The SAT and the ACT are some of the longest-standing standardized tests in the American high school system. Their frequent mention has, in several cases, drilled the importance of the tests into the heads of school students. 

Camas High School (CHS) admin recommends students use certain platforms to prepare for these tests in order to build confidence. CHS offers several resources that aim to prepare students for the SAT and ACT tests.

Every year, CHS offers the Practice SAT, or PSAT, to a select number of students. This year, about 300 students signed up. This test is meant to prepare students, typically juniors, for the SAT.

“[The PSAT] uses the same platform, Bluebook, as the SAT does,” CHS Associate Principal and PSAT/SAT Advisor Tom Morris said. “It’s good practice and it gets you comfortable with the technology, which is helpful.”

“I’ve taken the PSAT every single year… it has definitely helped me prepare for the actual SAT,” CHS junior Avalyn Molina said.

The PSAT offers even more perks for high-scoring students who take it in their junior year.  

“One different thing about the PSAT is it is a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship. [The PSAT] opens up the door to some scholarship opportunities,” Morris said. 

There are numerous ways for students to prepare for the SAT and ACT besides the PSAT, including online practice tests.

“Revolution Prep [offers] free virtual practice tests [for the SAT/ACT],” CHS Career Information Specialist Sean Tamura said. “They do a good job of simulating pretty close to what the actual test would be like.”

“I know where to find the resources, it’s just a matter of logging in and using them,” CHS junior Esther Nyaturu, who is taking the SAT on Nov. 2, said. “I saw on the SAT website there is a practice test that they give out.”

Another common trend in preparation for the SAT and ACT, especially at CHS, is tutoring. 

“I know a lot of my friends have tutors and they’ve been tutored for the past month for the SAT,” Nyaturu said. 

Students who are unable to afford a tutor are not out of luck. There are many methods of studying for the SAT and ACT meant to accommodate low-income students. 

“If you qualify for free and reduced lunch, the PSAT is free, as long as you do all of the correct paperwork,” Morris said. 

There are also study guidebooks for the SAT and ACT that CHS students can check out.

“[The study guidebooks are] completely free for students to check out. They can check it out as early as they’d like from me, no strings attached,” Tamura said. 

The SAT and ACT themselves can even be offered at no cost for certain students. 

“Any school district that hosts the test, whether its SAT or ACT, can request fee waivers for students that qualify for things like free and reduced lunch,” Tamura said.

Some colleges have even begun changing the way they interpret SAT and ACT scores for college applications in the past few years.

“If you score really highly on [the SAT and ACT], it can definitely help your chances, but a lot of college reps have stated that they are doing their best to not let a score hurt a student’s chances of being admitted. They try to make it a positive without the negative attached to it,” Tamura said. 

CHS aims to lighten the stress of students by providing them with the resources they need to be optimistic about testing in their futures.