Guiding your high school student through college entrance exams can be intimidating, especially for parents who are navigating the process for the first time. But there’s no reason to worry. While you may not be able to teach trigonometry, you can still provide the support and guidance that all students need as they move towards the next chapter of their lives. Here are some tips:

Know the Basics

The two most widely used college entrance exams are the ACT and the SAT. Both are designed to assess a student’s academic readiness for college-level coursework.  To help your high schooler perform to the best of his/her ability on one or both of these tests, it is important to know a bit about each, as well as how they fit into the overall process of college admissions. Key details to be aware of include:

• Some colleges require scores from one test specifically, while others allow students to take and submit scores from either. Once you know where your child plans to apply, it will be easier to determine which test should be taken.
• College admissions advisors recommend that students begin taking the SAT and/or ACT as early as possible during their junior year of high school.
• Students can take both the ACT and the SAT multiple times. Encourage your child to view a disappointing score as an opportunity to do better next time.

Seek Expert Advice  

A wealth of information about college entrance exams – and how to best prepare for them – is available to both students and parents. In fact, an entire test prep industry revolves around helping students raise their scores.

Ellie Grossman Cohen, who has already been through college entrance exams with one child and is now going through the process again with her second, strongly suggests that parents hire a tutor. “Of course every student is different and results vary,” she admits. “But if the student focuses, studies, and learns the necessary test-taking strategies, it should pay off.” Grossman Cohen knows firsthand that when a student works with a qualified tutor, test scores can often go up by a couple of points. She reminds parents concerned about cost that working with a tutor can raise not only a student’s test scores, but also his scholarship potential. “It’s all worth it if it means more scholarship money,” she advises.

Focus on Your Family

While many students benefit from tutoring, it isn’t the right fit for every family. Ultimately, how you help your child prepare for testing will depend on several factors, including your budget and how much preparation your child needs to achieve his desired outcome.

A strong student who is highly self-motivated, for example, might prefer working independently through a study guide or workbook. Companies like Kaplan Test Prep and The Princeton Review offer small group classroom courses for the more traditional learner. If you simply cannot afford to spend extra money, free sample questions and practice tests for both the ACT and SAT are available online.

Every student is unique, so what matters most is tailoring a plan that best meets your child’s needs and goals. If you start to feel overwhelmed by the many options before you, the high school guidance counselor is an excellent resource for clarification.

Show Your Support

Even if you are unable to help with the academic aspect of college entrance exams, your support is still crucial to your child’s success on testing day. Make sure that he gets plenty of rest the night before, and insist on a healthy, protein-packed breakfast. Also review test-taking basics, like the importance of being prepared with several sharpened #2 pencils and reading all directions thoroughly before answering any questions.

Remind students of the importance of good study habits in the days and weeks leading up to the test. “I knew he would do well,” says Barbara Gremaud of her son, now a freshman at Washington University in St. Louis. “But he needed time management help. I drove him to the library a couple of times to study so he was not at home, distracted.”

Maintain a Positive Attitude

High school students, especially those with learning disabilities or test-taking anxiety, need to recognize that ACT and SAT scores represent only one portion of the college admissions process. Since most children – yes, even teens – take cues from their parents, one of the best things we can do for them is to model a calm, positive attitude about the entire process.

Remind your child that, while it is important to perform to the best of his ability, it is even more important to see college entrance exams for what they truly are: a stepping stone designed to help students find their way as they embark on the exciting next chapter of life.

The ACT vs. the SAT

The ACT:

• Is a curriculum-based test, designed to measure what students have learned in school.
• Is comprised of four sections of multiple-choice questions.
• Covers four subject areas (english, mathematics, reading, and science).
• Lasts a little more than 4 hours.
• Does not penalize for incorrect answers.
• Includes an optional writing test.

The SAT:

• Is more of an aptitude test, with an emphasis on reasoning and vocabulary.
• Is comprised of three sections (math, critical reading, and writing).
• Includes multiple choice questions, grid-in math questions, and an essay.
• Lasts for 3 hours and 45 minutes.
• Penalizes students for incorrect answers.
• Features several optional subject tests, which allow students to display advanced knowledge.