CATES Blog

For most high school juniors, March is the first time they’ll wrangle with the SAT. When those scores come back at the end of the month, they aren’t always as high as students (and parents, and guidance counselors) might have wanted them to be. Don’t let it get you down. Instead of feeling like you started off the standardized testing process on the wrong foot, let us show you how to use that first SAT experience as a springboard to testing success.

If your scores weren’t as good as you’d hoped they would be, the most important thing to keep in mind is this: you will take the test again. Short of a perfect score, most people choose to take the test twice, or even three times. March was your first race, your first time out of the gate, so see it for what it is: the beginning of a process, rather than the end result.

The March SAT really is the starting line for many people, and as such, the information you get from your testing experience, your scores, and your score reports is truly invaluable. This info will give you insight into your strengths and weaknesses, and will help you build a test prep program that fits your needs.

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When should I guess on the SAT Test?  Should I always take a shot at an answer even if I’m not sure?

The SAT Test is a long, multi-faceted, and at times, draining exam.  There will undoubtedly be times when you are taking the SAT exam that you are unsure how to solve a question or unclear which choice you should select.  It is vital to your success on the SAT test that you into the exam with a clear gameplan for these moments – a guessing strategy.

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What should I know about the SAT as a parent? How can I help my child?

The SAT process is undoubtedly a daunting one. Studying can be arduous, the anxiety surrounding the testdepleting, and the test itself can be long and frustrating. We commonly associate these stresses and strains with the students taking the SAT but rarely associate them with the parents of those students.

Parents often find everything associated with the SAT to be a nightmare.  All you want is the best for your son or daughter but have no real blueprint of how to help. The simple answer is that the best way to “parent” the SAT totally depends on what kind of student your child is.  The SAT rewards study, repeated mock-tests, and tutoring in differing combinations for every student.

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What SAT test prep book should I buy? How do I know I am choosing the right one?

Many people find the SAT process daunting at every step of the way and the selection of study materials is no exception.  At most mega bookstores there is an entire section devoted to Study Aids.  How would anyone know what SAT test prep book to choose between the countless volumes published by Kaplan, Princeton Review, McGraw-Hill, Barons, and Petersons just to name a few.

The short answer is, there is no wrong answer. Each SAT prep book has value, tests students on vital SAT material, and will help a student understand the SAT test better.  In certain ways, SAT Test Prep books are like clothes, and everybody has a different perfect fit.  You can’t go “wrong” choosing anything as long as your feel like you are learning and being challenged.

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How do I choose the right test center to take the SAT?

When taking the SAT, it doesn’t matter which test center you choose, since you’ll either know the material or you won’t, right?  Well, not quite.  While it’s true that you’re not going to magically remember what a function is the minute you set foot on a well-run testing site, a poorly run site can really shake you up.  This aspect of taking the SAT is often under appreciated, and you should take it seriously.

At certain public school testing sites in Manhattan, for instance, you’ll have to walk through a metal detector and you may need to wait in the gym for as long as an hour before the test begins.  These aren’t the kinds of distractions you want to have on the day you finally take the SAT.

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