Many scores were released today from the February ACT (unless your site was rescheduled because of the snow), and January SAT scores are due out tomorrow. Here are a few tips about next steps:
1. Look at the score ranges/Naviance profiles for the colleges at the top of your list. Are you in the 25th-75th percentiles (or within the ranges given for students from your school who have been admitted, if you’re using Naviance)? If so, you are most likely done! Congratulations! Check to see if any of your schools require subject tests, and plan those for May or June.
2. If you have not yet reached your target score, make sure that you’ve evaluated both the ACT and SAT. If you took the SAT, did you ever do an ACT practice test? If not, then take one (a real one, preferably the one on the ACT website) in case it goes better than the SAT did. If you took the ACT, pull out your PSAT scores to confirm that you are taking the test that is better for you. (Here’s my discussion of how to understand your PSAT scores.)
3. Pick a date this spring to retake. The ACT is offered in April and June, and the SAT in March, May, and June (though you may need to save either the May or June date for SAT subject tests instead).
4. Make a plan. What did you do to study the first time around? Did your score go up or not? If you studied for a few months and didn’t see much improvement, it’s time to try something new. Are you working on skills as well as on techniques for the different sections? Are you using real practice tests (released by the makers of the SAT and ACT) and simulating test conditions? Do you have a plan about how to approach each section of the test? Consistency is key here. My students know that I focus a lot on process--on how they are approaching questions--because this will give them the techniques and confidence they need to do well on their next test date!
