Students prepare for SAT testing

The SATs will take place on April 13th with the days following set aside for Freshmen and Sophomore PSATs. “PSATs help to understand the different types of questions that they ask and practice the types of questions that you know you’re not good at,” D’Ambra said.

"Writing Exams" by ccarlstead is marked with CC BY 2.0.

The SATs will take place on April 13th with the days following set aside for Freshmen and Sophomore PSATs. “PSATs help to understand the different types of questions that they ask and practice the types of questions that you know you’re not good at,” D’Ambra said.

Anthony Steffens, Ranger Review Reporter

Bella D’Ambra 11 and Jackson Strahan 11 prepare for SAT testing, taken on April 13th. They see the test as a helpful process for college preparation and readiness.

“It’s a really good opportunity to help you with college applications and the higher the score you have, the more likely you are to get into a college that you want,” D’Ambra said.

The PSATs that freshmen and sophomores take are seen as useful tools for preparing good test-taking habits and general test preparation.

“I did pretty well on the PSATs and they were a good benchmark to know exactly what the SAT is but with lower stakes. I highly recommend taking them before you take the SATs so you know exactly what you’re getting into,” D’Ambra said.

Studying is different in the SATs to other tests due to its less content based questions, leading it to be a better metric of general high school knowledge and college readiness in the way of preparation.

“You can’t study specific questions because it’s different every time, but you can study the types of questions like the reading ones or practice and look over your grammar or your vocab lists,” D’Ambra said. “For math, you can practice algebra and other basics. That takes some time, but otherwise, getting some sleep the night before is the most important.”

Regarding stress and anxiety surrounding the test, Strahan identifies the causes and possible solutions to test day hardships.

“If one goes into it with that mindset that it could say on what you will do in the future and what your life might come to, that definitely could be a mental strain, especially on people with high expectations of themselves and from others,” Strahan said.

To take the test itself, D’Ambra decides on a more relaxed approach and attitude.

“I think the best thing you can do is just treat it like it’s a test and nothing else,” D’Ambra said. “Just answer the questions as they come to you.”