For juniors, seniors, and some ambitious sophomores, SATs are coming up at Susquehannock on March 14.

It is important to study for the test and to be familiar with all of the terms and the format of the test.  While it is not a requirement, many students find it helpful to take an SAT prep class at either Susquehannock or elsewhere.

Junior Victoria Acton took a full SAT class herself.

“I took an SAT class at York College that was every week, and they gave us helpful tips.  I studied, and [we] did practice problems, like math problems,” said Acton.

A nice tip to know is to be aware of the directions in each testing section, so less time can be spent learning the directions and there is more time to answer the questions the day of the test.

Because there is a time limit, it is also a good idea to go through and answer all the easy questions first, then go back and work on all the more difficult questions.  This makes sure the test-taker doesn’t miss any easy points if at all possible.

SAT prep class teacher Ryan Leiphart has some advice on how students can prepare for their test.

“Get an SAT prep book; study the types of questions that are going to be on there,” said Leiphart.  “Read the directions for everything, so you know exactly what is expected of you for the test.”

Getting an SAT book is very helpful because there are lots of practice tests in it that mirror the actual test.

Additionally, the test is mainly multiple choice questions, so a good strategy for the student is to eliminate any answers that he or she is sure is wrong.  Once the answers have been narrowed down, it is easier to chose from the remaining options.

The way the test is scored, points are only lost when the student gets an answer wrong.  Consequently, the student also only gets a point if they get a correct answer.

If someone is taking the test and doesn’t have the faintest idea of what the answer might be, they shouldn’t answer because they won’t lose points.

Another helpful tip is to study in what could be considered “test day conditions.”  By studying in a quiet environment, free of cell phones and other distractions, students increase their chances of doing well when the actual test day comes around.

Senior Mark Friedhoff, who has already taken the SAT, knows how to successfully prepare for the test.

“Study for them [the SATs].  If you don’t, honestly you won’t do as well as you think,” said Friedhoff.

   There are many tips available for studying and doing well on the SATs.  Although the most important tip to remember is to actually go through with it, so go and study!