The Upcoming ACT and SAT and How to Prepare for Them

Both ACT and SAT are now available online. Photo Credits: seb_ra, Unsplash

Scarlett Rupp, Staff Writer to The Powderhorn

Many students are wondering how to prepare for the ACT and SAT in the most effective way possible. Since these assessments play a critical role in college admissions, it is essential for students to approach their study plans with a sense of purpose and direction. Students who have taken or are scheduled to take the two main standardized tests shed light on various strategies and techniques that have proven beneficial in their preparation journey.

“I’m going to take an SAT prep course,” said Avery Moretz, junior. “We’ve also been doing practice tests in AP Lang.”

Moretz emphasizes the importance of studying both inside and outside the traditional classroom setting. However, Anna-Grace Anderson, a freshman at Duke University and former Watauga student, followed different steps to prepare for the SAT.

“Honestly, I didn’t do too much prep for the SAT,” said Anderson. “I did a little studying for math using Khan Academy before my 4th and final attempt.”

Whether you choose to use Khan Academy or an online prep course, both tactics can help you when studying for the test. Each platform offers unique resources that can help different learning styles, so it's worth exploring both options to see which one resonates with you more. It’s also important to note which test you feel more confident in taking.

“I tried the ACT and SAT both sophomore year. When I started taking the tests junior and senior year, I chose the SAT,” said Anderson. “I seemed to feel more comfortable with it.”

It is important to use your time wisely while taking these tests. Donna Wellborn, English teacher, shares how she prepares her students to use their time appropriately.

“The best way for students to become better at managing their time is to be placed into situations, often and consistently, where they must complete and submit work under timed conditions,” said Wellborn. “By doing this, students are training their brains to focus on the task at hand, and they strengthen their time management skills, which are crucial for success at the next levels.”

Anderson offers an equally important piece of advice that she believes will give students a higher chance of succeeding on the SAT.

“Begin taking the SAT as early as possible so that you can have time to take it multiple times before the deadline to submit your scores,” suggests Anderson. “Doing this made me feel much less stressed when I was taking the test because I knew I would have other opportunities to take the test if I did not score well.”

While making a good score is important to Anderson, she also offers another piece of advice.

“There is so much more to your application than your test score that is much more representative of who you are as a person and a student,” said Anderson.

Wellborn has similar thoughts when it comes to college applications and the option to submit your test scores or not.

“I fully support optional submission of ACT and SAT scores, because I think it is one snapshot, on one day, for a student,” said Wellborn. “While other requirements, such as grade point averages and teacher recommendation letters paint more of an overall picture of the student.”