The stress of these tests is huge, but reading the scores can be just as intimidating. Prior to taking your test of choice, (it doesn’t hurt to take both, if you are still undecided) you can arrange to have your scores sent directly to the colleges and universities of your choice, but you’ll want to know your scores, and what they mean, to see if all your hard work paid off.

For those taking the SAT, the following information can help you become comfortable with reading your SAT test scores so that you’re ready when you receive them.

Your SAT score will be on a scale of 200-800, with the lowest being 200 and the highest score being 800. There are also sub scores ranging from 20 to 80 used for the multiple choice writing questions. The scores for the 25 minute essay section of the test are different from the rest of the test and range from two to 12. Each essay is scored by two different readers on a scale of one to six, and their combined scores are what give the final score between two and 12.

With the SAT, there are a lot of comparing factors. It is important for colleges to see how you scored in comparison to all other students in your graduating class that plan to attend college. The percentile portion of your SAT scores will compare your test score to other test takers in your state, as well as the entire group of people that took the test. If you receive a percentile for the state of 73, that would mean that your score was higher than 73 percent of people within your state that took the test. Your total SAT score will be made of a combination of both your multiple choice scores, which account for 70 percent of your total score, and your essay section, which accounts for 30 percent of your total score.

You can also now arrange to see your test scores online two to three weeks after taking your test. The numbers may seem confusing, but if you know how to read your scores and what colleges are looking for, they can be a great asset to planning your future.

Taken from College Board

Students who study with the Princeton Review are guaranteed to see results after studying with expert instructors and comprehensive study materials. The Princeton Review has small class sizes to guarantee personalized attention and customized courses to make sure you can attend a course at a time that is convenient for you.

Luckily for everyone who has to take a standardized test soon, the Princeton Review has extended some of their best offers through early May. So, if you missed out on National Testing Day, but still want help preparing for a standardized test, the Princeton Review has several great options for you to choose from to help you kick standardized testing booty.

Here are the extended offers that the Princeton Review is currently offering:

1. If you are taking the MCAT or LSAT, the Princeton Review is offering $250 off both classroom and LiveOnline courses or tutoring to all students who enroll before May 4, 2010.

2. If you are stressing out about a GRE or GMAT test, the Princeton Review is offering a free LiveOnline fundamental math workshop if you enroll in any GRE or GMAT tutoring, classroom, or LiveOnline course before May 4, 2010.

3. And if studying for the SAT or ACT has got you down, you can save $150 on any classroom, ultimate, online, and LiveOnline course or tutoring course if you enroll before May 3, 2010.

Click here now to save on these new Princeton Review offers and save an additional 10 percent off as an EDUInReview.com member.

Evidently the people at the Princeton Review have heard several people share my same concern. They have declared March 20, 2010 as National Testing Day they are offering a free full-length, SAT, ACT, or PSAT practice test to anyone who signs up.

Why should you wake up early on a Saturday to take a test that doesn’t count for college admissions? By taking the practice test, you will become familiar with the test’s format, learn the best way to pace yourself, and receive a personalized score that shows your strengths and weakness. This will give you time to study differently, if necessary, and improve your chances for the actual test.

Everyone is different, so the way everyone studies is also different. This also determines why some people do better on the ACT or the SAT. The Princeton Review gives tips for which test is best for different people, but if you want to try the ACT when you are more of a SAT person, this is the perfect opportunity to give it a shot.

This is a great opportunity to take a real SAT, ACT, or PSAT test with absolutely no risk.

Sign-up at Princeton Review

And keep these SAT/ACT study tips in mind on March 20!

 Grockit is an online test prep and collaborative learning tool that allows students to practice tests in the three ways they naturally study – alone, with peers, and with experts. This guest blog was written by Jordan Schonig, a writer for Grockit.

It’s the ultimate showdown between the frightening acronyms: SAT or ACT? Which test should you take? On which test will you score better? You may and should have a lot of questions like these as standardized testing seasons rolls around.

First, find out which tests are accepted at the schools you’re applying to. You will rarely find a school that only accepts the ACT; the SAT is still the more standard of the two, and nearly all colleges accept it. Most colleges on the east and west coasts still require the SAT, though the acceptance of the ACT is steadily increasing.

It is your job to review the application requirements for each prospective school; if the wording is unclear, call the school.

If you’ve discovered that you have your choice between the two tests, you’ll want to learn a bit about each test and your strengths and weaknesses as a test taker. According to the test-makers, the SAT is a “reasoning-based” test and the ACT is a “knowledge-based” test. The SAT strives to test your ability to reason your way through tricky, and sometimes deliberately confusing–questions. The ACT, on the other hand, tests your expected knowledge accumulated through high school courses. Experts say that adept test-takers excel at the SAT, while exceptionally studious and industrious students excel at the ACT.

To really figure out which test is for you, however, don’t waste time trying to place yourself in one of these rigid categories, most of you are somewhere in between. The best way to make your decision is to try practice tests; identify which test you are more comfortable with and which test you score better on.

Before you begin exploring, though, here are some key differences in academic content that may aid your decision:

• The SAT tests vocabulary; the ACT doesn’t.
• The ACT’s writing section is optional; the SAT’s is mandatory though some colleges neglect your writing score.
• The ACT includes a scientific reasoning portion that tests your ability to analyze scientific data and research; the SAT doesn’t.
• The ACT’s math section includes trigonometry (about seven percent of the section); the SAT math section does not exceed algebra 2.
• The SAT penalizes wrong answers; the ACT doesn’t. Guess away.

Let these distinctions aid your decision-making, but be sure to experience each test before coming to a conclusion. Your high school should offer the PSAT and PLAN, the respective practice exams of the SAT and ACT.

If you happen to be a waffling overachiever who performs equally well on each test (thanks for making the rest of s look bad), taking both tests may be right for you. This way, the admissions office will accept the higher of the two scores. For most, though, one test is certainly enough.

Also read:

• Good SAT score
• SAT Test Day

Every day, when you visit this page at The Princeton Review, EduInReview.com readers receive a special 10% discount on a number of online and classroom prep courses.

During September, that discount has been extended to save $150 on SAT on ACT Essentials courses (9/1/09-/30/09), and save $250 on MCAT, LSAT, GMAT and GRE classroom or LiveOnline Courses (9/1/09-10/1/09).

The standard 10% discount, available here, is applicable to the following exams:

> PSAT
> ACT
> SAT
> LSAT
> GMAT
> MCAT
> GRE
> USMLE
> DAT

Read on to learn more about what The Princeton Review can do for you!

The Princeton Review offers both online and classroom courses to help students of all ages prepare to take one of the most important exams of their lives. These prep courses will help to alleviate some of the test day pressure and jitters as students will feel more confident and have clearer expectations.

Additionally, The Princeton Review

• Guarantees its results
• Offers expert instructors dedicated to helping students succeed
• Provides small classes yielding greater one-on-one attention
• Offers comprehensive and current study materials
• Makes tutoring groups available
• Customizes course scheduling

Visit The Princeton Review now to receive the EduInReview.com special discount, and see complete offer details.

Additionally, The Princeton Review has several published books for SAT prep, the best colleges, and other testing study guides. Find them here.

Although more and more students are taking the ACT each year, the average score is staying about the same. The average score on the ACT was 21.2 out of a possible 36. The score has gone up since 2006, when the average score was only 21.0.

Cynthia Schmesier, president of ACT’s education division, is actually quite happy with these results. Schmesier expected a larger drop in the average ACT score, due to the more diverse student population who is taking the test today than five years ago.

Schmesier said “one would reasonably expect a drop (in the average scores, but) we’re not seeing that, which to us is a positive indication.”

However, the report did find some scary stuff:

• 40 percent of students have problems with common grammatical issues, such as when to use an adverb vs. an adjective, or to make sure the verb agrees with the subject in a sentence

• 40 percent could not perform long division involving percentages

• 30 percent were unable to determine which details were important to a text on the whole

And the big one:

- Only 23 percent can be expected to make as high as a “C” in any of their math, English, reading or science classes

So Class of 2010, it’s your turn. Start studying for those ACT tests! With a little practice, maybe you can raise the average score for the first time in four years.

Via USA Today

Or, at least it used to.

Now, thanks to a movement among some of the highest ranked colleges and universities, submitting your SAT score is optional. This is the SAT-Optional Movement and anti-SAT-enthusiasts have been singing its praises. More than 800 institutes are now test-optional, which means that students do not have to submit their SAT scores in order to be accepted. Some of these include These include Oklahoma State University, Texas A&M, Wake Forest and George Mason.

But why would 32 of the top 100 liberal arts colleges, according to the U.S. News & World Report, no longer require students to submit their SAT score? For years, SAT scores have been used to determine who is accepted to these schools, and who got a very polite rejection letter.

Unfortunately, it isn’t out of the goodness of their hearts.

By not including these missing, and often lower than average, SAT scores, universities can submit an inflated SAT average to the organizations that report the average SAT scores of incoming freshmen across the nation. In fact, of the 32 schools mentioned above, almost all “admitted to submitting inflated averages that did not include scores from students who did not submit them during the admissions process.”

So, what does this all mean? Possibly the SAT will not be as important to future test-takers when it comes to determining where they will go to school. However, they must also take this into account: Just because a school has an average score of 1840 on the SAT, does not mean that is the real score. The real score of schools that do not require SAT scores for admission could be as much as 75 points below what they report.

I guess what I am trying to say is that if you do have to wake up at 7:00 a.m. and go sit in that scary SAT room, try not to freak out too much.

Jonathan P. Epstein, a specialist who monitors college enrollments and admissions, explains why your SAT score might no longer be a huge deciding factor.

“With colleges and universities engaged in intense competition to recruit ever more talented and diverse students, test-optional policies become alluring,” he said. According to Epstein, another advantage of being test-optional is that more applicants will apply, therefore increasing a schools ability to be selective about who they will and will not accept, based on more than just SAT scores.

The spokespersons for five of the top U.S. college  agreed with Epstein. They said that what really motivates them are “accomplished students [with] personal qualities that can be reduced to a score on a 2400 point scale.”

Via The Washington Post and The New York Times

If you’re ready to get a good SAT score, then consider Kaplan. This is the go-to resource for college exam preparation. They’ll provide students with all the information and guidance necessary to not only get through test day, but score well.

Through July 31, 2009, when you enroll in a Kaplan comprehensive course for PSAT, SAT or ACT, you’ll receive a $300 discount.

There are three options available for the SAT/ACT/PSAT Kaplan test prep:

• Premier Tutoring: Receive one-on-one expert tutoring on your schedule and conveniently in your home.
• Small Group Tutoring: You’ll receive both expert tutoring while engaging with peers in a small group environment. This is also available online.
• Classroom Course: Expert instructors will give students the tools necessary to raise their scores while in an interactive setting with personalized attention.

This offer applies only to enrollment in PSAT/SAT, PSAT/ACT, SAT or ACT Premier Tutoring, SAT or ACT Small Group Tutoring, and PSAT/SAT, PSAT/ACT, SAT, or ACT Classroom Courses at regular retail price.

Get more details about the Kaplan $300 coupon and enroll in your test prep now.

This summer, Kaplan is offering a $100 discount on the following test prep classroom courses:

• SAT
• ACT
• PSAT
• GMAT
• GRE
• LSAT
• MCAT
• DAT
• OAT
• PCAT

At checkout, you can enter SAVE100 to redeem the $100 discount Kaplan coupon.

For students preparing to enter college, the ACT or SAT will likely be required scores for most college applications. Don’t take these exams lightly. Kaplan will help you identify which of the two tests is ideal for you, as well as provide tutoring and online or classroom instruction. All of this is geared to help you better prepare for the exam, know what to expect on test day and ultimately achieve your highest score possible.

For undergrads preparing to continue their education with an advanced degree, you’ll also be required to take an entrance exam based on your area of study. Kaplan has the test prep tools necessary for business, dental, law, optometry, pharmacy, pre-med or general graduate studies.

Visit Kaplan now to get more details, or to use your $100 discount.

A perfect score is 2400, scoring 800 in each of three areas. In 2008, the average scores for the three sections were:

• 502 – critical reading
• 515 – mathematics
• 494 – writing

Good SAT scores at major universities. (via About.com)

Scores accepted at the top liberal arts colleges are usually in the 700s. At Harvard, those scores skim closer to 800. At public universities, scores for each section of the SAT range from 540-740.

If you do plan on attending a public university, you might not need to even worry yourself with the SAT score. There are currently more than 800 schools that have eliminated SAT and ACT scores as criteria for admission, saying that a student’s high school record is a better indictation of their qualifications. These include Oklahoma State University, Texas A&M, Wake Forest and George Mason. Even if you’ve already taken the exams, don’t fret, including your scores is optional.

Source: Yahoo Buzz