QuestBridge: Preparing for College

Scoring High on the SAT/ACT

Read before as much as possible
Many often forget that studying for the SAT/ACT begins long before you ever take a look at a diagnostic exam. The preparation for the verbal section starts with the first serious articles and pages of literature that you read. It is crucial in your success as a test-taker of this material to be reading newspapers, editorials, and classics (among other literature) as early as possible to create a foundation of literacy. Please see our recommended reading list and links to others' reading lists.
Take a diagnostic test
Before you crack a book and begin learning the techniques of taking this exam, take a diagnostic practice test from a test prep book to see where you stand. This is an easy, even if slightly brutal, way of pinpointing both your strengths and weaknesses.
Take an SAT/ACT prep class
The materials and arrangement of the techniques taught in an SAT/ACT prep course often serve as an accurate and effective guiding light as you begin your preparation for this exam. Well-established providers of test preparation material and classes include Princeton Review and Kaplan. The publishers of the tests also produce prep materials: College Board / ACT
Learn your vocabulary
This is often both the most difficult and easiest part of studying for the SAT. It involves only memorization, but also demands your tenacity and discipline. You should learn and review your vocabulary words every day. Falling behind is very easy and learning your vocabulary can become a struggle as you increase the number of words to your collection. Stay dedicated to the task.
Learn to read actively and effectively
Reading actively means picking up your pencil and making the page your own, marking the important parts of the passage and training yourself to skim over the rest. The main idea is to understand the passage enough to answer the questions correctly, not memorize the details.
Read editorials and create your own questions
One exercise that has proved helpful is to take an article from a newspaper or magazine, and treat it as if it were a critical reading passage. Make up questions for the passage, and proceed to determine how they would be answered. It helps to see the exam from both the test-taker’s and the test-maker’s point of view.
Review the basic rules of grammar
Many high school curricula do not include extensive lessons on grammar. It is useful to find a grammar book on your own and review the basic rules of grammar, especially if your first language is not English.
Research and plan for the essay beforehand
Find out details about the essay portion of the exam, and varying techniques for how to most effectively make use of the limited time that you are given. Prepare in depth beforehand so that you go into the essay with a vague idea of what and how you will write, even before you receive the prompt.
Review the basic mathematical rules
Much of the material covered on the math sections of the SAT are concepts that many students learn long before they actually take the exam. It is important that you go back and refresh your memory of these concepts vaguely remembered—this way, you will not make a careless error on an easy problem due to a lack of review.
Separate into categories of easy to difficult
This way, you can focus and pinpoint the time that you spend on different levels of problems—if you were to simply tackle the test without a methodical plan, there is simply too much material to cover effectively and efficiently.
Continue taking diagnostics
As you learn more vocabulary and have more techniques under your belt, you must keep honing your tools and keep them from rusting by testing yourself on a regular basis. This is also a great way to keep the entire test in mind, instead of being bogged down by any one section.
Find additional practice problem sets and books
There is a vast quantity of practice sets that are available—make use of these and consistently challenge yourself with new material. Utilize free online resources:
Practice, practice, practice!
After all is said and done, in the end there is no way around the tedious and time-proven method of practice, practice, and even more practice.


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Home National College Match College Prep Scholarship Student Resource Center Preparing for College Choosing Classes Community Service Guidance Counselors Reading Lists ►SAT/ACT Test Prep Summer Programs Technology Skills Frequently Asked Questions Applying to College Paying for College A Letter to Applicants Refer A Student About Us	SAT/ACT Preparation Tips Scoring High on the SAT/ACT Read before as much as possible Many often forget that studying for the SAT/ACT begins long before you ever take a look at a diagnostic exam. The preparation for the verbal section starts with the first serious articles and pages of literature that you read. It is crucial in your success as a test-taker of this material to be reading newspapers, editorials, and classics (among other literature) as early as possible to create a foundation of literacy. Please see our recommended reading list and links to others' reading lists. Take a diagnostic test Before you crack a book and begin learning the techniques of taking this exam, take a diagnostic practice test from a test prep book to see where you stand. This is an easy, even if slightly brutal, way of pinpointing both your strengths and weaknesses. Take an SAT/ACT prep class The materials and arrangement of the techniques taught in an SAT/ACT prep course often serve as an accurate and effective guiding light as you begin your preparation for this exam. Well-established providers of test preparation material and classes include Princeton Review and Kaplan. The publishers of the tests also produce prep materials: College Board / ACT Learn your vocabulary This is often both the most difficult and easiest part of studying for the SAT. It involves only memorization, but also demands your tenacity and discipline. You should learn and review your vocabulary words every day. Falling behind is very easy and learning your vocabulary can become a struggle as you increase the number of words to your collection. Stay dedicated to the task. Learn to read actively and effectively Reading actively means picking up your pencil and making the page your own, marking the important parts of the passage and training yourself to skim over the rest. The main idea is to understand the passage enough to answer the questions correctly, not memorize the details. Read editorials and create your own questions One exercise that has proved helpful is to take an article from a newspaper or magazine, and treat it as if it were a critical reading passage. Make up questions for the passage, and proceed to determine how they would be answered. It helps to see the exam from both the test-taker’s and the test-maker’s point of view. Review the basic rules of grammar Many high school curricula do not include extensive lessons on grammar. It is useful to find a grammar book on your own and review the basic rules of grammar, especially if your first language is not English. Research and plan for the essay beforehand Find out details about the essay portion of the exam, and varying techniques for how to most effectively make use of the limited time that you are given. Prepare in depth beforehand so that you go into the essay with a vague idea of what and how you will write, even before you receive the prompt. Review the basic mathematical rules Much of the material covered on the math sections of the SAT are concepts that many students learn long before they actually take the exam. It is important that you go back and refresh your memory of these concepts vaguely remembered—this way, you will not make a careless error on an easy problem due to a lack of review. Separate into categories of easy to difficult This way, you can focus and pinpoint the time that you spend on different levels of problems—if you were to simply tackle the test without a methodical plan, there is simply too much material to cover effectively and efficiently. Continue taking diagnostics As you learn more vocabulary and have more techniques under your belt, you must keep honing your tools and keep them from rusting by testing yourself on a regular basis. This is also a great way to keep the entire test in mind, instead of being bogged down by any one section. Find additional practice problem sets and books There is a vast quantity of practice sets that are available—make use of these and consistently challenge yourself with new material. Utilize free online resources: Number2.com Test Prep Review College PowerPrep FreeSAT1Prep.com Yahoo! Education Practice, practice, practice! After all is said and done, in the end there is no way around the tedious and time-proven method of practice, practice, and even more practice.
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