General information:
- About the SAT & ACT
- Most colleges require that you take an entrance exam. Check with the colleges you are interested in attending to find out which exams are necessary. A number of colleges do not require the SAT or ACT as a component of admission. Please refer to www.fairtest.org/university/optional to find these colleges.
- Comparing the SAT & ACT
- Learn about the new SAT
- Should you take the new SAT, the ACT, or both? Take this quiz.
- Practice opportunities
PREPARING FOR THE ACT & SAT
The best preparation for college entrance exams is exactly what you are already doing, being an attentive student. Enriching your vocabulary, reading widely, writing frequently, and practicing math concepts is your best approach. Although professional test preparation is available, research shows that taking a prep class does not guarantee that your score will increase significantly. We suggest you study on your own the first time you take the test, then reevaluate your studying options after receiving your first scores. Do not wait until a week before you take the exam.
Suggested NO or LOW-COST ways to practice:
- Read the editorial page of your newspaper and talk about what you read.
- Practice in a stress-free environment on your own time frame.
- New York Times Word of the Day
- ACT Practice Questions
- Best Colleges ACT Prep
- SAT Question of the Day
- SAT Question of the Day App
- SAT Practice Questions
- SAT Practice Test
- Subject Test Practice Questions
- The College Board Readiness & Success System
- The IUSD summer school program may offer SAT prep courses
- Irvine Valley College offers low-cost prep classes, both in person and online
Suggested Books:
- The Real ACT Prep Guide: The Only Guide to Include 3 Real ACT Tests, Author: ACT.org
- The Official SAT Study Guide, Author: The College Board
- The Official SAT Subject Tests (a separate book for each subject), Author: The College Board
SAT SUBJECT TESTS
Each SAT Subject Test covers a subject you may study in high school or are skilled in based on personal background (for example, if you are fluent in a language other than English). Only a limited number of colleges or majors require Subject Tests. While SAT Subject Tests are not required for UC admission, some campuses recommend that students vying for slots in competitive majors take the tests to demonstrate subject proficiency.
