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College admissions
Course: College admissions > Unit 2
Lesson 4: Standardized tests- Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy
- Facing the standardized tests
- Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy
- How to register for the SAT
- Deciding whether to retake the SAT
- Overview of the ACT
- Deciding whether to retake the ACT
- Preparing yourself for success on the tests
- Student story: Standardized tests
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Facing the standardized tests
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when can you start taking SAT and ACT? like grade wise?(5 votes)
I started taking it after my freshman year, and I think it really helps if you take it early so you can get a score and not be so stressed about it because you only have one chance to take it. Just make sure not to stress about it, and figure out how it feels and what it looks like, and if you can figure out the main idea behind it, everything else is easy. For example, the math (on the ACT for sure, I don't know about the SAT) only really goes up to Algebra II Level. Most people don't do as well on it, however, because they aren't used to taking this type of test.(3 votes)
Is it better to have amazing grades and a poor test score, or an amazing test score and poor grades?(2 votes)
It's hard to tell with just general information and, honestly, both are equally bad, but I'd have to say it's better to have high test scores, as the scores demonstrate a capacity for intelligence and low grades could stem from personal issues or a poor schooling system.(4 votes)
what are the benefits of taking these tests?(2 votes)
Some colleges and scholarships want to see them.(4 votes)
- how many student pass the ACT or SAT A year.(2 votes)
- You cannot pass or fail these tests. You can look up the percentiles for them to see what percent of students scored at or below any specific score.(4 votes)
Since the assistant Dean said that colleges look more at GPA than at SAT, why should we take the SAT in the first place? Sure it gives you a leading edge among different high schools and distinguishes you from grade inflation, but don't colleges compare students within high schools? I just sometimes feel like this is a pay to win sort of situation, but with recent things like Collegeboard getting with Khanacademy to provide free SAT practice, it certainly has gotten better. I still haven't let go of my initial feelings for Collegeboard though, and because of that I didn't really practice and get a good score for my SAT, even though I consider myself a hard worker in class. Any tips for helping my get over this? Thanks so much in advance for any suggestions.(3 votes)
The SAT is to show how you might do in a standardized test that's more at a college level. This is to show colleges how you might do in a college setting. Colleges compare your GPA and your grades and what classes you might take in high school, but it's easier to compare an SAT score from a test that is at a college level than to compare students within high schools, via grades, GPA and what classes they choose to take.
Just study some more and retake the SAT.(2 votes)
- what is LSAT and PSAT test in khan academy(3 votes)
Is there a SAT or ACT in Canadian colleges? or is it only in U.S?(1 vote)- Can you take the test multiple times.(2 votes)
- Yes, you can take the SAT and ACT multiple times.(3 votes)
- Do you necessary have to score an 17 to pass the act?(2 votes)
- You cannot pass or fail the ACT. You can figure out what score you want to try for by looking up the ACT statistics for students admitted to any colleges you might like.(3 votes)
Can you take both the SAT and the ACT multiple times?(2 votes)
Yes! It is a good idea to take the test you prefer multiple times! Also, some people perform better on the ACT than the SAT, or vice versa, so I would recommend taking both just to see which one you can do better on. Nowadays, most colleges do not have a preference for what test you take. However, more elite colleges often require you to take the writing (if you take the ACT) and/or SAT subject tests.(2 votes)
Video transcript
- So when preparing for the SAT or the ACT make sure that you are preparing yourself, that you are pursuing the
resources that you need in order to familiarize yourself with standardized exams, but by all means do not
completely lose your mind over it. Understand that those standardized tests are one of several factors
that colleges consider in your application. There is a reason why we ask for so much different information, letters of recommendation,
your transcript, your essays, because each of those individual pieces are just giving us small
glimpses of who you are and standardized tests are
just one other aspect of that. Those tests really are
rarely used in a vacuum or reviewed in a vacuum. They're used in conjunction
with your academic record to really understand and corroborate what we're already seeing
on that transcript. So do your best, prepare
as best as you can, get some good nights
sleep the night before. Take it once and if possible take it twice or no more than three times really and then concentrate on the other aspects of your application, that you
have a lot more control over. For us, your day to day
performance in the classroom tells us a lot more
about the type of student you're going to be on our college campus than how you perform on a
test on a singular Saturday.