When time comes for high school students to take their SAT, they are often under continuous pressure from all sides. Their parents expect them to do well on these tests, as their future depends a great deal on where they go to college. We all know though that their best may not always be enough and that there's always tons of pressure from other competitive students. Even though the SAT assesses each individual's ability to analyze and solve problems and his or her academic skills for college, in the end it still comes down to how well you've done compared to the other students in your high school. Furthermore, there's the pressure that comes from the student's ambition to do well on the tests while pleasing everyone, including parents and teachers. Under these circumstances, there is no wonder that more and more anxiety and depression related illnesses are reported each year among teenagers. The struggle to achieve perfection can sometimes have negative consequences. No one is denying that success is critical at certain moments in a person's life, and the SAT is one of those times when everything has to go well. However, student ambition can be channeled through healthy and productive ways, without having to be faced with anxiety problems related to college admissions.
For most students, the somewhat lengthy road to getting into college or university, and ultimately the road to academic success starts with the SAT (Scholastic Assessment test or Scholastic Aptitude Test). As has been said before, the SAT, which is developed by the College Board, assesses the skills that students have learned in high school and will need in college. In other words, much of the work that students have put in during high school years is reflected in their SAT scores. The SAT scores are all the more important with the increased selectiveness of universities and colleges, as a result of the increasing number of applicants each year.
So, what can be done to maximize your SAT scores? Having acknowledged the importance of scoring high in the SAT, many students choose a good SAT preparation course to help them make the most of this testing experience that their future as college students depends so much on. How can SAT prep help future college applicants? First, it contributes significantly to the reduction of test-related anxieties, allowing students to focus and perform better. Second, fear of the unknown is a major cause of poor performance in tests, sometimes even greater than the lack of thorough study and preparation for the test. Based on this fact, these test prep classes focus on allowing students to gain considerable knowledge of testing methods. In other words, SAT prep courses will show students exactly what to expect of the test, allowing them to be more relaxed and confident. Test prep courses are also an excellent opportunity for students to identify any weak points that they may have and understand specific topics thoroughly.
The bottom line is that the SAT prep courses help students a great deal. Students who attend such classes and boot camps will see how they manage to eliminate the fear of an unknown test, relax, and strengthen their knowledge of topics to be tested. These test prep classes will give students confidence, raise their scores and enable them to get into more selective colleges.
Online Sat Prep Course
The most frequent mistake made by people preparing to take the SAT—after
not studying enough—is studying in a sloppy, haphazard manner. The more
care you take in the early stages of your preparation for the SAT test,
the better the end result. Set demanding yet reasonable goals for your
SAT experience, then summon the necessary self-discipline to follow through.
1. ASSEMBLING YOUR MATERIALS
An informed approach to SAT preparation begins with checking the
College Board’s website (http://www.collegeboard.com) for testing dates,
locations and registration procedures. After that, you should buy (or
borrow from a library or friend) an SAT test prep book. You’ll also want
to have an appropriate calculator, a notebook, plenty of paper and
writing utensils, and a space (or two) conducive to concentrated study.
2. DIAGNOSIS & PRESCRIPTION
Using both your SAT prep book and the materials available at Sat
Prep Plan (http://www.satprepplan.com), assess your strengths and
weaknesses. Then set your goals (one of which should be a deep
familiarity with the SAT test’s overall structure, types of questions,
and directions), and design a study plan that best fits your situation.
These first two steps should be completed as quickly as possible in
order to allow the maximum time for actual SAT preparation.
3. GOING SOLO VS. TEAMING UP
Deciding which resources to use, and in what combination, marks a
critical step in your SAT preparation agenda. A number of prominent
companies offer comprehensive SAT test prep courses, but they may not
fit your budget, schedule, or study needs. In addition to consulting the
resources provided at http://www.satprepplan.com, you should consider
the value of teaming up with a friend or two (often, having partners in
any long-term, strenuous activity keeps everyone’s momentum going),
and/or hiring an SAT tutor.
4. A MATTER OF TIME
Taking into account the SAT test dates you found in Step 1 and
your other commitments, map out a weekly study schedule. You might find
it helpful to alternate between working on sections of the SAT test, as
well as between material that’s easier and harder for you. Set periodic
deadlines for achieving your goals, but bear in mind that you may need
to adjust them. Also note that a smaller number of long study sessions
are less helpful than a greater number of shorter ones. Finally, pay
special attention to how you’ll prepare during the week of the SAT test
itself.
5. HELP ON A BUDGET
The SAT test is expensive enough. It doesn’t take a great deal of
time or effort to maximize your SAT preparation dollar. For example,
websites like http://www.satprepplan.com offer a variety of resources at
no charge. With so many students taking the SAT test each year, it
shouldn’t be too difficult to locate used (but recent) versions of SAT
prep books. You can also make your own flash cards, take several free
SAT practice tests, and register to have the College Board’s SAT
“question of the day" sent to you via email – all at little or no cost.
Both Groshan Fabiola & Patrick Altoft are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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