Our families of juniors say that high schools are advising students to wait until the spring to take the SAT/ACT for the first time. We say, don’t wait!
Plan to take the tests for the first time in the fall or winter. Give yourself enough time to study and retake the tests if needed. In fact, we encourage students to begin studying as sophomores. Many merit scholarships are dependent upon SAT/ACT scores, and the right kind of preparation can make a huge difference for you and your family.
So why are schools telling students to wait? These are some of the common misconceptions we’ve come across.
“You haven’t learned the math concepts yet.”
False! Most students have learned the main concepts they need by 9th grade. The majority of math problems on the tests require knowledge of simple algebra, percentages, ratios, basic linear equations, and properties of triangles and circles.
The SAT even provides students with a list of formulas at the start of every math section. So, if you can’t remember how to find the area of a triangle, you can simply turn to the first page!
The ACT is a bit more advanced because it will include a small number of questions requiring very basic trigonometry. But even if you’re not familiar with SOH-CAH-TOA, four questions (out of 60) won’t have a significant impact on your score.
If you’re having trouble with the math problems on the test, that’s simply because most of the math problems are worded in a tricky way. Once you decipher what a question is looking for, you’re meant to be able to solve it in less than 60 seconds. You don’t even need a fancy graphing calculator!
“Wait until you get your PSAT scores back.”
I hear this one all the time! Many students don’t even think about studying for the SAT/ACT until they see how they do on the PSAT. That’s a big mistake.
Typically, students don’t get their PSAT scores back until the middle of December. At that point, they’re looking at taking the SAT/ACT for the first time in the spring. That’s not a lot of time to start studying, take the test, wait for scores to come out, and then retake the test if needed.
If you wait until you have your PSAT scores, you are limiting your options. Remember, the tests are offered only a handful of times throughout the year, so planning ahead is key!
“You have time … college applications aren’t due until the fall of senior year.”
What’s wrong with this line of thinking? Let’s pretend I’ve registered to take the SAT for the first time in March of my junior year. I won’t see my scores until April. If I’m not happy with my scores, I now have very little time to prepare for retaking the test.
At this point, most students realize they have AP tests, college visits, prom, finals, and other end-of-the-year events coming up. It’s a very busy time of the year! Students can either cram in another test in June or wait until October to try to raise their scores.
Why is it not ideal to wait until October? Early applications are due in October/November, and students now have one chance to raise their scores to get into the colleges of their dreams.
Don’t let misconceptions about the test hold you back. Imagine how much better this scenario would be if I had first taken the test in the fall of the previous year, leaving myself ample time to study and raise my scores.
Remember …
Take advantage of our free SAT/ACT resources! Access your Method Test Prep account by logging in to your Career Cruising profile. When you click on “My Plan,” you’ll see a link on the left side that says, “Go to Method Test Prep.” There are 20 weeks of ACT lessons and another 20 weeks of SAT lessons, plus other resources. Best of luck studying!
Erin, Director of Student Services
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