SAT prep

So You Got Your March SAT Scores Back. Here's What NOT to Do.

Garrett Foster
Garrett Foster
Students working together

Receiving your March SAT® scores can feel like a moment of truth in your academic career—a culmination of your hard work and preparation for the test. To be sure, it’s a significant milestone in your journey to college, but it’s not the final say on your future. As you reflect on your SAT results today, there are certain pitfalls you should avoid to ensure you’re setting yourself up for success.

Don’t Freak Out

The immediate reaction to a score that doesn’t meet your expectations might be panic, but it’s vital to maintain perspective. A single test score does not define your capabilities or dictate your future. Many students take the SAT more than once, improving their scores with additional preparation. Your path forward might include retaking the test, but remember, SAT success is a marathon, not a sprint. Everyone has to run at their own pace, and it’s perfectly okay if you haven’t crossed the finish line yet.

Don’t Ignore Your Score Report

Your score report is more than just a number—it’s a detailed map of both your strengths and areas for improvement. Ignoring it means missing out on valuable insights that could guide your study strategy moving forward. Take the time to review your scores in each section, understand where you lost points, and identify patterns in the questions you found challenging. This analysis is crucial for tailored studying, ensuring you don’t repeat the same mistakes. 

To learn how to get the most out of your SAT score report, watch the video below!

 

Don’t Take the Next Steps Alone


Navigating the post-SAT landscape can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be a solo mission. Whether it’s deciding to retake the test, interpreting your score report, or devising a study plan, seeking assistance can make a huge difference.

For example, you might consider enlisting the help of a Method Learning tutor. Our SAT tutors know the test inside and out, and we can provide personalized guidance based on your score report, equip you with expert test-taking strategies, and help you build your confidence so that you can crush the exam on the next round. Method Learning also offers SAT prep courses that are carefully designed to cover a broad range of high-yield topics, ensuring you gain insight into the test’s format, question types, and content. Both are great options to make sure you walk into your next SAT confident and prepared.

Remember, seeking help is a sign of commitment to your goals, not a weakness!
Garrett Foster

Garrett Foster

Garrett graduated summa cum laude with Disciplinary Honors in Philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2021. In his senior year at UNCG, he was awarded the Provost Student Excellence Award, the university’s highest undergraduate honor. After getting his start as the UNCG Philosophy Department’s writing tutor in 2020, Garrett has since tutored in a wide range of academic disciplines, helping students all the way from middle school to the undergraduate level by “untangling” complex concepts in accessible ways. Garrett loves to tutor because he's experienced firsthand the indelible effect that a good instructor can have on a person's life. He considers himself fortunate to have had teachers throughout his academic career who made an effort to learn how he learned best and to accordingly tailor their instruction to his learning style. He believes in doing the same for the students he works with. There’s nothing more rewarding to Garrett than watching the lightbulb turn on in someone’s mind—that moment when everything clicks. That moment is the reason he tutors and considers it his mission to help as many people reach it as he can. Outside of his passion for education, Garrett is a film enthusiast and plays competitive chess.

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