Tag Archives: SAT

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SAT Study Tips for College-Bound Students

 

sat study tips

Last year, nearly 1.7 million students took the SAT. A jump from 2015’s 1.6 million! While statistics for this year’s SAT haven’t been released yet, one can only assume that this number has increased. For the majority of juniors, and seniors, in high school, scoring well on the SAT is a ticket into the college of their choice. But the only way to do so is by being prepared. Because, as with many things in life, preparation is key!

Are your kids feeling overwhelmed, and unsure on where to start? Here are a few  SAT study tips to help you do well on your test.

No Cramming!

Last minute studying is simply inefficient. Attempting to absorb, or process a large volume of information in a short period of time (usually the night before a test) will do more harm, than good. Tell your kids to not  overload their brains with information, because they’ll need it refreshed by morning, before their test.

The 12-24 hours before test day should be spent calming nerves, organizing test supplies, packTing a snack/lunch, and getting much needed rest. So when their alarms go off, they’re not panicking, or rushing to get their things – let alone their thoughts – together.

Practice As If It’s Test Day!

There are plenty of websites that offer SAT practice tests that your kids can either take online, or print out, and fill in. When taking these tests, have them practice under “test-day conditions.” Time them, as well. The new SAT is 3 hours and 50 minutes long, meaning you should allot the same amount of time to them as they practice.

Additionally, you should also restrict them from any mobile phone use, music, socializing, and any other distractions. The same way athletes practice as if it’s game day, they should have this mentality as well.

When one prepares themselves under test-day conditions, they won’t feel so overwhelmed on the big day.

Work On Vocabulary

While memorizing definitions isn’t as exciting, as it is beneficial, it’ll certainly help when tackling the passage-based reading questions in the test. It’s also important to note that there’s more to boosting one’s vocabulary skills than just memorizing the definitions. Make sure your kids understand the definition as well. Especially within the context of a sentence or paragraph.

Granted that you’ve decided to help them study weeks in advance, start posting a “SAT word of the day” post-it on the fridge, or bathroom mirror to make it more fun for them. Then encourage them to try and use the word in conversations throughout the day.

Clearly, these are just a few helpful tips to consider. There are companies, such as TestPrepPlace, who provide more information about the test, and study tips, to make your future college student’s experience, and the process, a little less intimidating.  

 

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7 Tips for Summer SAT Prep

 

summer sat prep

 

As the school year is over and the final examination grades are being compiled across the nation. Many students and parents are brainstorming different ways of squeezing in some test prep time over the summer.  If that’s not you yet, don’t worry! Here are 7 actionable tips you can use to help your child on their way to SAT success!

It’s best to start test prep during the summer and make it a habit for when it’s really needed. During this time of the year, students are more relaxed, and are less consumed by class schedules, social protocol, and extra curricular activities. 

Parents of students who are set to attend college and are serious about scholarships should take advantage of this time to prepare adequately for SAT examinations. Test preparation is best started early to give students the best shot at a good SAT score and a place at their first choice college. Starting now builds up the habit in time for the start of a new school year.

  1. Make it a habit!  Your child should make it a habit of dedicating an amount of time each week practicing questions they find hard. This could be 1-2 hours, once or twice a week, so long as it is consistent.  This time doesn’t have to be all in one go, in fact most people work best and retain more information in short bursts of up to 20 minutes.
  2. Set achievable goals.  Every student should have an SAT score in mind.  Set a goal for what kind of test score your child needs to get into their college of your choice.  It doesn’t hurt to aim a little higher either.
  3. Choose the right type of test prep; Every student learns differently, some require more guidance than others.  When it comes to SAT prep there is something for everyone, including: local classes, online courses, student forums, Youtube videos, printable practice tests and a whole lot more.
  4. Learn visually; with vocabulary cartoons, SAT crosswords, Flocabulary (hip-hop music that boosts vocabulary), yes that’s a thing! Or even the Kaplan SAT/ACT Score-Raising Manga Series. There are many other unique resources, as well. Reading will help students with the SAT’s vocabulary and writing components.
  5. Get help from tutors. SAT tutors usually have firsthand experience with the SAT test and what it takes to achieve a high score.  They can help identify your child’s individual strengths and weaknesses, and work precisely on the areas that help them to achieve their desired SAT score.  Seeing a tutor over the summer gives students more time to dedicate to the areas they struggle with most.
  6. Practice makes perfect. Each time you take a practice test, more and more questions will seem easy to you.  As you begin to collect these questions you answer right, without fail, work these easier questions into your daily review habit.  Spend 20 minutes, twice per day reviewing each question.  Do easy question reviews at least three days per week.
  7. Study the answers that matter most.  Make sure your child spends time working on questions they find hardest.  It is best to use the longer time period to focus on these areas, than to rush them at the end. Study the explanations until they are understood.  If you have questions, be sure to ask someone.

Ultimately, it’s never too early for students to start preparing for the SAT.  Having more time will mean that your child is less stressed and more familiar with the SAT come test time. Cramming at the last minute rarely sees positive results.  Summer SAT prep doesn’t have to be all consuming, any amount of regular study, however small can prove beneficial.

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Today’s guest post is from James Maroney, the founder of First Choice College Placement, a test preparation center based in Milford, CT.  Since 1999 James has traveled the country helping students to prepare for the SAT and ACT tests and gain a place at their first choice college.

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Test Stress Relief Tips for Students

 

test stress

These days, a lot of kids feel pressured to perform academically. Getting into a good college generally requires superior high school grades, and that means passing tests. Even junior high schoolers and kids in lower grades can feel stressed about school, especially right before an important test. In the interest of calming pre-test jitters for all, we offer the following quick tips that offer fast relief.

Study better, not harder

If your child excels at studying and note-taking, they may fare better as test time approaches. Students who brainstorm together in small groups may improve their study skills and boost confidence in their test-taking abilities, so say education experts at Cengage magazine.

Just chill out and relax, relax, relax

There are a number of proven relaxation techniques that can go a long way toward relieving pre-test anxiety. Among them are listening to classical or ambient music, taking a walk to refresh the brain and playing with puppies, according to GoConqr. And never, ever underestimate the importance -and stress relief- of a great night’s sleep. Hours spent asleep help the human brain to store new knowledge into the memory center of the brain where it can be recalled on test day. If you’ve ever tried to concentrate after a missed night’s sleep, you know that this is true.

Snack on chocolate, but make sure it’s the dark kind. Comprising around 70 percent pure cocoa, dark chocolate helps to counteract a stress hormone called cortisol. As an extra added bonus, deeply dark chocolate is known to cause the brain to release the happiness chemicals called endorphins. Sounds like a win-win proposition, right? It is.

Go low tech

Students intent on passing a crucial exam do themselve an enormous favor when they turn off their phones. Checking messages, scrolling a Facebook news feed and messing around on Twitter are fun, but they’re also amazing time-wasters. Students who waste time online may not have enough time to be fully prepared for a test, and that can be a huge stressor.

Teens who meditate tend to be far less stressed than teens who don’t. The ancient art of meditation is a brilliant way to take a relaxing break from study and ‘reset’ the mind. Meditation may also help nervous students to maintain their sense of focus while boosting mental health. Mandalas are a nice part of some student’s meditations. An Adroid app such as mandala coloring book app offers calming geometric patterns and a rainbow of colors that give students a stress-relief break any time they need it. Mandalas aren’t the only things you can illustrate with this free Android app from Google Play. Animal pics, flowers and other entertaining coloring projects come with Coloring Book For Me & Mandala from Apalon.

Puppies, hamsters and fish tanks can be good stress relievers, too. Playing with pets, petting cats and popping bubble wrap are relaxing forms of play that can do much to calm those pre-exam jitters.

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Today’s guest post is from Leo Wright, a Dad who works part time as an assistant at his son’s school. He writes about educating your kids at home, as well as supporting their schoolwork.

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Parents Guide to the SAT and the ACT

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Wouldn’t it be great to have all the test dates AND registration deadlines in one place, along with tips on how to support your high school student during testing season? Magoosh thought so too! They created the Parents Guide to SAT and ACT Testing.

Below is an infographic with “everything you need to know about standardized tests but were afraid to ask”. Also, check out their High School SAT & ACT blog: https://magoosh.com/hs/ with resources there for both parents and students to help them learn more about the SAT and ACT, how to prepare, and what to expect on test day.

 

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What’s a Good SAT Score for Colleges?

good sat score

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I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of change. Even if it’s good change. Maybe it’s my age, or maybe it’s that I know with change comes confusion. Such was true when the new SAT was rolled out. Then came the ACT and the confusion about scoring. Such is the life of a student who has plans to apply to college in the fall.

Magoosh certainly recognizes your confusion. In an effort to help, they provided students and parents a breakdown of the new scoring process and how colleges view them. In their post about this, they commensurate with your pain over the new SAT:

Okay, I’m just going to come out and say it: the new SAT scoring system is extremely confusing. There are subscores, cross-test scores, a science score and much more. And don’t even get me started on the new concordance tables (though started I’ll get, but later in the post!)

Because I don’t want you to be uncertain about something as important as your SAT scores, I’m here to dispel any confusion and answer your questions.

I’ll talk about all of the different scores: what they mean, SAT score ranges, what SAT scores you need for top colleges, and how everything ties together.

I’ll also let you in on a little secret: the SAT scoring tables comparing the old SAT and new SAT are a little wonky (but more on that later).

We’ve also put together this table of SAT score ranges for the top 100 universities in the United States.

Read through the article using the link below and see the comparisons. It will help your student set score goals and it will help you understand why change might not be welcome, but might just be better for your student.

SAT Score Range: What’s a Good SAT Score for College

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Your SAT Score Can Help Win Scholarships

 

sat score

Working hard in school can help you land great scholarships that will help you with the cost of going to school. Scholarships are a much better alternative to student loans because you don’t have to pay them back. How well you do in school can have an impact on the amount of scholarship money you will receive. Scoring high on your SAT exam is one way to ensure you have a good chance at receiving a scholarship.

Preparing for your SAT Exam

Since most colleges in the United States require students to take the SAT exam, it’s important to be prepared on testing day to get a good score. The current 2016 SAT exam takes approximately three hours to complete, with an additional 50 minutes given for the essay portion. Scores can range anywhere from 400 to 1600 and is usually taken by high school juniors or seniors. Being prepared for the exam is the best way to ensure you’ll receive a good score. Read Kranse SAT reviews to learn about a great course that will ensure you’re prepared and confident on testing day.

Merit-Based Scholarships

If you’ve done exceptionally well in school and if you received a good score on your SAT exam, you may be eligible to receive a merit-based scholarship. Merit-based scholarships are granted to individuals who have great academic records, high GPAs, good standardized test scores and other types of achievements. Many merit-based scholarships are sponsored by colleges and universities, so if you think you may qualify for one, be sure to find out more about them.

Outside Scholarships

Merit-based scholarships aren’t the only scholarships available. Many also require a high SAT score to apply. There are hundreds of different types of scholarships available. The first place you should look for scholarships is local. Browse the websites of the high school in your area because they might have scholarship information on them. Social media and scholarship search engines are also great resources. If you’re really good at something, such as art, you can use that to find specific scholarships based that interest and expertise.

College is stressful enough for most people, but with scholarships you will worry less about the cost of going to school and focus more on your studies. Do well in school now and prepare for standardized tests so you can ensure you have a better chance at receiving some great scholarships to help you out. 

 

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Are Standardized Tests Flawed?

 

standardized tests

Colleges use these standardized tests to predict a student’s ability to perform well academically in college. But are the tests are flawed?

Test prep tutors across the board are recommending students avoid the new SAT test. Their reasons: the test is untested and its impossible to predict a student’s success. One test prep tutor, Lauren Gaggioli of Higher Scores Test Prep, is steering all her students toward the ACT:

This new test is a bad bet for this year’s juniors. Frankly, our students shouldn’t be guinea pigs and there is a very easy solution to the problem – take the ACT. Might sound too good to be true, but the solution really is that simple.

In a recent podcast, Lauren gives four reasons why students should avoid the SAT and focus on the ACT.

But wait…

Now the ACT is having its own issues. The essay scores are inexplicably low causing concern for students and test prep tutors. The Washington Post interviewed students and ACT officials:

Controversy erupted soon after the ACT introduced a revised essay-writing task in September that is being graded for the first time on the same 36-point scale as the rest of the test. Counselors across the country are complaining that many of their top students, who routinely earn marks higher than 30 on other parts of the ACT, are getting writing scores in the low-to-mid 20s.

One tutor I spoke with said after looking at her student’s essays from the test, it was impossible to see why they were scored low and difficult to understand the reasoning behind the scoring.

Now what?

ACT assures students that once they become more familiar with the writing prompts their scores will improve. But what about those students who have already taken the test? You can pay $50 to have the essay re-graded (hand scored). In most instances the score will improve. One student went from a 19 to a 31 after regrading.

Here’s the question: will colleges put less weight on both the SAT and the ACT knowing the new tests are controversial? Will students begin viewing “test optional” schools as a viable alternative to avoid these flawed standardized tests? Only time will tell.

Need help understanding the ACT essay problem? This is a great article that explains what happened and how to take action if you feel your score is wrong: Think Your New ACT Writing Score Is Wrong? Recent Issues, Explained

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Test Prep Week: The Best Test Prep Tips

 

test prep tips

We’re going to close out Test Prep Week with some test prep tips. I’m certainly not a test prep expert, but I do know where to find the best test prep tips. The key to any standardized test is preparation. Add to that knowledge of how the test works and the formulas you should know, your student should be prepared to take the test with confidence when the time comes.

Here are some excellent tips that should help your student prepare for standardized tests, both SAT and ACT.

21 SAT Tips and Tricks You Must Use

Samantha Lindsay of SAT Strategies provides a comprehensive, step-by-step list of tips broken down by section. From basic rules, to math tips, to reading tips, to writing tips, she gives students a game plan to follow during the test. This is the ultimate test prep.

Read the complete article

5 Tips for Higher SAT Scores

In Higher Scores Test Prep podcast episode, you will learn five test strategy tips for the SAT.

Listen to the podcast

5 Tips for Higher ACT Scores

In Higher Scores Test Prep podcast episode, you will learn five test strategy tips for the ACT.

Listen to the podcast

6 Tips for ACT Success

These six tips will help your student understand the inner workings of the ACT. The article breaks down each section, giving tips on how to better prepare and tackle each one.

Read the complete article

Last Minute SAT Tips

Alexis Avila of Prepped and Polished gives his best tips for SAT test takers. These tips will not only help you prepare for the test by giving tips on its content, but help you prepare for test-taking day.

Read the entire article

As with any test, preparation is key. You can’t expect to do well if you don’t prepare. Encourage your student to create a study plan and stick to it. Going into a test prepared will make a huge difference on the test results.

For more test prep tips read:

Should you hire a test prep tutor?

Where do I find free test prep?

Can test prep help you win scholarships?

Questions about the new SAT

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Test Prep Week: Questions About the New SAT

 

questions about the new sat

If you have a college-bound teen, test prep is at the front of you mind. And with it, comes the new (and improved—according to the College Board) SAT. Most test prep experts are hesitant about the new test, taking a “wait and see” attitude. Others are recommending students take the ACT instead, reducing the stress level and avoiding the unknown.

In an effort to ease your mind (and your student’s), I thought I would gather some expert advice from the test prep gurus to help you answer some questions about the new SAT.

Lauren Gaggioli of Higher Scores Test Prep wrote an article for TeenLife Magazine about the new SAT. In it, she points out that the only information we have about the new test is the information provided by the College Board. No one has been able to take the test yet, therefore its content is still sketchy at best. But she does address some of the false information circulating about the test.

Read her article: Five Myths About the New SAT

Akil Bello, a noted test prep tutor and founder of Bell Curves, addresses the new SAT in his blog, Bellowings. He asks the question: how hard is it? In his post he concentrates on the math portion of the test and compares the two tests resulting in a conclusion about the new test’s ability to indicate “college readiness”.

Read Akil’s article: New SAT—How Hard is It?

Lynn O’Shaughnessy, author of The College Solution blog and several books about college prep, believes that the new SAT is going to cause great challenges for students. Her guest blogger, Jed Applerouth of Applerouth Tutoring Services, points out the increased difficulty in the reading and writing section, the so-called “optional” essay, and the calculator free math section. According to Jed Applerouth, this will be the “hardest SAT we have ever seen.”

Read the entire post: Why You Should Worry About the New SAT Test

The bottom line: Nobody likes change. Although the College Board is telling us that the new test is going to be easier for students, the new test is also going to give college’s a better picture of a student’s college readiness. What does that mean for students? Only time will tell. In the meantime, follow the experts’ advice—stick to the ACT.

If you want to see a comparison of the new SAT vs the ACT, click here to see an infographic from Alexis Avila of Prepped and Polished.

And on that note, read yesterday’s post: Should You Hire a Test Prep Tutor

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Test Prep Week: Should You Hire a Test Prep Tutor?

 

test prep tutorIn February and March, your college bound teen could be taking the ACT or the SAT. This week, I’m going to discuss test prep. First on the list–should you hire a test prep tutor? Is it worth the investment? Will it improve your student’s score? Is a tutor really necessary with all the free help you can find online?

Here are five reasons you might
want to hire a tutor:

Motivation

For any student to do well on the test, they need motivation. A tutor could help your student find that motivation.

Accountability

If your student isn’t accountable for their study and progress, it’s easier to slack off and not keep to the plan. A tutor will keep them accountable.

Evaluation

Part of the study process is recognizing mistakes and coming up with a plan to improve. Tutors can help with formulas, test tips, and recognizing the cause of the errors.

Study plan

With standardized tests, “if you don’t have a plan, you plan to fail”. A tutor can provide a regimented study plan to help your student stay on track.

Measure progress

A tutor will have a view of the “bigger picture” and help your student measure progress. Progress spurs motivation and improves accountability.

Spending hundreds of dollars on an effective, well-chosen tutor will certainly improve your student’s standardized test scores. Improved scores will not only improve your student’s chances of acceptance, but it will also improve your student’s chances of becoming a National Merit finalist and/or merit scholarship awards from the colleges offering admission.

Before you hire a tutor, evaluate the benefits and the expected outcome. A small investment could reap huge financial rewards.

Need help finding a tutor, click here for my list of recommended test prep tutors.

For a list of upcoming standardized test prep registration and testings date, click here.