RocketReview Revolution

Not all of these questions will be relevant to your situation now, but sooner or later most or all of them will be relevant. Read through the list of questions below and check off the ones you find that bear on your immediate or upcoming situation. Read these questions first, you can skim the others later. Since many of these questions involve long-range planning, however, have your parents read through all the questions.

1. What is the SAT?
2. What’s on the test?
3. How important is the SAT?
4. What’s a good SAT score?
5. When should I take my first SAT?
6. What if my school says I should take the SAT I on a certain date?
7. How many times can I take the SAT?
8. Who definitely should—and who definitely shouldn’t—retake the SAT?
9. Isn’t it true that my SAT score will go up each time I take the test?
10. Will colleges take only my best SAT scores?
11. Will my school sign me up for the SAT like it did for the PSAT?
12. Should I Take the SAT First Without Preparing?
13. Can I prepare for the SAT entirely on my own?
14. What should I be doing on my own to prepare for the SAT?
15. When should I start preparing for the SAT?
16. If I’m thinking about taking an SAT course or tutoring program, how do I decide which one to take?
17. What is the PSAT?
18. How is the PSAT different from the SAT?
19. Are my 11th grade PSAT scores good predictors of my 11th grade SAT scores?
20. Should I prepare for the PSAT?
21. What are the SAT II tests?
22. Do all colleges require the SAT II’s?
23. Which SAT II Subject Tests should I take?
24. Should I take an SAT II Subject Test if my teacher suggests it?
25. When is the best time to take an SAT II?
26. Can I take more than one SAT II on the same test date?
27. Should I prepare for the SAT II’s?

About these questions

I know you’re confused about many things surrounding the college application process. It’s not that I’m psychic, I know this about you because every high school student is confused about the college application process—and specifically about the SAT. Your parents say one thing about the SATs. Your college advisor says another. Your favorite teacher says yet another. A senior you know says still another.

Much of the advice you get about the SATs and the college application process is well-intentioned, but much of it is misinformed. What’s more, not everyone who offers advice has your best interests solely in mind. Some people have other interests to consider (like the interests of other students), and some people are trying to sell you something (like an expensive course or tutoring program).

The advice I give here, then—as is that given throughout the book, is completely objective, and is based on my experience with thousands of students. And my sole goal is to maximize your performance on the SAT and related tests.