Students who are preparing for the SAT and/or ACT have many free and affordable test prep tools available to them. A quick web search for “SAT practice questions" or “ACT practice questions" will return thousands of hits. Both the College Board and ACT, Inc., provide free resources to help students get familiar with test material and formats. With all that content available for free, why pay for test prep?

On test day, the stakes are high. Read on to find out how a personalized prep plan can ensure your success.

1. Minimize test-day anxiety

A multiple-choice exam administered over several hours is likely an unfamiliar experience for most students. While the SAT and ACT are both intended to cover subjects and skills from your high school classes, the broad range of material can be intimidating. Drills, practice questions and expert content review will help you feel confident on test day.

2. Maximize your score potential

While the test makers have long claimed their tests are not "coachable," The Princeton Review has been helping students achieve their score goals with proven strategies for over 35 years. We weren't surprised when the College Board reversed its position on test prep by releasing a study that showed students who prep earn higher scores on the SAT than those who don't.

3. Go beyond practice questions with personalized prep

Free practice helps students get comfortable with the test format. Personalized prep helps students get the scores they need to craft competitive applications for their top-choice colleges.

With a personalized, comprehensive prep plan, you can:

- Set target dates and goal scores

- Get lesson recommendations based on your performance

- Learn proven strategies to improve pacing and reduce blind guessing

- Review content with expert instructors

- Demonstrate retention and mastery of material with interactive tools

- Access practice drills and practice questions

- Monitor your performance with in-depth score reports

Taking these factors into consideration should help you develop the best test prep plan for your schedule and budget.