What if a student takes an SAT or ACT and gets a lower score compared to a previous test?

This is a question I get frequently from parents, and I have contacted a number of colleges to find an answer. The answer they give is that the school will take the higher score. This is great news for kids taking the test multiple times.

However, usually a score doesn't go down on a later test. Typically there will be a slight increase in their score on the 2nd or 3rd test regardless of prep. In my experience, students who do an intensive prep program are likely to see a significant improvement in their scores.

How many times should a student take the SAT and ACT?

As many times as you can. Typically, there is slight improvement each additional time you take it. In my experience, if you prep between each test, you will be able to maximize your score. There is really now downside that I am aware of to taking these tests multiple times.

What is the best prep book for the SAT?

The best prep book in my experience is the "Official SAT Study Guide" offered by the College Board, the company that makes the SAT. It contains questions from past tests and gives students a feel for what to expect when they take the test. Plus, it has practical test-taking exercises and strategies that the students can learn.

How long does a prep course take?

Prep classes last any where from a week to several months. I think the one week courses are too short because the kids get barraged with too much information in a short period of time. A class that is 4 to 5 months long can get to be a grind for most kids. In my experience, 5-8 week courses are best because they give kids time to digest what they learn without becoming a grind.

Take the PLAN test in the 10th grade

If you are a 10th grader or if you have a child in the 10th grade, make sure that you consider taking the PLAN test. The PLAN is a test given to 10th graders which closely resembles the ACT. Taking the PLAN is a great way to see how you would do on the ACT without taking the full-test. It is a great way to set a baseline to compare to when you take the ACT as a junior or senior. Contact your high school guidance counselor or go to http://www.actstudent.org/plan/index.html for information.

How early should students begin preparing for the SAT?

It depends on the student. If the student is near the top of his class and is in honors math and English, I recommend having them begin prep during their sophomore year, preferably prior to the PSAT in the fall. Then, evaluate their PSAT results to determine any weaknesses. Future prep will need to focus partly on these weaknesses. For example, I was looking at a sophomore's PSAT results this week and noticed that he did much better on reading comprehension questions than he did on sentence completion questions. This indicates that he probably needs to strengthen his vocabulary. I suggest a program lasting anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months prior to the PSAT. Then, you might take a break for the remainder of the school year and then pick back up during the summer prior to their junior PSAT. This is the one that counts for National Merit Awards. After you get your child's PSAT results, have your child take a refresher course before taking the SAT.

For average college-bound students who make mostly B's in high school I suggest prepping before their junior PSAT. This can begin in the summer or early fall. The program should last anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months in length. After you get the results, evaluate for weaknesses and then focus on these as your child prepares to take the SAT in the Spring of their junior year. Make sure you have your child enrolled in SAT prep leading up to the SAT.

focus of blog

Welcome to my new blog. I created it to discuss matters which relate to preparing for and applying to college. Topics will range from preparing for admissions tests to how to develop college-ready skills. Other topics will include how to help your child get into their college of choice and how to help them qualify for scholarships. This blog is both for parents and students. Feel free to ask questions or make comments that relate to college prep.

SAT or ACT?

I suggest taking both. The reason is that some students do significantly better on one test than they do on the other. For example, I had a student last year who scored at close to the 70th percentile on the ACT math but below the 40th percentile on the SAT math. Someone might suggest that she had a bad day when she took the SAT but she did fine on the reading section, just not on the math. Her results were unusual because scores on both tests are usually the same. So, take both tests and see which one your child does better on and prep intensely for that test. Most colleges will take either test. Check with the colleges you are looking to be sure.