Tag Archives: SAT

test prep

The Scoop on Test Optional Colleges

 

I was having a discussion on Twitter last night with a mom about the SAT, ACT and test optional options. I am of the opinion that not taking the test is a bad idea, even if you are applying to test optional colleges. And I’m not the only one. Paul Hemphill of Planning for College and Lauren Gaggioli of Higher Scores Test Prep agree with me (or I agree with them).

test optional colleges

Here’s a podcast Paul did with Lauren about the ramifications of not taking the standardized test. It’s worth a listen. Lauren says, ” It is worth hearing all of the facts before you make the testing decision for your student and this is the side of the argument that tends to get lost in the conversation.”

Also, read these posts as well:

The Financial Risks of Not Taking the SAT

Why the ACT May Be a Smarter Choice for ADHD Students

test prep

‘Twas the Night Before the SATs

 

It’s the night before Christmas and all through your house you’re putting college prep and studying for the SAT aside and enjoying the holiday.

The Night Before Christmas is a classic story we have all read to our kids throughout the years, but here’s a twist from Dr. Nancy Berk, author of College Bound and Gagged. I hope it gives you a smile today while you’re wrapping, backing, and listening to Christmas music.

App Tuesday, test prep

Test Precision: An App for Standardized Test Prep

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test precisionTest Precision is a new app for students preparing to take the ACT or the SAT. It helps students prepare for the test where they are: on their smartphones. As we all know, teens are quite addicted to their smartphones and making Test Precision a part of that existing routine and habit just makes perfect sense.

More than ever today’s high school student has increasingly less free time to study for the ACT and SAT in between class work and extracurricular activities.  Being able to access Test Precision on the way to school or in between activities is a major advantage versus physically scheduling and attending a test prep weekend class or hiring a one-on-one tutor. Test Precision also lessens the anxiety associated with cramming for the SAT or ACT by providing an ‘access anytime’ app so the student can chip away at their preparation over time.  This is in stark contrast to attending high intensity classes or lugging around a static, one-size-fits-all book and trying to pour through too much content all at once.

I asked Mohak Rastogione, a student who has tested the app, to tell me about his experience with Test Precision:

Q. Why did you decide to get help preparing for standardized tests?

I decided to get help for standardized testing because I honestly didn’t know what to expect on the SAT/ACT. I figured by having help in preparing I’d be a little more prepared come testing time.

Q. Why did you choose an app to help with test prep?

I was offered the opportunity to help test the app, so I didn’t necessarily look for Test Precision specifically. I ended up taking the offer for two reasons. 1) I wanted to see how preparing for big tests like the ACT/SAT could be done on the go (on my phone), and how effective it would actually be. The second reason was because I was getting ready to take the ACT and I hadn’t had any prior experience with the ACT besides self studying, so I figured this would be a good time to get some practice in while helping test the app.

Q. How has Test Precision helped prepare you for the test?

Test Precision helped guide me to which test I should take. The diagnostic test determined that I was a better fit for the ACT and my chances of a higher score would be found with the ACT.

Q. How long have you used the app and have you taken a test since you started using it?

I tested the app for around 4-6 weeks and I did take the ACT twice since testing the application out.

Q. What is your favorite part of using the app?

My favorite part of using the application was the ability to take practice tests/questions where ever I would go. Instead of lugging around heavy test prep books, my phone was/is always on me so studying/practicing for the ACT was much easier and flexible

Test Precision is available for free download in both Google Play and on iTunes. Individual SAT and ACT tests are available for a one time subscription fee of $39.99 per SAT or ACT package.

Ready to download

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.testprecision 

iTunes Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/test-precision/id872423917?mt=8

test prep

Is Cheating the SAT Easier With Today’s Technology?

 

SATThere has been scandal after scandal of students cheating in recent years. And believe it or not, they are doing it on standardized tests for college. Why do students do it? Is it easy? What do they have to lose? Is cheating the SAT easier with today’s technology?

Peter Wayner, in “SAT Sneak Attack” addresses these questions and more. In his short ebook he uncovers how a group of elite students use tools that are allowed by the College Board, and by repurposing them, get close to that elusive perfect score. It’s not a “how-to” cheat book but it looks at how easy it is to cheat and what motivates students to cheat on the SAT. You might be very surprised as a parent to read some of those techniques.

They take advantage of the proctors and their lack of interest during the tests. And, using the fact that the tests allow the use of calculators during the test, they reprogram calculators. In his book, Wayner notes:

One web site distributes the “SAT Operating System” that solves SAT problems and the little counter on the web site says that 2901 copies have been downloaded at this writing. That’s just a lower bound because it’s one of dozens that are offering the tool. Once the files are downloaded, kids can pass them around or load them on the machines of their friends. It’s fair to say that there many thousands of copies of just this free version.

While you’re not supposed to use your calculator during the verbal sections of the SAT, the proctors often don’t notice. If they happen to be patrolling, some students say the trick is to write the verbal questions down on their scratch paper and then return to them during the math section that comes later.

Wayner offers some suggestions on how to fix the problem as well. It’s an easy read and it will shed some light on how easy it is to hack the SAT.

You can get the book here:  http://www.satsneakattack.com/buy.html

test prep

The New SAT

 

sat prepMany experts and educators think that the SAT exams are no longer adequate for measuring the amount of knowledge learned by students. The new SAT is going to be released in 2016 to have these changes:

    1. No more point deduction for wrong answers
    2. An optional timed essay
    3. No more obscure vocabulary words
    4. The test will change from a 2400 point system back to a 1600 point system

The New SAT is going to collaborate with the Khan Academy, an educational website, to provide free videos and other online tutorials for any student with an internet connection. This is meant to level the playing field for students who cannot afford SAT classes in private tutoring centers.

Low-income students are going to receive fee waviers, which will give them free SAT score submissions to 4 different colleges.

The new SAT would also be made available on paper and online. As for the scoring system, the new SAT will revert back to the 1600 poing scale. The first 800 points is from the math portion of the exam. The remaining 800 points is from “evidence-based reading and writing”.

In terms of the test itself, the new SAT will be testing on material that is likely to show in college curriculums. Instead of obscure vocabulary, words such as “synthesis” and “empirical”, which are commonly seen in university science classes, will be tested.

The math section will focus on linear equations, functions, and proportional thinking. Calculators are prohibited in some parts of the test.

There will be an optional essay writing section. It is optional because some colleges will require this essay, while other won’t. For example, if a student wanted to apply to college A, which requires the essay section, he or she must write the optional essay. This essay portion is strongly recommended for students who wish to enroll in English, Journalism, and other courses that consider writing to be a core part of the class.

More universities are now looking more at a students’ GPA rather than SAT score. According to some universities, the SAT tests tend to be “filled with unproductive anxiety”.

Despite this, students still want to measure how much they have learned in comparison to other students. There were 1.7 million students who took the SAT and 1.8 million students who too the ACT last year.

Unlike the ACT, The SAT still lacks a science section. However, the new SAT test would develop scientific reading passages in their revised reading section.

The exam runs three hours. If you choose to write the optional essay, it is 50 minutes more, for a total of 3 hours and 50 minutes.

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Today’s guest post is from Jane Cui, a former SAT tutor and college consultant at the Princeton Review. She loves teaching math and AP Chemistry. She has a website that teaches students SAT vocabulary using picture flashcards.

test prep

The New (and Improved) SAT

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new satThe College Board announced today some sweeping changes to the SAT. These changes will take affect in the Spring of 2016. If you have a high school, college-bound freshmen—heads up! The test is going to change drastically. According to the College Board, “The redesigned SAT will ask students to apply a deep understanding of the few things shown by current research to matter most for college readiness and success. They’ll find questions modeled on the work of the best classroom teachers and perform tasks practiced in rigorous course work. The SAT redesign is centered on eight key changes.”

In order to better understand these changes, I’ve gathered some excellent articles on the subject for you to pursue further reading.

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Jenn Cohen, the Dallas SAT Prep Examiner and owner and founder of Word-Nerd.com, along with an SAT prep tutoring service geared toward ADHD students, had this to say:

Overall, my take is that the SAT is going to be an easier test, and that it is clearly making some changes based on the growing popularity of the ACT. I wonder if the SAT is actually tolling its own death-knell by shifting to an easier product that’s less useful to colleges. But on the other hand, maybe a lower than average score will more clearly signal to colleges that a student is not ready for college level work. I guess it remains to be seen!

You can read more of her comments at Examiner.com–New SAT Coming in Spring 2016.

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Lynn O’Shaughnessy, author of The College Solution and Shrinking the Cost of College, as well as a regular contributor on CBS MoneyWatch, voiced her thoughts on the changes:

What I found encouraging today was Coleman’s other big announcement that the College Board has entered into a partnership with the Kahn Academy to develop a state-of-the-art test-prep system for any students who want to tackle the SAT. This SAT program will be free.

Sal Kahn, the creator of the Kahn Academy, (see photo) who was present for the announcement, said that the test-prep program will go well beyond providing tips to test takers. The program will identify student deficiencies and teach them the fundamentals, of say, fractions or basic algebra, when needed.

The College Board plans to train tutors, counselors and mentors on how teenagers can take full advantage of the Kahn Academy resources. Coleman noted that the College Board has never entrusted its name to an outside organization until now.

You can read more of what Lynn has to say about the new test on her blog: Big Changes In Store for the SAT.

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The College Board in their announcement today, outlined how the test will change:

When students open their SAT test books in spring 2016, they’ll encounter an SAT that is more focused and useful than ever before. The full specifications of the exam along with extensive sample items for each section will be available on April 16, 2014. The redesigned SAT will focus on the knohttp://www.free-tv-video-online.me/wledge and skills that current research shows are most essential for college and career readiness and success. The exam will reflect the best of classroom work.

For more detailed information and the changes to the SAT, go to the College Board’s site: Delivering Opportunity, Changes to the SAT.

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4 Ways to Prep for the SAT (for FREE)

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For many high school juniors, second semester means not only a focus on keeping grades and staying busy with extracurricular activities, but also an increased focus on the SAT. The College Board’s three spring test dates are March 8th, May 7th and June 3rd. If you do enough reading, you might think taking prep courses that cost thousands of dollars is the only way to get the score you want. But the truth is, there are plenty of low-cost and free ways to prep for the SAT.

Here are a few of our favorites:

sat prepTake a Free Practice Test

It’s impossible to know if you need extra English tutoring without knowing first what your score on the reading and writing sections are. Every student gets a free practice test from The College Board; take the test early on to identify key areas of strengths and where you need a little extra help. If you’re hitting your target score on a given section, there’s no need to spend hours of time preparing. On the other hand, if you find your score isn’t as high as you’d like, you now know a few areas to focus on.

Pick up a Magazine

Learning SAT vocabulary words isn’t always the most fun process. You can try the old fashioned route — writing index cards and then dutifully drilling the words into your head. Or, try an approach that’s slightly more fun (and will be better for you in the long-term, too). Grab a copy of the New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly or The Economist and tell yourself you’ll read an article every day. Every time you come across a word you don’t know, make a note of it on an index card and write the definition on the back. After you finish each article, give yourself an extra challenge that will help you prep for the reading comprehension section of the SAT. Figure out the author’s main point, and identify the pieces of the author’s argument as she makes them in her piece.

Brush Up On Basics With Khan Academy and YouTube

For most students who are entering the second semester of their junior year of high school, the math on the SAT isn’t particularly complicated or advanced; it’s more that there’s a lot to remember. If you need math help, Khan Academy offers a great (and completely free) resource: videos that go over every single math problem in The College Board Official SAT Study Guide. If those aren’t enough, you can dig deeper into tougher concepts on both Khan Academy and YouTube. For example, if you’re having problems understanding rational numbers, there’s a host of great video content available.

Work with a Friend

Chances are that if you’re studying for the SAT, your friends are, too. One of the best ways to drill a tough concept into your head is to teach it to someone else. So sit down with a classmate and commit to going through a half hour of questions on your own. When time is up, compare answers and if your answers are different, see if you can convince your friend why your answer is right — or vice versa. Often times, the act of having to explain something out-loud can help you get a better grasp on the problem too!

The SAT is just one piece of your overall college application, but it is an important one. The good news is, there’s no reason so drop thousands of dollars on a prep course. Just give yourself plenty of time and build out a study strategy that includes the above ideas — you’ll be heading toward a 2,400 in no time at all!

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Today’s guest post is from Laura Oppenheimer who works at InstaEDU, an online tutoring service that instantly connects students who need help with tutors from top colleges.

test prep, Uncategorized, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Surviving Standardized Tests

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Sign up for my FREE parent tips email and get my FREE Ebook on college financing!

Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from pocsmom.com to parentingforcollege and vice versa.

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sat stressStandardized tests. Those two words or their acronyms are yelled, and screeched and treated with disdain in every college-bound household. Those two words cause fights, stressful days and nights, frustration over the teen’s lack of commitment, and absolute terror in the hearts of most college-bound teens. Nobody, and I mean nobody, likes taking tests.

Unfortunately for all of us, colleges use those tests to not only measure a student’s academic achievements, but to determine whether or not the student will be able to handle the rigorous academics of college. Whether your teen is taking the SAT, ACT, AP tests, or SAT subject tests it’s a given that fights will erupt. To quote a line from one of my favorite movies (The Devil Wears Prada), GIRD YOUR LOINS!

Parent Expectations

Parents expect their student to study hard, take practice tests, bone up on their vocabulary and prepare for the tests. They pay for tutors, use flash cards to drill them, and do just about anything to motivate them to do their best. Why? Because we know that the standardized tests will affect their college offers of admission.

But does any of this work? Not if your student isn’t invested in the game. I’ve talked to SAT tutors who tell stories of students barely paying attention, not trying and having a lackadaisical attitude about the test prep. All the test prep in the world won’t help if your student doesn’t see the value of preparation. You know  your student and you know what motivates them. Test preparation is just like any other activity–if they see the value of excelling, they will do their best.

Nancy Berk, author of College Bound and Gagged, sums up parent anxiety over standardized tests:

 

Student Expectations

If you don’t think your student is stressed about these tests, think again. Even the best students worry and fret about their scores. They have heard all throughout high school that the standardized test scores will make a difference on their college applications. Good scores = safety schools. Great scores = dream colleges. They know without you telling them the value of these tests.

Odds are, your student puts more pressure on themselves than you do. They may not show it and you may not see it but it’s there. Because they are stressed already, your stress level can make it even worse. They don’t want to disappoint you; they want you to be proud. If they sense you are anxious and interpret that as lack of faith in their ability, it makes it difficult for them to focus on the test.

What can you do to help? Remain calm and encourage them when you see them trying. Let them know that you expect them to do well but there’s no pressure on your part; test day will be much easier for them (and you).

College Expectations

Colleges, even if they say they don’t, use the standardized tests as a factor when considering students for admission. However, it’s not the only factor they use. Students with less than stellar test scores but stellar applications, often gain admission to their first choice college. Standardized tests are important, but they are not the most important component of the application. Colleges are looking for well-rounded students, not just brainiacs.

Putting too much pressure on the student to score high on these tests clouds the application process. In order to focus on the entire process, it’s best if parents and students look at the big picture. That means the essay, their academic record and their accomplishments play an integral roll in the application, just as the standardized test scores.

Stressing over tests just adds more stress in an already stressful process.

For more advice on surviving standardized tests, check out Wendy’s blog.

test prep

Christmas in July-A FREE Direct Hits Vocabulary eBook

 

direct hits vocabulary bookFREE? What’s the catch? There is none. All you have to do is follow the link below and download the book. Summer is a great time to study for standardized tests and with vocabulary a key component, every student should take advance of this FREE offer.

From Tuesday, July 9, at 12:01 a.m. PST through Wednesday, July 10, 11:59 p.m. PST the Direct Hits Core Vocabulary of the SAT eBook will be available for FREE!

Click here for the free download http://amzn.to/ZazhwT

Students who already have the very popular paperback version can now add the eBook to their mobile devices at no charge. Especially if they plan to take a standardized test such as the SAT, PSAT, SSAT, and even the GRE, it can be even easier to build vocabulary skills.

This is also a great way to share the Direct Hits Core Vocabulary of the SAT eBook with friends. We all need to increase our word capital!

 

test prep

10 Summer SAT Study Tips

 

sat prepJuniors and seniors in high school are looking toward the fall and standardized testing. For seniors, it’s the last chance to get their best score before the college applications are submitted. For juniors the fall test can be a good indicator of areas that need improvement and require more preparation. Taking advantage of the summer to prepare for these tests is just smart academic sense.

Following are ten summer SAT study tips to help your student prepare for standardized tests in the fall.

  1. Read-All SAT test experts will tell you that reading is one of the best and easiest ways to prepare for the SAT. Reading for entertainment is helpful, but reading for content and purpose will help with the reading part of the SAT.
  2. Utilize self-paced study-Use the Official SAT Study Guide produced by the College Board and study at your own pace. Use the free online prep as well. Set a schedule to study, however, and stick with it.
  3. Take a practice test-Practice tests help you evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Set aside time to complete them just like you would on test day. It helps to familiarize you with time constraints and focus on the test itself without distractions.
  4. Sign up for an SAT course-There are a variety of courses available throughout the summer, both in person and online. Online SAT courses offer students flexible accessibility to test prep solutions that cater to each individual. Barrons Test Prep offers a diagnostic test, lesson videos, practice materials and reports that help your student track their progress. The price is affordable and they offer a free trial to test out their service.
  5. Hire a private tutor-Many students need the one-on-one instruction that a private tutor can give. Tutors can help your student evaluate their academic strengths and give them personalized academic tutoring which will help with the standardized tests. Before you hire them, however, do the research.
  6. Sign up for the SAT question of the day-This is just another way to familiarize yourself with the test and practice one question each day. Sometimes smaller dozes of studying help break it up and can be easier to remember.
  7. Boost your vocabulary-Use flash cards, sign up to receive an SAT word of the day in your email, post words on the refrigerator, and talk about them with the family at dinner. Crossword puzzles also help increase your vocabulary.
  8. Write-Practice writing essays by journaling or blogging. Since most of communication today is done by texting or IM speak, it’s good to write using correct grammar, syntax and complete sentences.
  9. Study with a friend-The buddy system helps your student stay accountable.
  10. Review math skills-The math part of the SAT requires knowledge of basic math concepts and formulas. SAT books provide an index of the math skills required and the practice tests give your student and idea of the type of math questions they will need to become familiar with.

SAT prep doesn’t need to be torturous. In small doses your student will retain what they learn and won’t be cramming the last few weeks before the test. Summer is the perfect time to spread the study out.