As the new school year kicks into full gear, there are going to be two combinations of letters on the minds – and less so in the hearts – of your junior and senior students: SAT/ACT.

While nobody particularly likes talking about SAT/ACT prep, it is an especially important topic as life in the COVID-19 pandemic continues to roll ahead. You are bound to face a few questions from high school students concerned about how to manage their time in the school year that lies ahead. We already took a deep dive into the exams themselves in our 5 Things Every High School Teacher Should Know About the SAT/ACT article, so now let’s take a look at a handful of frequently asked questions about the exams and how to answer them.

Q: How many times should I take the SAT/ACT?

A: The short answer: as many times as you want. The long answer: as many times as it takes to improve your score!

On average, high school students will take these tests two to three times throughout their junior and senior years. Keep in mind that they’re likely juggling several other obligations, such as part-time jobs or extracurricular activities, so it’s not a good idea to encourage them to overload their schedule with standardized testing. Moreover, while taking these tests a few times is important, they should not be doing so at the cost of their mental health.

The important thing to remember when talking to your students is that they absolutely should take these tests more than once. This is especially true for the SAT due to superscoring; if they hedge all their bets on one set of SAT scores, they won’t have the option to send out their best results to prospective colleges.

Q: What’s a good score for the SAT/ACT?

A: Depends on the college!

A good score for Harvard is not the same as a good score for Hofstra — every college varies in terms of its SAT/ACT averages. That being said, it doesn’t hurt to have a few numbers handy in conversations like these. For example, if the SAT composite score ranges between 400 and 1600, then the national average is somewhere around 1050. A student scoring on the higher end should be placed around 1200 or higher. Meanwhile, if the ACT ranges between 1 and 36, then the national average is going to be around 20. Students scoring around 24 or higher are placing themselves in the running for more selective colleges.

Use this question to encourage students to do more research! Colleges and universities typically list their average SAT/ACT scores on their websites — a quick Google search will unlock all the answers they need.

Q: Is the SAT/ACT hard?

A: One of the greatest myths about the SAT and the ACT is that these are intelligence tests. Nothing could be further from the truth! These exams neither test your intelligence nor measure your level of success in life; they test you on how well you take the tests.

What does this mean for students? Well, everybody is different, and everybody responds to standardized testing differently. A below-average student academically can easily master the fundamental test prep techniques, resulting in significant improvements over time. Meanwhile, an academically accomplished student can seriously struggle with test prep concepts such as time management, or even more granular techniques such as plugging in or backsolving.

In short, these exams are as difficult as the effort and energy put into preparing for them — all the more reason to encourage students to invest in SAT/ACT prep.

Q: Do I have to take the SAT/ACT?

A: The answer to this question has been slightly complicated due to the announcement that nearly ⅔ of American colleges and universities are adopting test-optional policies for the 2022-2023 academic year. You’re likely going to hear from a number of students who don’t feel it’s necessary to add either the SAT or the ACT to their school year plates, which is more than a little understandable.

In order to frame these tests positively, appeal to their sense of urgency. Admissions officers are going to have to sort through thousands and thousands of college applications. Thus, anything students can do to make themselves stand out amongst the crowd is going to be to their benefit. If most colleges are going test-optional, then it only makes sense for students to use their outstanding SAT/ACT scores to put themselves in the running for competitive schools. Therefore, even though these exams are currently only optional, juniors and seniors should absolutely make SAT/ACT prep a reality.

Q: How do I prep for the SAT/ACT?

A: The good news for any anxious teenagers is that there is no shortage of test prep resources to dive into; a quick search on Amazon yields hundreds of textbooks and workbooks available with the click of a button. However, a student should never take their test prep journey on their own!

The best piece of advice to give to your students is to seek out extra help from a college test prep expert. SAT/ACT tutors don’t simply work on improving test scores; they work with students on time management, college application goals, and how to deal with testing anxiety. Knowing what’s on the SAT or the ACT is only half the battle; everything else depends on preparation, strategy, and a positive attitude.

Click here to schedule a free consultation with one of our academic advisors and learn more about how SAT/ACT prep can benefit your high school students.