A quiet school room fills quickly on a Saturday morning with nervous students who have come prepared to take one of the most important exams of their lives. The SAT test is taken throughout the year in US high schools and testing centers and, like the ACT, is one of the keys to students’ acceptance to universities and other post-secondary programs. Senior Iman Zulkifly will join the ranks of those of his peers taking this important test on Saturday.

“I had taken (the SAT) before, but I want to get a higher score,” Zulkifly said. “Hopefully it’ll be great; I don’t want to put myself through SAT testing a whole lot. I’ve already taken it twice.”

Many colleges require a certain grade on the exam in order to be accepted to more prestigious or advanced programs, but Zulkifly is not concerned with only this aspect.

“Other than that, I’m doing it to make (my score) look better overall because, you know, it’s nice to get a score you like,” he said.

The changes to be made to the SAT in March will not affect Zulkifly, who hopes to receive a satisfactory score and will not retake the exam after October. However, he offered a piece of advice to students planning to take the SAT in the future.

“Try to take the SAT as early as you can and you’ll be fine.”

The first SAT test of the year will occur Saturday, Oct. 3.