How to Get Your Best Possible SAT and ACT Score This Fall
COVID-19 Series The Princeton Review
Hi, everyone.
I’m Rob Franek.
As we covered together yesterday, testing availability during the Covid-19 pandemic
means that you may only get one chance to take the SAT or ACT.
If you get that chance, we highly recommend that you go for it!
Standardized tests give you opportunities.
A strong score can help set you apart from other applicants for admissions—and also
for merit-based financial aid awards and academic placements.
That may be even more true if you’re applying to schools that have temporarily gone test-optional.
Admission teams don’t have as many data points to consider as in typical years.
Lots of classes went pass/fail, so those don’t count toward your GPA.
Extracurriculars were canceled, so they’re not on your resume.
What that means is that a strong standardized test score can make a world of difference.
BUT: Don’t give the tests more or less weight than they deserve.
You’ve got the leverage in this situation.
Here’s what I mean: Especially if you’re applying to schools that are test-optional—taking
the SAT or ACT doesn’t mean you have to report your scores.
If you achieve your score goals, report away!
If you don’t, schools never need to know.
(Keep in mind, though, that unless you’re eligible for a fee waiver, you’ll have to
pay to send your scores after viewing them; before viewing them, you get several score
reports for free.)
This year especially, your SAT or ACT score is more likely to help than hurt your college
admission and merit-based financial aid prospects.
So think of these exams as tools that you can use.
Now, let’s drill down and talk about how you can make the SAT or ACT work for you.
For starters, remember that these exams don’t test your intelligence.
They test how well you do on these exams.
So learn the skills you need for them.
You’ll want to figure out which exam you’ll be taking, too—if you haven’t already
done that.
Check out our video about the difference between the SAT and ACT.
Then, I cannot recommend highly enough taking a practice exam, under simulated testing conditions,
to get an idea of your baseline score and see which test you’ll do better on.
We offer free practice SAT and ACT exams, so you can definitely sign up to take one
online with us.
If you’re still on the fence after all that, then consider this: The ACT has already administered
exams, in June, in a Covid-19 environment.
They’re planning to do it again in July, and of course again in the fall.
College Board’s first such administration of the SAT will be at the end of August, with
monthly administrations planned through 2020.
So you might take that into account, too—but the bottom line is that you should focus on
your best-fit exam, because your goal is to make this exam work for you.
Now, most people don’t want to make a career out of studying for a standardized test.
And you shouldn’t either.
Know what you need, and focus your efforts toward that goal.
How do you know what score you need?
For starters, go to your prospective schools’ profiles on PrincetonReview.com.
Go to the Admissions tab on each profile, and look up the 25th through 75th percentile
SAT and ACT scores of enrolled students.
Then aim to score toward the higher end of that range—or of course, above it.
To do that, you’ll need a tool kit.
A prep book—I cannot recommend highly enough our own SAT and ACT books.
We’ve also got a wide range of Princeton Review prep options, including courses that
come with score guarantees.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel, too, where you’ll get access to regular, free SAT and
ACT prep livestreams.
The bottom line is: Good scores don’t come without effort.
You’ll need to do the work.
It isn’t easy, but it is doable.
Just make sure you don’t get stuck practicing the things that you’re already good at.
Focus on the areas in which you need to improve, and put in the time and effort to master those
concepts.
You can target your prep based on how you do on your practice test, and drill down on
the areas that presented the greatest challenges for you.
Don’t be content with just looking at what you got wrong; look at what you got right,
and find ways of approaching those areas more efficiently—remember that great games are
not won on game day, but on the practice field.
So keep practicing, and as you see your performance improve, you can gain confidence knowing that
your new skills will serve you well on test day.
One more strategy tip for our Covid-19 times: If you’ll be taking the SAT or ACT while
wearing a mask, then practice while wearing a mask.
You don’t want any distractions on test day—the experience of taking the test should
feel as natural for you as possible.
The only thing you’ll want to bring is your well-honed strategy.
And when test day comes around, have the mindset that you are going to crush this test.
You’ll have practiced, done the work, perfected your strategy—and it’ll be time to reap
the rewards of your efforts.
Best of luck to you—please know that all of us here at The Princeton Review are cheering
you on.