All I really remember about taking the SAT is dots. A LOT of dots. I think I tried to fill them in so that they formed a bunny. Unfortunately, this did not lead to a higher score (but also not a terrible one). This started a lifelong suspicion that the SAT may possibly not mean much.  As an admissions officer and ...

Glancing up from my exam, I noticed two of my classmates handing in their blue books to the professor and leaving the classroom. We were only fifteen minutes into the testing period. Were they already giving up without a struggle? I was amazed that at least a third of the class hadn’t even bothered to show up. Several tardy students were ...

1. Take it again. Some colleges will accept the higher score. Some will combine your scores for the best possible number. If you didn’t do as well as you could have on the SAT or ACT, call your prospective college for advice: Should you retake it? If the college rep says you may be eligible for more scholarships or a better ...

Hopefully, you’ve already been studying for your upcoming standardized tests for many weeks and months. But even hours of preparation can be undone on test day by forgetting a calculator or losing the testing center’s address. Mapping out the details beforehand (i.e. what to bring and what not to bring) will ensure you do your very best on test day. Here’s a ...

Well, it’s the beginning of May and I can sense the tension of AP exam week in the air. AP exams are pretty important for me because my knowledge of my five AP classes will be put to the test. Literally. In addition, my performance on these tedious tests can get me out of some basic introductory classes at the . ...

Q: “I get so nervous before a test. What can I do?” A: “The first time I took the SAT, I was so nervous, I couldn’t even remember what year it was,” says Lindy Robinson, who graduated in 2005 from the Detroit Country Day School in Michigan. “I’m not kidding! My hands began to shake right before time was called, and ...

Preparing for the college admission tests while eating potato chips and drinking cola? You may not be as ready for the SAT or ACT as you think. We talked to dieticians about an important part of test preparation that often gets ignored: food. Food to Help Your Brain “For optimal brain function, you can’t rely on a single [food] or even ...

It may be summer, but you know there's an SAT bubble sheet in your future. Whether it'll be your second attempt or first encounter with the SAT, summer is a great time to boost your test taking abilities. Here are some simple things you can do this summer that will serve you well on test day. Read Whether it's a book ...

The essay portion of the new SAT is a welcome change in the eyes of colleges, but a scary uncertainty in the eyes of students and parents, because the essay can also be viewed by admissions officers during the application review. SAT takers have 25 minutes to read a prompt, formulate an opinion, create an outline and write a coherent, astute ...

A month after taking the GRE, what I remember most is the GR part. (“Grrrrr” n. 1. exclamation indicating extreme frustration, 2. sound a bear makes.) You see, I’ve gotten my scores. I’m in the 91st percentile on verbal, which means only 9 percent of this year’s test takers scored higher than me. (I am also in the 91st percentile for ...

At seven in the morning, I stared at my computer wide-eyed. Instead of semi-consciously scrambling around to get to school, I sat at my messy desk and awaited judgment. As my computer warmed up at a glacial pace, I indulged one of my nastier habits of nail biting. On this Thursday morning, I received my SAT scores. My performance on this ...

If you're taking a standardized test soon, whether it's the SAT, ACT, MCAT, GRE or one of the other tests, there are a few tips that can help you prepare. Find out how to make the most of your prep time by following our advice. 1. Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the more familiar you will be with the ...

Test preparation services like Kaplan and Princeton Review can achieve significant improvements in test scores, partly by teaching test-taking skills, partly by reviewing the material covered by the tests and partly through practice drills. Improvements of about 50-100 points on the SAT are typical. According to College Board data, students who take the PSAT have SAT scores that are 25 to ...

When it came to applying for scholarships, my search always came to a screeching halt because I felt unqualified for any of the opportunities. The awards that promised "big money" were usually for students who devoted their entire lives to fellowships and community service. For someone who had focused more on getting a job and playing sports, community service was not ...

There are many parts of a successful college application, the most important of which is high school grades. The second most important part is the SAT score. The SAT is typically taken in junior and senior years (it is typically taken twice). The key to getting a higher SAT score is working early, slowly, and consistently. No student should have to ...

According to Dean Flagel, admissions committees want to paint students in the best light when it comes to standardized test scores. Here's how: • Take best score from each section and combine for best score • Some colleges look at writing score; others don't

After the SAT you may have uttered, "Glad I never have to go through THAT again!" But if you plan to attend graduate school, you'll experience much of that same test-taking anxiety again. Most graduate school programs require a Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) score. And just like when you applied to college the first time around, scoring well on this test ...

What Is It? The SAT Subject Tests (also called the SAT II: Subject Tests) is a series of one-hour, multiple choice, standardized exams that test a student's knowledge of a particular subject. Up to three tests can be required for admission by some colleges while other colleges do not require any. Entrance requirements vary from college to college. SAT Subject exams ...

ACT, SAT, PSAT - little words that cause big anxiety. If you're getting ready to apply for college, then you know what these tests can mean to your applications. Follow these simple test-taking strategies to get your angst under control. Know your test. Make sure you know the format and scoring standards of your test ahead of time. (See "Know Your ...

The PLAN is a warm up for the ACT, but it also helps you prepare for life after high school. What is the PLAN? The PLAN is a curriculum-based test that covers material commonly taught in the classroom. It measures what you have learned and how well you can use that knowledge. Students typically take the PLAN during their sophomore year ...