SAT/ACT Test Preparation
SAT Exam
One of the biggest goals in changing the SAT was to make sure it’s highly relevant to your future success. The new test is more focused on the skills and knowledge at the heart of education. It measures:
If you think the key to a high score is memorizing words and facts you’ll never use in the real world, think again. You don’t have to discover secret tricks or cram the night before. The same habits and choices that lead to success in school will help you get ready for the SAT. The best way to prepare for the test is to:
In short, take charge of your education and learn as much as you can!
Taking the SAT
There are only a few things you really need to bring on test day, and a lot of things you’ll be better off leaving at home. Below, you will find links to information on what to bring, what not to bring, and what will be nice to have on your test day:
What to Bring:
What Not to Bring:
Nice to Have:
One more thing...
Know what to expect! Find out what kinds of questions you’ll see on the new SAT and what they measure. You can also watch videos for an overview of each test. Where do you want to start?
- What you learn in high school.
- What you need to succeed in college.
If you think the key to a high score is memorizing words and facts you’ll never use in the real world, think again. You don’t have to discover secret tricks or cram the night before. The same habits and choices that lead to success in school will help you get ready for the SAT. The best way to prepare for the test is to:
- Take challenging courses.
- Do your homework.
- Prepare for tests and quizzes.
- Ask and answer lots of questions.
In short, take charge of your education and learn as much as you can!
Taking the SAT
There are only a few things you really need to bring on test day, and a lot of things you’ll be better off leaving at home. Below, you will find links to information on what to bring, what not to bring, and what will be nice to have on your test day:
- Sign in to your College Board account to print your Admission Ticket. You can’t get into the test center without it.
What to Bring:
- Your Admission Ticket
- Acceptable photo ID
- Two No. 2 pencils with erasers
- An approved calculator
What Not to Bring:
- Any devices, including digital watches, that can be used to record, transmit, receive, or play back audio, photographic, text, or video content (with the exception of CD players used for Language with Listening Subject Tests only).
- Audio players/recorders, tablets, laptops, notebooks, Google Glass, or any other personal computing devices.
- iPods or other MP3 players.
- iPads or other tablet devices.
- Laptops, notebooks, PDAs or any other personal computing devices.
- Any texting device.
- Cameras or any other photographic equipment.
- Separate timers of any type.
- Protractors, compasses, rulers.
- Highlighters, colored pens, colored pencils.
- Pamphlets or papers of any kind.
- Dictionaries or other books—there are no exceptions, even if English is not your first language.
- Food or drinks (except for during breaks), unless approved by the College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities. Learn more about testing with accommodations.
Nice to Have:
- A watch (without an audible alarm).
- Extra batteries and backup equipment—you’ll have to ask for permission to access them. They cannot be on your desk during the test.
- A bag or backpack.
- A drink or snacks (for your break).
- Breakfast before you arrive.
One more thing...
Know what to expect! Find out what kinds of questions you’ll see on the new SAT and what they measure. You can also watch videos for an overview of each test. Where do you want to start?
ACT Exam
The ACT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The idea is to provide colleges with one common criterion that can be used to compare all applicants. The weight placed on ACT scores varies from school to school. Other important factors that schools consider in their admissions decisions are your high school GPA, academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, interviews, and personal essays. For more specific information on the importance of ACT scores at the schools you're interested in, contact that school's admissions office directly. The ACT is offered nationally every year in September, October, December, February*, April and June. Beginning in 2018, the test will also be offered in July.
The ACT has four sections: English, Reading, Math, and Science, as well as an optional 40-minute writing test. Some schools may require the writing test, so be sure to ask before you take it. Learn more about what's on the different sections of the ACT.
SAT versus ACT. Is one harder? Is one better? More prestigious? More useful? If only it were that simple. Click to read more about ACT vs SAT.
How is the ACT scored?
You'll earn one ACT score (1 to 36) on each test (English, Math, Reading, and Science) and a composite ACT score, which is an average of these four tests. Usually, when people ask about your score, they're referring to your composite ACT score. The composite score falls between 1 and 36. The national average is about 21. If, for example, you scored 31 on the English, 30 on the Math, 29 on the Reading and 30 on the Science, your composite ACT score would be 30. You'll receive subscores in English, Math, and Reading that range between 1 and 18. These scores provide you with more detail about your performance, but they are not actually used by colleges or universities. Learn more about ACT scores.
The ACT includes an optional essay, known as the writing test. If you take the writing test, you will receive a writing test subscore and a combined English/writing score. Visit www.act.org for detailed information about how your ACT writing test will be scored.
The ACT has four sections: English, Reading, Math, and Science, as well as an optional 40-minute writing test. Some schools may require the writing test, so be sure to ask before you take it. Learn more about what's on the different sections of the ACT.
SAT versus ACT. Is one harder? Is one better? More prestigious? More useful? If only it were that simple. Click to read more about ACT vs SAT.
How is the ACT scored?
You'll earn one ACT score (1 to 36) on each test (English, Math, Reading, and Science) and a composite ACT score, which is an average of these four tests. Usually, when people ask about your score, they're referring to your composite ACT score. The composite score falls between 1 and 36. The national average is about 21. If, for example, you scored 31 on the English, 30 on the Math, 29 on the Reading and 30 on the Science, your composite ACT score would be 30. You'll receive subscores in English, Math, and Reading that range between 1 and 18. These scores provide you with more detail about your performance, but they are not actually used by colleges or universities. Learn more about ACT scores.
The ACT includes an optional essay, known as the writing test. If you take the writing test, you will receive a writing test subscore and a combined English/writing score. Visit www.act.org for detailed information about how your ACT writing test will be scored.
Resources to Help Improve Your Test Scores
- College Board
The test maker's website is the only place where a student can practice by taking an official, full-length SAT test and get his/her scores right away. Students can also sign up for daily SAT questions. It's recommended that students buy the College Board's Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd Edition, which is only $12.08 on Amazon! - PWN the SAT
If you want to improve your math SAT scores, head to PWN the SAT. Concerned about how pricey test prep has become, Mark McClenathan, a math tutor in New York, launched this extremely helpful site. You may also want to check out McClenathan's book, PWN the SAT: Math Guide, which has received rave reviews on Amazon. - Perfect Score Project
Believe it or not, this test-prep site was created by a mom of two teenagers who took the SAT at every available testing date (seven times) for an entire year. Their mom has a multitude of SAT tips on her site. - Erik the Red
This great site belongs to Erik Jacobsen, a math/physics tutor in Summit, N.J. His specialties include preparing students for the math section of the SAT and ACT. You'll find a tremendous amount of free materials to download for the SAT test including quizzes, formulas, and strategies. - The Critical Reader
Erica Meltzer, who is a test-prep tutor from New York, provides a great deal of information on her website that's aimed at helping students improve on the reading and writing sections of the SAT. She offers free study guides on her site and if you want more advice, check out her book, The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY OF THE INFORMATION PRESENTED, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR!