Gamesmanship and Checkmarks in Standardized Testing Strategy

The old-school practice of taking the PSAT and SAT examinations once each is outdated and potentially unwise, according to Mark Anestis, founder of The Learning Edge.

The Weston High School Parent Teacher Organization invited Anestis, who spoke to a packed Grange on a recent Sunday afternoon.

“Three is legit – four times? Probably too much,” Anestis said, observing that for some students, test timing is everything.

Students “shouldn’t go crazy for the PSAT,” he said. “It’s all about the SAT.”

Students in “the nerd herd” who are shooting for an aggregate score over 2,100 and considering the Ivy League should “push the whole process up.”

"Often one section that’s difficult early is easier the next time,” he said. For this reason, “taking the SAT back-to-back” often raises a low score on a difficult section.

In Anestis’ opinion, these top students should plan to take the SAT in December and January of the junior year, allowing more time for applications and essays in the fall of senior year. In addition to the SAT or the ACT, top students will also have to take “section” tests that relate to specific subject areas such as history, English, or mathematics. The number of subject tests required varies by institution.

For students who are still trying to excel but aren’t ready for December SAT testing, Anestis suggests testing in January and March. If the student won’t require subject tests and won’t be taking any Advanced Placement exams, then March and May are the best options.

“Sign up as early as you can, and figure out where you’re going to take it,” Anestis advised. “A lot of people get excited about taking it at Yale, but Yale is not a place you want to take it.

“At Bunnell, a student reported that fights were breaking out in the next room,” he added. “Also, think about [whether or not] your friends make you feel comfortable.”

The College Board, which administers the SAT, returns exam results to students in about two and a half weeks. PSAT scores take longer.

Anestis also debunked some infamous myths about standardized exams, including the benefits of taking it early and the test curve.

“Very little of what you do in school [during junior year] will help you on the SAT,” he said, when presented with a question about waiting to test to accumulate additional classroom hours.

Also, according to Anestis, “the curve is determined before entering the room – it does not matter who you are taking it with.”

The ACT, popular on the west coast, is gaining traction locally, he said.

“It’s very difficult to tell right away which is better for the student,” he commented. “The ACT is becoming more abstract, [but] it’s a lot more like a subject test [than the SAT].”

On the ACT, students don’t lose points for wrong answers, so Anestis advises filling in every “bubble” on the exam. The SAT penalizes students a quarter of a point for every incorrect response.  

Anestis also noted that students who are better at math often perform better on the ACT, because although the math section is harder, there’s “not as much vocab and straightforward reading.”

Regardless of the testing choices that the student makes, Anestis strongly recommends using real College Board tests and strictly adhering to time deadlines when practicing.

Anestis also recommends thinking of standardized testing as a checkmark.

“It feels like a huge production, [but] don’t overemphasize it,” he said. “Admissions uses it as a checkmark, then looks to see what else there is” on the application.

Students who are looking at niche schools or areas of study, such as music, art or engineering, should consider working with a college advisor who specializes in those areas. In these cases, particularly for creative students, standardized testing may “take a backseat” to a portfolio or other specialized considerations. 

“The whole thing is a game,” he said. “And standardized tests are a game within themselves.”