7 cheap ways to study (MoneyWatch) It's SAT and ACT testing season, which means millions of teenagers are now stressing about these high-stakes college entrance exams.

One thing parents don't have to fret about is whether to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on classes to prepare their kids for the tests. There are plenty of excellent free or affordable SAT and

ACT resources that can help your child perform well. Here are seven resources to check out:

1. Khan Academy. Millions of people, including Bill Gates's children, have watched this popular site's online tutorials. Using videos, Khan

Academy provides the answers and explanations for every math problem in the first edition of the the College Board's official SAT study

guide, which was published in 2004. This book is out of print, but you can find many used copies on Amazon for as little as $2.96. Don't worry that your child will be studying old material. The nature of the math questions haven't changed.

2. PWN the SAT. Want your teen to ace the math section of the SAT? Try PWN the SAT. (PWN is a video-gaming term that means "own.") At this blog, a math tutor in Manhattan shares his vast knowledge of the SAT math section. This isn't just a site for students who need math help -- it's also a valuable resource for ambitious students who want to earn a perfect math score.

3. College Board. Buy a copy of what test-prep insiders call the "Blue Book," which is the College Board's own thick SAT guide. The latest version is called "The Official SAT Study Guide DVD Edition" or "The

Official SAT Study Guide 2nd edition." Buy the book and your teen will have access to the College Board's online site for the book owners.

4. ACT. An inexpensive way to study for the ACT is to buy "The Real

ACT Prep Guide," which includes five retired ACT tests. Your teenager can also study online at the ACT site for $21.95 for a year.

5. The Critical Reader. It's difficult to improve upon the reading score of the SAT, but this site, courtesy of another test-prep tutor, can help. The Critical Reader is the site of Erica Meltzer, who provides a great deal of free advice via her test-prep blog on the critical reading and writing portion of the SAT test. You'll also find free study guides on her site. Including the "Complete SAT Grammar Rules" and the "Complete

ACT Punctuation Rules." You can get even more advice by reading her book, "The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar."

6. Number2.com. Students can study for the SAT and ACT at this site, and one of the best parts is that parents can track the time that their teens spend on it, as well as their progress. No need to rely on your children to tell you if they've actually been studying.

7. EriktheRed. This helpful site belongs to Erik Jacobsen, an East Coast math and physics tutor who helps students prepare for the math section of the SAT and ACT. Students will find lots of free materials to download for the SAT test, including quizzes, formulas and exam strategies.

ByLynn O'ShaughnessyMONEYWATCHSeptember 23, 2013, 8:48 AM

© 2013 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.

Sites offering ACT Preparation:

http://www.mhpracticeplus.com/act.php

http://www.4tests.com/exams/examdetail.asp?eid=13

http://www.varsitytutors.com/act_math-practice-tests

http://www.actstudent.org/sampletest/

http://www.princetonreview.com/college/free-act-practice-test.aspx

http://www.petersons.com/college-search/free-act-practice-test.aspx

http://www.shmoop.com/act/act-tips.html

ACT Tips & Tricks

1. DO keep calm and carry on

On test day, relaxation is key. Easier said than done, right? There’s actually strategy involved here, too. Take it easy and give yourself plenty of time to wake up, get ready, and get to the test center. Breathe. And remember: chocolate makes the world go ‘round. A couple of chocolate chip pancakes to go with your protein-rich breakfast of eggs and bacon? Sounds like an amazing idea to us.

2. DON’T be a zombie Speaking of meals, did your parents ever threaten to send you to bed without dinner? Okay, maybe that’s too last century. Still, no one likes skipping meals, so why would you make that mistake on test day? We know you have to get up early on a Saturday, and we know you’re probably going to be a little wired, but please, have a protein-rich breakfast before you leave. It doesn’t have to be a twelve-course meal, but your brain needs it like your car needs gas. We want you to rip through this test like a winning NASCAR driver, not stall halfway through and spinout to the side of the track.

Also, we’ve slogged through our fair share of early morning classes, so learn from our mistakes: get good sleep starting two nights before the test. Seriously. functioning on eight hours of sleep is so much nicer than functioning on any less.

3. DO stay positive Tests can be kind of boring. You already know that, so we’re not going to spit in your face and tell you it’s raining. Still, if all you do is think about how horrible this test is going to be and how badly you’re going to do on it, chances are your experience will be really horrible and you’re going to do badly (self-fulfilling prophecy, anyone?). Belief affects behavior, simple as that. So, think positively. Leave little sticky notes all over your house reminding yourself of how awesome you are, give yourself a pep talk as you’re driving to the exam, even try smiling while you’re taking it. Have a few laughs with your friends. It’ll work.

4. DO practice, practice, practice How does that saying go? Anything worth doing is worth doing right? Louis Armstrong wasn't just born awesome at jazz. Michael Jordan didn't just strap on tiny Nike sneakers and start dunking as soon as he could walk. If you want to be good at something, you have to practice.

5. What to Bring to the ACT? DO come prepared What to bring to the ACT:

Your admission ticket — it’s that thing you were supposed to print after you registered for the test. If you lost it, don’t worry; you can log in to your account and print another one before the test.

Remember cell phones are NOT allowed. Back in the old days, people used “watches” to keep track of time. You might consider bringing one to help you pace yourself.

A photo ID — preferably a driver’s license or student ID

A calculator — check the ACT website to make sure your model isn’t prohibited.

No. 2 pencils — that one’s pretty self-explanatory.

6. DO guess intelligently and with purpose

You’re not penalized for guessing, but before you go crazy with that No. 2 pencil,

try to narrow down the possibilities. There are usually at least one or two

answers that are definitely, no doubt about it, incontrovertibly wrong. “Duds,” if

you will. If you can get rid of these dud choices, you’ll have a much better chance

of guessing correctly.

7. DO mark up the test booklet like you’re Banksy Take notes, write little hints to yourself, identify words you don’t understand (it’ll come in handy later on)…basically, just be an active reader. Plus, it’s a good way to keep you focused if some of the passages are total snoozefests.

8. DON’T be a statue You’re limited to the one square foot that your test chair encompasses, so you won’t be able to have a dance party or anything, but move around as much as you can. Shake out the limbs, stretch, whatever. Just get the blood flowing.

Summing It All Up The ACT is a test of skill and knowledge that you already have. However, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. To truly conquer the exam and score as high as you possibly can, you need to know it inside and out, and you need to practice. We’re here to help you have a good time while you do just that