5 SAT Myths Debunked

This post is brought to you by The College Board. All opinions are my own.

It feels like forever and a day ago that I took the SAT for my college applications. Looking back, there’s a lot I would have done differently in terms of SAT prep, along with taking the test more than one time.

As they say, hindsight is 20/20— but my advantage now is my teen daughter can learn from missteps and be 100% prepared when the time comes for her to take the SAT (which is sooner than I care to admit!).

First things first, though. The SAT has changed a bit since we took the test. Those annoying analogy questions are now gone, and the essay is now optional!

Additionally, one of the most exciting changes is that the College Board now offers free SAT test prep, with Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy — Oh, how I wish this was available when I was in high school!

Even with these new advantages, there are still some myths swirling from when I took the test in the 90s...I’m here to debunk them once and for all, so you can share the good news with your college-bound teen.

5 SAT Myths Debunked

Myth #1: There is no financial advantage to taking the SAT.

→ Fact: The SAT connects you to over $220 million in scholarships and merit aid that can make your dream education more affordable.

Myth #2: You only need to take the SAT if you want to go to college on the East Coast.

→ Fact: The SAT is accepted everywhere. Colleges and Universities do not have a preference of which admissions test the applicant sends.

Myth #3: If you don’t know the answer to a question on the SAT, you should leave it blank.

→ Fact: It’s better to go with your best guess! There’s no penalty for wrong answers, so you have nothing to lose.

Myth #4: You shouldn’t take the SAT again in case you don’t do as well.

→ Fact: 2 out of 3 students improve their scores when they retake the SAT.

Myth #5: The SAT is harder if you take it later on in the year.

→ Fact: Every version of the SAT is the same level of difficulty.

Over the next few months, I will be sharing even more tips to help your teen prep for the SAT as well as answer questions about college planning and SAT registration for the March 10th test.

Be sure to follow the hashtag #ChoosetheSAT along with The College Board on Twitter and Facebook for even more great info.