SAT Subject Tests are the only national admission tests that measure students' knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, and their ability to apply that knowledge. They are closely linked to the high school curriculum and have a proven track record of providing colleges with a highly reliable, objective assessment of student readiness for college-level work.
What are the best ways to prepare for the SAT subject tests? Start early and read! It is a test that takes strategy, clear thinking, critical thinking and test taking skills that need to be learned over time. Do not start preparing one week before the exam!
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• Read, read, read! (novels, not comics)
• Get a set of flash cards (SAT/ACT Vocabulary) and start on them early. • Read the newspaper. • Visit a news website such as NY Times, CNN and read the top stories. • Do crossword puzzles. • Write in a journal or as much as possible. • Solve logic puzzles. • Answer the SAT question of the day on-line. • Take the practice tests offered on-line or at your school . When it comes to college admissions, there are three pieces to the puzzle: your academic record, your personal record, and your standardized test scores.
The first two parts take years or even a lifetime to build, the third part represents just a few hours of a Saturday morning. And did you know that since March 2009, College Board's new policy allowed students to pick which scores a college sees, giving you even more control over how your scores are perceived? Some say that preparation doesn't really make a major difference and recommends students take the SAT only once or twice. But many people still believe there are strategies you can use to outsmart the SAT, particularly with the new score reporting policy. Here are the four tips these people cite most often: Make a calendar and start early The PSAT can be taken as early as freshman year. Students can start taking the SAT as early as sophomore year. Map out a plan by looking at the College Board's test dates, and then check your academic calendar and extracurricular schedule. Don't take the SAT the same week as your midterms. Next, plot out a week-by-week schedule where you review a lesson on a specific topic each week and do targeted practice in Math, Reading and Writing. Practice, practice, practice Use real SAT questions to practice your weaker topics. Stage a dress rehearsal and keep taking the SAT Lee Academia suggests taking a monthly practice test in realistic, timed conditions on a Saturday morning. Don't take the practice test in a quiet room at home—go to somewhere where there is ambient noise so that you'll practice with distractions. This way, when you go to the real test center, it will seem more familiar. Students raise their scores by an average of only 40 points on the second test. But if you have a very large sample—say, 10 tests —there is a good likelihood that one of those tests will be an outlier—that a particular test will fall on the high end of the test range. The test is an approximation, affected by many factors: whether the students happen to get more questions on topics they handle better, whether they guess better, whether they are more seasoned test takers, whether they got enough sleep and food, and the general testing conditions. Apply only to schools that let you select which SAT scores you report Under the new policy, some colleges may still require applicants to submit all test-taking attempts. If you take the SAT 15 times (which you shouldn't do), apply just to schools that let you hide your scores. If students band together in applying only to schools that let them hide their scores, that will put pressure on schools to give in to the score-choice policy. When should students take the SAT or ACT? Does it make sense to take both tests?
I recommend that students take the SAT or ACT in the spring of junior year and retake that same test in the fall of senior year, if necessary. May is a perfect month for the SAT since students can order “Question and Answer Service” (which is only offered three times a year), a terrific study tool for the next round. Taking the May SAT also allows students to take SAT Subject Tests in June, close to the end of the semester in which they are studying those subjects. The ACT Q&A service, “Test Information Release,” is offered in April and June. June is the best time to take the test, when courses are nearly over and students have learned more math, which is relevant on this test. Then take the test once more in September or October. Colleges accept both. For students applying to colleges that require the SAT + SAT Subject Tests, or ACT alone, and who do not have strong SAT Subject Test options, the ACT is appealing. For students who are weak in reading and vocabulary but strong in math, the ACT is often the better option. Otherwise, the SAT is generally considered the more coachable test. Students can take a practice test in each to get the definitive answer of which test is a better fit for them. Under what circumstances should students retake the SAT or ACT? How much better should a student expect to do the second time around? Although the trend is to take more and more tests, there are several reasons students should not retake the SAT or ACT more than once. Students’ time could be put to much better uses than prepping for and retaking tests, too. Students who study for these tests tend to make a big jump in scores after their first course of study: 50 points or more in each SAT section, 2-4 points in each ACT section. After that, many students plateau out, but still manage to raise their scores in the fall, sometimes an additional 50 points per SAT section, and a 1-3 points on the ACT. Since colleges pick the best scores to make a superscore, nearly everyone should take the test again in the fall. Many students pull it all together then: They are a half-year older than when they first took the test; they’ve grown and matured over the summer, too. A number of factors lead some students to see big improvement in the fall test. Even if they only pick up a few points here and there, it adds up and overall is likely to be much higher than initial scores. What is your advice for parents, when it comes to helping your child juggle the necessary components of admissions (exams, essays, paperwork, tours, etc)? Every student and family is different, but the demands of college applications and admissions are the same: burdensome and stressful! Students need to be willing to accept some parental help and guidance but may rightfully reject meddling. Families should sit down early in the process and establish roles, boundaries, and procedures for making sure everything gets done. Personally, I have no objection to allowing a student to delegate much of the logistics and bookkeeping to parents. Some students are not ready to take on that responsibility or are too busy juggling school and test prep and all the rest of their responsibilities. It does not mean that they are not ready to go on to the next step. Essays, however, and anything that is supposed to be in the student’s voice should not bear any parent’s fingerprints. Should students ever cancel their scores on the ACT or SAT? If you feel you did particularly bad is it a good idea to cancel your test? Both ACT and SAT scores may be cancelled within a few days of the test, but students should really have a good reason to do so, not just nerves. It really is difficult to predict one’s score based on a gut feeling after taking the test, but if the student was ill or had any other extraordinary circumstance that would have affected his or her test performance, cancellation is a last resort. Remember though, most colleges will superscore the results from all the SATs taken, and a growing number of colleges will do so for the ACT, too, so even if the results in one or two sections of the test are poor, a higher score in another section generally makes it all worth keeping, since that score would benefit the overall score compilation. For students taking the SAT Subject Tests, note that score cancellation affects all tests taken that day. Even if the student is concerned about one of two or three tests, it probably would be wiser to keep all the scores. Most colleges allow Score Choice, so any weak scores can be suppressed later. Sept 7 : Registration deadline for Oct SAT
Sept 8 : ACT (ACTStudent.org) Sept 21 : Registration deadline for Oct ACT Sept 21 : Late registration deadline for Oct SAT Oct 5 : Late registration deadline for Oct ACT Oct 6 : SAT (CollegeBoard.com) Oct 7 : Start Preparing for December SAT with Lee Academia The big advantage to test prep is improved scores, but no method of preparation is magic. SAT/ACT prep methods work when students put in the time and effort. To find the method right for you, you need to understand the pros, cons, and costs of various test prep methods.
Benefits of Test Prep The ultimate objective of any SAT or ACT program is improved test scores, but in order to score better, students need more than a review of test content. Some students know all the content needed to earn a perfect score, yet they still struggle due to problems with pacing, test anxiety, test format, and lack of familiarity with question types and test structure. Any quality test prep method should address these areas:
Private Tutoring One-on-one or small group tutoring allows for personalized instruction and often the best results when it comes to score improvement. In an individual setting, students are most accountable for completing assignments and all the time is dedicated to making sure that student improves. The drawbacks to private tutoring are cost and quality. Cost is obvious; you are paying for the instructor’s time and experience. A complete test prep program delivered one-on-one can cost between $1,200 and $10,000. Quality can be an issue in private tutoring. Anyone with an SAT book can call himself or herself a tutor. You want an experienced instructor who specializes in SAT or ACT prep. Group Classes Group classes are one of the most popular methods of test prep, because they are more affordable than private tutoring. Students receive the same information, but in a group setting. For some, a group is better because they learn from the questions of others and feel less pressured than in a one-on-one setting. Group programs offer a more consistent quality of information, but there are still huge variations. The big name test prep companies have consistent materials, but college students trained on the workbook often teach those classes. You can get some good teachers. But you can also get the instructor with no classroom management skills or the one who spends half the class on break. Classes usually range in cost between $500 and $1400. While you may be able to find some bargains, ask around for recommendations because cheaper is not always better. Online Programs For those of us who grew up before email, internet, and smart phones, it can be difficult to imagine taking classes online. But online education is the way of the future and some universities offer entire degree programs online. Online test prep can take many forms. Some require students to “attend” class at specific times each week to watch the lessons live; others allow students to access lessons at any time. Online classes can offer all the same benefits of a traditional class with added flexibility. The drawback to online education is accountability. Some students need the structure of a traditional class. The cost of online programs varies considerably, often based on the quality and quantity of information. Some programs cost less than $100 while others are as much as $3000. Again, do your research and get recommendations. Self-Study Finally, the least expensive method to prepare for the SAT or ACT is to study on your own. Some students are dedicated enough to review without guidance and these diligent scholars can teach themselves for the cost of materials alone. Self-study works best for bright students who are already good test takers. They already know most of the test content and don’t have problems with nerves, so these students just need to study the format of the questions and exam to develop test-taking strategies. Keep in mind that the primary factor in score improvement is effort. The best tutor can’t help the student who refuses to study. But everyone learns differently, so you need to find the right balance of information, motivation, and accountability. If you begin early, you can experiment with different test prep methods until you find the one that works for you. Prepare for the October and November SAT!
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Stephenie Lee
Stephenie, having been a tutor/instructor/mentor since 1996, discovered her passion and founded Lee Academia Educational Consulting, LLC. after she left the dental and medical field. She loves teaching/mentoring and counseling her students. Her passion lies in educating others and helping them pursue their educational path. Today, certified in College Counseling and with more than 10 years of experience, Stephenie and her team continues to blog about current updated educational news and events. Archives
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