It is amazing how many students don’t take the SAT/ACT test serious or have the misconception that you “can’t” study for either one. Based on your budget, there are a ton of different options to prepare for the SAT/ACT. You can use free online resources for both the SAT and ACT, you can purchase books on Amazon starting at $5, or if your willing to spend a little more, you can take SAT courses online or ACT course online at your pace starting at $200 or work directly with a tutor 1-on-1 this summer for around $700. As boring as studying for these tests can be, many of these resources cite significant improvement with a bit of studying and the online or 1-on-1 services often offer money back guarantees and/or free-trials if you do not see the desired results!
With this in mind, it is important to choose the best study method for you. As you make this decision there are three things you should think about: what is your goal, choosing the right study method, and staying focused and committed.
What is my goal? This is a pretty basic question, but it’s also one that is pretty significant too because the goal of your studying is going to have an impact on what type of study method you go with. Do you want general exposure to the SAT/ACT? Do you want to identify your strengths or weaknesses? Do you need all around studying assistance?
Collegeboard.com offers a great Study Plan tool to help you define your goals and identify a study plan for the SAT. While this is an SAT-specific tool, it is easy to utilize the information it provides as a guide for the ACT too and to create a personalized plan just for you. Additionally, you can utilize the step-by-step recommendations to identify the best course of action for you – books, online resources, tutoring services, and test prep centers.
Choosing the Right Study Method. The next important thing to think about is the best study method for you. Do you prefer self-paced studying, tutoring, or test prep courses? Do you learn better reading something on your own, doing something interactive, or having a dialogue with others?
While some of these questions are self-reflective, you can also use a learning style inventory to figure out the way you learn. You can find a basic inventory online at About.com or you can find a more detailed inventory online at Edutopia.org. These inventories will give you a basic understanding of your learning style and provide tips for the easiest ways you learn. Using this information, you can choose the best study plan for you – for example, if you’re tactile and social, buying a book to study for the SAT/ACT won’t be as productive as getting something more interactive like online tutoring or a test prep.
Staying Focused and Committed. The last piece of the puzzle to remember is to stay focused and committed to studying for the SAT/ACT. This can be easier with some resources that others. For example, if you are paying for a test prep course or tutoring, you’ve already committed your time and funding to your end-goal of improving your SAT/ACT scores so you’ll stay focused and committed. Conversely, it can be easier to get distracted or not stay committed with other resources like the free online “questions of the day” or with books that require an internal motivation or drive to stay focused.
As you are studying (and probably getting bored with analogies, math problems, and essays), keep in mind that the purpose is to improve your test scores – and you’re your hard work *will* pay off.
