As any parent who has helped a high schooler prep successfully for the SAT or ACT can attest, the adults in this process sometimes have to study as much as their kids! No, you don’t need to master math problem solving or immerse yourself in the fine points of American founding documents and the Great Global Conversation. Instead, your responsibility lies in understanding the why, when, and how (you already know who) of effective test preparation.
Where does a busy parent decades removed from his or her own exam experience begin to figure out what questions to even ask about prepping for the SAT, ACT, PSAT, and Subject Tests? How about right here?
- Is preparing for a test even worthwhile?
- How hard is the SAT or ACT for the unprepared?
- Is there a secret to score improvement?
- How does effective test preparation work?
- Should/can someone study for the ACT and SAT at the same time?
- When does an SAT or ACT class make sense?
- Can someone improve speed on the math sections of the SAT & ACT?
- Why does reading take so long to improve?
- My teen is working really hard but not seeing improvement. Why?
- What if someone’s official test scores don’t match practice scores?
- Is retaking the SAT or ACT worthwhile?
- How can I support my teen during test prep?
- Can 529 funds be used to pay for test prep?
Hopefully, you’ll find this a good start. If you’re looking for answers to other important questions on what the tests are, why they matter, and what you can and should do about them, just check our comprehensive FAQ page.
Mike Bergin