Tag Archives: standardized tests

admissions, standardized tests, test optional, test prep

Test Optional–What You Need to Know

test optional

Does your student want to avoid taking a standardized test? Do they bomb them every time they take them? Are you hesitant to pay for a test prep tutor? Good news. There are hundreds of schools, large and small, who will use the SAT or ACT for placement only or other minimal requirements.

Due to the 2020 pandemic, most colleges became test-optional because students were unable to take standardized tests. Rumors abound that this will have a future impact on the value colleges place on standardized tests or eliminating the test requirement altogether.

Continue reading Test Optional–What You Need to Know →
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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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Dealing with SAT and ACT Anxiety

 

sat and act anxietyWhen it comes to standardized testing, SAT and ACT anxiety is the elephant in the room. No matter how thoroughly you address the material, strategic, and timing-based demands of these exams, the potential for anxiety-induced problems remains.

Many parents and students view testing anxiety as an “intangible” – an issue that can’t be addressed in any sort of reliable or systematic fashion. Fortunately, this isn’t the case. With the right knowledge and procedures, parents can easily make anxiety a non-issue for their children and set them up for the best possible chances of testing success.

A Quick Note: When Anxiety is Real

Everyone on Earth gets nervous. When you get anxious before a big exam, it means that you’re a human being and that your neural and emotional wiring are firing properly. However, some students do have legitimate, diagnosable anxiety issues – levels of anxiousness that become detrimental to normal functioning.

If you suspect that your child has a legitimate anxiety issue (and if you’re a parent, you’ll know), it’s best to consult a licensed psychiatrist or behavioral therapist to figure out your options.

For everyone else, read on!

The Four Factors That Kill Anxiety

  • Familiarity
  • Preparation
  • Keeping Things in Perspective
  • Having a Backup Plan

If you address all four, your kid will walk into the SAT or ACT cool as a cucumber. Let’s address all four in a bit more detail:

Familiarity

Have you ever been on a roller coaster? The first time you went on, it was probably horrifying. You didn’t know what to expect, you didn’t know if it was safe – and so you were terrified. By the third time you got on, you were bored. You needed to find a new ride just to maintain some level of excitement.

Tests are the same way. The more you take them, and the more you deal with them, the less frightening they become. Find me a kid who has never taken a full-length practice test before, and I’ll show you a kid who’s terrified of taking the real thing. On the other hand, find me a kid who has already taken ten full-length, timed, graded diagnostics, and I’ll show you someone who’s practically bored by the prospect of these tests.

And that’s what you want your kid to be! If you start the prep process early, and if you make sure to build timed, graded, realistic practice tests into the process, then you’ll build more than enough familiarity to axe anxiety.

Preparation

This is just an extension of familiarity. Have you ever given a presentation without enough prep time? Sweaty palm city. On the flip side, have you ever been nervous to do something that you’d prepared for properly? I doubt it.

The more time you give your child to prepare, and the more consistently he or she studies, the less anxiety you’ll need to deal with. When it comes to these exams, you cannot prepare enough. This seems counterintuitive – don’t “tiger moms” make their kids study for hours on end!? And aren’t their kids nervous wrecks? Actually, the more studying you do, the less nervous you’ll be. “Tiger moms” get a bad rap for another reason, and this leads us right to element #3:

Keeping Things in Perspective

We all know that test scores are important. However, once you’ve set the proper goals with your child, you need to stop talking about them. Once your goals are set, you need to focus on consistent work and on the process, rather than on outcomes.

Want a miserable kid? Focus only on the end result. When he improves by 50 points, don’t congratulate him – just ask him “why he isn’t there yet.” Never reward consistent effort – just scold him for “not improving fast enough.”

If you want a relaxed, confident, and motivated kid, just convey the following:

You love him/her no matter what

You’re proud of all the work that he/she is doing

No matter what happens, he/she is going to get an amazing education

You know that he/she is going to do well!

That’s it. The SAT and ACT aren’t sports – you can’t scream and push your way to victory. These behaviors create adrenaline – fantastic for physical performance, and horrible for mental performance. Trust me: your kid is already feeling enough pressure. Your job is to be a teammate, not a boss.

If you reward consistent labor, keep things in perspective, and give your kid enough runway to get the proper preparation and familiarity built in, only one last element remains:

Have a Backup Plan

When you register for your SAT or ACT, make sure to register for a backup date. This is absolutely essential. Three reasons why:

 

  1. Insurance. Your kid might have a bad day – he might get sick, he might break up with his girlfriend the night before, he might pull an all-nighter studying for a chemistry test – who knows! You can’t tell the future, but you can get an insurance policy.
  2. Statistical variance. Some tests are easier and harder than others for the students who take them. For instance, one test might have more algebra, and another might focus more heavily on geometry – one is going to favor your child more heavily. By taking both tests, you have a better chance of catching the more favorable exam.
  3. Pressure reduction. Keep all of the points above in mind and you’re going to be dealing with a much more relaxed, centered student. Anxiety is real, but it doesn’t have to be a problem – and by following all these guidelines, you’re sure to keep it at bay!

Keep all of the points above in mind and you’re going to be dealing with a much more relaxed, centered student. Anxiety is real, but it doesn’t have to be a problem – and by following all these guidelines, you’re sure to keep it at bay!

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Anthony-James Green is world-renowned SAT and ACT tutor with over 10,000 hours of experience teaching these tests, crafting curriculum, and training other tutors to teach their own students. He is also the founder of TestPrepAuthority.com. CNN recently named Anthony: “The SAT tutor to the 1%”

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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, Uncategorized, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Surviving Standardized Tests

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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.

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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!

 

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Top 5 standardized test tips for college-bound students

images-4Standardized tests are no walk in the park – they are designed to ascertain not only your knowledge base, but also your ability to read and comprehend, your capacity to formulate your own thoughts, and your overall preparedness to enter the college arena. Every parent wants their kids to go to college, but those that aren’t willing to take standardized testing seriously are bound to have trouble with these tricky exams.

However, those teens that are set on attending college in order to better themselves will find that the scores they get on the SATs, PSATs, and/or ACTs can greatly influence their college choices. So being prepared is imperative. And here are just a few standardized test tips that will help.

  1. Check your required items. Registering for an exam date and paying your fees are only the beginning of the process when it comes to being prepared. You also need to show up on test day with all the things you’ll need to successfully ace the exam. For example, you’ll need to provide your ID and an admission ticket to gain entrance to the testing facility. And once you’re inside you’d better have the proper supplies on hand, including number 2 pencils and in some cases a calculator (SATs) – don’t forget the batteries. You might also want snacks, since these tests can be rather long, a watch to track your time (no cell phones allowed), and layered clothes in case you get warm or cold.
  2. Get your zzzzs. The absolute worst thing you can do is burn the midnight oil cramming for your upcoming test. Students that take exams on a sleep deficit are likely to have trouble with focus, memory, and comprehension, which means you might read the same sentence three times before you figure out what it says, and even then you won’t be able to remember the answer that you swear you knew a couple of hours ago. So do yourself a favor and go to bed so you can wake up refreshed, rested, and ready to ace the test.
  3. Be thorough and budget time. The biggest mistakes that most students make during standardized tests have to do with timing. If you’re in too much of a hurry, you are likely to misread questions, so take the time to read through each question once slowly to ensure that you catch the meaning the first time around. However, don’t waste time reading through the same question over and over if you don’t get it; move on to complete the questions you know and then come back if you have time left over when you’re done.
  4. Use study guides and sample tests. Studying is an important part of test-taking because it helps you to retain pertinent information. But sample tests go the extra mile by letting you time yourself and helping you to gain an understanding of how the actually test might progress.
  5. Hire a tutor. Once standardized tests have become old hat you may not need a tutor (say for GMAT or LSAT test preparation). But since the SATs (and other entrance exams) are your first rodeo, so to speak, it couldn’t hurt to get a little extra help from the pros, especially since your score on the test will go a long way towards determining which colleges will grant you admission.