PHOTO BY SAIGE GRIFFIN
BY DARIAN SABLON
With the school year only two months in, it’s that time of year that sends shivers down students’ spine – where any talk about the SAT, PSAT, or ACT immediately initiates the rants and tears of stress common among high school students just trying to make it to college. Yet all is not lost in this world of standardized exams and essays, with there being many prep resources to get even the most unprepared student ready for the test.
Although books such as Kaplan, Princeton and Barons are proven to help students get better scores on the SAT, PSAT and ACT, there are numerous other resources students know little about. On the BRACE website for instance, links to online tests and other prep sources are listed for anyone to use for free which can prove to be useful for people who are economically strained and can’t easily get a practice book. Aside from the BRACE website, there’s also the well-known Khan Academy website, which provides high school students with a personalized study plan for the SAT based on PSAT scores. Khan Academy also provides instruction on ACT testing for those taking it soon.
“I bought a couple of books for the PSAT, one from Barons and one from Kaplan,” CCHS junior Daniella Alvarez said. “But I’m also looking into Khan Academy which can hopefully help me do better on the PSAT and SAT.”
In addition to online prep, Broward community schools are also offering their services by providing test practice courses centered around the SAT and ACT. These classes not only provide students the opportunity to learn the material needed to pass, but also strategies and tips for anxiety relief, managing your time and also just general skills for getting high scores. Although not free, these classes are easily affordable for anyone willing to take them.
“Test prep is a pretty big business,” BRACE advisor Ms. Siwek said. “I would say if you’re going to spend your own money on a private resource, just shop around.”
There will also be mock tests for the SAT and ACT later in the school year for juniors and seniors.
Although some may see test practice as just something that simply doesn’t help, other students feel the difference in how they approached the exams before and after using either online or books for self-assessment on skills.
“There are so many benefits to practicing beforehand instead of going into the SAT or ACT without any prior knowledge,” CCHS senior Sergio Owen said. “From experience, I took my first SAT without knowing anything and I didn’t get that high of a score, so I took it again and I got a higher score because I practiced and did the work.”
All SAT and ACT dates can be found at the following websites: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/dates-deadlines (SAT) and http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/taking-the-test.html#identification (ACT).
For further information on how to prepare, students can go to Ms. Siwek in the BRACE office located at guidance in the morning or afternoon.
