Almost two years ago I wrote a blog post about 850 reasons to NOT stress about the SAT and ACT.
Now there are more than 1,000 reasons.
Check out this list produced by FairTest of over 1,000 colleges that "do not use SAT and ACT scores to admit substantial numbers of students into bachelor-degree programs."
Cue the sound of a valve turning and pressure releasing.
Do you hear that? That is the sound of the release of any stress and pressure around the SAT and ACT. With over 1,000 schools that don't care about your test score, why should you stress?
Stress clouds the brain. An unstressed brain learns better than a stressed brain. Walk into the SAT or ACT stressed out and your score will drop.
The first step in any test prep is to remove as much stress as possible from the process. My students repeat the following mantra over and over: "Stress is the enemy of test performance."
It's okay to use a little stress to get focused and prepared but too much stress will lead to miserable testing experiences and performances. So use this latest update from FairTest as confirmation that you need NOT stress.
Sure, you may be interested in schools that are not on this list. Schools not on this list still weigh SAT and ACT test scores heavily in the process of admission. However, at a minimum, the schools on the FairTest list offer terrific alternatives.
So don't stress. Let your brain work and learn to its full capacity. Consequently, your confidence and your score will improve.
For studying advice on the SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT and academic subjects, contact CROSSWALK.
The ACT and the SAT are basically a numbers game. Scaled scores, raw scores, percentiles, number of correct answers to achieve your goal score, total questions, total minutes per section, points per minute, etc. It's all about the numbers.
But there is one number that is guaranteed to get your more successes on the SAT and ACT.
Failures.
Yes, failures. The more failures you achieve, the more successes you build.
It's the most basic numbers game of all and it is one salespeople know too well. If you want more sales, then go out and seek more rejection. Each rejection can teach you how to sell more and along the way some of those rejections will become successes.
Same with the ACT and SAT. The more times you fail at a particular question type or section, the more you will succeed. You can learn from your failures and along the way you will figure out how to achieve more success.
It's not rocket science, it is just time on task. Put in the time, try problem after problem, dissect your score reports and learn how to get better.
As Napoleon Hill once said, "Patience, persistence and preparation make an unbeatable combination for success."
I love students who come to me to say "I bombed that test." The failure they see in their mind is a step closer to success in my mind.
Learn from your failures with CROSSWALK, the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT and academic subjects.
Test prep advice is coming to your radio in 2018!
Turn your radio dial to 91.9 KSPB every Thursday from 4:00-5:00pm as I host the Test Prep Radio Hour.
Join me as I play tunes and dish out study tips on how to prepare for the SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT and other standardized tests as well as general study advice.
Students will learn how best to prepare for standardized tests and parents can learn how best to support their learners.
If you live near the Monterey Peninsula, turn your FM radio dial to 91.9 every Thursday from 4:00-5:00pm. If you do not live locally, you can live stream the Test Prep Radio Hour at www.kspb.org.
Call me during the show at 831-625-5078 or tweet me @brookewhiggins with your questions or comments. I will be sure to answer your questions on air.
Best of all, this is totally free!
And don't forget to contact CROSSWALK about the upcoming SAT/ACT Winter Test Prep Series.
CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for academic tutoring and test prep.
Do you hear that? That is the sound of the release of any stress and pressure around the SAT and ACT. With over 1,000 schools that don't care about your test score, why should you stress?
