It might be surprising to know, but as students go to school every day, they are actively studying for the SAT. The SAT is an exam, taken by 11th graders, that is crucial for college admissions, as it evaluates students’ learning to determine whether they are ready for college. As it is coming up this spring, FHC students are starting to prepare for it. There are many ways to be ready for the SAT, even beyond studying. With the SAT on April 12-13, there is a lot of time left to study. Junior Aubrey Hibma will start studying soon, and she has a plan for doing well on the SAT.
“I haven’t started studying too much yet, but I’m definitely gonna start picking it up now, because [the SAT is] coming up,” Aubrey said. “I got a review book that I’m gonna look through and just practice over and over again.”
It’s very helpful to be prepared, especially on test day. Assistant Principal Jacob Strotheide is in charge of many organizational aspects of the SAT and helps with accommodating students while they take the test. He believes that the SAT is very important, as it helps to give students feedback on how they are performing in school. The SAT is very helpful for getting opportunities in college and the future, such as a career.
“It showcases where you’re at during that point in time and where your learning is at,” Strotheide said. “So it’s another opportunity to kind of see where you’re excelling and maybe some of your shortcomings.”
As the SAT is a hard test and is beneficial for college, Junior Rylee Larson also has a plan to prepare for the SAT, and she is looking to do well on it with her study method.
“I’m taking an online class every Sunday for two hours, and that kind of just helps me prepare,” Rylee said. “I also have been working with this woman who gives me practice SATs [I can study from].”
Although it is very important to study for the SAT and take practice tests to be prepared, students also study by going to school every day and practicing new things. There are things that students can do to study for the SAT, with practice tests and a tutor, but the main thing that can help is paying attention in class and keeping up with the work.
“[What you can do to prepare is] going to school and continuing to learn every day,” Strotheide said. “Specifically, [the day of the SAT], they can make sure they’re getting enough rest, being confident in what they’ve learned and understood [is important], eating a good meal not only the night before, but that morning, and just making sure that they feel confident, free and clear and focused, ready to do their best.”
Being ready for the day of the SAT and paying attention in class are key ways to be prepared, but understanding the importance of the SAT is necessary, since it can impact the amount and the type of schools that accept you. It is essential to have a goal. Most juniors are aiming to improve their PSAT scores.
“It’s one of the biggest exams you have to take,” Aubrey said. “ It determines what colleges are going to accept you, and it just determines what you know.”
Overall, it is crucial to study for the SAT, but it isn’t for a while, so it is a good idea to start some type of studying at some point in the next month. Some study tips that would be helpful are completing practice tests, getting a tutor, looking over class notes or units that are difficult, or even just showing up to school every day.
“I feel like I didn’t realize how important [the SAT] is for colleges,” Rylee said. “You can get so many scholarships and get money off, so you can go to better colleges and just get into colleges; it’s very important for that.”
