How Do I Study for Standardized Tests?

We get it: you’re not exactly excited about taking the SAT or ACT. When it comes to test taking, putting together your college application, and preparing for the best public universities in the US, the pressure is insane. But did you know you can access customized standardized test prep that targets exactly what you need to work on, reducing your study time to a fraction of what it would have otherwise been?

With almost all Ivy League schools requiring test scores again, it's time to talk about what you can do to maximize your standardized test scores. — Photo by Yustinus Tjiuwanda on Unsplash

No matter what major you’re interested in, your test score matters. Thankfully, you can boost your score a lot more than you may think by following these strategic tips for getting more out of your time whenever you sit down to study.

Research-Based Methods for Standardized Test Prep

There are many ways to prepare for the SAT, including:

Self-Study for the SAT

For a highly self-motivated individual, self-studying may be the best option. Platforms like Khan Academy and Magoosh can help, and they don’t cost much. But… self-study takes great discipline. To succeed on your own, you’ll need to set SMART goals, or goals that are:

Specific. (Do I know exactly which topics I need to review?)
Measurable. (How many points should my score increase in order to have achieved my goal? 50? 100?)
Achievable. (Can I realistically achieve this score, or am I setting myself up for failure and disappointment?)
Relevant. (Are the topics I’m studying directly connected to problems I got wrong on a practice test?)
Time-based. (How long do I have until I take the test, and how many study sessions and topics can I fit into that timeframe? Therefore, how many days should I set aside per week to study? How many minutes per session? How many topics can I cover per week at that rate?)

Therefore, take practice tests in a simulated test environment, and study frequently. However, most high schoolers are not this self-motivated. 🙂

Furthermore, it’s often hard for students to pinpoint exactly which content you need to prioritize. You don’t want to waste your time reading an overwhelmingly large study book, only to get very little out of it.

Tutors for the SAT

Next, you have tutored teaching. Tutors can keep you motivated and hold you accountable. Another major perk of using a tutor is that they provide individualized explanations for your errors. However, not all tutors are equipped with SAT specific knowledge (even though they claim to help here), so the quality is hit or miss.

Classes for Standardized Tests

SAT classes are seemingly everywhere nowadays. These classes are popular because they follow a very traditional style of learning. You go in, take a test, review the answers, and repeat. While some students may benefit minimally from this one-size-fits-all approach, such boot camps can be long and arduous, and not always effective.

In fact, national research shows that the average point gain from such classes is only 40 points. For that kind of money and an entire summer’s worth of time, you would expect more.

Learn Your Own Test Taking Strengths and Weaknesses

Based on our research and 12+ years of experience working with students, we think the best way to study for the SAT is to study your mistakes. Too many students spend time reviewing the individual problems they missed without reviewing the underlying concepts behind those problems. Since you’ll never see the same problem ever again, the only way to prevent future errors is to gain a better foundation of knowledge, be it understanding how mathematical proportions work or even how to use commas effectively.

Learn how customized standardized test prep can help you get into great colleges in Bay Area. — Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash

But how can you identify the principle behind the problem? That’s where we come in.

How We Help with Customized Standardized Test Prep at ReadyEdgeGo

Our qualified educational consultants at ReadyEdgeGo will review your practice test results before giving you a personalized outline showing you exactly what and how to study, then stick alongside you as you achieve every one of your goals. We’ll keep you from wasting any time while boosting your underlying knowledge so that no matter what question comes you’re way, you’re more than ready to quickly select the right answer and move on.

If you’re interested in learning more about how we efficiently train students to ace standardized tests, sign up for a free consultation. We’d love to save you time and money so that you can spend your summer actually doing the activities you love, confident that you’re on your way to a better SAT score.

Also read: How Important is the SAT or ACT?

Sarah Gooch

Essay Editor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: I have five years' experience in coaching student writing, but this is my first year with ReadyEdgeGo.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love helping students find depth and meaning in their own stories—but I also just love it when they make me laugh!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In theory, I enjoy painting and writing poetry, but these days I actually spend most of my free time socializing or watching movies with my husband.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't just focus on achieving top grades and credentials because they look good on applications, or your education will be meaningless. The numbers and awards have their place, but stay connected to your sense of curiosity, discovery, excitement, and wonder so that the content you're learning is constantly transforming you—it's something you care about, something you remember after the final exam. Work on the aspects of yourself no one can measure, like integrity, wisdom, kindness, and compassion, so that you're not only developing your academic and career potential but also investing in the type of adult you're going to be, the person you'll have to live with after you clock out every day for the rest of your life.

Doing the hard inner work of building your character and learning deeply instead of just earning grades will set you up for a satisfying, well-rounded life. Strange as it sounds, it will also put you ahead in your academic and career goals, because colleges and hiring managers aren't looking for an empty set of data on a spreadsheet; they want a fully fleshed-out person marked by passion, creativity, and a story no one else has lived.

So go on studying hard for tests, but also spend some time asking yourself what matters in life and who your role models are. Read up on topics that amaze you, and build something incredible just for fun. Cultivate that spark of joy you feel when you're immersed in a subject that fascinates you. If you can hit that balancing act of doing your homework and meeting deadlines but also investing in the kind of person you want to be, then trust that all the rest will follow: schools will recognize you as a dynamic, all-star person, and you will also build a life of happiness, close relationships, and peace.

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