SAT testing important first step in college applications

By Gisselle Washington | Staff Writer |

Students will have the opportunity to take the SAT test Saturday, Nov. 3 at Roosevelt High School at 7:45 a.m. The SAT test is required in most applications to a four-year university for college-bound students and tests in subjects such as reading, writing and language, and math.

“Taking the SAT or ACT is super, super important because pretty much every single four-year university in the state is going to require those test scores and the earlier you take it, the better, because then you have a little more time if you’re not happy with your score to get that score up,” college and career advisor Matthew Reynolds said.

Students can take the SAT as many times as they want until they are satisfied with their score and the College Board, the organization that administers the test, offers official test prep materials through program Khan Academy, a website where you can create your own study plans and practice review questions.

“They have really incredible SAT prep, and you can use that and you can actually link it to your college board account so you can see your old PSAT scores and your old SAT scores,” Reynolds said. “So then you know on this section on the SAT ‘I took the first time I did really poorly but I did really well on his other one’ so then it kinda works with you that way with stuff you struggle with more. The more hours you spend on that the higher your score will be from test one to test two.”

SAT scores help colleges understand a students overall academic performance and could be the make or break of getting into a student’s desired school.

“I’m both anxious to get it over with and scared that i’m going to completely mess it up,” junior Corbin Meaders said.

He wants to attend MIT in undergraduate to pursue aerospace engineering.

“ [regarding SAT and its impact] It’s pretty important since mostly the college I want to get to has certain requirements and levels I have to get on the SAT.”

College board requires students to bring a form of ID such as a driver’s license or school ID on testing day in order to officially be administered the test.

“Then in addition to that, they need a few number 2 pencils, calculator for the math sections that require a calculator, and then a snack for the breaks that are going to be between the sections and make sure to get a good night sleep,” Reynolds said. “Good luck. It’s really stressful. You have to be here early on a Saturday and do that, but it’s a really important step. It’s stressful and a lot of work, but taking it is so worth it.”