SAT Advice
By: Sean Redburn

Stress, anxiety, and tension are words that some students may consider synonymous with the SAT's. This test is used to measure verbal and mathematical reasoning skills and is looked at by colleges for scholarship grants. Understandably, some students might worry about taking it, but there are strategies that can be used to raise your score.
Common ways to prepare for the SAT are signing up for SAT Prep courses, taking the PSAT, or picking up a workbook on the market. Two good places to go for help are Kaplan and Princeton Review, which have the most well-known SAT guides and programs. The Web also has an abundance of information and advice, some of it for free.
According to Mrs. Zerbe, the SAT Prep teacher here at Dickinson, the SAT is not an intelligence test. Instead, it measures specific skills that can be studied in advance. Students should spend as much time as is needed to be comfortable with all the directions and types of questions. Additionally, students should prepare for the verbal and math sections through their own studying. Taking a Prep course helps by making the test material familiar and easier to deal with. More importantly, it will teach methods that can be used to get the best score possible. Make sure to manage time efficiently. Questions for each section are arranged from easy to hard, so definitely try to answer the easy ones.
As Mrs. Zerbe said, "Hard questions and easy questions are worth the same points! Remember, your job is to gain as many points as possible."
The SAT does not have to be intimidating. There is plenty of time to practice for it, and there are methods to use to make it easier. The most important thing to remember while taking the SAT is that the test can be retaken if the score is not satisfactory. Don't forget to bring a pencil!