S.A.T. INFORMATION

By Camden Akers

After a year of virtual schooling and a not-so-effective SAT prep program, there are a lot of gaps in the knowledge that students have in regards to the SAT. Questions like “When do I take the SAT?”, “Can I take it more than once?”, and “Which scores do I use?” arise. Finally, reliable information has come your way. 
First I’d like to start by giving a general overview of the SAT, for those who really have been left in the dark. The SAT (or Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a standardized test issued by the College Board and often used for college admissions. Recently, however, SAT scores have become more optional for college admissions, and often you can omit the scores entirely. However, if you do score well, it can aid your resume and make a more appealing application. The test consists of two parts: a reading and language portion, and a math portion. This brings me to my next topic—scoring. 
While the use of your scores typically depends on the college, the general rule is this: your highest total score, out of 1600, on one single test is the SAT score you will submit. However, some schools accept something called a superscore. When you opt to use a superscore, you put together a score from the math section of one test and a score from the reading & language section of a different test into one score. So, if you take more than one SAT test and you score better in one section on your first test and better in the other section on your second, you may be able to submit a superscore. This allows you to submit your best possible score to colleges. Not all colleges accept a superscore, however, so it is important to look into the SAT score submission guidelines of the specific college you are looking at to see what options you have. 
Another frequently missed—but extremely important—piece of information is testing dates and sign up. In the spring, Edsel Ford offers one free SAT test to all 11th grade students. However, that is not the only time you can take it. The next few SAT test dates are: December 4th, March 12th, May 7th, and June 4th. The fee for these tests is $55 and the registration deadline is one month before the test begins. Late registration is offered, but at a higher cost. The full information for any SAT testing dates, locations, deadlines, and official registration is on the College Board website, which you can access with your College Board account. There is also useful information regarding any previous PSAT tests you have taken, including which questions you got right and wrong and which topics you should improve on. 
Finally, you need to know how to prepare. While practicing by taking the official SAT multiple times may be the best way to prepare for a good score, it may not be a suitable answer for those who do not want to take the SAT several times. Another option is to utilize Khan Academy, which sounds cliche and boring, I know. But, Khan Academy often directly correlates with the SAT testing standards. You can also find sample SAT questions online, and for underclassmen, taking advantage of the PSAT test is huge. 
SAT testing is not always discussed in advance as much as it should be, and you could wind up feeling rushed and behind as a junior without much time to prepare. It is important to learn what you need to know about the SAT before the testing dates are too close. For any additional SAT questions, you can see Mr. Rydzik; he is a great resource and has certainly helped me and many others with the process.