Good scores don’t come without putting in the work. Improving your standard test scores boils down to identifying three things: (1) the scores you have. (2) the scores you need; and (3) a plan to close the gap. You might only get one chance to take an official administration of a particular standardized test, which means you’ll want to score as well as you can to make the strongest possible case for admissions, merit-based financial aid, and academic placements.
You’ve heard me rhapsodize at length in other posts about the benefits of taking SAT and ACT practice tests, and I want you to know that there are practice tests available for them all. SAT Subject Tests, AP exams, PSAT, IB–make sure that you simulate test day conditions as closely as possible, including time limits, to get your personal baseline score from the practice test.
The Scores You Need
Next, let’s consider “the scores you need.” For starters, look up the college profile for each of your prospective schools on PrincetonReview.com. Go to the Admissions tab on each profile, and check the 25th through 75th percentile SAT and ACT scores of enrolled students. The scores you see toward the higher end of that range are your goals to set—and, ideally, the ones to beat. Remember: You don’t have to submit scores to test-optional schools, but if you do choose to submit them, those scores will be considered for admission. To help your application and your financial aid prospects, they’ll need to be competitive with the scores of accepted, enrolled students at the schools on your list. Scores can be a chance to shine.
As for AP exams, each college on your list will have its own policies about what AP score will translate to college credit, so you’re aiming for the highest score possible to give you the most options. Consistently getting a 3 in practice exams shows you there is room to shake up your prep strategy. Some colleges will also grant course credit for excellent performance on the SAT Subject Tests, allowing you to test out of (or into) classes in an area where you excel.
How to Improve Your SAT or ACT Test Scores
To close the gap between the scores you have and the scores colleges require, you’ll need a tool kit. Here’s a free one to download. How do you know where you need to improve? Target your prep based on how you do on your practice tests and drill down on the areas, like timing, content, or question types, that presented the greatest challenges for you. Are there patterns? Did you tend to struggle more on algebra questions over the geometry ones? Did you take a hard, convoluted approach when there was an easier, more strategic way to answer the question? Analyzing why you got questions wrong (and right!) will help you pin down what you know and don’t know, and what strategies worked and didn’t work.
As I mentioned earlier, prepping for standardized tests during COVID can, unfortunately, mean preparing amid the uncertainty of when you’ll be able to sit for the actual test. I always recommend working while you have the availability to focus your time and energy, even if your actual test date is still up in the air due to cancellations, closures, or postponements. Keep up a consistent review schedule and continue to practice about 30 minutes a day to keep your skills sharp. Once you’re fully prepared to take a standardized test, the goal is to stay prepared.
One more tip for these COVID times: If you’ll be taking the SAT or ACT while wearing a mask, then practice while wearing a mask. If any test ends up being administered remotely, like the May 2020 AP exams, then practice in the actual spot where you’ll be taking the exam, and speak with your family about any steps you can take to minimize distractions—they may need to practice so that they don’t accidentally disturb you during the actual test! If you’ll be taking the test at 8:30 a.m., then practice taking the test at 8:30 a.m. Your goal is to make sure there are no surprises or unfamiliar circumstances during the actual exam. COVID has already brought enough uncertainty to the table, so you’ll want your test-taking experience to be as natural as possible. Keep practicing, and as you see your performance improve, you can gain confidence knowing that your new skills will serve you well when it counts.