Wait! I Should Study for the SAT and ACT?!?

We received this email from a Sparkler who needs some advice on how to study for the SAT and ACT:

I am in eleventh grade and have taken the ACT and SAT at least once each. I did not know until a week or so ago that people studied for these tests! I was always told that you couldn't study for them. (My counselor is not so good and my parents don't know much about this sort of thing.) I have gone onto the respective websites and done practice questions/tests, but I don't know what else I should be doing to prepare. My friend was memorizing formulas and looking at definitions for words and I have a working knowledge of formulas, but should I be committing certain graphs/triangles/formulas/sciencey stuff to memory? My weak points are Science/Math for the ACT and Math on the SAT. Another thing, I am not at liberty to just go out and buy fancy cards and test prep books ( which is what my friend was using). HELP! I just want to go to college!

First, we’re sorry to hear that no one let you know about the value of studying for these tests, but we think it's great that you've taken the initiative and have started on some practice questions and tests. To help you and other students who are just beginning to study, we came up with this basic plan:

1. Set your target test scores: Research the average scores for students admitted to the colleges that you wish to attend, so you know what you should be aiming for.

2. Practice test endurance: It's important not only to take practice tests, but to simulate real, timed test conditions. (By the way, did you know you we have practice tests here?) Are you able to finish each section within the time limits? Does your number of correct answers decline toward the end of the test? This is common as fatigue starts to set in.

3. Analyze your practice test results: Too often, students will take a practice test, look at their scores, and stop there. But it's important to look at the specific questions you missed and see if you can identify any patterns. It's great that this Sparkler has already figured out her weak areas, but it's important to dig a little deeper. Are algebra questions the problem, or is it geometry? Do you have more trouble with the science passages dealing with chemistry or those dealing with physics? Once you know your specific problem areas, you can concentrate more study time on mastering that material. Which brings us to our next point...

4. Take advantage of available resources: While it's nice to have money to spend on SAT and ACT test prep books and weekly tutoring sessions, you absolutely don't need these things to do well on your tests. In fact, this website covers everything you need to know about the SAT and ACT, and it gives you examples and study tips for all of the different types of questions you’ll encounter. Sparknotes also breaks down content by test section, so you can really focus in on math. (Other readers may need to spend more time with the critical reading and writing review sections.) While digging a little deeper on this webiste will keep you busy with weekly quizzes, flashcards, and awesome advice from your Test Prep Tutors (had to take that opportunity to toot our own horn), you could also ask your friends who have already taken the test to pass their test prep books on to you. You’ll find that most of these friends will be very happy to part with those books.

5. Memorize, memorize, memorize: Though the SAT Math section provides a reference key for important formulas, you're better off committing these formulas to memory so you don't waste time looking them up during the test. Even if you're doing well in reading comprehension, you can further improve your score by memorizing some of the most frequently appearing vocab words (you can use these flashcards). However, there isn’t much you can memorize for the ACT science section: Like the reading test, the only way to get the correct answer is to understand the passage. So don’t worry about memorizing scientific formulas—just keep working those practice science passages.

Finally, make sure that you're treating the SAT and ACT like any other school subject and set aside adequate time for studying. After you finish your school homework, leave yourself some time for SAT prep. Despite what you’ve been told, studying for these tests will improve your scores and bring you one step closer to the college you want to attend.

Come on all of you Sparklers who have already taken these tests: Let us know what study methods worked best for you.

Related Post: Struggling with Math