By Philip Navarrette/Staff Writer
For many high school students, springtime brings with it sunny days and longer nights, but also foreshadows a darker academic event — SAT testing.
Developed in 1901, the Scholastic Aptitude Test is one of the most popular standardized tests for college admissions, and it is still considered a huge part of getting a secondary education.
“I think it’s pretty important, because depending on how you do, it can affect which colleges you get into and what scholarships you get,” Cleburne High School senior Cameron Lehrmann said.
But while students tend to dread taking the test, there are many ways to properly prepare for it, get an edge over other students and possibly earn a free ride to college, said Jean Burk, author of “How to Master the SAT and Get FREE College.”
Burk, a Hurst resident who lived in Cleburne from 1997 to 2000, said proper preparation helped her son Josh excel on the SAT and PSAT, which is taken earlier in school, earning him the title of National Merit Scholar.
“After that, we threw out two trash bags full of offers that came in from colleges,” she said.
A high SAT score is a doorway to free college, Burk said. However, to get through the door, students have to have what’s needed to open it.
Burk said there are 10 tips students can study to help prepare for the SAT.
The first tip is to make the test a priority, not only for college entrances, but for scholarships as well, she said.
“At many universities, each department offers several full scholarships based on students’ abilities and their SAT scores,” she said. “Many of these scholarships start with a score of around 1400. So make a game plan on how much time you will spend daily or weekly working on practice SAT questions and then stick to it.”
The second tip involves learning the patterns and tricks the College Board commonly uses on the tests.
“The SAT has profiles of recurring patterns and hidden strategies in its problems that can be decoded. Students who learn these secrets will usually score higher on their SAT tests. Even smart students can do poorly on this test because they don’t understand how to take it.”
Students also need to use prep books published by the College Board using real SAT questions.
“The prep books that will give students the best SAT results are those books created by the test makers themselves,” she said. “Many of the prep books found in local bookstores are filled with made-up problems that can be irrelevant to the actual test. If students have discovered the patterns of the real SAT, then working other prep book problems may be fruitless.”
Students also need to start working on SAT problems early on in their high school careers. That means getting started in the ninth grade, Burk said.
“Starting early will familiarize you with the test and give you time for lots of practice,” she said. “The later you wait, the less time to improve.”
Students should also schedule two to three SAT tests in a row, Burk said.
“Since you should be practicing tests at home before the real test, it makes sense to schedule more than one real test in a row instead of spreading them out over several months,” she said. “This is easily done since the SAT is offered seven times a year, starting in October and ending in June. Scores can be viewed on the College Board Web site in about two weeks following the test.”
Students should also read a lot of classic literature, Burk said.
“Reading a lot of classic books over the years will help in several ways,” she said. “They are usually filled with great vocabulary words that may be found on the SAT tests. Also, storing up knowledge about these books can come in handy when writing the SAT essay. The College Board seems to like it when you recall famous works. And of course, having a storehouse of great literary works won’t hurt when you interview for college.”
It also doesn’t hurt to study some logic curricula, Burk said.
“The SAT is not a test about knowledge,” she said. “Rather, it is a reasoning and logic test. This is why the same test can be administered all over the nation to students with different curriculum backgrounds. By being aware of this, students can prepare early by taking some logic classes that can help them with their critical thinking and reasoning skills.”
Students should also practice at home as if they are taking the actual SAT test, Burk said.
“Creating a testing environment at home that mimics the real test environment can help with success on the SAT,” she said. “Students should take practice tests around 9 in the morning with only a five-minute break between sections. Pace yourself by keeping a watch or timer nearby and be sure to have several sharpened pencils ready. Use the same calculator you will use on the real test. Since the real test is over three hours long, practicing like this can help your endurance.”
Being familiar with the required math on the test is also important, Burk said.
“If at all possible, take Algebra I and Geometry before 11th grade,” she said. “This will cover the math on the PSAT/NMSQT which only counts in your junior year. The new SAT has some Algebra II, which should be taken as soon as possible.”
Finally, students should be prepared, rested and confident on the test day.
“If you have done your homework, taking the SAT should not feel like the end of the world,” she said. “Make sure you rest the day before the test, go to be early, and have all your supplies ready before you wake. Arrive early, take some deep breaths and start in.”
Lehrmann also attested to the importance of rest for the test.
“It was really long,” said Lehrmann, who has taken the test twice. “Get a good night’s sleep because it’s a long test and you may get tired.”
Additional test preparation is also available at CHS. The school offers a half-credit vocabulary class each semester that provides overall preparation for both the SAT and the ACT. While vocabulary, which is a big part of both college admission tests, is emphasized, the class also touches on math and test-taking strategies, counselor Sherry Stilwell said.
“This class helps students maximize their results in taking the SAT or ACT,” Stilwell said. “We will be expanding this class next year to a one-credit, full year curriculum which will focus on reading and writing strategies that are critical success factors in these college entrance exams. The class will continue to emphasize vocabulary and will also include timed writings and nonfiction readings.”
The class is taught by English teacher Robin Fort.
For information about the SAT or Burk, visit collegeprepgenius.com or call 817-282-7737.
Philip Navarrette can be reached at 817-645-2441, ext. 2337, or reporter@trcle.com.
