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Summer break removes the burden of lengthy school days, extracurriculars, and homework, so even if you’re spending 30 hours per week getting coffee for adults who hate their jobs (just think, one day that will be you!), there’s still more time to prepare for standardized exams (aka the ACT and SAT) than you’ll have during the school year. It’s in your best interest to study for these tests, because\u2014no pressure\u2014they matter more than any AP exam or final essay you will write for class. But don’t be daunted\u2014these quick tips can help you get started.<\/p>\n
1. Set a consistent schedule.<\/strong> 2. If you can, spend some extra money.<\/strong> 3. Recreate the test-taking environment.<\/strong> 4. Be honest with yourself.<\/strong> Summer break removes the burden of lengthy school days, extracurriculars, and homework, so even if you’re spending 30 hours per week getting coffee for adults who hate their jobs (just think, one day that will continue reading<\/span>
\nBecause these tests are so important, you might be tempted to start by biting off more than you can chew. But one does not simply study for the SAT or ACT willy-nilly.<\/a> \u00a0Set aside a certain \u00a0amount of hours each week (I would suggest somewhere between 3 and 5) and schedule out what time you’ll sit down and study. Plan to do it when you know you won’t have anything else to do \u00a0(like cross country practice, a shift at work, etc), and don’t give yourself excuses to slack off and miss hours (in other words, no Netflix-ing until you’ve studied). Commit to that time and you’ll have taken a big \u00a0step in the right direction.<\/p>\n
\nSome people think that pricey textbooks with titles like \u00a0\u201cTHE ULTIMATE ACT PREP GUIDE\u201d are a waste of your hard-earned benjamins. But, if you can find a prep guide that includes both official approval and \u00a0tons of practice questions<\/a>, you’ll be giving yourself a major advantage \u00a0(BN.com <\/a>has a sh$%-ton of great ACT<\/a> and SAT <\/a>study guides). Your primary goal is to get better at answering the kinds of questions that are on these exams, so if splurging a bit is an option, go for it. Dropping \u00a0$200 on one book might seem crazy, but keep in mind that the scholarships you can earn by scoring higher on standardized tests could save you that amount by October of your freshman fall. I’m not joking when I say that my post-textbook SAT score got me $60,000 per year in scholarships.<\/p>\n
\nSome people only practice individual sections (i.e. Math, Writing & Language, etc) at a time, and while this approach makes sense in a time-crunch, you can use your blocked-out study time to see if you’re capable of \u00a0handling an entire practice test (spoiler alert: you are). Working on a full-length exam will make you more comfortable with the time constraints than many of your less-prepared peers\u2014you know, the ones who’ll be competing with you for admission spots.<\/p>\n
\nExam preparation requires a certain amount of self-grading. You’ll have long answer keys where numbers correspond with letters, and they put the two together in the smallest possible print you can read. And, since you’re by yourself, you might be tempted to say, “Well, I answered C, but the key says B, and I was 50\/50 between those two. I’ll count it as correct.” Or maybe you’ll time yourself but keep working on unanswered questions for a minute or two after the timer goes off. Please don’t do this. The system won’t give you the breaks you may want to give yourself, and cutting corners now won’t do \u00a0you any favors in the long run. Be tough on yourself and study hard, and when the ACT and the SAT roll around, you’ll \u00a0know that you’re as prepared as you can be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"