Navigating the SAT Landscape: A Guide for Freshmen and Beyond

The SAT, a standardized test widely used in college admissions, often looms large in the minds of high school students. But what about freshmen? Do freshmen take the SAT? This article explores the role of the SAT for freshmen, both in high school and college, and provides guidance on navigating the ever-changing testing landscape.

Laying the Foundation: High School Freshmen and the SAT

While formal SAT preparation might not be necessary for high school freshmen, there are several fundamental skills they can develop to prepare for future standardized tests and college applications.

Building a Strong Academic Base

The knowledge tested on the ACT and SAT is primarily taught during the first two years of high school. Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, and English classes are crucial. Rather than simply aiming for a passing grade, students should strive to deeply understand the material. Complete and incomplete clauses, fractions, and linear equations are examples of concepts that will be beneficial on standardized tests. Treat these classes like the pre-test prep classes they really are!

Expanding Vocabulary

Learning vocabulary is a life skill that will improve reading comprehension and writing. While the ACT does not directly test vocabulary, and the Digital SAT tests vocabulary within context, a broader vocabulary will help students understand what they read and express their ideas fluently. Students can look up unfamiliar words in their reading materials, choose more challenging reading sources, or use vocabulary-building books or apps. So what does this look like in real time? Well, take the time to look up words you don’t know in your school (and non-school) reading, choose more challenging news and leisure reading sources, or grab a vocab book or even a “word a day” calendar or app.

Cultivating a Love of Reading

Reading comprehension is crucial for success on the SAT. The best way to improve reading comprehension is to read regularly and widely. Students should try to read a little every day, exploring different kinds of material. Fun fiction counts, as long as you’re consistently encountering words you don’t immediately know. All this side reading also makes you a more thoughtful and educated person.

Read also: Pre-Med Path

Honing Number Sense

While the Digital SAT does not have a no-calculator Math section, basic number sense and math fluency are crucial for acing the Math sections of either the SAT or the ACT. Even though you can use your calculator throughout the entirety of both tests, you’re probably not going to finish all the questions if you have to perform every single minor arithmetic calculation-or worse, calculate them wrong. Know your addition, subtraction, multiplication and division tables cold. When you’re out at a restaurant, calculate the bill or the tip or the sales tax in your head first, before bringing out the iPhone. Even an estimate is better than waiting for the cashier to figure it out for you! Are you at a baseball game and see a batting average of .273? Try figuring out what that really MEANS.

Familiarizing Yourself with the PSAT

Many students find it helpful to take a practice PSAT to understand the types of questions, pacing, and directions on the test so that they won’t be surprised. You can start looking at it the summer before sophomore year, and it's just that-looking.

The Shifting Landscape: Test-Optional Policies and Holistic Review

The vast majority of US colleges and universities have been test optional-- or even test blind-- for the past two admissions cycles. Some schools have announced a several-year trial period, while others have completely eliminated testing requirements going forward. The University of California schools are test blind, for example, and schools including Bowdoin, University of Chicago, Franklin & Marshall, George Washington, and Sarah Lawrence have announced a permanent test-optional admissions policy. Test optional admissions is so favorable to higher ed-- it allows a school to recruit whom it wants, from athletes to under-represented students-- that I anticipate the trend is here to stay for the vast majority of schools.

Deciding Whether to Test

Because most schools are now and likely will be test optional for the foreseeable future, students have the freedom to decide whether to take the tests. The bottom line for admissions is that if you can obtain a score at or above the median for a school’s admitted student population, you should submit scores. If not, you probably should keep them to yourself. You also may decide, based on your assessments, that testing is not right for you. The best news in college admissions today is that students who don’t test well don’t need to spend time and money on test prep anymore.

Taking the SAT in College: Why and How

Yes, you absolutely can take the SAT in college. There is no regulation that forbids it. While high school scores typically suffice, there are situations where taking the SAT in college might be beneficial.

Reasons for Taking the SAT in College

Job Applications and Scholarships: More and more job applications are requiring test scores, and there are scholarships out there for people who score within a certain range.
Transferring Colleges: It's immensely important for anyone thinking about transferring to do research into the specific requirements of the school in question. Many schools require test scores from potential transfers. Some have different requirements if you transfer in your first or second year versus if you transfer later on. Some schools recommend including test scores under certain circumstances, but not others-this is often related to how soon after high school you began your college career. Still other schools are test-optional or test-blind. In other words, they don't require scores. At test-optional schools, you can send scores if you wish, and at test-blind schools, your scores will not be considered under any circumstance. This applies to both transfer students and applicants going into college for the first time.

The Logistics of Taking the SAT in College

Logistically, the process is almost identical. You'll be at the same sort of test center, and you'll register the same way. This will involve answering a number of questions about basic personal information, courses taken, etc., as well as submitting a photograph of yourself.You'll be taking the SAT at one of the same test centers as all the local high school students. When you register online, you can easily search for and select the most convenient option. You may have some options; you may be able to choose a location such as a local university or community college campus.

However, there are some differences:

Identification: If you're 21 years old (or older), a student ID is unacceptable identification on test day.
Waitlist: If you're 21 years old (or older), you simply cannot be placed on the waitlist.

Preparing for the SAT in College

You will still need to prepare, just like any high school student. Don't dismiss this step-it's crucial. Remember that the SAT tests high school topics, not college topics. There are likely to be a few fundamental concepts that you've gotten rusty on. This may be especially true depending on your major. Some of the material on the SAT may feel ancient and unfamiliar. This will not do; you've got to get handy with this content. There are many helpful resources out there, such as those created by the College Board's officially endorsed resource, Khan Academy.

The big question is how to prepare for the test. There are some great SAT prep resources out there, such as those created by the College Board's officially endorsed resource, Khan Academy.

Understanding the Current SAT Format

Additionally, you should be aware that the SAT recently underwent a complete overhaul. If you're in college now, you likely took the SAT on the 2400-scale (if you did take it). We're now on a 1600-scale. Some content has been redesigned, abandoned, or added. Sentence completion questions, asking you to define vocab with minimal or no context, are gone. Trigonometry, on the other hand, now makes an appearance. The essay no longer asks you to argue an opinion but to analyze a passage.

Read also: Do Colleges Care?

Maximizing Your SAT Timeline

Many students find the ideal SAT timeline involves taking the test during the spring of junior year as a baseline assessment and then revisiting it in the fall of senior year. This dual approach allows for a comprehensive skill-building journey, culminating in the pursuit of the highest possible score. In the end, it's not only about reaching your dream school but also about reaching your full potential on this crucial academic journey.

Embarking on the SAT journey during the fall of your senior year brings forth a multitude of advantages, among them being the opportunity to become acquainted with the test's nuances. For many students, junior year marks their first encounter with the SAT. While the PSAT does bear a resemblance to the SAT in terms of structure, it's important to note that they are not identical entities. It provides a platform to gauge your familiarity with the test's unique question types, time management requirements, and overall test-taking experience. Taking the SAT under real exam conditions allows you to navigate the intricate dance between stress and time constraints, revealing your strengths and areas in need of improvement. By embracing this early SAT challenge, you pave the way for a strategic approach to future tests. You gain insights into the specific strategies and tricks necessary to effectively conquer each section. In essence, this initial test-taking experience becomes a cornerstone in crafting a well-informed gameplay for your SAT endeavors.

Lastly, attempting the SAT during your junior year will give you the opportunity to be more prepared during your senior year. After taking the SAT during the spring of junior year, you will have the whole summer to prepare for this test. This will be the ideal time to prepare as during the summer most students do not have classes. Having fewer distractions allows students to have more time to learn the curriculum needed for the exam.

Potential Drawbacks of Senior Year Testing

Though there are many positives, taking your SAT during your senior year may have many drawbacks such as a limited time for retakes. Taking the SAT during your senior year will give you a limited amount of time to take the test before college application deadlines. This may put increased pressure on students to perform well, which can be hard as a senior year can be busy with extracurriculars, coursework, and college applications which can be overwhelming. The SAT can be a challenging exam and preparing for it can be mentally taxing.

Kennesaw State University (KSU) Example

Kennesaw State University (KSU) provides a specific example of how test score requirements can vary.

GPA-Based Requirement: Students who have a GPA of 3.2 or higher may not need to submit an ACT or SAT score. However, students with a GPA of less than 3.2 should submit official ACT or SAT scores along with their high school transcript to be considered for admission.
Future Requirement: Effective for students applying for Fall 2026 or beyond, all first-year applicants will be required to submit SAT or ACT by admissions deadlines.
Transfer Students: You will need to submit official test-scores even if you have completed less than 30 transferable credit hours of dual enrollment course work.
Submitting Scores: You may enter your scores on the application, but KSU will require official scores sent directly from the testing agency before making a final admissions decision.
Superscoring: For the SAT, KSU will take the highest Evidence-based Reading & Writing section and Mathematics section if there is more than one set of scores. For the ACT, KSU will take the highest ACT English or Reading and ACT Math scores if there is more than one set of scores. KSU doesn’t superscore SAT with ACT scores.
Checking Application Status: You can check your application status via the Pathway to Enrollment Portal. In the Portal, you are provided with a checklist of items KSU has and has not received.
Missing Test Scores: If your application shows "incomplete" due to missing test scores, log in to your College Board or ACT account and send your official test scores to Kennesaw State.
Multiple Tests: You only need to submit scores from one test (ACT or SAT). However, if you take both exams, you are welcome to send all scores.
Testing Early: KSU recommends that students test early!

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