How to Improve ACT and SAT Scores in High Schools

Schools can offer programs to help students improve their SAT or ACT scores.

The letters "SAT" can strike fear into the heart of even the most academically gifted high school student. Students know the importance of acing a standardized test; for many students, how they perform on the SAT or its counterpart, the ACT, can dictate whether they will be accepted into the college of their choice. Most high schools recognize the great deal of pressure these tests place upon a student and offer programs to help students improve their scores.

Things You'll Need

• Online course licenses
• SAT and ACT practice tests

Instructions

1. Enhance vocabulary lessons. Having a strong vocabulary is one of the most critical steps students can take in improving their standardized testing scores -- especially when it comes to the SAT. Not only will a strong vocabulary help with the test's sentence completion section, but it also will help students' reading comprehension skills. Starting as early as ninth grade, students should be learning root words, prefixes, suffixes and college-level vocabulary.

2. Purchase online course licenses. CollegeBoard, the organization that administers the SAT, offers an online version of its SAT preparation course at satonlinecourse.collegeboard.com. High schools can purchases licenses for this course, which features several full-length practice tests, lessons for each component of the test, and many lesson quizzes to help students enhance their scores. Similarly, the ACT Online Prep course at actonlineprep.com features practice tests and lessons for each of the test's content areas -- English, Math, Reading and Science.

3. Create a separate SAT and/ACT Preparatory class. If your school district's budget permits, create a class where students concentrate solely on improving their SAT or ACT scores. In this class, students can take practice quizzes, analyze their results and study strategies for improving their scores. This class can be based upon the online courses or created entirely from scratch. If your school's budget does not allow for the formation of such a class, try to embed SAT or ACT lessons into your regular lesson plans at least once a week.

4. Develop a tutoring program. Ask academically gifted upperclassmen and/or willing English and math teachers to create an after-school study group for students who wish to improve their SAT or ACT scores. Your school can offer one-on-one or small group tutoring, depending on the number of students who are interested.

Tips & Warnings

• Course materials to prepare for the SAT and ACT are available for free on the Internet. Start first with www.collegeboard.com and www.actonline.com; both sites offer sample test questions and strategies for acing the test.

References

• The Official SAT Online Course
• ACT Online Prep