These long, boring tests and how well you score on them are a factor when you apply to college. Your scores also help determine what scholarships you’ll get once you’re admitted to Texas Wesleyan or any other university. Start preparing now, and set yourself up for success later.

Sophomore year is about practice

During your sophomore year of high school, you’ll probably take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) or the Pre ACT. Don’t worry, these tests don’t count on your college application. They're just for practice. This is a great time to check out the admission requirements at the school of your dreams. Use your scores to gauge which areas you need to improve in before you take the real SAT or ACT.

Junior year is when it really starts to count

Your junior year of high school is an important year in your college search process. This year, you’ll start taking the SAT and/or ACT. Your scores count for real and are submitted to a university with your application. You want to rock these tests and we have two ways to do it.

1. Don’t wing it

This isn’t like the time you didn’t study for your driving test, but still passed and got your license anyway. Take an SAT prep class or grab an ACT study guide. You should spend more time studying for this test than any other you've taken before. Everyone wants to get in to their first-choice school and this is your first step to making that happen.

2. Take your test early

Let’s say the first time you take the test, you don’t get the score you wanted. That’s OK. If you take the test early, you’ll have plenty of time to take it again before you start submitting your college applications. Some colleges will take what's called your "super score." They consider your highest section score from every time you've taken the test. But before you think about taking the test again, review your study guides and practice tests.

Don’t let these acronym tests intimidate you. Take the right steps to prepare for your test today and we know you’ll be successful. To help you out, we’ve created a checklist of important things to do during your sophomore and junior year in high school.

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• Paying for college 101: The basics of financial aid
• 3 ways to think about choosing a college major