What are SATs?

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is a standardized test for college admissions in USA. SATS are tests high school students typically take in 11th to 12th grade. There are three sections in the test - writing, reading, and math. It is said that SAT measures critical thinking skills that are needed for academic success in college. For example, they'll ask you basic logic problems on the math such as word problems instead of advanced calculus and ask questions on grammar and reading comprehension instead of on your knowledge of particular pieces of literature. They are graded on a scale of 200-800 for each section. The grading can be somewhat complicated, but generally a 500/800 or 1500/2400 overall is average. It's like an “IQ test.”

College's weigh SAT and GPA as the highest. Depending on if you want to attend a community college, a Division 3, Division 2, or Division 1 every school can take a different approach. (Basically Division 1 are big universities like Stanford, UCLA, Division 2 schools are smaller and somewhat cheaper than D1, and Division 3 tends to be small private school, and expensive colleges.)

SAT scores can make or break your college entry at Division 1 schools, however most Divisions 2 and 3 schools have summer classes you can take if you don't get your scores up high enough, which is reassuring! Sometimes GPA can balance out a lower SAT score.

If taking the SAT you should also take the ACT, it is just like the SAT except not tricky and ridiculous- it is straight up math and logical reading questions. Plus the essay is optional!

I asked Rafael Sario, a current senior in KCHS, how the SAT was for him and he said, “ I think it went okay- except the essay writing. I feel I didn’t have enough time for it.”

His tips for students are, “Vocab is a big thing in the SATs, so study for it! You won’t know all the words but just try and learn. I saw some words that I have never seen in my life!”

My oldest sibling, Sandra Puga, took her first SAT test in the fall of 2010. She is currently a sophomore in Fresno State University. I asked her how the SATs were and she said she didn’t do as well as she expected her first time so she retook them and scored a much higher score. “I think everyone should take the SATs, my first time I didn’t do well so retook it and did better. Go in with a good attitude and try your hardest!”

My recommendation is to go in confident and focus on the one subject area you want to improve on.