We’ve had a few students come through the door recently. They’ve been prepping for the current/old SAT, they aren’t scoring where they want to be scoring, and, well, they’re pretty much in a panic. If you’re in a similar situation, here is my recommendation: if you don’t feel like you’re ready yet, then let the old test go.
Here’s why:
One of the major factors that affects SAT (and ACT) scoring is experience. You get better at taking the test over time. You get smarter as you get older—notably so when you’re a high school student. If you’re planning to take the December 5 or January 23 test, you’re passing up that advantage. You’ve got to be ready now. If you aren’t, well, too bad for you.
Instead of sacrificing the advantage of experience, I recommend you switch your focus to either the new SAT or the ACT. Don’t work yourself into a fervor over a test that is about to disappear into thin air anyway. Play the long game: prep for a test that will still be around as you enter your senior year.
