In Episode 14 of Drop In, Lisa and Josh are joined by test prep expert Megan Dorsey of College Prep Results to tackle a part of the college admissions process that stresses out a whole lot of students and parents:

The SAT and ACT.

Which test should your student take? When should they start? How many times should they test? What kind of prep actually works? And what happens when a student knows the material but sits down on test day and suddenly their brain stops cooperating?

Megan has spent three decades helping students improve their SAT and ACT scores and brings a practical, no-gimmicks approach to test preparation. She joins Lisa and Josh to talk about test anxiety, realistic score expectations, choosing between the SAT and ACT, when juniors should begin testing, how much improvement families can reasonably expect from good preparation, and when it may actually make sense to stop testing altogether.

They start with test anxiety and one of Megan’s biggest reminders: being nervous does not mean you are bad at testing.

You do not need to feel completely relaxed on test day. You need to be able to focus. Then they get into strategy.

Megan explains why she currently prefers the SAT for most students, how the digital SAT and changes to the ACT have shifted her advice, why Desmos can be a game changer, and why families should never use an official SAT or ACT as a paid “baseline” test.

Instead, take a full-length official practice test under realistic testing conditions and use that information to build a plan. Because test taking is a skill. And skills can be practiced.

In this episode:
• What parents can do to reduce testing pressure
• Why more colleges may continue returning to required testing
• How the digital SAT compares with the current ACT
• How to determine which test fits your student
• Why you should NOT take a real SAT or ACT just to establish a baseline
• When students should take their first SAT or ACT
• How many times students should retake the SAT or ACT
• When another test attempt may actually be worth it for scholarships
• How much score improvement students can realistically expect
• When choosing not to test may actually be the right decision

One of our favorite reminders from Megan:

You do not have to feel good. You just have to be able to focus.

And parents, remember that testing is only one piece of the college admissions process.

Make a plan. Pick the test. Pick the dates. Prepare with intention. Give your kiddo the support they need. Then let them take the test and keep moving.

Want to work with Megan?

Megan Dorsey works with students through College Prep Results, specializing in SAT, ACT, and PSAT preparation. All in-person work takes place in the Sugar Land / West Houston area, including Fort Bend, Missouri City, Katy, Bellaire, Memorial, and similar west Houston communities. Outside the Houston area? Megan also works with students virtually by Zoom.

Visit collegeprepresults.com to learn more about Megan’s classes, private tutoring, and test prep options.

Need help figuring out how testing fits into your student’s larger college admissions strategy—including whether to test, when to test, where to submit scores, and how those scores fit into the college list?

Visit decisiondrop.com/contact to learn more about working with Lisa and Josh at Decision Drop.