There is just something daunting about the idea of sitting down to a three to four hour test that makes most people break out in a sweat. You just never feel comfortable with those sorts of people that seem to love taking those torturing tests of knowledge. But it does not have to be so bad. SAT's do not have to be this all encompassing torture device that will keep you from going to the school of your choice. With the proper SAT preparation you can find the relaxation you need in order to do well on your test. In this article we will give you some of the basics of the SAT as well as tips on how to prepare for the SAT's. It will not be as bad as you think it is going to be. You might be surprised at how well you will actually do.

What are the SATs?

The SAT Reasoning test is a three part test that measures your cumulative knowledge gained from high school studies in preparation for college or vocational coursework. It is a better way to indicate your overall knowledge than a Grade Point Average, or G.P.A., and is measured in scores ranging from 600 to 2400 for the three sections of the test. Many colleges use the SATs as a way to determine college core placement for their classes and some use the testing scores as a way to determine admittance into their programs of study.

How do the two differ?

Both are long tests that are designed to test what you have learned over the past four years in high school. The real difference comes in how the scoring is settled and what areas of the country the tests are more prevalent. SAT's tend to be the preferred choice in the West and East coasts whereas the Mid-West and South tend to use the ACT more. Both are really long tests and both require concentration. Both are also timed tests that need to be taken seriously.

I do not do well on standardized tests. How can I help myself do better?

Practice. Practice. Practice. That is the best way to learn how to take a standardized test. Some people will continuously claim that they do not do well on standardized tests but do not know the reason why. It probably has to do with the fact that it is a timed test. The best advice that can be offered or taken is to go through and answer the questions that you immediately know the answers to and then go back to the ones that will require deeper thought. This allows you to get a greater percentage of the questions finished. If you have unanswered questions and know that you do not have time to finish the problem do not leave the answers blank. It is better to take a wild guess than to automatically miss the question because you did not answer it.

Are there places online that I can take practice tests?

Kaplan is a great place to get a head start on taking the practice test for the SATs. It also offers a preparation course to help you know what to expect on the big day. You can visit Kaplan at www.kaptest.com/sat for information on the SAT and also sign up for premier SAT preparation courses that can help you review the information you will need in order to do your best on the test.