Although summer is fast approaching for Seminole High School students with all the associated revelries of beaches, movies, and vacations, it is also a time to consider what has to be done to prepare for the following school year. For many sophomores who were overjoyed to complete the PSAT, it can be somewhat disheartening to learn that the SAT is literally twice as long and therefore more exhausting. Furthermore, the SAT or the ACT (whichever a student chooses) is extremely crucial for college admissions.

Senior Christina Roslyn said, “A good SAT score is crucial for getting into a good college, in my opinion because it shows you’re a good test taker.”

The tradition of standardized testing began in 1901, when the first high school test takers wrote essays on topics ranging from Greek to Physics but the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) was first administered on June 23, 1996 after being developed by a Princeton psychologist. From its humble beginnings, the SAT has grown into a multi-hour (nearly 4), multi-section (4 math, 4 reading, and 2 writing), grueling ordeal with an essay thrown in at the beginning. The mean SAT reading score in 2011 was 497 out of a possible 800 points while the mean SAT math score in 2011 was 514 out a possible 800 points. Indeed, these numbers represent a fall from previous years of nearly 33 points in the reading section but a rise of 5 points in the math section.

Junior Brian Salerno, who has taken the SAT, said, “I went to an SAT tutor and did some practice tests in the Princeton review book. I think the tutoring really helped me do better on the math section.”

Although the SAT may seem daunting, there are ways by which students can improve their odds of doing well on the test. While the College Board maintains that the SAT is essentially “uncoachable” and is a true measure of a student’s inherent academic ability, a 2009 study by the National Association of College Admission Counseling showed that SAT preparation courses raised critical reading scores by about 10 points and math scores by about 20 points.

While this amount may not seem like a lot, the same study revealed that about one third of selective colleges stated that a small increase in standardized test scores could make a difference in their admission decision. Some schools, in fact, have a specific test score set as a cut-off, so if 30 points brings a student over that threshold, test preparation could make the difference between getting into a college and not doing so. There are many companies in Central Florida that give students the opportunity to get tutoring.

It remains clear, however, that practice is another effective way of studying for the SAT. Oftentimes, bookstores will sell SAT preparation books that will not only provide practice tests, but can help students practice specific types of problems as well. For those on a budget, some libraries offer SAT preparation books for checking out and the College Board also offers a full length practice test on its website.

The ACT on the other hand is often marketed as an alternative to the rigors of the SAT. The ACT is commonly viewed as a somewhat easier version of the SAT but in reality, it simply caters to different needs. ACT questions tend to be more straightforward and will test more advanced concepts than the SAT. Furthermore, the ACT has a science section that tests reading and reasoning skills and has an optional writing section. The test itself is not nearly as demanding in terms of time as the SAT, breaking down each content area (English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning) into one big chunk each. In terms of college admissions, most colleges will accept SAT or ACT scores but look more at the composite ACT score and more at the individual parts of the SAT.

Sophomore Dylan Sheldon said, “I definitely think that the ACT is easier than the SAT and is easier to take as well.”

Much like the SAT, reviewing for the ACT can only help one’s score, and going for ACT tutoring (which Seminole High School offers for free) will often help to prepare students for what they face in the testing room. Students should take advantage of all the opportunities given to them to prepare for whichever standardized test they choose, especially during the summer. Just remember that while riding to the beach, it can’t hurt to crack open an SAT/ACT review book.