As the winter season comes to an end, it is almost that time of year for all juniors. You guessed it, the spring SAT sessions are quickly approaching. After a winter of anticipation, the standardized testing season is almost upon us. With the March SAT taking place on the 14th, there is little over a week before the first of the three spring SAT’s begins. To find out more about how students are preparing, I interviewed some juniors preparing for the upcoming tests, as well as some seniors who have the SAT in their rearview mirror.
Some students have opted for a more long-term study program, breaking up their preparation over months to reinforce stronger muscle memory and to reduce the stress of cramming the night before.
“Spending the last few months preparing when I can has really helped me feel prepared and confident about the test,” explained junior Chloe Mankes. “I’ll definitely be studying more in the weeks leading up to the test, but having a good sense of the problems and how to solve them makes me feel pretty good about where I am at.”
Other students less concerned about the test, or more confident in their own ability to study under pressure, have decided to begin their studying more recently. “I took the PSAT back in October but I haven’t done too much preparation since then,” said junior Cole Snowden. “My plan is to just study a ton this weekend and throughout the week and I’ll be in a good spot.”
Procrastinating preparation for a test can be dangerous, but for people who plan to take multiple SAT’s the March SAT is not as big a source of stress. “With lacrosse starting right around the time of the SAT it’s going to be hard for me to prepare for it,” pointed out junior Tom McCarthy. “Obviously I am going to try my best, but if I don’t get the score I want I can always super-score with future tests.”
For juniors just getting their feet wet in the whole admissions process of college, the SAT can feel like a daunting first step in a long journey. Fortunately, test takers from prior years like senior James Whitmore can be valuable assets to mentally prepare for the test and put the whole thing into perspective. “If I could give any advice to juniors out there, it would definitely be to not stress too much about the test,” Whitmore said. “I get more stressed playing chess in class now than I ever did while taking the SAT.”
Whether you have been studying diligently for months, or are putting off that first practice test, a strong mindset and understanding of the test is a key intangible that will help anyone regardless of preparation. The SAT is predictable, and there are countless online resources with treasure troves of valuable information and study tips. Get to work studying, and best of luck on the SAT.
