Many students do their first consultation with me without understanding why they should take the SAT. Therefore, in our first free consultation tutoring session, we discussed some great reasons to take the SAT, such as college applications and major scholarships, which can cover your entire tuition, depending on which state you’re in. Basically, it’s absolutely worth investing in! Often times, students can cover their SAT studying expenses with the scholarship money they’ve earned. You don’t even need a super high score to qualify for many of the internal scholarships and the state scholarships.
1. It’s the standardized test colleges prefer in their applications!
The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a standardized exam designed to measure reading comprehension, writing skills and math knowledge. As part of college admissions processes, taking this exam can help set yourself apart from other applicants by scoring well on its components.
Not every college requires applicants’ SAT or ACT test scores; some schools even go as far as to accept applicants without test results, but having strong standardized test scores may give you an edge against other applicants and make getting into your top choice school easier. Most schools prefer a score of 1250 or above, so this is the starting goal I recommend.
The SAT exam is held seven times each year on Saturdays – March, May, June, August, October, November and December – so that test takers have plenty of time to register early and prepare. There are alternatives, such as the ACT and CLT, and they are just as equal in prestige to most colleges. However, the SAT really does give you the best advantage in terms of time management and has the most resources to study from.
2. It’s a way to measure your own college readiness
Many schools require a specific PSAT or SAT score to qualify for programs such as dual enrollment. In the College Board’s mind you see, they want to make sure you can graduate with a diploma. The SAT serves as a silent college entrance exam. Many colleges may even use these test scores as part of their internal scholarship applications.
Although more colleges are adopting test-optional policies, don’t buy into this! Most reputable schools highly weigh in your scores when making admission decisions. Some of my students have even received emails requesting higher SAT or ACT scores before finalizing their admittance letters.
When taking the SAT for the first time, junior year is usually ideal; however, timing may depend on how much preparation will be necessary and when college applications are due. With seven times per year that the exam can be taken at various dates throughout the year, try to pick a reasonable test date where you know you’ll have adequate time to prepare and commit to it.
3. The new SAT is easier with the built-in tools!
The new SAT includes Desmos, which is built-in to the test. There are many excellent YouTube tutorials on how to use Desmos. We also offer our own course on our website in addition to tutoring sessions for students seeking in-depth knowledge on how to use all of the tools and strategies to their advantage.
Also, they’ve thrown calculator rules out the window. You can even use the TI 84-plus CE, fully programmed! For that reason, I’ve been programming calculators for my students, as it can truly be helpful for students struggling to memorize math formulas or how to use them. If you check out Reddit or the TI Instrument official website, they have so many wonderful math programs available.
Here is an example of a difficult SAT math problem made easy with Desmos:
Besides the math, you have highlighting and annotation tools available in the reading and writing section. We also cover grammar and reading strategies in our full SAT course. Keep in mind that there are no more long reading passages. Instead, they are just short excerpts!
4. It can earn you LOTS of money!
Did that catch your attention? It should! The PSAT, for instance, can qualify you for the National Merit Scholarship. Many states, such as Florida, offer full tuition rides for students who score around a 1250 or higher.
Standardized test scores are only one component of your college application process. When considering your application, colleges will also consider your high school GPA, class grades, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and personal essays.
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