PREPARING FOR THE SAT SUBJECT TESTS

Recently I heard of a family who was preparing their children to take the SAT in the 9th Grade.... I don't recommend this,  students need to take the opportunity to get used to their new High School experience, and they don't need to added pressure of taking the SAT in the 9th grade.

I have been asked recently how students can omit showing schools  their test scores on either SATs or Subject Tests, because they want to take it as a practice.  Schools ONLY see the highest scores that you submit, and they don't know how many times you take the test.  However, , if you sit for a test and you do NOT want your test scored (maybe you took it for practice, which is a great idea if you have the time!), do NOT leave the test center without asking the proctor for a “request to cancel” form or you will NOT be allowed to cancel out the score! This form MUST be filled out and submitted at the test center in person.

The bad part of this process is that ALL the tests you took that day will be cancelled, not just one section. Therefore, if you took the SAT Subject Test in Bio, Math II and Literature and felt you bombed just one test, you probably should NOT cancel the test as ALL scores will be lost.    

Instead of spending all that money, and putting yourself through the stress of it all,  go to a weekend preparation program where you can practice on their practice tests that their program either offers or from  

"The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests" offered by the College Board.   Practice in different forms like this will contain  never-before-published full-length tests and answers for all twenty tests and an audio CD for all six languages with listening tests and give you a advantage.

SAT Subject Tests should never be a surprise. They are very content-based. If you're not doing well, don't take the test. Most top colleges require two or three tests.

Students who will be taking the SAT now are lucky because the College Board has recently changed their policy on score choice. Students who have taken the SAT prior to this policy change in March, 2009 or who have registered to take the test will be able to take advantage of the new college board policy.  For those who already took the test can take advantage of the board's new feature of the score-reporting retroactively.  This new score-reporting feature will be optional to students, unless a student chooses not to select their scores and then those scores will be sent.

Materials to take to your SAT Test:

•  #2 pencils, NOT mechanical pencils.
• A package of tissues. 
• an extra calculator or extra batteries. (an extra calculator is necessary because if your calculator goes  down, you will be in trouble)  
• Do NOT drink a lot of liquid before testing.  (you will get bathroom breaks, but you need the time for the test, not the bathroom)

Students can take the SAT as many times as they like and select which test scores they want to show colleges. However,  not all schools will adhere to this new policy and will demand students show ALL their scores.  Some of the schools that will be demanding all scores are UCs ( all campuses), USC, Stanford, Dartmouth, Cornell and others.

Admissions to college is not based on all grades or scores, it is the picture that your application shows of who you are, and so while the SAT is important, and you want to do well,  it will not be the single factor that gets you in or leaves you out of a school.   If you feel you need assistance with preparing for college, The College Admissions Consultant is here to assist you and your family and point you in the right direction for college success. Contact us for a FREE 1/2 hour consultation on how we can help you.  (www.thecollegeadmissionsconsultant.com)