National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.
If you are ready to take your recruiting to the next level, click the Get Scouted button below to be evaluated by an NSR College Scout.
Get Scouted Scouting CareersThere is no easy way to say it, standardized test scores are terrifying. No one wants to take the ACT or SAT but unforunately they’re required.
With so much riding on the outcome, taking a standardized test ranks up there as one of the most stressful and dreaded things in a teenager’s life.
The History of the Standardized Test
Since the College Board came out with the SAT in 1926, high school students have cringed, cried and cowered at the thought of sitting in school early on a Saturday morning along with a hundred or so other freaked-out teens.
The SAT and the ACT, which emerged in 1959, are the qualifying tests many American colleges require for admittance. Moreover, for high school athletes, they are also required by the NCAA for determining initial eligibility for incoming first-year students.
Taking either of these tests can be nerve-racking. So much rides on the results. Regardless of whether a student has dreams of being accepted by an Ivy League school or their favorite state-supported university, scoring as high as possible matters. In some cases, an excellent score could change one’s life.
How Does this Relate to Student-Athletes?
At National Scouting Report, our scouts are continually encouraging student-athletes to take the test early in their high school careers, probably no later than their junior year. We do this to the chagrin of some guidance counselors, but in athletics, it is essential to post a score early.
College coaches need to know if an athlete will have the grades necessary to be admitted into their institutions. See, many colleges and universities have admittance standards much loftier than those set for initial eligibility by the NCAA. And student-athletes wanting to get into those schools face tremendous pressure to post numbers at or above their potential.
Sometimes students are happy with their scores, other times they are not.
Athletes who wait to take the SAT or ACT until they are seniors are putting themselves at a disadvantage. If they can meet the standards a school needs, they can stay in the hunt for a scholarship. They also can become eligible by the NCAA to qualify for any affiliated school wanting to recruit him or her.
Prepping for the SAT or ACT is another matter. Many student-athletes don’t give it much thought. They should.
Much of what can influence student-athletes test scores is common-sense stuff. Other things, however, require more time and effort and can mean a financial investment.
Here are five tips for scoring as high as possible:
Get Help
Many high schools offer a class on how to take a standardized test and score better. Take this course and pay attention. If your high school doesn’t offer a test prep course than find one online, like uScore Test Prep. Doing well on the SAT or ACT could impact the academic money you receive from a college.
Get More Help
Some areas are fortunate enough to have qualified tutors available to coach students on how to score higher on the tests. If you can afford them, and you think that your athlete needs extra help, go for it. If not go online and find test prep that’s affordable for you. Both the SAT and ACT offer tips and tricks to help students understand their tests. Just visit their websites and take a look at what they have to offer. It is imperative that a student-athlete, especially one who struggles with test taking, adds some test prep into their schedule.
Get Rest
The amount of sleep a student-athlete gets the night before the test could be the most critical influence on their outcomes. This tip can be hard to manage because of high school games and activities scheduled the night before. But it must be done. Research proves that eight to nine hours of sleep helps students focus better.
Get Relaxed
Practicing relaxation techniques before taking the tests can mean a significant difference in the final score. Often, test takers experience stress during the test, probably because of the length and the pressure they feel to perform well. So, practicing relaxation techniques will help them when they start to feel stressed.
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.