For many high school juniors, this winter – and specifically the first two Saturdays in December – will mark their first official sitting for the SAT or ACT. Whether this first test comes now or in the New Year, here are a few facts and reminders to keep in mind as we look ahead to the holiday season, junior-style:
- Since CONTENT matters, consider your December test as your baseline experience. Students tend to perform better with more school under their belt, so the highest scores typically come in the spring, summer, and fall seasons ahead. Apparently time plus warm weather brings all manner of growth.
- Since STRATEGY matters, comfort and familiarity with the test format also bring improved scores. Pacing and pattern recognition, for example, are important test-taking skills. Taking an official test helps in this regard, as does intentional preparation of every sort – using free guides provided by the test sites, taking practice tests, or working on a self- or tutor-directed study schedule.
- Keep testing in its proper place! Remember that challenging yourself in your current classes, building meaningful in-person relationships with teachers and peers, and earning the best GPA you can manage all matter more to your future and to college admission officers than the number on a one-day standardized test.
- Over 80% of U.S. colleges do not require standardized test scores (source: fairtest.org) Not testing at all is always a legitimate option, and choosing to test does not mean you’ll eventually choose to submit your scores to all, most, or any of the colleges that end up on your final list. Submitting scores is a separate decision for another time that doesn’t have to be part of your consideration right now.
- Since REST also matters, consider that the holidays ahead might be your first real break since the start of the school year. Don’t undo the many benefits of this well-deserved downtime by cramming in too much test prep over Thanksgiving or on the Friday night before your first ACT or SAT.
Whether a standardized testing experience is on your plate this holiday season or not, my hope is that the weeks ahead are full and rich in all the kinds of experiences that don’t lend themselves to tallies and comparisons.
