With the school year quickly coming to a close, some sophomores and all juniors are either beginning, or even almost done, with standardized testing. Whether you have begun, are halfway through, or nearing the end of this long and tedious journey, here are some suggestions for how best to prepare. These exams are important in your college journey and preparation is a key piece to scoring high on those exams. So, keep reading and you’ll know all the secrets to getting the score you want.  

1. Make a Study Schedule – This will not help you learn new material, but it will help you feel organized and in control. Sit down at your desk and pull out a planner. Whether you do thirty minutes a day or three hours on Saturday, write it down so that you can hold yourself accountable for the work you put into it. Just make sure you follow through with the schedule. Otherwise, it will not be effective or helpful. 
2. SAT/ACT Videos – If you go online and look on YouTube, you can find many videos on the SAT and ACT that can provide many great testing strategies, as well as sometimes predicting what will be on a test. These videos can give you an idea of what to expect.  
3. Tutoring – Though this does cost money, it can be extremely helpful. Whether doing group tutoring, or private tutoring, the tutors will evaluate what you struggle with the most. They’ll help you practice it and get better in all areas of the test. They will also help you define your goals for the test and guide you to success.  
4. Practice Tests – Practice tests are possibly some of the most helpful study materials for these tests. Go to Barnes and Noble, or online, and buy a practice book. Go through the book, do all the practice questions, and then finally, do the practice tests. Make sure to check and score them to see what your score would be. Doing this allows you to have a benchmark for what you could possibly score on the test.  

The tests are hard, but you’ll be okay if you keep these in mind. Additionally, remember to always trust yourself. You know more than you think you do and if you take a moment to breathe, you will be okay. Remember to answer all the questions and even if you get a couple wrong, it’s okay. These tests do not define you and, while colleges do consider them, they consider more than just your scores. They look at you as a person. So, prepare for these exams, but breathe. By following this guide, I trust you can get an amazing score, and you will go wherever you want. Good luck everyone!