Dartmouth College Brings Back Standardized Test Requirements For Applicants Dartmouth College Brings Back Standardized Test Requirements For Applicants
Signage outside of the Admissions Office at Dartmouth College on February 8, 2024 in Hanover, New Hampshire. Dartmouth College has announced it will once again require applicants to submit standardized test scores, beginning with the next application cycle, for the class of 2029. Scott Eisen/Getty Images

Upcoming college students will be wrapping up this year with a new goal for 2025: acing their college admission tests.

With the last few months of your high school tailing at your back and the looming requirements you need to submit to take the tests, overall, it will not be a smooth sailing experience. Stress cannot be avoided, but whether you're facing SAT, ACT, or other standardized tests, you can still set yourself up for success with the right strategies.

1. Mind the Test Format

According to the University of Portland, each college admission test has its own format, timing, and type of questions. Get a feel for what the test you will take is all about. For example, the SAT centers on math, evidence-based reading, and writing, while the ACT adds these three sections and includes science.

What you can do is study actual test materials and do sample questions to know what to look for on the day you take the test.

2. Plan and Study

Consistency is key to preparing for admission tests. You develop a study schedule, where you break down topics to be covered into manageable chunks. You spend more time in areas where you're not so confident and practice what you have already mastered at an interval. If it helps, you can use a variety of resources such as prep books, online courses, or practice tests to make up your study routine.

3. Take Practice Tests

One of the best ways to prepare is by simulating test-day conditions. CIIT shared that when you take practice tests under timed conditions, you can feel how to pace yourself and areas that need improvement. Make sure to take time to review your mistakes to understand where you went wrong and how to avoid making the same mistake again on the actual day of your test.

Many official test websites offer free practice exams, so make use of these valuable resources.

4. Manage Your Time

Time management is the most important thing in standardized tests.

Practice answering questions within a given time frame so that you will be able to complete all sections within the time given. Learn to prioritize easier questions and come back to more challenging ones if time permits. Also, learn strategies like skimming passages and eliminating incorrect answer choices to save precious time.

5. Don't Forget to Relax

Your body and mind will affect your performance in the test, per Murdoch University. With that, ensure that you can sleep well, eat healthy food, and hydrate during your study routine and before the test. Include stress-reduction activities, such as mindfulness or exercise, in your daily routine to help you stay focused and calm.

It's also advisable to stop stressing yourself out hours before the exam as test anxiety often messes up the mind, leading to an out-of-focus state.

Now, if you still worry because you think you're not naturally-gifted in Math, Science, Reading, or other sections you'd see in the college admission tests, don't be. Acing your tests can be done with dedication and strategy. Preparation doesn't have to be a hard work as well, you can also apply techniques unique to you.

Tags College Admissions