SAT/ACT/PSAT Overview & Tips

Written by Alice Song

The SAT and ACT are two tests that send many juniors and seniors into a state of profound despair. Many put a lot of emphasis on the tests, in turn causing students to spend a lot of time preparing for them. However, succeeding on these tests can be boiled down into several simple steps. Efficiency should be a student’s goal–to spend the minimum amount of time for an ideal mark–and this ultimately comes down to the way in which they approach their studying.

The SAT and ACT are both widely recognized standardized tests used by colleges and universities to evaluate students during the admissions process. The PSAT, on the other hand, stands for Practice SAT. The PSAT has several levels for each grade: the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, and the PSAT/NMSQT. The PSAT/NMSQT is used as a practice SAT, but students who score in the top 1% (1600 students) are named National Merit Finalists, meaning that they are able to receive $2,500 in college scholarships. However, The PSAT must be taken in the student’s junior year for them to qualify for this scholarship.

While the ACT and SAT seem similar in nature, there are some differences to note. Both have sections in reading, writing, and math. But, the ACT offers a science section as well as an optional essay. The SAT is graded on a scale from 400-1600 points whereas the ACT’s scale is 1-36. The SAT is taken digitally, while the ACT can be taken either online or on paper. The SAT also has adaptive testing, which means that questions will change based on your performance. 

Starting in April 2025, there will be a new format for the ACT, making its minimum time two hours. The test will have three core sections: English, Reading, and Math. This means that the number of questions will decrease from 215 to 171. The science and essay sections will be optional moving forward. 

Different colleges have various requirements for standardized tests. During the pandemic, many colleges and universities became test-optional or test-blind, meaning that scores were optional or were not considered a part of a student's application, respectively. 

The SAT, ACT, and PSAT are aptitude tests, meaning that actually “studying” for them is difficult. A big portion of these tests are based on comprehension, reasoning, and problem-solving skills, rather than knowledge. The best thing to prepare for these tests is to practice doing them. However, algebra skills from the basic to intermediate level, geometry, trigonometry, and high level English comprehension are needed to understand these tests. 

The first step in preparing for the SAT and ACT is to take one practice test that serves as a diagnostic test. Websites like Bluebook offer a breakdown of scores and which sections had errors.

Khan Academy has a lot of resources and questions for the SAT–much of which can be used for the ACT as well. The ACT website has other practice tests as well. The Reading, English, and Science sections of the test can be practiced through doing questions and familiarizing oneself with the types of questions. Also, a lot of the reading on the SAT and ACT is structured similarly to any kind of news article. Reading one or two articles from a news outlet everyday is really helpful in preparing for these tests.

When approaching math questions, a student should identify whether they do not know how to do it due to a knowledge gap or because this type of problem is new for them. Any gaps in knowledge should be addressed by learning the concepts. This can also be done through Khan Academy for both the SAT and ACT. The SAT and ACT are repetitive in nature, so familiarity and knowing how to approach them is key for succeeding. Being comfortable with using Desmos is incredibly helpful for the math section; many questions can be answered by graphing instead of doing calculations.

To make the most out of time spent studying, goal-setting is crucial. There should be a list of what areas should be targeted during studying, and how each block of time should be used. Sometimes, it is even helpful to simulate the situation of a test during studying. For example, a student could plan to do 20 reading questions in 30 minutes to know if their pacing is too slow or not. 

A general timeline for preparation could include completing a full practice test every 2-3 weeks, and the week before the exam, one last practice test should be done. This is a general timeline though; depending on how the student does in their diagnostic test, their timeline for preparation will look different. Typically, a student can plan on spending around 3 months studying for these tests. 

IAA offers an SAT preparation course that takes place every Wednesday from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. on Zoom, running through the month of October. Students can register through a Google Form to participate in this course. Some other online resources which have been useful to students during this preparation process include The Princeton Review and The College Panda. They both offer practice questions and solutions, though these options are not as accessible as the ACT website or Khan Academy as they cost money.

The last thing to consider when completing these exams is that what a student does the day of the test can make a difference as well. Getting lots of rest and eating an appropriate breakfast to ensure energy for the test is a good idea. A student could also read 1-2 articles beforehand to warm up for the exam. In particular, reading out loud can be helpful for some. Solid routines that are established before the test can optimize performance. 

While the SAT and ACT are important, they are only one step in your academic journey and college application process. Working hard and learning a lot is a significant achievement, and these tests are simply another opportunity to show that. Taking these experiences as an opportunity for growth is the best outcome one can get from them, so tell yourself a joke, take a deep breath, and trust that the effort you put into studying will pay off.