The New SAT made its debut in March 2016 and impacts the students in the class of 2017 or younger. In 2005, the SAT changed and a score of 2400 or higher became the magic number to get. Before that the magic number was 1600. This year the SAT test is changing again and the magic number is reverting back to 1600. You may be asking yourself what is the new SAT test and why has it changed? Let’s dig a little deeper and learn more about the history of the SAT. The SAT was founded in 1926 and was an adaptation of the Army Alpha, an IQ test which had been used to check the intelligence of recruits to the US Army. This eventually developed into the SAT as we know it. In 2005, an update was done to the test where analogies was eliminated from the test. It was determined that they did not really reflect today’s high school curriculum. They als0 felt that the analogies encouraged memorization of vocabulary rather than reasoning skills. The math section was expanded to embrace concepts covered by most high school “Algebra II” courses. Again, the change represents an attempt to keep the SAT in step with the modern high school curriculum. They also wanted to emphasize the skills that are most desired by top colleges and universities. The newest changes to the SAT test in 2016 have students pretty excited. Lets look at some of these changes. 1. No Obscure Vocabulary. The new version of the SAT will be easier because there will no longer be obscure vocabulary to trip you up. So you may be more familiar with some of the vocabulary that is tested, but you will need to know multiple definitions of those words. The College Board made the decision to focus on vocabulary words that you will encounter on a regular basis in college and in future jobs. 2. Fewer Answer Choices. The new format will have only 4 choices to each question instead of 5. This will help save you time when taking the test because you will have 1 less answer choice to read through. This will also give you a 25% chance of getting the answer correct instead of only a 20% chance. 3. More Time. One of the biggest complaints that students had with the SAT test is that they didn’t have enough time to take the test. The good news is that there will be more time per section on the new version, and you will even have double the amount of time to write your essay. Another cool thing about it is the new 1600 version of the test will have 16 fewer questions than the old version. 4. No Penalty for Guessing. On the previous version of the SAT, students were penalized for guessing the wrong answer by losing a point on their score. The new system doesn’t penalize you for choosing the wrong answer. 5. Optional Essay. The essay, which the SAT added in 2005, will now be optional. SAT essays have faced criticism over the years from educators who said they focused too much on what test takers wrote, not whether their statements were true, or their arguments reasonable. Essays will be scored separately from the rest of the test, and the prompt will remain basically the same in every test. It will ask you to consider a passage and write an essay that analyzes how the author made an argument, used evidence and styled ideas. The redesigned test will take about three hours, with an additional 50 minutes for the essay, and will be administered by print and computer; the current test is available on paper only. These are so many needed changes to the SAT. The new SAT will have no bearing on students scheduled to graduate in 2016. However, for students planning to graduate in 2017 or any year after, the new SAT exam will be the exam they have to take (assuming they would prefer to take the exam no sooner than spring of 2016).
As parents, it is so important to help our children as they learn to read. Our job is to help them grow the skills that they are working on to lead to reading growth. At times, it can be difficult to know where to begin when helping your new reader. If you are a parent who feels lost on where to begin with your growing reader, use some of these tips below: Remember to always go slow when beginning with your new reader. When first learning to read, you can never go slow enough, at times. Always keep this in mind as you help your child. Have your child read out loud the words from the book. Reading out loud is one of the best ways a younger reader can develop their skills. While reading out loud, have your child sound out each letter to help them put together words. The best way to start helping your child is through your local Library. Begin making weekly trips to the library where there are no distractions around. The library is a quiet, easy place for the two of you to concentrate and spend time together. Spending this time alone will help your child build their confidences and get them on the road to being a great reader. Many libraries have story nights which is great for your new reader. Having them listen to the story while following along to the words in the book. Find a book that comes with a CD to listen to in the car. Have them listen and read along to the story as it is read on the CD. You can always try to find a book that also comes with a CD. That makes car rides a little more fun. They can read the words as the story is being read. This will make road trips a little more fun and keep their minds and eyes in a book. This will also keep your younger ones learning too! This will open their minds up as much as your new reader! The more you get them interested in books, the better off they are! As you read together, begin going over what they read and talking about the story. Comprehension is a strong part of reading that leads to better reading skills. Ask your child questions about the story: Who was in the story? What happened in the story? Teaching your child to pay attention to the story as they read is important to their reading growth along with something that they will be tested on later on. If your child feels frustrated by the idea of remembering what they read, then take it slowly. Always remember to be there for your child as they read. Never read what they should be reading to get the work done quicker for your child. The first year of reading in school is one of the most important years. Finding new books at their reading level helps bring interest to your child. There are plenty of reading books to pick from at your local library and/or library.
Being a parent has always been a tough job as we always seem to running from one place to the next. Getting time to help our children do their homework and study seems to be even harder. I began to look for different websites and apps that could help my children study and practice while in the car or while at a sibling’s event or practice that would be fun, but also practice in the area(s) they need the most. Multiplication Table for Kid’s Math: This app is a fun one! They learn the multiplication table from 1-12. There are 4 times tables modes: Story, Lesson, Kid Challenge, and Duel. They can play the Math Duel with a friend! There are easy and hard puzzles, simple and complex math equations, (even with addition and subtraction). The story mode gives you 3 lives per multiplication table and they need to try and get through as many as they can without losing their lives. Check Out Multiplication Table for Kid’s Math on Google Play Store! Reading Eggs: Reading and sight words can be a hard thing for young readers. Reading Eggs sight words is a great app for both the phone and the tablet. This free app helps children learn 100 site words, such as he, she the, ect. It’s has 4 levels with 25 words in each level! This is a fun game to start at age 3 for the early learning, but has all the 100 words they need for kindergarten! And at the end of each lesson, the word is spelled! This will help them learn and have fun in no time! Check out Reading Eggs on Google Play Store! English Reading Comprehension Another hard thing for kids is comprehending what they read! Many kids can read, but can’t always remember what it was that they were reading. English Reading Comprehension is a free app for them! This app allows your child to read and take a test based off of what they read. It also has questions based off of words and phrase, spelling and grammar. They are categorized by 5 grades. There is also a mock test. After you have practiced all types of questions, you can take the mock test. It randomly selects questions from each of the topics/ There is also no limit on how many times you can take the mock tests. This is a great app to helping that student of yours reach that goal! Check out English Reading Comprehension on Google Play Store! Check these apps out and see how much you like them and how much your child is learning!
Elementary students face a higher level of demand to learn and use Common Core Standards in Elementary School English Classes: Many elementary students face challenges learning and using Common Core English Language Arts (ELA) standard requirements now used in many public and private schools throughout the United States. Why do students need to know Common Core in elementary school English classes? These standards were created to help students be more competitive and prepare them for middle and high school and ultimately college and/or the workforce. Since college entrance exams, specifically the new SAT, incorporate skills students learn through common core, mastering these skills becomes even more important at the elementary school level. English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA/Literacy) and Common Core Standards: ELA/Literacy based on Common Core standards call for a deeper understanding of how students reach their answers and they must analyze, reason, and apply their own thoughts in class and homework assignments. There is an increased demand on students in elementary school to master a deeper understanding of reading materials and be able to implement their understanding in real-life scenarios. Shifts in ELA/Literacy Requirements at the elementary school level: Students must think for themselves and be able to use their own reasoning. They will need to be able to explain or write about what they have in read and be able to infer meaning from text. They are also required to provide evidence based on their reading and writing exercises. In addition, students are exposed to more nonfiction, informational texts rather than exclusively literature based reading assignments. How can tutoring help students with ELA/Literacy based on Common Core standards? Many tutors specialize in Common Core standards and can help students understand what is expected of them and assist them with the required skills needed to succeed in elementary school English. Contact Elite Home Tutoring for questions or information concerning ELA/Literacy Common Core standards and tutoring, www.elitehometutoring.com.
What is the the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET)? There are three high school equivalency exams, the GED (General Equivalency Diploma), the HiSET (High School Equivalency Test), and the TASC (Test Assessing Secondary Completion). The HiSET is a state-issued high school test and is an alternative to the standard GED exam. The HiSET is more flexible than the GED and the TASC and is offered in several formats and languages. It is also the least expensive test available for a high school equivalency test and costs vary from state to state. Which states offer the HiSET Exam: The HiSET Exam is available in California, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Wyoming. The HiSET credential is valid in all states. Which subjects are on the HiSET and what is the passing score? The HiSET Exam measures the following five levels of high school education: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. Each section is worth 20 points and students must receive at least 8 correct answers in each section and a combined score of 45 in order to pass the test. Students must score in the 60%. The HiSET, once passed, will give students the equivalent to a high school credential, or diploma. The HiSET is also considered the equivalent to the GED or the TASC credential. How can tutoring help students prepare for the HiSET Exam? The HiSET Exam was redesigned in 2015 and is based on Common Core Standards. Students must understand these standards in order to pass the HiSET Exam. Private, one-on-one tutoring can help students understand the Common Core Standards. Tutors can run students through typical question types seen on the actual exam. There are many tutors that specialize in high school equivalency exams, and they are able to help ensure that sudents are prepared in all five sections of the exam. Contact Elite Home Tutoring for questions and additional information concerning the HiSET Exam, www.elitehometutoring.com
There is quite a buzz in the air concerning the new SAT. The current SAT will be available until March 2016; after this date only the new SAT will be available. How is the “new” SAT effecting education, high school, college entrance, and tutoring? The new SAT and Education: The new SAT will implement the Common Core Standards. Student’s abilities in math, reading, and writing will be tested and measured. Students must master these standards in order to score well on the new SAT. Educators teaching these standards face increased pressure, especially since the new SAT will debut early next year. Teachers must help students gain a deeper understanding and guide them in applying their understanding and knowledge in day-to-day and real-life situations. The new SAT and High School: Current high school students must be prepared in advance for changes in the new SAT. Some students may have the option of taking both the current and new SAT exams. Freshman and sophomores have the option to take both. Current juniors and seniors will not need to take the new SAT and will take the current SAT, since the new exam will not be implemented until 2016. The new SAT and College Entrance: In order to gain the best entrance scores, students must do well on the new SAT, which is more challenging than the current SAT. The questions are harder and will take longer to answer. The essay will be optional, although it will be a more challenging. Some math sections will no longer allow caculators and students will see more algebra problems. Understanding Common Core Standards and the ability to implement these standards are the key to success with the new SAT. The new SAT and Tutoring: Private educators, such as tutors, have already experienced an increase in inquiries from students and parents concerning the new SAT. It is important to get ahead of the game now since students will no longer be able to “cram” for the exam. The time in now to start preparing for the new SAT! Contact Elite Home Tutoring for questions and additional information concerning the “new” SAT, www.elitehometutoring.com