Last Updated On: July 1st, 2024

Sitting hunched over a desk and bubbling in an answer sheet for hours at a time doesn’t bring out the best in most students, but it can be especially overwhelming if you are a student with a learning disability and/or ADHD. While there is no magic formula to help you get a perfect score, the following tips can help you get the highest score possible.

1. Prepare with your accommodations in mind

The last post discussed the process of applying for accommodations on the SAT. It’s important to start this process early not only to give time to submit additional documentation, if needed, but also so you can incorporate your accommodations into your preparation. For example, during practice tests, allow for the time you’ll receive (usually 150% for extended time), not the standard time. On the other hand, if your accommodations are not approved, it’s extra important to practice under test conditions so you get used to what that feels like.

2. Consider which test is best for you

Though this post and the last one discuss the SAT, the ACT is now accepted by most schools and may be a better choice for many students. Besides a different test format, the ACT administers accommodations differently than the SAT. Most notably, students with extended time on the SAT have to wait for the extended time to finish before moving on to the next section, while students taking the ACT can move on at their own pace if they finish early. This is also true for breaks: SAT test-takers with extended breaks stay for a fixed time, while the ACT allows a student to end their break early if they choose.

Unfortunately, both tests have separate processes to apply for accommodations, and approval on one test does not transfer to the other. So it’s important to make the decision early, apply for accommodations early, and prepare early.

3. Start early

Do you notice a theme? This is good advice for any test taker, but it’s especially important if you have a learning disability and/or ADHD. If you find yourself overwhelmed by your school work during the year, consider preparing over the summer, possibly before junior year. Allow time to take the official test two or three times if you need to.

4. Master the content first, strategies second

While test strategies can be helpful, it’s most important to possess the reading comprehension, math, grammar, and writing skills required on the test. This will help you in school and college as well as with test preparation. As a student with a learning disability, you may have missed some important concepts during class that a private tutor can help you remediate.

5. During preparation, find the methods that works best for you . . .

Most students, especially those with a learning disability, learn best using multiple modalities. For example, you can build your vocabulary with online games or a book of vocabulary cartoons that include visual aids and mnemonic devices. Online videos, many of them free, can help reinforce math concepts. Format your study plan to fit your needs. If you struggle with focus, several 20-30 minute study sessions, plus a quick review before going to bed, will be more effective than trying to cram everything into one day a week.

6. . . . but also practice with the actual test format

Unfortunately, as much as you might benefit from vocabulary games and twenty minute sessions, when you sit down to take the test you’ll be using a number two pencil and sitting for hours, just like everyone else. So it’s important to get your mind and body adjusted to the process by taking practice tests under simulated test conditions.

7. Work to improve your strengths as well as your weaknesses

While your focus should be on your weaker areas, don’t abandon your highest-scoring section. Improving your highest score can make your application stand out and help make up for your lower-scoring sections.

8. Remember that your test score is just a test score

You are looking for the college that is the best fit for you, and that school will consider everything that’s wonderful about you, not just one number. So do your best to relax and have confidence in yourself when you sit down to the take the test.

That said, standardized tests continue to be important to the college admissions process, and a good score can only help your application. L.A. Tutors can help you make an individualized study plan, find you the right resources, and provide instruction to fit your needs that will help you achieve the highest score possible.