October 12, 2002                                   September 28, 2002 (select states)

November 2, 2002                                  October 26, 2002

December 7, 2002                                  December 14, 2002

January 25, 2003                                    February 8, 2003 (not available in New York)

April 5, 2003                                          April 12, 2003

May 3, 2003                                          June 14, 2003

June 7, 2003

Regardless of when you write the SAT/ACT, summer is the perfect time to prepare for it. Once September rolls round your primary focus should be on your school work. Some students who are writing tests in the spring only begin preparing in the new year. Their reasoning being that it's difficult to remember everything that was learned if the test is months away.

But the SAT and ACT aren't memory tests. They're merely tests of how skilled you are at writing the SAT and ACT! During the school year you want to have lots of time available for studies, extracurricular activities, college applications, etc. You can sharpen your test-taking skills by periodically writing practice tests.

That said, high school seniors should write their exam in October, leaving the November test date open for the SAT II subject tests. Some colleges will accept test results from as late as the December and January/February test dates. If any of the colleges you are applying to fall in this group, then you have the option of taking a second crack at the test.

If you're a junior you have much more flexibility. Consider taking the SAT I or ACT in the fall. This allows you to take the test again in the spring, thereby freeing up the fall of your senior year for the SAT II subject tests.

Here's a strategy I suggest to juniors I advise. When you register for the SAT I this fall, choose not to report your score to any colleges. This way if you're disappointed with your result, no one knows about it and you can try out the ACT. Of course, if you do well you can request to have your scores reported to your colleges for a fee.

Many students also write the SAT II subject tests during their junior year. This is a good idea if you don't plan on taking any more courses during you senior year in the subject you are going to write. Otherwise, you're better off waiting until the fall of your senior year when you've been exposed to senior level work in the subject and had a summer of test prep behind you.

If you have any questions for Wilson you can send them to wilson@liqwidmindz.com and we will forward them to him.

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