A student’s SAT score is often the most important piece of their college application. While grade point averages can vary wildly based on schools, teachers, course selection, and other factors, colleges can look at SAT scores and know that each student took the same SAT test under the same conditions on the same SAT scoring scale. This allows them to more directly compare students’ college preparedness. For this reason, a high SAT score can open doors to college scholarships, honors programs, and acceptance to prestigious universities, while a lower SAT score may be the reason that a student is not admitted or placed on a college admissions waitlist. While many factors are also very important in the college admissions process–grade point average and extracurricular activities, for example–the SAT is the single biggest opportunity for a high school junior or senior to make a giant leap toward their academic future.

Because the SAT can put so much pressure on a single day’s performance, it is important for students to be properly prepared. Remember: you take the SAT on one day, but effective SAT preparation generally takes several weeks, if not months. While it is intended to be a test of how prepared a student is for college, in most cases the SAT is even more a test of a student’s ability to prepare for the SAT itself. Fortunately, Veritas Prep has an expert-led SAT prep course that can help students master SAT skills and strategies and be confident in their ability to maximize their SAT score on test day.