SAT / ACT / TAP Preparation Page

** This page is no longer being maintained. **

The primary page for SAT preparation is and Basic Skills Prepartation the WIU Basic Skills Test Preparation Page.

Below you will find some links to test prep resources. SAT = Scholastic Assessment Test / ACT = American College Testing / TAP = Test of Academic Proficiency (Illinois) Realize that math is math. Much of the practice for the math portion of one of SAT, ACT, or the TAP will help you on the others. However, the tests are (also) different, so it is useful to decide which test you are taking and focus on the expectations of that test. (If you are looking for background information on the New SAT, go here.)

SAT Prep

• Practice Page at the College Board. See also the Khan Academy (next item) for more prep materials.
• SAT Study Guide for Students
• SAT Practice Tests
• Chegg Test Prep SAT
• Fabmarks
• Magoosh SAT Practice Test

Khan Academy

• Khan Academy is a very comprehensive site and very helpful
• Official SAT Practice at Khan Academy - The College Board and Khan Academy have partnered to offer (free) preparation materials.
• Has
  • Videos
  • Notes
  • Practice

ACT Prep

• ACT Test Preparation page
• Scroll down for the Free Study Guide (64 pages with practice test)
• Scroll down further for the Free Online Practice
• Scroll down further for the Math Test Description
• Chegg Test Prep ACT
• Magoosh practice test.
• Fabmarks

Khan Academy - ACT Info

• How to Use Khan Academy for ACT Prep: Complete Guide - posted by Christine Sarikas
  • Scroll down to the ACT Math section.
• Is very searchable. TIP: use the terms from the Math Test Description

WIU Library (for WIU students)

• Go to the Library website, Books tab
• Click I-Share
• Click I-Share Libraries and Pick Western Illinois University
• Click VuFind button
• Search for 'ACT assessment' as a subject.
• There isn an ACT for Dummies (2011) which can be used online, via electronic checkout (you'll need to login with your ECOM). It has 511 pages!

WIU's Test Taking Preparation Strategies Page

• Page from CPEP
  • Scroll down for Additional Resources/Websites for the Act or Tap Test (lots of links to other resouces)
  • Including my page on Percents, Fractions, and Decimals.

A Few (of my) Suggestions

• Do print out and become familiar with the Math Test Description. It provides a good outline of what to study.
• Plan to learn math, not just pass the test. It will help you be successful in life.
• Realize that Integrating Essential Skills makes up 40 to 43% of the ACT. "These questions address concepts typically learned before 8th grade, such as rates and percentages; proportional relationships; area, surface area, and volume; average and median; and expressing numbers in different ways." Most of this is from everyday life.
• Make a reference sheet for yourself. List things you need to remember.
• Do lots of practice problems. Write them up neatly and save them to look at later.
• Make a page of Questions and Things to Figure out. As you get them answered/figured out, cross them off the list.
• Do make a strategy for yourself for test day. There are lots of test-prep suggestions at ACT and elsewhere. Spend more time practicing math than reading test-prep suggestions, but it is useful to use good test-taking strategies. You have to plan to succeed.

Back to Jim Olsen's Homepage

If you have other ideas for resources for this page please email the to JR 'dash' Olsen 'at' wiu 'dot' edu
How to study for math exams.

** This page is no longer being maintained. **

Page URL: http://faculty.wiu.edu/JR-Olsen/wiu/stu/ACT-SAT-prep.html

Last Update: June 29, 2017

** This page is no longer being maintained. **