Tag Archives: new sat

test prep

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

test prep

7 Must-Have Tips for the New SAT

 

Many tutors are recommending students avoid the new SAT and focus on the ACT. But if your student wants to take the SAT, for whatever reason, here are some tips that should help. This article was originally published by The Tutoring Company and is used with permission. 

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new sat

March, the College Board will officially administer the updated 2016 SAT. Whether you’re taking the SAT as a beginner or a veteran, these seven tips can get you on the path to a perfect 1600! Here are seven things you can do (starting now!) to prepare for this new and improved standardized test.

1. Master mental math: The SAT now include two types of math sections: calculator and non-calculator. Conquer the new, non-calculator section by making sure you have multiplication tables and basic arithmetic memorized. Technology has made this almost painless; apps like XtraMath can be used to practice your math facts anywhere, anytime on your cellphone. If you’ve got your basic facts down and want to learn some mental math tricks to speed up your test taking time, check out these Mathemagical Apps.

2 . Take time to review U.S. founding documents and other important works:  While the specific passages are unknown until test day, you will encounter one passage from U.S. founding documents or the global conversation they inspired. While it is not necessary to be familiar with the document ahead of time, it couldn’t hurt to brush up on the themes of major works, such as the examples given by College Board:

Along with these works, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with historically influential figures, such as:

  • Edmund Burke
  • Mary Wollstonecraft
  • Nelson Mandela
  • Mohandas Gandhi

3. Study for the ACT: Seriously. If you’ve been busting your butt studying for the ACT, you should be in great shape for this version of the SAT, which is now more similar than ever. Check out the specificdifferences to see how the two tests now compare.

4. Take advantage of the free, online personalized prep offered in partnership with the creators of the test: College Board and Khan Academy have worked together to create the Official SAT Practice site. This is free, easy to use, and includes diagnostics, personalized practice recommendations and can link to your College Board account. Looking for a quicker, more convenient way to practice? Check out theSAT Daily Practice App.

5. Learn how to make an educated guess: The new SAT features some significant scoring changes including one reason to celebrate: no more penalty for guessing. This means you should strive to answer every question on the test–even if you are guessing. Also, there will only be four answer choices instead of five for each question. You should guess on every question (no matter what!), but if time allows, you should try to eliminate at least one answer choice and guess the same letter pair each time.

6. Practice using context clues to figure out the meaning of a word: This year, according to College Board, there will be no need to cram vocabulary words by studying flashcards of arcane words. Instead, the SAT will test your ability to figure out a word based on a given passage. Be sure to practice using context clues to determine the meaning of a word.

7. Study from your PSAT/NMSQT results: If you are a ninth or tenth grader currently who is trying to prepare early, you can use the results of the new PSAT/NMSQT test (given in 2015 or later) to pinpoint exactly what you need to work on. Not only does your score report provide guidance for what skills you need extra help with, it also can personalize the free, official online SAT prep from Khan Academy. Watch this video to learn how to interpret your score report and link your report to your online practice account.

Using these tips and finding a skilled test prep tutor can help you reach your dream SAT score!

test prep

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