Preparing For and Taking College Entrance Exams

Long-term Preparation

If you have time on your side, long-term preparation is the best formula for success in taking standardized tests.  Students who have good study habits and who have taken challenging courses in high school have the best chance to do well on their college entrance exams.  Students who have strong reading habits, especially those who have read a wide range of topics, tend to do well on the verbal sections.  

    Reading also leads to a strong vocabulary although you can also improve your vocabulary by studying root words, prefixes, and suffixes and by taking a foreign language.  If you want to do well in the math sections of the test, you should take math and science courses.  They will help develop your problem solving and reasoning skills.  If you have not prepared as well as you could have over the long term, there are still things you can do to help improve your chances for success.

Short-term Preparation

    There are many study materials available for test preparation including books, computer programs, and video-learning materials.  Guidance counselors have study aids available or you can purchase your own.

    Take the online SAT and ACT practice tests or sign-up for a tutorial to get additional instruction in areas where you need it most.  You could consider taking a test preparation course that helps show how to demonstrate skills that you already possess.  These preparation courses teach you test taking strategies and show you how to be less intimidated by test taking and therefore be more relaxed.  You also have the opportunity to take practice tests so that you will see the format and the types of questions you will encounter.

    Statistics show that students who take a 20-hour course raise their SAT scores about 10 points in verbal and about 15 points in math, whereas those who take a 40-hour course raise their scores from 15-20 points in verbal and 20-30 points in math.

General advice for taking standardized tests

    Some people are naturally good test takers; some are not.  If you think you are not good at taking tests, you can improve your performance by preparing early and by using some of the techniques of successful test-takers.  Remember that attitudes, emotions and physical condition may affect your performance.  

    And when test time comes:

    • Eat a nutritious meal the night before the test

    • Get a good night’s sleep

    • Get up early enough to be alert by test time

    • Eat a good breakfast

    • Dress comfortably (bring a sweater or sweatshirt in case the testing location is too cool for comfort)

Tips for taking the SAT

    Take the PSAT/NMSQT for practice.  It has the same kind of questions as the SAT and is the best way to get feedback that will be helpful.

    When taking the test, remember the following:

    • Read directions carefully

    • Read each question carefully

    • Watch the clock; pace yourself

    • Limit your time on each question

    • Answer the easiest questions first

    • Eliminate wrong answers; guess when you can eliminate at least one

    • Omit questions where you cannot eliminate any wrong answers

    • Mark your answer sheet carefully and check it regularly

    • Use the test booklet as scratch paper

    • Erase completely

    • Stay calm

Tips for taking the ACT

    If you plan to take the ACT you should start by taking the practice test in a free booklet entitled, “Preparing for the ACT Assessment”.  This will allow you to become familiar with the content and format of the ACT.

    By reviewing your answers, you will be able to pinpoint the areas where you need to review and refresh your knowledge.  It will also give you an opportunity to see if there are any areas you have not studied.  If so, you should plan to find a way to get help in those areas.  

    As you take the test, embark.com recommends the following:

    • Pace yourself

    • Read the directions carefully

    • Read each question carefully

    • Answer the easy questions first

    • Use logic in the more difficult questions

    • Answer every question

    • Review your work

    • Mark your answers precisely

    • If you erase, erase completely

For more information on Standardized Tests, you can visit the following websites:

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