Improving Test Scores by Chaundra

Improving Test Scores by Chaundra - December 2016 Scholarship Essay

The preparation for college is more intense than some people may admit. Prior to being involved in this process, I thought I had it figured out. In my mind I thought all I needed was good grades, money for tuition and acceptance into a college to be successful. However, the admission process for each school is totally different. Some schools require only a few steps for admission, where some schools want you to sell yourself. In selling myself, I had to have good grades, good SAT or ACT scores, good writing skills for personal essays and money.

I can relate taking SAT and ACT test like learning to ride a bike. It is not common for people to be as confident the first time trying something new. The first time I took my PSAT, I did not feel confident. Not feeling confident caused me to second guess my answers, lose focus and feel like I did terrible. This is not a good feeling when those high scores are needed for the schools you are really interested in. To add to my nervousness, the SAT test changed completely this year.

Taking the new SAT was nerve wrecking. I wanted to be sure what to expect, what materials to study and if my scores would be good enough. Well, I am proud of myself because I improved in two different areas: Reading/Writing and Math. My reading/writing score improved from 320 to 450. Also, my math improved from 400 to 510. Improving those scores showed me that studying, being more confident and praying makes a big difference. This has given me a big confidence boost in knowing I can achieve anything I put effort into.