SAT/ ACT® Tests: 12 Steps To Success

More than three million college admissions tests are administered each year, making the SAT and the ACT® two of the most important exams that a high school student will ever take. To ease the pressure off testing and achieve the best results, Sylvan is offering a 12-step guide to help high school students prepare for the SAT and ACT® exams, often considered the gateway to college acceptance.

1. Take the tests in the spring of junior year or fall of senior year of high school.
2. Know the instructions for each section before beginning the test, you won’t have to waste time reading them during
the exam.
3. If you don’t know a test answer and can’t eliminate any incorrect answer choices, skip the question and only go back if time permits. For the ACT, remember to go back and take a guess on any unanswered questions, since there’s no penalty for incorrect answers.
4. Never leave an easy question blank. Easy questions have easy answers.
5. Read, read, read. Read the questions and answers critically.
6. Eliminate answers. If you can eliminate at least two incorrect answers, you generally increase the probability of guessing correctly.
7. Save your time. Don’t spend too much time on any single question. Make sure you have enough time to answer as many questions as possible, in order to rack up as many points
as possible.
8. Focus on what the question is really asking. If you don’t fully understand the question, finding the correct answer is going to be tough.
9. Rushing only hurts you. Work at a good pace and keep track of the time remaining for
each section. Enter the exam with confidence.
10. End each section by reviewing. If time permits, revisit the questions you didn’t answer.
11. Don’t try to cram for the SAT/ACT overnight. Proper preparation takes weeks, even months, of review.
12. Register for a SAT/ACT prep class at least eight weeks before the testing date to gain extra studying assistance and additional confidence.