!
Consider the ACT, as well. This multiple-choice test covers four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay. Make a decision in the summer whether the ACT might be right for you. Check out for more information.
Relax, Have Fun, and Be Smart:
Set Some Time AsideNow to Prepare for the SATs.
It’s one area you CAN change through attention and practice!
Have a great summer and best wishes for your SAT Prep!