Taking the SAT a Second Time? Here’s How to do Your Best

Scores for the March 8th SAT test are scheduled to come back on March 27th. If you are unsatisfied with your performance, there are opportunities on May 3rd and June 7th to take the test again. This is helpful for students who may have struggled with certain sections of the SAT and want to improve their scores. Listed below are some tips on what to do before taking the test again, and reasons for why giving it another shot is ultimately beneficial for you:

• Between now and the next test, you will have the opportunity to acquire more vocabulary. The more time you put into learning vocabulary, the better you will perform on the Critical Reading section. It could also help you strengthen the SAT essay that you will need to write. If you’re concerned with improving your Verbal scores, the following sites include some of the most common and the most difficult SAT words:
  http://www.majortests.com/sat/wordlist.php
  http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/newsat/chapter15section4.rhtml
• Study your score report to determine your strengths and weaknesses and see which sections you struggled with the most. In just a few sessions, a private tutor can focus on those areas in which you need improvement, and refine those skills in order to maximize your test prep. You don’t have to do a full course to improve your scores.
• In studying your score report, you can also learn how you handled your time with certain sections. Taking timed practice tests between now and the next test can help you hone your time-management skills, teach you how to pace yourself and delegate your time, and inform you on which types of questions you need to spend more or less time on.

Upon receiving all of your scores, you are able to select which scores College Board will send in a finalized report to your desired colleges. Scores are sent by test date for the SAT and by individual test for SAT Subject Tests.

The first time you take the SAT, no matter how prepared you think you might be, you are going to be stressed and overwhelmed. The good thing is, you took it early, in March, so you have another chance to maximize your potential. Following the strategies above will ensure that the next time around, you feel even more confident and prepared, and can present the College Board with your very best performance.