By junior year, most high school students have been told that they need to ace their standardized tests in order to get into college. But what does acing it really mean? We have the answer. Your child can use this step-by-step guide in order to create a personalized ACT or SAT goal score. This way, they will know precisely when they have hit the mark. Make a list of prospective schools Every university has their own requirements. Make a spreadsheet of every school your student plans to apply to attend. Be sure to include safety schools, dream schools and reach schools. Nothing is off limits–think broadly here! Find the average ACT/SAT scores of admitted students You can use the College Board database to figure out average test scores for current students. While not all universities report these statistics, a great many do so on College Board. Search for a school’s name, and under the “Applying” heading you will find a tab labeled “SAT and ACT Scores.” Look for the score range that contains the largest percentage of students, and input the low and high thresholds of that range into your spreadsheet. Calculate your goal score This is it: the moment you have awaited! Find your child’s goal ACT or SAT score by calculating the average of all the low-threshold scores, and the average for the high-threshold scores. For example, if Harvard College’s SAT threshold is 1460-1590 and Yale’s is 1420-1590, then you will average the low end of the range ((1460 + 1420)/2 = 1440), and the high end of the range ((1590 + 1590)/2 = 1590), separately. Do this for all schools on the master list. In the end, you will have a score range that takes into account the expectations from your student’s college application list, instead of just an arbitrary number. In the example given, the goal SAT score range to apply to Harvard and Yale is 1440-1590. Calculating a personalized goal score helps provide a metric during test prep time. By keeping in mind the requirements needed to be a competitive college candidate, your child is more likely to meet their goals. Once they earn the score and get admitted, you all can celebrate the victory!
Standardized tests are a cornerstone of the college application process. Parents devote ample time and energy to preparing the prospective college freshmen in their homes for success with Kaplan courses and Princeton Review guidebooks. But in the last two years, both the American College Test (ACT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) have been redesigned. So how do they compare to their older versions? Also, which test best suits your child’s needs and abilities? Let’s first break down how the test have evolved in recent years. In September of 2015, the ACT was redesigned to incorporate new sub-scoring categories for each of the four core sections: English, Math, Reading and Science. The rationale behind the change meant to provide greater insight into a student’s personal strengths and weaknesses. Thus in addition to the composite score graded on a 1-36 scale, students also receive scores in four new subcategories: S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), English Language, Career Readiness and Text Complexity. Each of these areas theoretically contribute to a more detailed snapshot of the student’s aptitudes. Along with new scoring mechanisms, the ACT made alterations to the optional writing section by extending the time from thirty minutes to forty minutes. The essay requires analysis of multiple perspectives as opposed to general prompt response of older formats. While these changes do not impact the difficulty of the questions themselves, being aware of how best to prepare could be the difference between earning a 28 and a 30 on the exam. Collegeboard first administered the new SAT in March 2016, which decreased total exam time from three hours and forty-five minutes to just three hours (excluding an optional fifty minute essay section). The old Critical Reading and Writing sections, once famous for their vocabulary sections, have been combined into a single Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section that poses questions related to textual excerpts. The new format also eliminated the point penalty for incorrect responses, and extended the time allotted for writing from twenty-five minutes to fifty. Most importantly, perhaps, the score range shifted from 600-2400 to a scale of 400-1600. So a 1600 back in 2012 meant a very mediocre score, whereas now a 1600 denotes perfection. But how to choose between the two exams? First and foremost, not all colleges accept scores from both exams, Not to worry though, because most do. If you want to verify, search through the comprehensive Collegeboard.org database of application requirements. If you can choose either or both, then let the content inform your decision. Note that the main content difference between the ACT and SAT centers around the ACT having a Science section, while the SAT does not. In terms of test formatting, the SAT requires a No-Calculator Math section, while the ACT permits calculators for the entire Math section. With respect to aids, the SAT provides common algebra and geometry formulas, while the ACT does not. Our suggestion? Review these content and formatting differences with your child in order to gauge their preferences. Still stuck? Have them complete sample SAT and ACT questions and then compare the scores. At the end of the day, rest assured that many colleges permit students to submit the highest scores per section for either test, without reviewing all scores from each exam attempt. When choosing between the ACT and SAT, be sure to prioritize your child’s preferences along with the application requirements of the colleges they hope to attend. In any case, happy testing and good luck!
The fall semester of senior year comes with a particular significance–college application time. Usually at this point in the high school experience, students have completed their last rounds of standardized testing and are polishing off the remaining personal statements. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, applying to college can often seem like an insurmountable obstacle. How can parents keep the household running, manage work and other children, and craft the perfect admissions application? Is there any part of the process that is within my control? Indeed, there are two. Glad you asked… RECOMMENDATION LETTERS Let’s face it. Teachers sometimes struggle to complete college recommendations in a timely manner. This is not necessarily out of negligence. In fact, it is probably a safe bet to say that many teachers wish they could recommend many more students that they ultimately do each year. But the reality is that writing college recommendation letters can be time-consuming and tend to become into another box that needs checking off the ol’ to-do list. But it does not have to be this way. Ask in advance. Approach your potential recommender a month or more before the deadline. Make it as easy as possible for recommenders to perform this favor for you and your child. Things like providing the writing prompt for the recommendation, including the URL link where they should submit, and communicating the exact deadline work wonders for streamlining the process. Then, let them know that you understand their workload, and will follow-up at weekly or biweekly intervals to relieve the pressure of them having to remember the deadline. If you are feeling extra-cautionary, fudge the deadline by telling the recommender it is a week or two earlier than in actuality. This way, you have a buffer for procrastination and can sleep cozily at night knowing the recommendation will not be late or rushed. Over-ask for recommendation letters. If your child’s dream school requires two letters of recommendation, secure four people willing to write on their behalf. Why? Some will be stronger testaments to your child’s character than others. Some will be more timely and eloquent than others. Most importantly, though, your “Plan B” is already enacted. Better safe, than sorry, right? Think outside the box. While it’s true that college admissions offices love to see recommendations from recent core-class teachers, there are many people in your child’s life who could offer an illuminating recommendation. Consider athletic coaches and trainers, church and community leaders, and even employers. The goal of a recommendation letter is to hear an adult who is involved in your child’s life elaborate on the strength of his or her character. So feel free to cast a wider net in your effort to find a stellar recommender. PERSONAL STATEMENTS These are the Holy Grail of college admissions. Why? Because the personal statements is the only guaranteed opportunity an applicant has to speak directly to an admissions officer. Think about it. What are the other components of an application? Transcripts, test scores, recommendation letters, college resumes, etc. Not one of these elements allows your child to speak to why they are a suitable candidate for admission. Make the most of a personal statement by having your student write about themselves. Each and every sentence is an opportunity to shed a bit of insight into their personality, dreams, goals and psyche. The picture the personal essay paints needs not be a summation of who they are (the other components sum everything up already), but rather an extremely vivid one. One good test is to change the name at the top of the essay and then reread. Is it so general in content that it could apply to literally any high school senior in America? Sentences like, “I am passionate about learning, and dedicated to achieving my goals” are major red flags. They beg the question of who isn’t passionate and dedicated these days? Instead of generalities and platitudes, go for the juicy details. Concrete, specific and illustrative. If your child writes about a family vacation, for instance, ideally it is written such that the admissions officer gets a clear sense of what kind of vacation, family, and experience your child had. Most critically, the essay should communicate how your student feels about each and every one of these topics. The personal statement should be imbued with your child’s point of view and opinion because this reveals glimpses of who they are. Why do so in a vivid way? Because admissions officers, after all, are people too. And people remember things that resonate most with them. So as the Early-Decision, Early-Admission, and Common Application deadlines quickly approach, wrap up the last bits of your child’s application confidently of knowing that you put the best foot forward. The rest is up to the universities.
If you’re among the more than 1.6 million students who are planning on taking the ACT exams this year, you probably have mixed feelings about the process. On one hand, you know that this is your chance to show colleges how well you can perform on standardized tests and how dedicated you are to academic endeavors. On the other hand, you know that will mean lots of studying and preparation. Not to fret, getting a great ACT score is possible, even if you dread the idea of taking the test. If you’re looking for some inspiration and helpful tips to make the process better, look no further: Get familiar with the format. First and foremast, take some time to learn about the ACT exam and what it involves. Do you know how it’s different than the SATs? Do you know what the sections of the exam are and what the format is like? Don’t register before you learn the basics about the exam and know what will be expected of you so that you can study all topics accordingly. Give yourself a lot of time. Yes, it’s a fact that studying material over a longer period of time versus last minute cramming is the way to go. If you’ve got the option of spending an hour per day over a month versus three all-day study sessions, always opt for the longer term plan. 3) Think about the ACT exam differently. The ACT exam isn’t just another test, like that one you have next week in your social studies class. It is incredibly important and can play a big role in you getting accepted into your dream college, so give it the time and energy it deserves by preparing thoroughly. This may mean working with a tutor to establish an effective and productive study routine that ensures you’ll be prepared when test day arrives. 4) Use official ACT resources. The official ACT website offers a number of resources that every student should take advantage of, including practice test questions, tips, a question of the day, and more. Visit the page here to review the available material, and take note that some materials are available free of charge while others must be purchased. 5) Take practice exams. Before you start officially studying for the ACT exam you may want to take a practice exam to determine your base-line score. This will give you a starting point so that you can track your improvement and get an idea of how prepared you may or may not be already. By taking the exam a few times, you’ll also feel more comfortable with the format and know just what to expect on test day. With the right preparation, there is no reason you can’t excel at taking the ACT exam. Through preparation and planning, you can cut down on stress and ensure that you’ll get a score you can be proud of. Don’t feel you need to do it alone–get help from others and push yourself to be in your best mental shape! Dusty Fox is a full-time world traveler and freelance writer who contributes to the Ivy Trainers network. Visit the Ivy Trainers website to learn more about the services they offer. when it’s time to take the test!
The SAT college exam will change to an all-new format in Spring 2016. Current 9th grade students will be the first cohort to take the redesigned SAT. David Coleman, president of the College Board, states that the new SAT would be more closely tied to high school and college curriculum. He also added that the old SAT is “too stressful for students, too filled with mystery and tricks.” The new redesigned SAT will consist of a math portion, evidence-based reading and writing portion, and an optional essay portion. One prominent change is that the SAT is returning to a 1600 scale from the previous 2400 scale. Other changes include removal of the horrendous vocab-in-context, replaced by more common words consistently seen in college and beyond. Above all, students will no longer be penalized for incorrect answers, so no need to leave unfamiliar questions blank! The math section will consist of fewer topics and be more closely related to what students will experience in college with focus on problem solving and data analysis, algebra, and passport to advanced math. In many ways, the redesigned SAT has many similarities with the ACT. For more information contact Elite Home Tutoring! (408) 791-1255
