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Figuring out how to best study and prepare yourself for assessments can be tedious and stressful. How are you supposed to study for a math test without any notes? How do you prepare for an essay whose prompt you don’t know yet? And, sometimes even more frustrating, how do you study for a test that is going to include multiple units? Finding how to study can be almost as stressful as the test itself, and if you don’t know where to start, it can seem overwhelming.
It took me a long time to figure out how best to study, especially for math which didn’t have the notes that the other classes had. Throughout middle school and the beginning of high school, I always struggled with how to study for my upcoming assessments. That stress did nothing to help my anxiety about the assessment itself, and I would always get overwhelmed when I would try to study. Usually, I would just end up rereading old notes or skimming through the study guide to see if there was anything that sounded unfamiliar. It was worse for math; I would only look over old problems before calling it quits. It wasn’t until my second year of high school that I sat myself down to really figure out how to study to give myself the best chance on my tests. I went through a lot of trial and error with different studying types before I finally figured out what works best for me. And the way I study varies for the different subjects, even different classes within the same subject. I still get anxious while studying and during the test, but I know going into my assessments that I’ve studied the best way I can. Here are studying tips that I stand by and that work the best for me:
Not all of these tips may work for you, but I’ve found that they work best for me. You may find that rewriting your notes is too tedious and frustrating, and in that case, you could try making a Quizlet out of your notes. I’ve also tried finding Kahoots or other online practice quizzes on the internet and playing those. Try new ways of testing yourself like explaining concepts to other friends who are in the class so that they can help correct you if you miss something, and give yourself the time needed to figure out what works the best for you. ~Madeline
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The ACT and SAT are created by The College Board - the people who create the heartbreaking AP exams - and The ACT, respectively. These exams test your knowledge obtained in grade school overall, but the scores do not define you. Many colleges use scores for admission, but colleges also take in account of GPA, activities on-school/after-school and more to determine if you are granted admission. Not everyone is a good test taker and that is okay. The ACT has more areas like science and social studies and does not rely on math or english that much, but rather reading.The breakdown for the ACT: a 35-minute reading test, 45-minute English test, 60-minute math section and 35-minute science test. The SAT is more math and english: grammar orientated. The breakdown for the SAT: 65 minutes reading test, a 35-minute writing and language test and an 80-minute math section. The math section in the SAT is divided in two: one with a calculator and another with no calculator. Both are timed around equal times but the cool thing is that there is no punishment for guessing on these tests. It is better to mark down an answer if you don’t have one since you have a ¼ chance of it being right. The ACT and the SAT are both stressful since you are timed, for each question you have about 1 minute and sometimes second, but there are some strengths to both of the tests that might help you. I actually took the ACT in 7th grade and the PSAT in my 8-10 grade so I have taken these exams for the last 3-4 years. The PSAT is a smaller version of the SAT that many Americans take throughout high school. If you like the PSAT, then the SAT is the right choice for you. Additionally, the SAT may be your best bet if you are good at math or you could take the ACT if you are not math oriented and more of a science-based person. For either one, I recommend studying and taking practice tests a couple months before and not on the day of the test. Procrastination is not the key for trying to do well on your college admission tests. You can decide which score to give your college if the first time wasn’t your best score. Both tests have essays but it is up to your future college if you need to take it. Plus you have resources to actually practice and prepare yourself. It is good to see how you do on a practice test to give you a heads up on your mistakes and problems before-hand. Take time to pick your exam and maybe even take both to see for yourself if you just do not know. The differences allow for students to have different experiences with each exam like me. You got this! Here are resources to practice the ACT and/or SAT. https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/sat-practice-test-1.pdf https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat/full-length-sat-1 https://blog.prepscholar.com/complete-official-act-practice-tests-free-links https://uniontestprep.com/act/practice-test 319.337. 1270. ACT Helpline if you have more questions 1 (866) 630-9305. SAT Helpline if you have more questions 1 (800) 273-8439 Princeton Review. For help on both exams
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Teenagers With Experience is an online organisation created to provide teenagers worldwide with an online platform to share their own experiences to be able to help, inform and educate others on a variety of different topics. We aim to provide a safe space to all young people. You can contact us via email, social media or our contact form.
Please note that the content on this website is created by teenagers. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, it is important to remember that we are not professional experts. If you are experiencing a crisis or need professional advice, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional or a helpline. |