| Scoring well on popular college and graduate program | | | | scores. Getting your test scores in early is best. |
| admissions tests are essential for getting into your | | | | Taking the test in the fall is certainly one option, but |
| top choice college. If you are planning to take the | | | | there will be less risk of missing any deadlines if you |
| SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT, consider your testing | | | | take your test in the spring before you begin |
| date very carefully. Believe it or not, choosing the | | | | submitting applications. |
| right testing date can make or break your top score. | | | | Have a contingency plan. On the day of your exam, |
| As with any standardized test, strategy is everything. | | | | you might get sick. Or your car might break down. |
| Here are some ideas for making the most of your | | | | There are a lot of things that have nothing to do |
| testing date. | | | | with your ability that could affect your test score. If |
| Preparation is everything. If you know how your | | | | your bad day happens on the last possible test date, |
| particular test is structured, and the types of | | | | you're out of luck, you have miss some important |
| questions you are going to face, than you certainly | | | | application deadlines or simply have to live with a bad |
| have an advantage over those that don't. Make sure | | | | test score. However, if you give yourself plenty of |
| that you budget time to adequately prepare for this | | | | time and have another test date ahead of you, you |
| all important exam. Some students choose to study | | | | will have another chance to prove your abilities. |
| during the school year and take their test in the | | | | That's why it's best to take the test early rather |
| spring. Yet others prefer to study during the summer | | | | than last minute. |
| and take the test in the fall. Either preparation | | | | One of the most frequently asked questions is |
| method is fine as long as you're ready to do your | | | | whether or not you should take the test again if you |
| best by your scheduled test date. Be realistic about | | | | get a bad score. Unless you earned the hard to |
| the amount of time you are willing to spend preparing | | | | attain, "perfect score", the possibility exists that you |
| and see it through. | | | | could do a little better next time. However, wanting a |
| Wait until you're ready. Each standardized tests | | | | better score isn't necessarily a good basis for |
| measures the same aptitude and skills in the same | | | | retaking the test. Consider the pros and cons |
| way every time. Although questions themselves may | | | | associated with taking the test again. Factors to |
| be different, the content you need to know will be | | | | consider would be the added preparation time, new |
| the same. There's really no point in taking a | | | | testing fee, and so on. Consider whether or not |
| standardized test if you aren't prepared. If you're not | | | | these factors are outweighed by a higher score |
| ready, you won't do your best, and you'll probably | | | | before making your decision. |
| want to take the test again anyway. | | | | Achieving a good score on your standardized test of |
| Coordinate your testing and application dates. | | | | choice is important in the overall application process. |
| Submitting your college or graduate program | | | | Follow the tips outlined above to make sure you |
| application is great, but most admission offices won't | | | | have chosen the best testing date to score your |
| look at an application until it's complete. This means | | | | best. |
| that your application has to include all required test | | | | |