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Test Time!

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By Suzanne Shaffer, Parents Countdown to College

It’s fall. Bringing the change of leaves and the promise of fall festivals, fall dances and fall testing. For your teen who is soon headed off to college, the standardized college aptitude tests (SAT and ACT) most likely conjure up feelings of fear and dread. Many believe, as did my children, that their entire future hangs in the balance based on their test scores. But even if your teen is the world’s worst test taker, there is still hope. There are things they can do to practice and prepare. Going into the test prepared can remove the fear and ease the dread. And in the big picture of college admissions, the tests are only one component of your teen’s application.

The surprising truth is that most students don’t take the time to even prepare for the SAT or ACT. If your teen goes into the testing facility on test day knowing what to expect, knowing some simple techniques and having taken the time to do some practice tests, they will be ahead of 50% of the students that show up that day.

Free practice tests

The great thing about practice tests: they are FREE. That’s right. You don’t have to drop a dime to utilize the resources that are available to prepare your teen for the real thing. And students who do some sort of test prep, will do better on the actual test.

The SAT and ACT Official Websites—They have a multitude of free resources available for you to use. From sample essays to a full-length practice test, there are plenty of ways to prepare for test day. Be sure to have your teen sign up for SAT’s Question of the Day while they are there. It’s an excellent way to practice a little bit every day.

Your counselor’s office—The SAT and ACT send new test prep booklets to counselors every year for students to use. These booklets contain a full-length practice test and information on how to score them. While your teen is in the office, have them ask if the school is offering any free or low-cost prep courses.

Use the public library—The library has SAT and ACT prep books that you see in bookstores. You can check them out and use them to learn about the tests. Many libraries also offer free practice tests and prep courses, which are sponsored by local businesses.

Pre-Tests

The SAT and ACT offer pre-tests (PSAT and the PLAN). By taking these pre-tests, your teen will get a feel for the parent test. Even though most students take the PSAT in their junior year to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship, I recommend they take it in the 10^th grade. Why take it so early? First of all, because it doesn’t count and it’s great practice; secondly, because it will give your teen an idea of their testing strengths and weaknesses while they still have time to make improvements. The greatest benefit is for your teen to get the scores and the test booklet and review the questions to find out which ones were answered incorrectly, thus providing an opportunity to find the answer and prepare for future tests.

Testing is all about being relaxed and knowing what to expect. These free practice tests and preliminary tests will help alleviate the stress of the unknown and help your teen prepare for the ones that really matter.

And, as with any part of the college process, don’t forget our motto: Preparation Prevents Panic!

Suzanne_Shaffer As a parent herself and creator of Parents Countdown to College Coach, Suzanne brings a unique perspective to the table. Having been successful in guiding her children and many others to fulfill their dreams of college educations, she is committed to equipping other parents with the right tools necessary for them to become their own “parent college coach”. With these tools they will be confident and prepared to guide their college-bound teen in the pursuit of their college dreams. Suzanne offers a helpful Toolkit for you to purchase. This product includes: Over 20 valuable templates and worksheets that you can use to stay organized throughout the journey. Step by Step instructions and a tested filing system to stay organized A 100+ page Ebook for easy reference answering all your college questions Parent Coaching Tips to encourage your teen to stay focused and on track Website Links organized and categorized for easy access Samples of College application materials (resumes, applications, financial aid award letters, etc.) This is a Do-It-Yourselfers dream. She provides the tools for you to guide your teen through high school and help them realize their dream of a college education.