SAT/ACT Testing Tips

Three Down-and-Dirty SAT Techniques

Order of Difficulty (OOD)

Each SAT section is divided into three levels of difficulty: easy, medium, and hard. The first third of each group are easy, the second third are of medium difficulty, and the last third are hard. (The only exception is the Reading Comprehension passages, which do not follow this order.) An easy question is one that almost everyone gets right. A hard question is a question that almost everyone gets wrong.

So, if a group has nine questions, the first three are easy, the second three are medium, and the last three are hard. Since easy, medium, and hard questions are worth the same amount, spend the majority of your time making sure you get the easy and medium questions right.

Process of Elimination (POE)

Instead of trying to find the right answer, try to find the wrong answers. By eliminating wrong answers, you greatly improve your chances of getting the question right because even if you can't narrow your choices to a single answer at the end, you will have only two or three to choose from instead of all five. Physically cross out the wrong answer choices in your test booklet, and then guess among whichever answer choices remain.

Only a quarter point is subtracted for every wrong answer, while a full point is added for every right answer. So, if you can eliminate at least one answer choice, guess among the two, three, or four remaining choices.

The Joe Bloggs Approach

Joe Bloggs is a fictional, average American student. On the SAT he scores exactly what the average American student scores: 500 Math and 500 Verbal. So why is Joe Bloggs important? He's important because he's predictable. Joe gets all the easy questions right, half the medium ones right, and none of the hard questions.

When you are taking the SAT, think about how Joe Bloggs would answer an easy, medium, or hard question. Joe Bloggs always picks the answer that seems right. If you can narrow down the answer choices to two or three choices on an easy question, you should pick the answer that seems right — the Joe Bloggs answer. On hard questions, find the answer that seems right and eliminate it — that's the Joe Bloggs answer. If you can eliminate even one answer, you should guess and move on. Easy questions have easy answers, and hard questions have hard answers.

Resource: www.princetonreview.com/college/testprep

ACT Tips

What is the ACT and how is it structured?

The ACT Assessment, commonly referred to as the ACT, is a standardized, multiple-choice, college admission exam. It is accepted for admission by virtually all of the colleges and universities in the U.S., including all of the Ivy League schools. ACT scores are also frequently used for course placement and scholarship eligibility. The test is administered six times per year. The ACT takes approximately three and a half hours to complete, including breaks. Actual testing time is two hours and 55 minutes. There are four sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning.

How is the ACT scored?

You will receive four scores on the ACT, one for each section. Each section is scored on a scale of 1 to 36 points. You will also receive a composite score which is the average of the four scores. The national average composite score is about 21.

How important are my ACT scores?

The weight placed on ACT scores varies from school to school. Other important factors that schools consider in their admissions decisions are your high school GPA and academic transcript, letters of recommendation, interviews, and personal essays. In addition, virtually all U.S. colleges and universities will accept SAT scores in lieu of ACT scores. Click here for more information about the SAT.

Can I cancel my scores?

No. However, you may retake the ACT as many times as you wish, and your scores from each test date are reported separately. Therefore, when you have your ACT scores sent to colleges, you can elect to send only the scores from your most successful test date(s).

When should I take the ACT?

The ACT is offered nationally every year in October, December, February, April, and June. Check out these links for more ACT info: www.princetonreview.com | www.act.org

Resource: www.princetonreview.com/college/testprep