Get Ready

5 Strategies That Lead to Success
IT’S ALMOST TIME TO TAKE THE

SAT AND ACT.
With the input of some of our most successful students,
California Lutheran University has compiled five proven test-
taking strategies to help you prepare for the SAT and ACT.
These tips will give you confidence as you take another
important step toward your college career. Let’s get started!
2,963
UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENTS
What should I do to prepare? For structured help, there
are professional companies that offer test preparation
for a fee. While the prices for tutoring and classes can be
expensive, there is a selection of free study aids online,
including those on the SAT and ACT websites.
Should I answer all the questions? Yes! There’s no
penalty for guessing, so make sure to not leave any answers
blank. Even if you don’t know the correct answer, chances
are good that you can recognize one or more of the wrong
ones. Eliminating choices that you know are incorrect also
increases your odds of spotting the right one.
How much time should I spend on each section?
Standardized tests are timed, so work efficiently. Make sure
you have enough time to finish each section and review your
work. Scan over each section and answer the easiest questions
first. This gives you more time to concentrate on the difficult
ones.
Are my test scores the most important part of my
college application? No. Admission committees consider
much more than test performance. A low score certainly won’t
ruin your chances, and likewise, a high score won’t guarantee
admission.
Please note that some test sites fill up quickly.
For the SAT: For the ACT:

Go to sat.collegeboard.org for Go to actstudent.org for tips
a free study guide, to take a about
practice test, and to register for taking the ACT and to register
a test (you can find a schedule for
of upcoming dates and sites). an upcoming test.
Test and registration fees: Test fees:
SAT: $47.50 ACT (no writing): $50.50
SAT with essay: $64.50* ACT (plus writing): $67.00*
Average SAT score for Average composite ACT score
California Lutheran for California Lutheran
University admitted University admitted
students: 1161 students: 25
*If test fees are a barrier for you, check with your high school
counselor. You may be eligible for a fee waiver.
25
MINUTES TO
THE PACIFIC
OCEAN
300+
DAYS OF
SUNSHINE
30
MINUTES TO THE
LOS ANGELES AREA
1. READ MORE, KNOW MORE.
Regular reading of magazines, online articles, and
books is the best (and easiest) way to improve your
EBRW Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score. And
a steady diet of reading just might give you the answers
to questions that would have stumped you before.
Visit Brain Pickings (brainpickings.org) – a
cross-disciplinary website that connects the dots
between art, science, design, history, sociology,
and a number of other subjects.
37
MAJORS
2. TEST DRIVE THE TESTS.
Don’t make the test day a blind date. Get familiar
with the test format before the big day. Succeeding in
anything you do (including test taking) takes practice.
Practice tests are available in most bookstores and
libraries and online at websites such as proprofs.com
and 4tests.com.
According to the ACT, 57% of students increase
their composite score when they retake the test.
And most students improve their SAT score the
second time as well. But three times should be the
limit; most people’s scores stop increasing after
the third time.
22 NCAA
DIVISION III
TEAMS
3. BOOST YOUR WORD POWER.
The best way to improve your reading and writing
score is to increase your vocabulary. But don’t
try to read the dictionary in one night. Learn a
couple of words each day and use them in normal
conversation – or in Scrabble. But focus on words that
are relevant in everyday life in extended
context – words that you will use consistently in
college and beyond. Also make sure to learn the roots
of words. Check out websites like quizlet.com and
wordthink.com to get started right now. Research
shows that you need to see or use a word 10 to 20
times to make it part of your vocabulary.
53
COUNTRIES
REPRESENTED BY
THE STUDENT BODY
4. GO BACK TO THE BASICS.
Relax. The math on standardized tests is not as
advanced as you may think. That’s why it’s best
handled with simple problem-solving techniques.
Brush up on basic mathematical formulas. Practice
estimating. And remember that rounding off numbers
is a quick (and often accurate) way to solve complex
math problems.
Every question in the mathematics portions of

the tests can be solved without a calculator, but
we suggest you bring and use one (check the SAT
and ACT websites for permitted calculators). And
remember to make sure your calculator is
working before test day! The testing centers do
not provide calculators.
$
34,800AVERAGE 2016-2017
FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE
5. KEEP IT SIMPLE.
Think of the essay portion of the SAT or ACT like any
other essay you’ve written. If simple language is what
it takes to express your thoughts clearly, then so be it.
Just keep in mind that specific examples are almost
always better than general blanket statements. Try to
provide reasons and evidence to support your ideas.
In the redesigned essay section, you’ll read a passage
and explain how the author builds an argument to
persuade an audience.
The writing passage may not resonate with you.
That’s okay – just take a position and present it
clearly. It’s your ability to demonstrate critical
reading, careful analysis, and clear writing that is
important.
97
% OF ALL
STUDENTS
RECEIVE
SOME FORM
OF FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE
CALIFORNIA
Santa Barbara
Thousand Oaks
Los Angeles
PACIFIC OCEAN
COME FOR A VISIT.

California Lutheran University is a supportive community
of open-minded students seeking to grow as individuals
as they excel academically. A Cal Lutheran education goes
beyond the classroom. Here, you can pursue a full spectrum
of opportunities including athletics, the arts, and research
projects in the community and around the world.
We’d love to show you and your family around our Thousand
Oaks campus. Just call our Office of Undergraduate
Admission at (805) 493-3135 or go to CalLutheran.edu/visit
to schedule your visit.

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5 Strategies That Lead to Success

IT’S ALMOST TIME TO TAKE THE

For the SAT: For the ACT:

Every question in the mathematics portions of

COME FOR A VISIT.

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