Should You Continue to Prepare for the SAT or ACT During Coronavirus Uncertainty?

Should You Continue to Prepare for the SAT or ACT During Coronavirus Uncertainty?

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted our lives in countless ways as we strive to stay as safe and healthy as possible. Schools have shifted to distance learning, and many activities and events have been postponed or canceled; this includes the SAT and ACT exams. High school students are caught in limbo wondering when and if they will have the opportunity to take these exams, and if they will have their scores for college applications.

Fortunately, both the College Board and ACT are exploring options to enable students to take these exams online, possibly starting this fall. They are also looking at new dates for in-person exams depending on guidelines regarding social gatherings and safety requirements. In either case, students should continue preparing for the SAT or ACT so they feel ready when exam time arrives.

Take advantage of available time. Now that students are learning from home, they have more flexibility. Distance learning takes up less time than school-based learning because there is not time spent on transitions, waiting for the class to be ready or get materials, etc. Students can work independently on assignments. In addition, they do not need to prepare for final exams or state testing.

This means that some of that time can be devoted to SAT or ACT prep. There is less stress and pressure because there are no looming deadlines in the immediate future, giving students more time to study and familiarize themselves with what they need to know.

Create a schedule. Set aside a certain amount of time each day or each week to review for the exam. You can pick different areas to focus on each time, or break down topics that you find challenging. Use a variety of resources so material is presented in different ways and you can find what works best for you.

Seek professional help. Just because you’re practicing safe social distancing doesn’t mean that you’re forced to prepare for exams on your own. You can sign up for online SAT prep courses through Crafting Scholars and get the one-on-one support you need to tackle exam strategies and content.

If you’re unsure about whether you would be better suited to take the SAT or ACT, Crafting Scholars offers a hybrid assessment that provides feedback to guide your decision. In addition, both SAT and ACT baseline assessments are available to help determine your strengths and areas for improvement, as well as the type of approach you use in answering questions. This can be incredibly beneficial in empowering you to prepare more effectively for these exams in order to do your best.

While some colleges and universities are waiving SAT/ACT requirements, having these scores can provide additional support for your application. It gives reviewers even more insight into you and your capabilities, especially since final grades for spring 2020 will likely be pass/fail or based on work completed up until schools were shut down.

Crafting Scholars makes it easy to take these baseline assessments by delivering the test to your home and picking it up when you are finished. There are also a variety of online courses available to help you stay on track with your learning and make the most of these challenging times. Contact Crafting Scholars today to learn more!