What to Do After the PSAT
For many students, the PSAT is the first exposure to nation-wide college admissions testing. The PSAT is a slightly shorter, slightly easier version of the SAT, and can be a great tool for scholarships and as a diagnostic test for the official SAT. Now that the PSAT is behind you, what should you do next? If you are a Junior, you are now entering a critical phase in the college admissions process. You need to begin to make plans and set up your testing timeline now - spring of Junior Year is a busy time, so planning now will ensure you are well prepared for the college admissions process. Failure to plan now can limit your options come Senior year, and can add unnecessary stress to a process that is already quite stressful. By planning ahead and setting deadlines for yourself, you can maximize your standardized test scores, minimize stress, and be fully prepared for application season during Senior year.
Here are the 5 things you need to do now to kick off the planning process
1. Identify your SAT/ACT Focus
If you have not already done so, you should begin thinking about the two standardized tests and which one best suits your strengths and weaknesses. Virtually all colleges accept either the SAT or ACT - you do not need to master (or even submit) both tests in order to have a strong application. While many students will achieve close to the same score on each exam, there are some students whose strengths lend themselves to one test better than the other test. For example, my ACT score was 160 SAT points and 5 ACT points stronger than my SAT score equivalent. I took the SAT three times without much luck (October, January, and March) and the ACT once (April). Had I known in October that the ACT was naturally a much better examination for me, I could have saved myself from a lot of extra work, self-doubt, and stress.
We recommend that all students consider taking an SAT and an ACT official practice test prior to starting prep and signing up for official test dates. If you complete both tests, you can utilize a score conversion guide to identify which test you performed better on. Additionally, Applerouth Enrollment Specialists are experts on the two tests - we are always happy to set up practice tests and analyze results with families to help determine which test may be the best fit for you. Even if scores are identical, we can work to identify whether one test has more low-hanging fruit than the other test, one test’s time constraints better suit a student’s testing speed, or one test will ultimately result in higher scores after prep.
2. Create your Preliminary College List
Juniors should be prepared to have a preliminary list of colleges organized by the end of their first semester. The purpose of creating a college list is three-fold:
- Identify whether any of your target schools require the SAT or ACT essay. Many students make the mistake of assuming that, because the essays are now optional, they are not required. Many schools still require the essay, although most universities consider the score on the essay to be of lesser importance than the SAT and ACT multiple choice scores. You do not want to find out in your Senior year that you failed to take the essay, and your dream school requires it. We advise that all students should plan to take the essay for all test dates to mitigate this risk - you never know what college you might discover in November of your Senior year!
. - Identify whether any of your target schools require the SAT Subject Tests. These scores are generally considered to be of significantly less importance than the SAT and ACT results, but some schools still require you to submit SAT Subject Tests. You will need to plan ahead for these tests, both in terms of how you will prepare and when you will choose to take the examinations.
. - Identify SAT and ACT score ranges for the schools you are interested in. Remember, there is no such thing as a good SAT or ACT score; rather, scores should be considered relative to the admissions standards for the schools you are interested in attending. By knowing what your target schools are looking for from test scores, you can measure your own baseline tests and identify how much prep you will need to meet the admission criteria.
3. Select your Test Dates and Prepare Accordingly
The next several ACT test dates are October 28th, December 9th, February 10th, April 14th, June 9th, and July 14th. The SAT will next be offered on November 4th, December 2nd, March 10th, May 5th, and June 2nd. There are also test dates available during August, September, and October of student’s senior year; however, we strongly advise that students aim to complete all testing prior to the August/September SAT and ACT dates. These dates should only be utilized in the case of a last attempt to squeeze out a point or two for fun. Students should never wait to begin testing in their Senior year.
Once you have identified whether you will be focusing on the SAT or ACT, you should pull out your calendar and start blocking off test dates. When planning out your testing dates, you should consider if you need to take SAT Subject Tests, your AP exam schedule, and any other activities you may have going on that could affect your testing timeline. A few things to keep in mind - students cannot take the SAT Subject Tests on the same day as the SAT, the SAT Subject Tests are not offered on the March test date, and AP exams fall in May. We generally recommend taking SAT Subject Tests in May to maximize overlap between AP preparation, school finals, and the Subject Tests. By planning ahead can you mitigate the risk of running out of test dates and needing to test uncomfortably close to admissions deadlines.
If you are considering test prep, you will also need to plan ahead for when you will best be able to devote yourself to studying for the SAT or ACT. Group classes can begin 2-3 months in advance of a test date, and private tutoring can take weeks to complete. These are not examinations that you can cram for, so you need to leave yourself enough time to comfortably prepare in advance of the test.
4. Set Deadlines
Juniors should be ready to begin testing no later than the Spring of their Junior year. This means that Juniors should be ready to choose to focus on the SAT or ACT by December of their Junior year. By January 1st, students should know which SAT or ACT test date will be their first test date, and students should go ahead and register for their first test date - by registering early, you will allow yourself the opportunity to select the best test center for where you are located. Juniors are advised to take their test of choice at least twice, while many students will find that taking the test 3 times allows for maximization of final scores and super scoring opportunities. Therefore, it is advisable to select 3 test dates where you will be available to sit for the examination.
If you have already started testing and received official scores, then you are poised to make the most of your second semester. Be sure to solidify your focus on the SAT or ACT, identify whether you need to take the essay or Subject Tests, and consider additional prep if necessary. Because you already have scores, consider looking at whether the schools you are pursuing will super score - even if you think you are happy with your scores, you could benefit from another testing cycle to see if you can squeeze out a few more points!
5. Advice for Sophomores
If you took the PSAT as a sophomore, you can sit tight until December when the scores will be released. Your PSAT scores will not be utilized for anything related to the college admissions process, but they can serve as a valuable diagnostic tool. Your PSAT scores are designed to be identical to the scores you would have received if you had taken the SAT on the exact same day. Remember to keep these scores in perspective - this test is designed to be taken by Juniors! Therefore, your results are lacking an entire year’s worth of growth, maturity, and additional curriculum necessary to perform well on the test. Remember that the SAT is not the only admissions test - perhaps you will be a stronger ACT student, as I was. It is most important for you to stay focused on your school work and grades. Junior year will be here soon enough, and that is when you can start to make standardized testing decisions.
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