College Testing

To apply for college, you will be required to undergo some kind of standardized testing. The most popular college tests are the SAT and ACT. These tests are used by colleges to determine your college readiness. During the college application process, your test scores will be judged against the college’s minimum standards and against the scores of other college applicants.

If you are enrolled in Advanced Placement courses in your high school, you will likely have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement tests that will give you college credit (depending on your scores and the college that you attend).

College Test Preparation

For many high school students, these college tests can be somewhat difficult. For instance, the SAT takes 4 hours to complete, and has 3 large sections covering multiple subjects. If you are taking college tests for the first time, make sure you prepare yourself. Check for free test preparation classes that may be offered by your high school. There are also printed study materials available in your local bookstore to help you practice on your own. In addition, companies like Kaplan and the Princeton Review offer private test preparation classes that you can pay to attend. It’s a lot of work – but if you want to get into a good school, test preparation is a good investment of your time and resources.

Advanced Placement tests cover college level material and are considered extremely challenging. If you are enrolled in Advancement Placement classes, check if your teacher(s) have arranged for study groups before the AP tests, or work with your classmates to form your own study groups.

Perhaps the most overlooked part of college test preparation is your mental and physical health going into the actual test. All of the college tests mentioned above last 3-4 hours and require extreme concentration and mental clarity. Make sure that you get enough rest and eat a healthy dinner the night before the test. On the morning of the test, be sure to eat breakfast and pack snacks that will give you energy throughout the day (see our section on College Foods).

Remember that while all-night studying may seem like a good idea at the time, you want your mind to be as clear as possible during the test. Don’t let tiredness be the reason you get a bad test score.