As spring approaches, many high school seniors eagerly await news of whether or not they have been accepted into the college or university of their choice. At the same time, many high school juniors are starting to visit and apply to colleges. An important step in the application process is taking the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). Last year, over 1.6 million students from the class of 2014 took the SAT with their scores playing a large role in the colleges they now attend.

For many students, standardized tests can generate feelings of anxiety – particularly, a test like the SAT and the significant impact it can have on their future. Chautauqua Striders offers a test preparation course to help students planning to take the SAT. A test preparation course can relieve the stress students may experience by helping them develop confidence in their ability to apply the knowledge needed for the exam.

One of the greatest barriers to preparing for a test like the SAT is finding the time. There are always things that seem to be more important than studying. Whether it’s checking email, going to practice, finishing homework assignments or just hanging out with friends, distractions are everywhere. Procrastination creates more stress and anxiety, which can lead to poor performance. Signing up for an SAT test prep course sets aside a particular time in a student’s busy schedule to prepare for the exam.

Another benefit of an SAT test prep course is that it breaks up study time over numerous sessions. Research has shown that spacing study sessions consistently over time leads to better retention and actually reduces the total amount of study time necessary. This can be particularly helpful when preparing for the SAT because the exam assesses such a wide range of skills. An SAT course helps students practice each test section a little at a time during the weeks leading up to the exam. Experienced instructors help students identify areas of the exam they find most difficult. Focusing on those areas makes the time spent studying more efficient.

Chautauqua Striders SAT Preparation Course is scheduled for April 7-30. The course will be offered Tuesday and Thursday or Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6- 7:30. The four-week course has a total of eight sessions. Instructors will assist students by reviewing the structure of the exam, scoring, test taking strategies and practice questions in the critical reading, mathematics and writing sections. The cost of the course is $75 for Striders members. The fee for nonmembers is $95, which includes the annual registration fee and access to Striders’ after school tutoring for the rest of the school term. Limited scholarships will be available. The deadline for registration is March 25, 2015. Students can register for the course at Chautauqua Striders, 301 E. Second St., Lynn Building Suite 102. For additional information, contact Joshua Auflick at 489-3482, or email him at josh@chautauqua-striders.org.