Daily Tips for Families

Today's Tip for Families

01-27-2022

Help Your Teen Overcome Fear of College Entrance Exams

The ACT and SAT college entrance examinations can cause great anxiety for many high schoolers—which can mean that they don't do as well as they might on the tests. But learning more about the tests and how they are used can relieve some of this feeling.

It's important for students to begin by collecting information. Have your teen make a preliminary list of colleges that might be of interest. Then, by going to the schools' websites and using resources from the school counselor, have your teen find answers to two questions:

How important are scores on the college entrance exams to admittance at those schools? More schools have become "test-optional" in recent years. These schools allow students to decide whether to submit their scores or not. During the pandemic, even more schools have become temporarily test-optional. Your teen should check on the current policy of each school on the list. Schools that consider test scores in their decision-making process may give them more or less weight. Many schools publish their criteria on their websites. In some cases, students with a very high grade point average may be accepted to a college even if their SAT or ACT score is lower.
What range of SAT or ACT scores have past students had who have been accepted at those schools? Students feel less pressure if they know that a lower score will still allow them to attend some colleges they like. This information is available online, and in many books on the college application process.

Your teen should also check with the counselor's office to see whether the school offers classes to prepare students for the SAT and the ACT. Preparation is the best cure for test anxiety.

Brought to you by:

Webster County Schools

[School Success Ideas for Families]