As students continue to work hard in the second semester and prepare themselves for college, the Scholastic Aptitude Test, better known as the SAT, seems more and more daunting. And, with only three remaining dates (March 13, May 8 and June 5) available to take the SAT in the 2020-2021 school year, many are questioning if they should register for the exam and, if they do, how they should prepare themselves for standardized test success. 

It is a relief to many students that college applications do not rely on one test score and instead are designed to represent one’s full array of talents, successes and passions. Thus, applications include many facets for holistic evaluation including transcripts, essays, extracurricular achievements and standardized tests such as the SAT.

While many colleges are test-optional this year and do not require SAT scores as part of the admissions process, Guidance counselor Mr. Poletti encourages students to consider taking the exam, saying that good scores can “add another piece to the puzzle that sets you apart from other students.”

For students who plan on attending college, it is recommended they take the exam at least once. By allowing ample time to retake the test on multiple dates, students have the opportunity to “superscore” their outcomes and present their best reading and math scores to their desired colleges. 

For those planning on taking the exam, there are numerous ways to prepare such as taking SAT practice tests, completing SAT preparation classes through a tutoring program, practicing with SAT prep workbooks and utilizing study programs such as Khan Academy. 

Senior Megan Geer, who took the SAT test in June 2019 and September 2020, shared, “My advice for future students taking the SAT is to seriously study and prepare beforehand. The test is not an easy test and it helps to study test-taking strategies. I suggest that you take a couple of practice tests beforehand to get used to the time limits and to see what types of questions the SAT likes to ask.” 

The SAT always consists of 154 multiple choice questions divided into two main sections: evidence-based reading and math. The evidence-based reading section contains a 65 minute reading section and a 35 minute grammar section, and the math section contains a 55 minute calculator section and a 25 minute non-calculator section. 

The main math topics included on the test are algebra, data analysis, geometry, trigonometry and pre-calculus, so Geer advised, “It helps to brush up on different math concepts that you haven’t seen or done in a couple of years.”

On test day, it is recommended that students get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast and move efficiently through test questions. Wrong answers do not deduct points from an overall score, so it is important to answer every question even if educated guessing is required!

Students who are interested in signing up for the upcoming exams on May 8 and June 5 can register through the College Board website and contact their guidance counselor with any questions. Good luck to the Hillers taking the SAT on March 13!