High school students and guidance counselors stressing about SATs or standardized tests but why? Every colleges and universities in the US requires SATs and it is important to take these tests. Owned and developed by College Board, the SATs measures students reading, writing, and mathematical skills. There are many types of SATs; SATs, SAT IIs, LSATs, PSATs, and a couple more.
The SAT IIs focus on different subjects such as chemistry, biology, languages, history and some colleges require students to take these tests as well. LSAT, on the other hand is for Law school after getting an undergraduate degree at any liberal arts school. PSAT is a mock SAT taken by first and second year high school students.
Before taking the actual SATs, students are strongly encouraged to take the PSATs to get the feeling of the SATs. The PSAT is offered every school year, usually in the month of October, in any large International or American schools worldwide. In many high schools, guidance counselors provide study guides for PSATs and also with SATs.
Students are encouraged to take the PSAT at least once during their freshman or sophomore years. Starting junior year of high school, counselors encourage students to start studying for SATs and look for test score requirements for schools they are applying to. SATs can be taken a maximum three times and the highest scores for each section is sent together with their application to respective colleges.
Taking the SATs without taking the PSAT can be really stressful because students have no idea of how the test is structured. So taking the PSAT is encouraged to every high school student. Relax, the PSAT scores are kept confidential and College Board wont send it to schools. PSAT scores doesnt count for anything, it is a test to see if you, as a high school student, is ready to take the actual stressful SATs.
