Standardized Tests: Study Strategies

 

Once your student has decided which standardized test to take, the strategies they employ in their study prep will be important for success. Octant Academics can help create a study plan for your student that caters to their diagnostic performance and works well with their study skills.

STANDARDIZED TEST PREP STRATEGIES

The College Board recommends studying for 2-3 months leading up to the exam. When studying on your own, this may include anywhere from 5-10 hours of studying per week, with more time spent studying when you want to significantly increase your score. The amount of time you need will depend on your understanding of the material and how busy your schedule is.

If you have a heavy course load in school, giving yourself more time to study, or taking the test during slower parts of the school year, can be beneficial. Oftentimes, the summer between sophomore and junior year is the best time to spend studying for these exams.

Before you jump into studying strategy, you should take a diagnostic test. We offer complimentary diagnostic tests for both the SAT and ACT to assess your starting point and determine the best strategy for studying.

Before opening a test book to study, consider the following to create your standardized test plan:

  1. Set a test score goal: Setting a score goal will help you track your progress as you practice. Your target score should fall within the recommended score ranges for your desired colleges.

  2. Create study goals: While the desired score is the ultimate goal, you should set smaller, achievable goals for yourself to stay on the right track. For example, you can set a goal for how many hours of studying or how many practice problems you want to complete on a daily or weekly basis. Check out our newsletter on Goal Setting for more details on how to use the S.M.A.R.T goal-setting framework.

  3. Examine work habits and potential constraints: Self-awareness is key to developing a study strategy that works best for you. If you have difficulty sticking to a self-paced study schedule, a prep course or coach may be the best option. If you have limited time during the week due to extracurricular activities, you may have to dedicate more time on weekends for studying. Making adjustments and decisions to best accommodate your habits and commitments will make studying more effective.

Use these study strategies in preparation for both the SAT and ACT:

  1. Take practice tests: Practice, practice, practice! Once you understand the concepts covered on the test, simulating test conditions with timed practice tests will allow you to best assess your progress and become comfortable with answering questions under time constraints. Practicing a wide range of questions will make it easier to answer the many question variations on the test.

  2. Stick to a study schedule: If you’ve set a schedule for studying, stick to it! Setting aside dedicated SAT/ACT hours will ensure you give yourself enough time for studying, allowing you to completely concentrate on the subject matter.

  3. Review mistakes and weaknesses: As you go through practice questions, take note of the types of questions you tend to answer incorrectly or make errors on. Make time each week to go over your missed questions and take the time to completely understand the concepts and steps involved in answering them. Add more of these types of questions to your practice.

  4. Vocabulary: Although current versions of the SAT and ACT place less emphasis on vocabulary words than previous tests, you will still be tested on the subject. You can start by studying common vocab words that commonly appear on the tests. You may also find it helpful to study word parts and root words; understanding the meanings of Greek and Latin roots can help you decipher the meanings of unfamiliar words.

  5. Review math formulas: Both the SAT and ACT focus primarily on algebra and geometry. Make sure you review important formulas from both subjects. The setup of the question will often include keywords that help you decide which formulas to use. The SAT does provide you with a formula guide on test day.

SAT RESOURCES

ACT RESOURCES

STUDY TIP OF THE WEEK

Write a “cheat sheet” 3x5 notecard for every test. You may not be able to use it during the exam, but making it is an excellent way to prepare. The paradox says: “Those who write a notecard don’t need it. Those that don’t write a notecard do.”

 
Stormport