Preparing for College Entrance Exams Should Begin Now
College entrance exams require an entirely different preparation plan than a quiz or a final exam. Colleges review the ACT or SAT score to determine your student’s acceptance into their school. The PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship and National Recognition Programs but isn’t used to determine college acceptance. If college is on your student’s horizon, it’s time to talk about the tests your student might need.
Why It Matters
- Higher scores result in academic scholarships.
In addition to college acceptance, overall high school achievement and a good test score can potentially earn your student an academic scholarship at the colleges under consideration. In addition, high scores on the PSAT/NMSQT qualify eligible sophomores for National Recognition Programs. - Plan future coursework.
Both the ACT and SAT test on high-level material in science and math, and if your student hasn’t yet pursued higher level courses in both, now is the time to plan future high school semesters that will include them. Your student will benefit if either exam needs retaking and be better prepared for college-level coursework. - Being prepared reduces test-day anxiety and saves money.
As with any life experience, knowing what to expect reduces anxiety and stress. Effective preparation invokes confidence and successful results and reduces the need for retesting, saving you and your student money.
What Your Student Can Do Now
- Set a score goal.
Your student should research each college under consideration to find what exam results each one requires for acceptance, as well as how each school uses the scores from the test sections. This may eliminate the need to take both the ACT and SAT, giving your student a more directed approach to test preparation. And with many colleges now waiving test requirements for admission, your student will want to conduct more thorough research regarding academic scholarship and test score correlations. - Practice makes perfect, so to speak.
Both SAT and ACT offer opportunities to simulate test day, take practice tests or obtain prep guides on their individual websites. Prepping for the SAT is the best way to prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT, since the tests are almost identical. Practice tests may be taken online, as well as on paper, which can hopefully address your student’s individual learning and testing styles. Your student should also check with the school counseling office for other ways to take practice tests. - Become familiar with each test’s structure.
The ACT has four sections — English, math, reading and science — with an optional writing test. Their website offers a subject guide for each section. The SAT has three sections with different categories than the ACT. These include reading, writing and language, and math.
What Your Student Can Do Later
- Determine if a test should be retaken.
Your student should find out if the schools being considered have a minimum score requirement to receive specific types of scholarships or financial aid. In some cases, an additional point or two could be the difference in receiving more money toward tuition costs, which is a deciding factor about retaking the exam. Superscoring takes the average of the four best subject scores from each ACT test attempt and counts it as the official ACT Superscore. - Take the PSAT/NMSQT for National Merit qualification as a junior.
The PSAT/NMSQT is also the qualification test for the National Merit Scholarship. Although qualifying scores change yearly, the top test-takers in each state receive recognition and may receive scholarships. Some colleges also offer substantial, additional scholarships to National Merit qualifiers, making the test worthwhile for those who are likely to score well compared to other students in their state. Some students win a $2,500 scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, while others win further corporate- or college-sponsored scholarships.
What You Can Do
- Offer your help.
Help your student find ways to include the additional test prep in their typical routine. If a job, an activity or household chores compete with that time, offer suggestions about reducing work hours or having another family member temporarily take on additional responsibilities. - Consider hiring a coach.
If your family finances allow for it, consider using a coach or supplemental educational service to fine-tune your student’s knowledge and test-taking skills. - Don’t forget physical health and wellness.
Proper nutrition and getting the right amount of sleep are key to successful test results, and not only on the day before the exam.
Next Steps
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