Improving your score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT may be necessary if you want to be admitted to your favorite university. While studying is one aspect of improving your score, some improvement can also be made by learning the nature of the SAT, practicing the test, preparing your body and using smart test-taking skills.

The Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT reasoning test, is something that many college-bound high school students dread. It was designed to measure how well a student would be able do in college, since grading standards and course rigor varies depending on which high school you attended and what teachers have been employed for your education.

In 2007, approximately 1.52 million students took the SAT.USA Today: Average SAT Scores Remained Flat in 2008 (August 26, 2008) Test scores for the SAT can range from 200 to 800.About.com: Are My SAT Scores Good Enough? Average scores on the different tests were:

• Reading test: 504 for males and 500 for females.
• Math test: 533 for males and 500 for females
• Writing test: 488 for males and 501 for females.USA Today: Average SAT Scores Remained Flat in 2008 (August 26, 2008)

Since these scores are much lower than what is required for the most prestigious schools, many students want to work to improve their SAT scores.About.com: Are My SAT Scores Good Enough? How much you can improve your SAT score depends on a number of factors. Typically, the most a person can expect to raise their score is about 60 to 70 points. However, it is not impossible to raise your total score by 150 to 300 points. A good general conversion factor to keep in mind is that, in order to raise your overall score by 50 points, you will need correctly answer four additional questions.FamilyEducation.com: How Much Can You Raise Your SAT Score?

Practice makes perfect, so taking your time as you study can really pay off. Although you shouldn't expect to get a perfect score on your SAT, practicing in advance will help you in several ways.

1. It will help you know where you stand and where to focus your studyingBookRags: How to Improve Your S.A.T. Score
2. It can build your confidence so studying becomes less stressfulhttp://innerstressmanagement.blogspot.com/
3. You may feel more prepared so that you are able to take time away from studying to get the rest and relaxation you need before the actual testhttp://www.bookrags.com/articles/43.html

• Understanding how the SAT test is designed will help you improve your scores. Some of these are small things, but can make a big difference.

1. You can use a graphing, scientific or four-function calculator, and you should make sure you know how to use your calculator before taking the test.The Gadget Panel: Can a Calculator Improve Your SAT Scores? Yep! TI Has the Studies to Prove It! (September 25, 2007) Calculators are only allowed on the mathematics test. You may not use a calculator that is part of another device such as a computer, pocket organizer or cell phone or that has a QWERTY keypad or electronic writing pad.CollegeBoard: SAT Calculator Policy
2. Make sure you fill in all circles darkly and completely.CollegeBoard: SAT Test Day This simple step, if done wrong, can cause you to get an answer wrong that you answered right. Answer sheets are scored by a computer, which won't be able to tell your intentions.
   1. Use a No. 2 pencil on the answer sheet. You cannot use mechanical pencils because they might not have the right lead and can punch through the answer sheet.CollegeBoard: SAT Test Day
   2. Erase all unwanted marks completely.CollegeBoard: SAT Test Day For best results, bring a good, soft eraser to use.CollegeBoard: Scoring Quality Control
3. Leave an answer blank rather than taking a random guess. Because of how the SAT is scored, you lose more points for an incorrect answer than for leaving an answer blank.AdmissionConsultants: SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Test Preparation Tips
4. SAT math questions increase in difficulty in each section on subject tests. You will be better off reviewing your earlier questions then spending too much time on the last ones.AdmissionConsultants: SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Test Preparation Tips

• You will find a lot of literature online which suggests that taking test prep courses will help raise SAT scores. However, it is not known exactly how much these courses really help students. Here are a few things you should know before you spend money on a course:
  1. Test prep courses can cost several hundred dollars.PBS Frontline: Secrets of the Sat: Interviews: Jonathan Grayer
  2. According to research done by the College Board, test prep courses will only boost your score about 26 points.Duke University: Test Prep Courses: Helpful or Hype? (Summer 2005) This is much lower than the 100 plus points stated by the people who run test prep centers.PBS Frontline: Secrets of the Sat: Interviews: Jonathan Grayer
  3. Many test materials can be obtained for free online or at the public library.Duke University: Test Prep Courses: Helpful or Hype? (Summer 2005)
  4. In a test done by Consumer Reports WebWatch in 2005, a free website called Number2.com scored as well as the more expensive sites that offered test prep courses.Number2.com: Free Online Test Prep Consumer Reports WebWatch: College Test Prep Takes a Test - A Review of Ten Online SAT Test Preparation Services
  5. Many online test prep sites reviewed by WebWatch also contained mistakes and technical glitches.Consumer Reports WebWatch: College Test Prep Takes a Test - A Review of Ten Online SAT Test Preparation Services

• One of the best ways to improve your SAT score is to set up your own study plan.

1. Although you should review each subject area, spend most of your time studying and practicing your weakest area.AdmissionConsultants: SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Test Preparation Tips
2. You can find free test materials online or at the public library.Duke University: Test Prep Courses: Helpful or Hype? (Summer 2005)
3. Obtain at least two test prep books. Test questions found in guides made by the test manufacturers, in this case the College Board, are usually be better than questions in other guides. However, other guides will give you better study and test-taking techniques.AdmissionConsultants: SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Test Preparation Tips
4. Use flash cards to study vocabulary.StudyBeans: 10 Steps to Earning a High SAT Score This will help you on both the essay and reading portions of the test.
5. Mix up your study plan by using different methods like computer programs in addition to books.StudyBeans: 10 Steps to Earning a High SAT Score

• Most people focus on preparing the mind and forget to prepare their body. However, this step does not take a lot of advance preparation. You will need to start about 24 hours before the test.

1. Get a good night's sleep.CollegeBoard: SAT Test Day
2. Eat a good balanced breakfast. Eating too much or too little can interfere with your ability focus. WebMD suggest a breakfast of 100 percent fruit juice, a whole grain bagel with salmon, and a cup of coffee is the best to help concentration.WebMD: Brain Foods Pictures Slideshow: What to Eat for Better Concentration
3. Dress in layers.BookRags: How to Improve Your S.A.T. Score That way, you can add or remove clothing if you get hot or cold.
4. Wake up in plenty of time to get to the test center. Running late will only increase your stress levels.BookRags: How to Improve Your S.A.T. Score
5. Have everything ready to go the night before.BookRags: How to Improve Your S.A.T. Score This includes gathering together your pencils, calculator (with extra batteries), a snack, your photo ID, SAT admission ticket, directions to the testing site and anything else you may need.CollegeBoard: SAT Test Day
6. Relax.Not Your Average Admissions Blog: Can You Improve Your SAT/ACT Score? (August 25, 2008) Being a little worried is fine because it will help keep you alert and task-oriented, but too much can cause mental blocks, panic, muscle tension, headaches, memory loss and other ailments.Muskingum College: Test Anxiety
   • -Check out Mahalo's pages on Relaxation Techniques and How to Cope with Stress for more information.

• When taking the ACT, it is wise to make use of good test-taking strategies such as:

1. Write in the test book!
   1. Mark questions you are unsure about and go back.Eric Clearinghouse: Making the A: How To Study for Tests (October 1995)
   2. Read actively by making margin notes and marking up reading passages.SparkNotes: Reading Passages: The 11 Most Common Mistakes
   3. Cross out answers you know are wrong.CollegeBoard: Test-Taking Approaches
   4. Cross out irrelevant information.CertCities.com: Certification Exam Skills 101: Test Taking Tricks & Tips
   5. Underline key words.CertCities.com: Certification Exam Skills 101: Test Taking Tricks & Tips
   6. Make diagrams.CertCities.com: Certification Exam Skills 101: Test Taking Tricks & Tips
2. Frequently check that you are marking your answers in the right spot on your answer sheet.Eric Clearinghouse: Making the A: How To Study for Tests (October 1995)
3. Read the question carefully. Scanning instead of reading can cause you to misinterpret the question and select the wrong answer.AdmissionConsultants: SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Test Preparation Tips Make sure you know exactly what the question is asking before you mark your answer.
4. Eliminate any answers that are deliberately wrong.AdmissionConsultants: SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Test Preparation Tips
   1. Answers that use the words always, never, all and none are usually incorrect.Muskingum College: Test Taking: Multiple Choice
   2. Answers that use the words seldom, generally, most, tend to, probably, and usually are generally correct.Muskingum College: Test Taking: Multiple Choice
5. Try to come up the answer before looking at the ones provided.Eric Clearinghouse: Making the A: How To Study for Tests (October 1995) This will prevent you from becoming confused.
6. Be careful before choosing "all of the above" or "none of the above."
   1. Don't choose "all of the above" unless you are certain at least two of the choices are right.Muskingum College: Test Taking: Multiple Choice
   2. Don't choose "none of the above" unless two of the choices are incorrect.Muskingum College: Test Taking: Multiple Choice

• Remember, you are penalized for incorrect answers on the SAT, so making an educated guess is not your best option. However, if you can eliminate one answer choice, you should go ahead and make an educated guess.SparkNotes: Reading Passages: The 11 Most Common Mistakes Here are some tips on how to make an educated guess.
  1. Look for two answers that are similar except for one or two words.Eric Clearinghouse: Making the A: How To Study for Tests (October 1995)
  2. Look for answers that are opposites.Muskingum College: Test Taking: Multiple Choice
  3. Eliminate answers that do not grammatically complete the sentence.Eric Clearinghouse: Making the A: How To Study for Tests (October 1995)
  4. Eliminate answers that include a number that is too high or low or a date that is too early or late.Muskingum College: Test Taking: Multiple Choice

• While getting a low score on the SAT might seem like the end of the world, you should not give up on your college dreams. A wide range of factors could have interfered with your ability to your best on the test. As the saying goes, "If at first you fail, try, try again."