1. 盡快開始：早日完成您的目標(biāo)以及所需的準(zhǔn)備工作是一項(xiàng)重要的收益。一旦你知道你將使用什么考試分?jǐn)?shù)，大學(xué)申請(qǐng)過程的許多方面將進(jìn)行得更加順利。

誠(chéng)然你的招生文章，成績(jī)和推薦信在你的申請(qǐng)中扮演著重要的角色，非 常高或非常低的分?jǐn)?shù)會(huì)讓你排除某些學(xué)?；蛘咴趽裥r(shí)變得更加現(xiàn)實(shí)。您的考試成績(jī)可以幫助縮小或擴(kuò)大您的選擇范圍。

2.? 考慮你的PSAT經(jīng)歷：當(dāng)然，對(duì)于一個(gè)學(xué)生來說理想的情況是在第一次嘗試ACT或SAT時(shí)能做得很好。然后，學(xué)生可以專注于申請(qǐng)過程的其他要素。選擇哪種測(cè)試最適合你是另一個(gè)話題。

你最終能否做到這一點(diǎn)取決于許多因素，但最好的早期指標(biāo)之一就是你的PSAT分?jǐn)?shù)。

PSAT是一個(gè)有用的晴雨表，它可以讓你為SAT或ACT做好準(zhǔn)備。如果你在PSAT上表現(xiàn)不錯(cuò)，考慮在你的十一年級(jí)選擇下一個(gè)有空的ACT或SAT考試。當(dāng)你的記憶力和考試技巧還是新的時(shí)候開始行動(dòng)。如果你做得好，你可以繼續(xù)前進(jìn)。然而，如果你的表現(xiàn)不盡如人意，你也將會(huì)有充足的時(shí)間來改善你的結(jié)果。

3.評(píng)估獎(jiǎng)學(xué)金含義：某些州在很大程度上基于平均分和標(biāo)準(zhǔn)化考試分?jǐn)?shù)的組合提供全額或部分獎(jiǎng)學(xué)金給州立學(xué)校。

例如，阿肯色州的居民如果分?jǐn)?shù)高于一定水平并且GPA等于或高于3.5，則可獲得每年10,000美元的獎(jiǎng)學(xué)金，學(xué)費(fèi)和食宿費(fèi)用。在就初步進(jìn)行入學(xué)考試可以讓你更好得到這樣的機(jī)會(huì)。

4.重新考試是非常重要的：沒有關(guān)于多少次考試是太多次的規(guī)則和規(guī)則。然而。真要粗略地說，考SAT或ACT三次以上表明計(jì)劃不夠好。

請(qǐng)記住，大多數(shù)學(xué)院和獎(jiǎng)學(xué)金計(jì)劃將考慮您的最高分。如果您作為十一年級(jí)學(xué)生完成了考試，但沒有達(dá)到成為您的第一選擇學(xué)校競(jìng)爭(zhēng)申請(qǐng)人所必需的分?jǐn)?shù)，請(qǐng)?jiān)谶M(jìn)一步學(xué)習(xí)后重新參加考試。

總的來說，SAT和ACT的最佳策略是在十一年級(jí)時(shí)最優(yōu)地選擇時(shí)間進(jìn)行考試。這使你能夠更好地將時(shí)間和資源專注于大學(xué)申請(qǐng)的其他部分。當(dāng)然如果有必要，你完全可以在十二年級(jí)的11月份安排參加考試。高年級(jí)的高分會(huì)比低年級(jí)的平庸分?jǐn)?shù)要好得多，并且成為申請(qǐng)中的關(guān)鍵。

The college-bound student, then, must complete at least one of the ACT or SAT exams. Considering the schedule of the average high school student, with its admissions essays, athletics, extracurricular activities and other standardized tests – think the APs – when should you sit for an entrance exam: as a junior or senior? Here are some things students should know about the process as they decide.

1. Begin as soon as possible: The early completion of your goals – and the prep that entails – is a significant benefit. Many aspects of the college application process will proceed far more smoothly once you know what test scores you will use.

While it is true that your admissions essay, grades and letters of recommendation play critical roles in your application, very high or very low scores can eliminate certain schools or make "stretch" colleges more realistic. Your exam results can thus help narrow or broaden your options.

2. Consider your PSAT experience: Of course, the ideal situation for a student is to do very well on the ACT or SAT on his or her first attempt. The student can then concentrate on other elements of the application process. Choosing which test is best for you is another subject entirely.

Whether or not you will ultimately be able to do so rests on a number of factors, but one of the best early indicators is your PSAT score.

The PSAT is a useful barometer for your readiness for the full SAT or ACT. If you did very well on the PSAT, consider selecting the next available exam date for the ACT or SAT in your junior year. Act while your memory and test-taking skills are fresh. If you do well, you can move on. If you do not do as well as you hoped, however, you will have ample time to improve your results.

3. Assess scholarship implications: Certain states offer full or partial scholarships to state schools based largely on a combination of grade-point average and standardized test scores.

Residents of Arkansas, for example, are eligible for a scholarship of $10,000 per year toward tuition, fees and room and board if they score above a certain level and have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Taking entrance exams early in your junior year allows you to better pursue such opportunities.

4. Retake as necessary: There is no rule about how many tests is too many. Roughly speaking, however, sitting for the SAT or ACT more than three times indicates poor planning.

Remember that most colleges and scholarship programs will consider your highest score. If you completed the exams as a junior, but fell short of the mark necessary to be a competitive applicant at your first-choice schools, retake the exam as a senior after further study.

Overall, the best strategy for the SAT and ACT is to take your chosen test as early as possible in your junior year of high school. This enables you to better focus your time and resources on other parts of the college prep process. If necessary, however, you can generally sit for the tests through November of your senior year. A high score as a senior is better than a mediocre score as a junior – and planning, as always, is key.