Why taking the SAT or ACT when you’re not ready is a terrible mistake.

For several years now, I’ve noticed that many of my students who study at international schools tend to take an SAT test just to “test the waters.”

This is such a bad move it’s not funny!

What’s so bad about it?

American admissions officers dislike students who only focus on tests. So, even if you manage to get a high score after you’ve taken the SAT too many times, you might be rejected anyway.

Your SAT score is so important! Please do not waste any opportunity to get a high score!

I read the following quote on Dartmouth’s website:

“We don't recommend excessive testing. Making the most out of your high school opportunities is more important than repeatedly taking standardized tests."

Is it only Dartmouth?

Actually, this kind of statement isn’t unique to Dartmouth - it’s pretty standard. Most of the top universities say exactly the same thing. This causes many people to believe that colleges don’t really care much about your SAT score.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

All you have to do is to look at the average SAT/ACT scores that enrolling students receive. As an example, successful applicants to Dartmouth average around 1500 (out of 1600). That’s pretty high! What do they mean then?

They mean that students need to focus on non-academic pursuits AS WELL AS getting a very high score on their SATs.

So, you definitely need a high SAT score, but you can’t look like you care that much. If you take a test before you’re ready, there will be a record of your lower-than-ideal score. You’ll naturally need to retake the exam a second, third, and possibly fourth, time.

Let’s say that you do achieve your ideal score on the fourth or fifth attempt. How will the admissions officer view you when you have exactly the same score as another applicant who only took the test twice or three times? Who will they select?

Naturally, they will not choose you because you look like a testing machine.

In the US, everybody knows that it’s foolish to take the SAT or ACT more than three times. That means that you should NEVER waste an attempt. You should be ready before you ever take the test.

So, what should you do?

First, “test the waters” in a safe environment: your home.

You can do some practice questions on Khan Academy to get a feel for the test. Then, when you feel ready to tackle the whole test, do one of the Official Tests found on Khan or CollegeBoard:

https://www.khanacademy.org/mission/sat/exams

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/full-length-practice-tests

Make sure you download the test, print it out and do it on paper. If you do it on the computer, you will NOT be simulating the real test.

Presently, there are a total of 9 released tests. CollegeBoard and Khan have released 8, and there is one more floating about on the internet. (As an aside, I actually use this test in my classes. I purposely avoid the other released tests because most schools use them and so do many students. I hate it when students say, “I’ve done that test before!”)

Simply using these tests will give you a good idea of what you would get if you took the real test. And you can do this without risking being labelled a testing machine.

Also, as there are only 9 official tests out there, don’t waste them. Granted, there are other “official” tests online or in some schools, but these are usually riddled with errors or are incomplete. (I personally hate doing a test and not knowing which questions are faulty. Most of the time, students spend a lot of time trying to figure out the answers to questions that do not even have answers. It can be very frustrating.)

Another thing: of the nine, only 5 of them are previously administered tests. The first four “official tests” were designed before CollegeBoard switched from the old SAT to the new one in 2016. These four tests are quite easy compared to what is being tested now, so are not a great indicator of your future score. They are great for practicing question types - just understand that if you get a really high score on them it doesn’t mean that you will do just as well on test day.

Only tests 5-9 (also easier than the current tests) are the closest thing we have to the current SAT tests. Still, these are easier than the current test, especially in the reading section, so be aware that the reading will most probably be even tougher than what is in all of the officially released tests.

If you have any other questions related to how to prep for your SATs, feel free to leave a message below or PM me.

Enjoy your SAT studies!

延伸閱讀本文的中文版: 

為什麼你要避免裸考SAT和ACT?