12 helpful standardized testing tips

Standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT, are not the same as the tests you take in the classroom. Having a strategy is essential and you cannot cram for them the night before (though you shouldn't cram for other tests either). Use these 12 tried and true standardized test-taking strategies to impress colleges with your outstanding scores.

1. Read the directions and questions carefully

Time is limited on the ACT and SAT, but there are some things worth slowing down for—and that is carefully reading through the directions and questions. It might seem that skimming through it all will save you time, but this can lead to misunderstanding. Not to mention, a lot of questions intentionally include misleading answer choices. Take the few extra seconds to read through everything—you won't regret it.

2. Answer the easiest questions first

As you read through the questions, star the challenging ones and then answer the questions you feel the most confident about first. This will help you save time, boost your confidence, and calm your fears early on. Once you've answered the easier questions, you will then be able to spend the remainder of your time going back to the more difficult questions you skipped earlier.

3. Don't leave answers blank

Neither the ACT nor the SAT penalizes you for wrong answers. Why is this good news? It means you can always take your best guess and still have a 25% chance of getting it right. Your educated guess is always better than a blank guess, so give yourself every possible shot at earning points.

4. Use the process of elimination

ACT and SAT questions tend to throw in one or two obviously wrong answers into the mix to add to the confusion. If you're having to guess an answer, you can cross out those incorrect responses to narrow down your options. This increases your odds of getting the answer right, even if you're relying purely on guesswork.

5. Watch for trick questions

You will come across questions and answers designed to trick you. Before you mark your final choice, read through the entire question and all of the answer choices. Watch for words like "least," "except," "not," or "most likely," as these can completely change what's being asked. If you see an answer choice that is "all of the above," make sure you can confidently identify at least two correct answers before selecting that choice.

6. Carefully read the passage instructions

When it comes to the reading portion of the ACT and SAT, most passages will have an introductory passage in italics. While it might be tempting to ignore it in an attempt to save some time, this is a mistake that could cost you more time in the end.

These introductory passages are included because they are meant to give you a better understanding of the context of the passage that follows. Without reading the introduction, you may find it difficult to answer the question(s) asked, or you may arrive at a wrong understanding and answer the question incorrectly.

7. Highlight key points in long questions and passages

Does a question or passage appear too long with multiple ideas or subsections integrated into it? Overly long questions and passages can be challenging to understand and difficult to answer. One way to simplify it is to mark key points as you come across them. With the key points highlighted, you won't have to waste time rereading the whole question to locate the answers.

8. Pace yourself

The ACT and SAT are timed tests, but that doesn't mean you should rush through to try to answer the questions as quickly as possible. You're bound to make some missteps if you take this approach. The more you rush, the more likely you are to make careless mistakes, misunderstand questions, or entirely miss questions.

At the same time, rushing and constant glancing at the clock can also leave you stressed. To prepare in advance, take timed practice tests (ACT and SAT) so that you are able to pace yourself when it comes to the real deal!

9. Bubble strategically

If you are having to bubble by hand, make sure that each answer you bubble in is lined up with the correct question number. Just one mis-bubble can throw everything off. You can either wait to bubble in all your answers at the end or bubble after each question. Choose the one you feel most comfortable with.

10. Have time left over? Review your answers

Use any extra time you have to review your test. This means reading back over confusing questions, reviewing your selected answers, and looking for anything you might not have caught earlier. Sometimes just taking the last 10 minutes to look everything over results in bumping up your score.

And remember, you can only work in one specific section at a time. This means that you can only look over the math section during the math portion. If you don't have time to review your answers before the math section is over, you will not get to go back.

11. Get enough sleep

Although it might seem like a good idea to stay up until 2:00 a.m. studying before the big test day, your brain will not thank you the next day. Without good sleep, you're more likely to experience brain fog, slower thinking, and poor focus. Aim to get eight hours of sleep so you're more alert and clear-headed.

12. Eat a good breakfast

Donuts might sound tempting on test day, but that's going to lead to a sugar crash, and fast. Make sure you get a balanced breakfast with protein and carbs so you can stay focused and energized through the entire test. And a little caffeine is okay too—just don't overdo it!

Follow these 12 helpful standardized test-taking strategies and you'll be more than ready for test day. By preparing ahead and knowing what to expect, you can gain the confidence you need to tackle the ACT or SAT. Make sure you take plenty of practice tests to get familiar with the format and build your stamina. You've got this!

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