7 Tips to Help Your Teen Prepare for the SAT
The SAT is offered seven times yearly, starting in March. If your teen is planning to take the standardized college admissions test and you want to help them prepare, here are some top tips from experts to consider.
#1: Enroll them in cognitive skills training.
Achieving high scores isn’t just about the knowledge your teen has acquired over the years; it’s also about the strength of their cognitive skills. These are the fundamental brain skills we use to think, read, learn, remember, reason, and pay attention. Working together, they take incoming information and move it into the bank of knowledge. They include:
- Attention (sustained, divided and selective)
- Memory (working and long-term)
- Logic & Reasoning
- Auditory processing
- Visual processing
- Processing speed
Also known as “personal brain training,” cognitive skills training starts with a one-hour Cognitive Skills Assessment that identifies which cognitive skills are already strong and which skills can benefit from training. Armed with that information, a team of brain skills experts can develop a learning plan based on your teen’s unique results to help target and train the skills that need a boost. With stronger brain skills, learning is faster and easier—regardless of the type or content of the academic material.
#2: Create a study schedule.
Start by looking at the calendar and create a realistic timeline for studying leading up to test day. Consistency—not the volume of material studied—is the key to reduce stress and increase retention. Start with small sessions—maybe 30 minutes a night—and be sure to include a “free day” so your teen doesn’t feel completely consumed by their test prep.
#3: Take practice tests.
You don’t need to look far to find free SAT practice tests online. Khan Academy, for example, is a world-class SAT prep that offers free practice tests, as does the College Board. Sample tests give your teen a taste of the length, format, and experience of the test, including the types of questions used on the SAT.
#4: Invest in study tools.
There are countless free and paid online resources to help your teen study for the SAT. Start by checking your school’s free SAT resources, as well as sites like Kaplan, Magoosh, Princeton Review, and Union Test Prep by Become. You’ll find free study guides, flashcards, video tutorials, practice exams, and sample questions.
#5: Sign them up for prep courses.
In addition to a number of paid prep courses, there are some free SAT prep courses and trial classes available to your teen. Khan Academy, which serves as the College Board’s official partners, offers a free prep course that includes full-length practice tests, score analysis, and guidance from math, reading, and writing experts. Likewise, Varsity Tutors offers free SAT trial classes led by expert instructors.
#6: Help them prepare physically.
Beyond preparing cognitively, mentally, and emotionally for the SAT, there are other ways you can help your teen be ready to sit down for the exam. Getting a good night’s sleep is priority number one, as a tired brain won’t function at peak capacity. Good nutrition is also vital, but be careful not to try any new foods the night before or morning of the test as they could upset their stomach. Instead, aim for a dinner with some complex carbohydrates, protein, and vegetables the night before, and ensure that they eat a balanced breakfast with slow-release carbs (e.g., whole-grain toast or oatmeal) paired with healthy proteins (salmon, eggs or lean meat) and healthy fats (nuts or avocado) to provide sustained energy and focus without blood sugar spikes.
#7: Set realistic expectations.
The SATs can ignite insecurities and anxiety in students and setting your expectations too high can lead to crushing disappointment for both you and your teen. Focus on effort, not results, when it comes to studying for the SATs and let them take the lead in terms of discussions around motivation to perform well. Remind them they can retake the test and that not all four-year colleges require an admission test score as part of their application. Additionally, reinforce that their score isn’t necessarily a test of their intelligence but rather acquired knowledge and test-taking skills. The truth is that there are different types of intelligence and no single test can reflect them all.
While SAT scores are important factors for some colleges and universities, there are plenty of great institutions that welcome students who don’t take it at all or don’t test well. Your teen’s score doesn’t change who they are and a little reassurance from you can go a long way in helping them face test day head on—regardless of the outcome.
