Students Prep For Saturday SAT

Expert Offers Last-Minute Tips

(CBS) 
Jennifer Karan, the national SAT director with Kaplan Test Prep and Admission, says they should contact the College Board if they are interested in having their tests rescored. A couple of different services are available.

The most comprehensive is one that will score either their multiple choice section or essay section by hand for $50 each. A person will go through and make sure that everything is as it should be on the test. There's also a less expensive service for $24 which is sort of a self-check.

"After having a test rescored, all a student can do is contact the colleges and see what it is they can do. Most schools are trying their best in terms of reconsidering all the applications for the students they know that have been affected," Karan said.

So what can students taking the test Saturday morning do to score better?

Handle details ahead of time:

Karan says make sure that Saturday morning is not the first time students are heading to their test site. If they are not taking the test at their school and have not been there before, do a test run sometime this afternoon or this evening. Make sure they know where the parking is. Make sure they know where their test room is.

Recharge your mental batteries:

"Students should stop studying at this point," Karan said. If they don't know the material by now, last-minute cramming is unlikely to do anything other than create more stress. It's better to take the day before the test off, clear your mind, relax and "recharge" your mental batteries.

Get a good night's sleep, spend the evening doing something relaxing with friends or family. Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast on test day.

Stay focused:

Test day is an immensely stressful time for high school students. Don't let other people stress you out. Talking with others can cause second-guessing and anxiety. Focus on yourself. Bring your iPod or a good luck item.

"Do whatever you need to do to minimize distraction, focusing on yourself and what you need to do to be successful," Karan said.

SAT vs. ACT:

In addition to the SAT, there is a test called the ACT. Most colleges across the country accept both tests and give them equal weight.

Karan says if a student is interested in taking an alternative to the SAT, they should consider the ACT, since the tests have different testing structures and may work to a student's advantage.