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While SATs are spread throughout the year – this is one of the hottest seasons. Many high school students are either taking their first test… sitting for the SAT IIs (subject tests)… or improving upon previous SAT scores.

No matter which situation you're in, there are a few easy things you can do to maximize your score. Today, we’ll take a look at the five most important.

1. Give yourself time. When you start studying is entirely up to you. And it’s been shown, time and time again, the sooner you start studying, the better you’ll do. It’s a self-evident truth – but it’s only further reinforced by studies that show the same thing.

Not only can you improve your score an extra 50 or 100 points by getting ready earlier… but the study itself will be easier as well. You see, while you will be spending more hours getting ready, the most powerful part of starting study early isn’t the extra time as much as the chance for your mind to process everything.  In other words, you'll remember more of what you cover –without the stress of “cramming.”

2. Practice. Nothing – absolutely nothing – will give you as big a leg up as practice tests.

With practice, you’ll memorize the test instructions, so you won’t have to spend time figuring out what you’re being asked in each section. With practice, you’ll get a better feel for the questions you’ll see, and the types of thinking you’ll need to apply. And, of course, with practice, you’ll learn your weakest areas, and hence have an opportunity to focus your study where it will do the most good.

3. Word A Day. Hopefully, you already know a good number of the SAT vocabulary words. That said, very few people know enough to feel confident without study – and, as mentioned earlier, cramming a bunch of words at a time isn’t the best way to retain them.

If you start early enough, though, you can add a word a day without too much trouble, and cover most of the gaps in your knowledge. With only a word a day, you can really focus on it – go over the definition, use it three times in everyday conversation, and review it again before you go to sleep. Easy – and highly effective.

4. Relax. For many students, the hardest thing about the test is knowing you’re being tested.

Studies have shown that most people get “dumber” under test-like pressure – they miss questions with answers they know. The solution? Learn how to relax your mind.

Studying early and taking many practice tests help here – the confidence you gain can make a big difference.

But there are plenty of other things you can do as well. Practice various breathing techniques – anything from counting to ten to full-on meditation. Calm yourself just before the test starts – and between any sections, if you have the time. Learn to recognize when you mind is tensing – and, as you notice it, do your best to sooth your mind.

5. Prep yourself right. This should go without saying – but before the test, get a good night’s rest. After all, nothing dulls the brain like lack of sleep.

Try to make your night-before meal a light, healthy one. Salmon, for example, is rich in brain-assisting fatty acids.

Of course you should have a good idea what will help your body work best – the key is, don’t give it short shrift during the drama and tension that often precede an SAT sitting.

Treat yourself right – and you’ll help yourself in the end.

If you have any other questions about selecting a college, or the admissions process, feel free to contact me through my website at www.Prep4collegeNow.com  or call me at 760.877.7200.  I'd love to answer your questions!

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Article excepted from Scott Weingold,  College Planning Network, LLC

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Low SAT scores are not the death knoll to getting accepted into a good college.  Here are some tips for helping your teen get accepted into a good college.

 1.  Retake the exam.  Depending on when the applications are due, If your teen has the time to re-take the exam, it should be done.  Your teen should take a qualified review course.  Simply taking the exam again without additional preparation isn't likely to increase the score very much.  Most colleges will consider only the highest score, and with Score Choice, your teen can submit the scores from the best exam date.

2.  Take the ACT.  The exams are very different, and your teen might perform much better on this exam.  The SAT is an aptitude test meant to measure your reasoning and verbal abilities, while the ACT is an achievement test designed to measure what you've learned in school.   Almost all colleges accept either exam, so check to see if the ACT is an acceptable alternative.

3.  Compensate with Other Strengths.  Most selective colleges have many factors when determining admission.  They are evaluating all of your strengths and weaknesses, not just relying on cold empirical data. If the SAT scores are a little below average for a college, your teen can still be accepted if the rest of the application shows great promise.  All of the following can compensate for lower SAT scores:

·         A strong academic record

·         Glowing letters of recommendation

·         Interesting extracurricular activities

·         A winning application essay

·         A strong college interview

4.  Explore test-optional colleges.  There are over 800 colleges that don't require test scores.  Every year, more and more schools have come to realize that the exam favors privileged students, and that your teen's academic record is a better predictor of college success than SAT scores.  Some highly selective colleges are test optional. 

5. Find Schools Where Bad Scores are Good.  The hype surrounding college admissions might have you believing that you need a 2300 on the SAT to get into a good college. The reality is quite different. The United States has hundreds of excellent colleges where an average score of about 1500 is perfectly acceptable. Is your teen below 1500? -- Many good colleges are happy to admit students with below average scores. Identify colleges where your teens test scores seem to be in line with typical applicants.

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Excerpted from Allen Grove, About.com Guide

The SAT exam began testing a student's writing ability in 2005.  Even the worst wordsmith shouldn't get too concerned about this section of the exam since it only counts for 10% of the total score.  However, It may very well be the most useful section of the test.  That's because the writing skills it helps to hone are critically important to any student wishing to be successful in college, where papers are assigned on an almost weekly basis.

Don't over think it.

You only get 25 minutes to write the SAT essay and it comes right at the start of the test. Don't spend too much time trying to craft a scholarly masterpiece. Most important is to read and make sure you understand the writing prompt, which is usually a famous quote, or a stated idea. Read over the prompt and question several times in order to make sure you know what they're asking.
Then organize your thoughts quickly and begin writing. Students shouldn't worry about making it a perfect piece of writing or the most original thought ever put on paper. The people reading your student's essay know they're on a time crunch. They're simply looking for competent writing, insight and the ability to think on their feet.

Use real-world examples to illustrate your points.

Nothing will prove to a scorer more that your student understands the point of the question than if they're able to use examples from current events or history to back up their opinion. Make sure your student attempts to include this kind of proof in their essay.

If your student can't come up with examples to back up one opinion, it doesn't hurt to take the opposite viewpoint and see if they may have more luck there.

Remember this isn't a declaration of a life philosophy. Even if they don't personally agree with what they're writing, it may make for a better more thorough essay if they go against their instincts.

Go long... but not TOO long.

A good length for an SAT essay should be four to five well developed paragraphs. Don't let your student think that quantity automatically equals quality. There's always going to be the temptation to write a novel in hopes that the scorers will be impressed with how much you were able to get done in a short period of time.

A good score will almost always be more likely if the essay is well plotted, well thought out and backs up its points intelligently... and all of that can be done in five paragraphs or so. Also if your student is writing a 3-page essay, that probably means they didn't take sufficient time to brainstorm and organize their assignment. 25 minutes is more than enough time to do this, plus compose a 5-paragraph essay worthy of a good score.

And remember to leave time at the end to review for any glaring errors or omissions.

Don't stress out... it's only 10%!

While the essay section of the SAT is one of the most useful and applicable sections to future college life, don't allow your student to get TOO hung up on it. Good writing skills are always a huge advantage for students. But even if they're not quite present yet at the time of the SAT, they can always be developed down the road. If writing isn't your student's strong suit, make sure they know that they still have 90% of the SAT left to make up for it.

Don't allow their stress to negatively affect their performances on other sections of the test as well. Set the correct expectation that every part of the SAT is important... and there are always opportunities to make up for weaker sections as they go.

“If you have any other questions about selecting a college, or the admissions process, feel free to contact me through my website at www.Prep4CollegeNow.com  or call me at 760.877.7200.  I'd love to answer your questions!”

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Excerpts taken from Jodi Polster Education Director, College Planning Network, LLC

The PSAT stands for preliminary SAT.  It is good practice for the SAT, which contains the same type of questions.  The PSAT tests critical reading, math problem solving, and writing skills.

Your teenager should sit for the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) exam in sophomore year of high school.  The practice exam builds confidence, and gives feedback on areas of strength and weakness which helps when studying for the SAT exam. Scores from the PSAT exam taken in sophomore year do not count for the National Merit Scholarships.  Only the scores from junior year count toward National Merit Scholarships.  It is also the qualifying test for the National Scholarship Service and National Hispanic Recognition Program.  The exam is given at your teen's high school in October.  Check with the high school for the exact date.  When your teen fills out the test sheet, he/she should check the box that releases his/her name to colleges.  The colleges will begin to send their brochures to your teen.

Why should your teen study for the exam?  The better question is, why not?  The PSAT exam is very similar to the SAT exam.  Both test critical reading, math problem solving, and writing skills.  By studying before the PSAT exam your teen has a better chance of scoring well which could lead to qualifying  as a National Merit Scholar.  A high score will gain the attention of competitive colleges and better the chances of qualifying for a merit scholarship.  It also allows your teen an opportunity to determine if the SAT is the appropriate exam to take or whether he/she should concentrate on preparing for the ACT exam. 

The best time to study for the exam is the summer between sophomore and junior year of high school.   Your teen will have an opportunity to delve into the exam in-depth without the added pressure of school work.  There are many different types of study programs available.  You will find one-on-one coaches,  group programs, and online programs. Additionally, you will find programs offered at colleges and universities as part of a summer scholar program.  Prices and quality differ so be diligent when doing your research on the different type of prep programs available.  Knowing how your teen studies is an important ingredient in determining which type of  program is best suited for your teen.  

Colleges have basic standards for students to apply to their school. The two main standards are your teen’s grade point average and their SAT scores. If your teenager matches the college’s standards in these two areas, they are welcome to fill out an application.

Colleges then look for memberships in organizations, community service, sports participation,  performing and fine arts, summer scholar programs in their area of interest and job history.   When choosing an organization at school or in the community at large, your teen should pick an area of interest and devote time throughout his/her high school career to that organization.  This is also true for community service hours.  By showing a strong commitment to a community service area, the college or university will discover the person your teen is outside the school arena, what causes your teen commits to, what his/her passion is outside of school.  This holds true for the performing arts and fine arts as well.  Sport participation  within school and the community allows your teen to shine outside of the academic arena.  A long-term commitment to a sport, even if not on a high school team, shows your teen's dedication  and willingness to work hard for the "love of the game".  Summer scholar programs broadens your teen's enthusiasm for an area of interest and highlights his/her passion for that particular area of study.   If this passion becomes your teen's major in college, it is looked upon favorably during the application process.  Finally, your teen's job history is also taken into consideration.  If he/she worked a part-time job to help support the family, or earn money to help pay for college, this commitment is admired and may help your teen earn additional financial aid dollars.

Finally, there is a written essay on debatable topics that will not only tell the college about your teen’s writing skills, but also a little about your teenager’s values and beliefs. Colleges do not want students who will have their nose in a book 100% of the time. In order for the college to be successful they need students that will be active in clubs and events. They want students who will be involved in the campus community. Colleges actively look for these students and accept them into their school.