​When you think about taking the SAT or ACT, do  you always feel like you will run out of time on the test?  Many students feel the pressure of a time limit when they are taking any test. They can be totally prepared, but just draw a blank during the test, or they rush through the exam thinking that they will run out of time.
Determining the amount of time it takes to complete a question on the SAT or the ACT can be established prior to the test because there are very specific types of test questions on these exams. Once you know how long it takes to answer a certain kind of question, you will feel less worried about the time limit for each section. The EA Team has worked with many students who improved their performance just by knowing this information. With that little bit of knowledge, students can more easily complete a section since they already know how long it generally takes YOU to answer a specific type of question.
 
Here is a step-by-step guide to determine the time it takes to answer a question.
1. Ask a friend/parent to time you with a stopwatch, which is easily found on your phone.
2. Read one question and answer it.
3. Write down the amount of time you believe it took you to complete the question.
4.Compare your belief to the reality by asking the timekeeper how long it actually took to answer the question. You can push yourself to answer the questions a little faster. Perhaps a second or two each time you practice.
Do this multiple times until you feel the result is reliable. When you are taking the test, remind yourself of the reality of time, so you can eliminate the tension caused by a time limit this type of test anxiety. You can repeat this procedure for an entire section or any passage within it. 
If you are not able to complete a specific portion of the test during the time limit, then you have two alternatives.
1.    You can push yourself to answer the questions a little faster. Perhaps a second or two each time you practice.
2.    You can decide that you will still be able to obtain a high enough score for the college of your choice if you don’t answer all the questions in that section. For example, in the reading section, you might not read a specific passage that and just fill in “B” for all the unanswered questions. Remember that it is better to focus on a specific passage and get the majority of questions correct than to race through all of the passages and only get a few correct for each one.
It is most important to set up a plan of how you will take the test before you are sitting in an exam room. Base your strategies on how long it will take to answer questions and what you will do if you encounter a passage that is extremely challenging. If you want some assistance setting up a plan, contact the EA Team to learn about the types of questions and how to speed up your response time. You can reach us by email ([email protected]) or phone (845.582.0017). 

​Taking the SAT or ACT presents a unique set of circumstances for a family. Very often students and parents seek the advice of a college guidance counselor. And if your child’s counselor really understands his/her educational needs, and that person is committed to guiding you through the college application process, then you are all set. The counselor should be able to tell you whether your child’s educational record shows that he or she would be better taking the ACT or the SAT. If not, after researching the differences, you should decide as a family based on the information collected. But don’t simply make the choice based on a neighbor or a cousin’s decision. There are serious differences between the two exams. The EA Team wants to let you know that periodically, Judy, an EA Team member, speaks about this topic to groups in a Zoom meeting. And Judy is happy to talk to you about your choice privately or if you prefer you can invite a few friends who are facing the same decision, and we will set up a Zoom meeting for you.
Whether you take the SAT or the ACT, the way a multiple-choice exam is structured presents the same issues for a student. During the exam, the test taker needs to consider the answer choices very carefully. Most students use the answer choices to help them decide the correct answer. THIS IS A MISTAKE! The test designer has designed the choices to confuse you. In order to be most successful on these tests, avoid looking at the choices to find the answer. Think of your answer first, and you will be more likely to get the question correct. Practice this technique, and you will increase your score.
Please visit our website (eatestprep.com), in order to learn more about how we can make the college application process easier for your family. If you prefer, email ([email protected]) or call Judy (845.582.0017). Our testing program for the February 12th ACT is concluding and our classes for the March 2nd SAT just began. Whichever test you decide to take, out six-week program you decide to take, you will enter the exam feeling the confidence you need to succeed.
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