Prepare Yourself  
to Do Your Best
Knowing what to expect will help you do your best 
on standardized tests, as will studying and practicing. 
Use these resources to learn about the SAT and ACT, 
access practice tests, and work on trouble areas: 
•Test prep books explain the sections of each  
test and the topics covered and offer test-taking 
strategies and practice tests. ACT and the College 
Board publish official prep books available at  
libraries or for purchase. Look for the most recent 
editions to ensure the prep materials are up to date.
•Test prep classes give you hands-on help. Course 
fees may vary, so ask your school counselor or 
search online for a course within your budget. Check 
out: Kaplan Test Prep, www.kaptest.com; and The  
Princeton Review, www.princetonreview.com. 
•Online test prep courses can cost less than  
classroom courses. The College Board and ACT  
offer online test prep courses. Personalized online 
test prep is also available from Peterson’s,  
www.petersons.com.
•Free test prep resources are available online.  
“Official SAT Prep” is at www.khanacademy.org/
digital-sat. Sign up for a free, four-week SAT boot-
camp at www.schoolhouse.world/w/sat-bootcamp.
•Word lists and homemade flash cards will help  
you build your vocabulary. 
•Your friends also can be your study partners. Form 
a weekly study group with friends to prepare together.
•Your school can be a helpful resource. Check for any  
SAT prep clubs at your school, or if one is not offered, 
ask your math and/or English teacher for support or 
additional resources to help you prepare for testing.
Test Costs and Fee Waivers 
The SAT costs $68. The ACT costs $70, plus $25 for 
the optional Writing section and $5 for the optional 
Science section. Eleventh and twelfth grade students 
with qualifying family income can apply for fee waivers 
to take the tests and report their scores to colleges  
for free. Ask your school counselor if you qualify. 
Learn more at:
SAT: satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration/
fee-waivers                 
ACT: Visit www.act.org and search “fee waiver.”
Check https://www.act.org/content/act/en/ 
products-and-services/the-act/registration/fees  
to stay up to date on the ACT fees.
Be Ready for Test Day 
Follow these tips to do your best on test day: 
•Do not cram the night before. Get a full night’s 
sleep and eat a healthy breakfast.
•Get directions to the test center in advance.  
If you are unfamiliar with the location, take  
a practice run to make sure you know where you  
are going. Remember: most public transit changes 
its schedule on weekends. Arrive at least 20 minutes 
early on test day.
•To learn more about what to bring on test day, visit:
SAT: satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/what-to-bring-do
ACT: Visit www.act.org and search “test day.”
•Stay positive and relaxed.
•Remember: the SAT and ACT do NOT define your 
academic ability!
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Preparing for the SAT 
The College Board has helpful tools to prepare you 
for the SAT. We recommend taking these steps:
• If you need a laptop to take the SAT, you can request 
one at satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/device-lending
• If you are using your own laptop for the test, review the  
list of approved devices at bluebook.collegeboard.org/ 
students/download-bluebook 
• Download and familiarize yourself with the BlueBook  
testing app at bluebook.app.collegeboard.org
• Take the Official SAT practice tests at  
www.khanacademy.org/digital-sat
Pathways  
 to  Prosperity

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