PSAT Results--How to Use Them

Sometime in December High Schools will start to distribute the results to the PSAT which was administered in October. The student is given a perfect starting point from which to set goals on the big test, the SAT. I have recently written an article which suggests how to set realistic SAT goals based upon PSAT performance. The link to the article is here: http://ezinearticles.com/?Setting-SAT-Goals-From-PSAT-Results&id=1720942

Examples of Answers that are Too Narrow

A main idea or global question on the passage based reading section of the SAT is by definition a broad based inquiry. Broad questions are correctly responded to with broad answers. When presented with a question such as "The primary purpose of the passage is to......"

The correct answer to this question cannot contain facts stated in just one specific part of the passage--such an answer may be true but too narrow to be the correct choice. The correct answer must be broad enough to encompass the entire thesis.

For an example of an incorrect answer that is too narrow in the Official Study Guide, see p. 405 #19, answer (A)

Outline Your Essay Before Writing It

Read the prompt. Figure out what is being asked. Scribble down your thesis. Spend two minutes making a crude outline of the major points which will support your thesis. Refer to this outline while writing the essay. This is two minutes well spent. The notes will keep you calm. The notes will prevent writers block. The outline will provide organization to the essay. An organized essay will often command a higher score and instill confidence as you navigate the rest of the SAT.

Examples of Extreme Language In Critical Reading

I took the following wrong answers from the Official SAT Study Guide:

p. 458 choice (D) They were universally admired by British women from every class of society

p. 467 choice (A) was exasperated that she allowed Waverly to embarrass her in public

p. 470 choice (B) criticize the human obsession with time

I noticed a common thread contained in the above answer choices--all had extreme language, ie. super positives or super negatives

Extreme language answers are often wrong because the subject matter of the passages is rarely radically one sided. When practicing passage based reading beware of extreme language in answer choices. Look for more moderate and reasonable language.

Try and locate all wrong answers which contain extreme language. This will help eliminate tempting choices and increase the odds of finding the correct answer.

Six Reasons Critical Reading Answers are Wrong

Do not be fooled! Knowing what not to do is almost as important as knowing what to do. Here are the six most frequent characteristics of incorrect critical reading answers:

1. The answer is too narrow;
2. The answer is too broad;
3. The answer is out of scope;
4. The answer has misused detail;
5. The answer is opposite of what is being asked;
6. The answer is too extreme.

We will examine each of these characteristics in coming posts.

Critical Reading--Paired Passage Strategy

The paired passage reading questions require the student to compare and contrast themes and ideas between two passages. The length of each passage will vary from a single paragraph to several paragraphs. It is important to tackle these questions with the following systematic approach:

1. Scan the questions without looking at the answer choices. Mark each question--1, 2 or B for Both;
2. Read the italics and the first passage first;
3. Answer only those questions pertaining to the first passage;
4. Read the second passage;
5. Answer only those questions pertaining to the second passage;
6. Finally answer those questions pertaining to both passages.

This approach allows the reader to focus on each passage, one at a time. It avoids the confusion of mixing up the main ideas and points of each passage.

SAT Dates for 2009

The following SAT exam dates for 2009 are as follows:

January 24, 2009
March 14, 2009
May 2, 2009
June 6, 2009

Register now and plan your prep strategy early. Don't get shut out of the most preferable testing sites.

Planning for 2009-Which SAT to Take

High School juniors have many chances to take the SAT in 2009. The SAT will be given in January, March, May and June of 2009. There is no single best choice for all students. Each individual should plan to sit for at least one SAT in the second half of the junior year. Some may prefer the March exam due to obligations such as AP exams, Regents exams or SAT II subject tests which are given in May or June. Others committed to a spring sport (such as baseball) may want to prepare for the January SAT before the season starts. Students with heavy work loads may choose to take the January or May test because they may want to prepare without distraction during the extended Christmas break or Easter break. Start thinking about this now. Plan early and register early to insure a reserved spot at a test center most convenient to where you live. Another record turnout in 2009 will mean that many students who are late to register will have to travel long distances just to take the SAT. Don't let this happen!

New E-Book Fundamentals of Good Test Taking

Testniques.com has just recently finished a short yet to the point E-book, The Fundamentals of Good Test Taking. Primarily written to help prepare for the SAT, many of the tips and hints are valid in High School, College and later on in life. For the next 30 days, anyone can request a copy by writing to me at steve@testniques.com The e-book is in pdf format so Adobe reader is required.

The PSAT Matters

October is PSAT month. Many students go into the PSAT with the following philosophy-- it doesn't count so why should I try? It is foolish not to try on the PSAT for several reasons. First, the PSAT honors those who do well with National Merit Scholarships. Second, colleges give extra money to National Merit Scholars because it increases a schools prestige to have National Merit Scholars in its student body. But with National Merit Scholars we are talking about the top 2% of High School Juniors nationwide. For most others, the PSAT is an opportunity to take a practice test under proper test conditions. Sometime in December, the PSAT results come out with a detailed analysis which is useful for the preparation for the real deal, the SAT. Use this result sheet to locate those areas which need the most improvement. Give this sheet to your tutor and map out a proper study plan designed to turn those weaknesses into strengths.

You Practice the Way You Play

Just got back from watching a new movie, The Express, the tragic life story of Syracuse fullback Ernie Davis --the first African American College Football Heisman Trophy winner. In one scene, Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder is upset with the effort of his team on the practice field. Schwartzwalder yells "if you practice half assed, you will play half assed" Immediately I thought about how true this is with tests like the SAT. TAKING NUMEROUS PRACTICE TESTS UNDER TEST LIKE CONDITIONS (meaning--get up early on a weekend or holiday, eat a good breakfast, start the practice exam at 9 a.m. (same time as the actual test) correctly time each section, take the appropriate breaks, use grid sheets with pencils) IS A PROVEN METHOD TO IMPROVE YOUR SCORE.

Proper preparation is a great habit to get into. Whether its preparing for an exam, a job interview, a game or a presentation. The earlier one masters proper preparation, the better the performance will be when it counts.

5 Tips for Cramming for the SAT

The October and November SAT tests represent the last chance for many high school seniors before applying to college. Here are some things to do in crunch time:

1. During the week make your study sessions count. Set aside an hour with no interruptions. Be focused and organized. Review the types of problems which proved challenging on prior tests;

2. Memorize the instructions for all types of questions;

3. Memorize the given math formulas;

4. Redo all the problems you get wrong;

5. On Saturday and Sunday take a full practice test. Wake up, eat breakfast and be ready to start a practice test at 9 a.m. Use a timer. Take the practice test under actual test conditions. A great rehearsal makes for a great performance.

SAT Tutors Teach Life Skills

The SAT is much more than a test. The very best tutors provide something much more valuable than preparation for a standardized test. The best tutors instill skills which students use in college and in life. The best tutors teach students how to be critical thinkers. Stanley H. Kaplan summarized his method and the value of tutoring as follows:

"My method, as it evolved, really was quite simple: Teach students to be critical thinkers. My classes were not cram courses. Test-taking tricks and strategies would get students only so far. They had to know the material, analyze the information, and think out the answer. I wasn't preparing them for only a Saturday morning test; I was preparing them for a lifetime of critical thinking. It's like riding a bicycle: once you learn how to ride it, the skill is yours for life. And once you get the knack of taking a test like the SAT, it's also yours for life."

SAT and ACT Statistics

The Collegeboard has just released its annual SAT scoring results for graduating high school seniors in 2008. The average Math score was 515, the average reading score was 502 and the average writing score was 488. Collectively, these scores and the scores from 2007 are the lowest in a decade. The Collegeboard says the low scores are a mixed blessing because they are a result of a record number of low income students taking the exam. Such students tend to score lower on standardized tests. 1.52 million students took the SAT this year. The very first SAT was administered in 1926 to 8040 high school students.

Average ACT scores released this month showed a decrease to 21.1 from 21.2 on a scale of 36. 1.42 million students sat for the ACT in the latest school year.

Are You a Poor Test Taker?

More from Stanley Kaplan regarding poor standardized test takers:

"I could wallpaper the walls of my classrooms with letters from students who thought they were poor test takers. Students were baffled over why they received high grades in school and then bombed on an admissions test. Almost all "terrible test takers" have two common features: a high anxiety level and a lack of knowledge about the subject matter and mechanics of the test........I treated anxiety by instilling confidence, which comes from familiarity with the test. The greatest fears spring from the unknown. If students know what to expect, the tests are no longer growling monsters. No surprises, no anxieties."

Bottom line--do as many practice tests as possible. The more questions you see, the more confident you will be on test day. If you have seen every possible question, then they can't fool you.

Stanley H. Kaplan

I am reading the memoirs of Stanley H. Kaplan, the self proclaimed King of Test Prep. Yes there is an actual Stanley Kaplan and I believe he is still alive and approaching 90 years of age. Kaplan pioneered the industry over 50 years ago. His 2001 book Test Pilot, How I Broke Testing Barriers for Millions of Students and Caused a Sonic Boom in the Business of Education has so many nuggets of great information for both tutors and students that I will be posting many of these wonderful excerpts. The advice is timeless--Kaplan's philosophy is still valid today as it was in 1958.

Kaplan says: "Answering SAT Questions requires focus, reasoning and practice. Acquiring test-taking skills is the same as learning to play the piano or ride a bicycle. It requires practice, practice, practice. Repetition breeds familiarity. Familiarity breeds confidence. Confidence breeds success."

Michael Phelps and the SAT

Michael Phelps' historic run of 8 gold medals is a lesson for all students. First, he did not do it alone. It took a team effort. He had a coach. In his relay events, he had teammates. And he was dedicated and he practiced harder than his competitors. See any parallels here?

New Assessment Exam For 8th Graders

The Collegeboard has announced that it will offer an 8th grade assessment exam starting in 2009. Preliminary reports predict the test will be similar to the PSAT and will test reading, math and writing. The exam was created because middle schools requested a specific exam tailored to 8th graders. So the college preparation process begins earlier and earlier. What ever happened to allowing children to be children? Are we creating a nation of robotic test takers? Is the purpose of school to develop young minds or to teach kids how to ace a standardized test?

Book Review-- Hack the SAT

I am always on the lookout for new and innovative study aids. For the advanced student who is taking the SAT this coming October for the second or third time, I recommend "Hack The SAT" by Eliot Schrefer. An advanced student who has exhausted all the practice tests in the Official SAT Study Guide and who has already read "Up Your Score", "Hack The SAT" will provide additional insight and valuable problem solving lessons. I have read the book and I have written a review of this book. Please click on the Title of this post to read my complete critique.

Is the Internet to Blame for Poor Reading Scores?

There is a growing debate about the stagnating or even declining reading performance by students on standardized tests, particularly the SAT. Is the Internet the culprit? Does on line reading enhance or detract from the intellectual growth of a young mind? The New York Times examines this issue today. There is no right or wrong answer. There are plenty of opinions however. The debate is a matter of perspective. Students have their opinion, as do parents, educators and certain organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the entity which administers the SAT. Click on the title to this post to read this in- depth and fascinating article in the NY Times.

Your Calculator, The SAT and The ACT

Maybe I am old school, but I look at the calculator on the SAT and the ACT as a hindrance rather than as a useful tool. When I was a kid (many moons ago) there were no stinking calculators allowed in the testing rooms! Finally, when the test makers decided to allow calculators, did you really think that they were doing so for the students' benefit? Think about it! You can solve every math problem on the entire exam without a calculator. Remember the math is easy, its the set up that will get you every time. Never, ever, ever, use a calculator for a division problem when you are asked to solve for the remainder. Don't use a calculator when the answer choices are in fractions. When practicing math, try to solve every math problem without the use of your calculator. Use the calculator only to check for silly mathematical errors and for adding subtracting, multiplying and dividing complex numbers or numbers with decimals. That's my only exception to the NO CALCULATOR RULE!

Inverse Proportion

In the previous post we basically defined direct proportion as what we do to x, we must also do to y. Specifically we said that if you double x, then we must double y to maintain the relationship as directly proportional. With inverse proportion when we double y we must halve x. The equation xy=k where k is the constant. For example suppose when x=3 y=20. If x is doubled to equal 6, y must be cut in half to 10 to maintain an inverse relationship. Using our equation xy=k we first solve for k--(3)20=60 so k=60; if we double x from 3 to 6 then we have 6y=60; y=10. So when x is doubled from 3 to 6, y is halved from 20 to 10. Simple as that.

Direct and Inverse Proportion

There is usually at least one question on the math section which requires the student to know either direct proportion or inverse proportion. Quite simply with direct proportion if x goes up y goes up in proportion. If x decreases, y decreases in proportion. Here is a helpful rule for Direct proportion using variables x and y can be thought of as y=xk where k is a constant. Cross multiply and you get a variation of this equation: y/x=k. For example if x=2 when y=4, then when x=4 then y=8. The constant k=2 so y will always be twice x. Simple enough? If x were to be reduced from 2 to 1 then y would still be twice x but in this case it would be reduced to 2. In our next entry the more difficult concept of inverse proportion will be tackled.

New Blog for College Bound Students

I have started a new blog for those of you who have mastered the SAT or the ACT and are now focusing on the next step--college. This blog will address every important issue and question new college students and their parents may have--from the application process, to furnishing a dorm room. You can access this blog by clicking on the title heading of this post or by the link that I will provide in the margin of this blog. You can also subscribe to this new blog called the College Check List by clicking on the RSS feed icon from your web browser. If anyone needs a relevant question answered on this new college blog, please do not hesitate to pose the question by email to steve@testniques.com

Weekend Reading

Two articles of interest this weekend with regards to the SAT: US News & World Report outlines 6 steps to plan in advance for the SAT. A solid plan should begin in the freshman year of High School. The link to this article is here: http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/k-12/2008/07/18/6-ways-to-tackle-the-new-sat.html

The next article of interest concerns the University of California considering revising its admissions policies by scrapping the requirement of SAT subject tests, known as SAT II's. Currently the University of California is the only large public university system that requires the SAT II for admission. Please read the full story here: http://www.diversityinc.com/public/3865.cfm

Identifying Sentence Errors

Realize that for approximately 20% of these questions the correct answer will be choice E- no error. Correct sentences are the most often missed answer choices by students. Naturally when you are doing a series of questions which are called IDENTIFYING SENTENCE ERRORS the first thing you are looking for are errors. After searching for an error (or two) if you still have not spotted an obvious error chances are its choice E- no error. Do not try and create an error. Learning to identify correct sentences are just as important as identifying the errors.

Words Can Have Several Meanings

Knowing that common words have several meanings is a valuable tool towards solving passage based reading vocabulary in context questions. For example the word mean can be used as follows: "Mommy was mean to me!" or "What does that word mean?" or "86 degrees is the mean temperature for NYC in the summertime" or "Danny plays a mean saxophone". See what I mean? No pun intended. Do not fall for the first definition that comes to mind. Read the passage and once you fully understand how a particular word is used in the sentence IN CONTEXT, then predict what you think the answer should be and then find that answer! The ability to master these questions will greatly bolster a student's SAT reading score.

These Two Types of SAT Questions Are Similar

Sentence Completions and Vocabulary in Context questions are both included in the Critical Reading Section. The techniques used to solve sentence completions are very similar to the approach a student must take toward Vocabulary in Context questions. In my previous post, I urged the student to try and predict in his or her own words how a sentence should be completed. Well, this is especially true with these two question types. Before predicting a Vocabulary in context question, go back to the reading passage and read around the indicated sentence, ie. read the sentence before the actual sentence, then read the sentence, then read the next sentence. Finally, before predicting, realize that most of the time the word in question will have several meanings and the answer will usually be a secondary or third meaning. More about how words have several meanings in my next post.

Do Not Look At the Answers!

This statement is especially true with respect to the sentence completion and passage based reading questions in the Critical Reading sections as well as the Writing multiple choice questions . Do not underestimate the power of prediction! Read the question only and try and predict what the answer should be. Then glance at the answers and find the answer which closely matches your prediction. Many times its as simple as that. Remember many answer choices on the SAT are designed to confuse you, lead you off track and ruin your concentration.

Put this method into practice-- without looking at the answer choices, focus on the particular grammatical rule by correcting the sentence yourself or figure out the vocabulary word which best completes the sentence This saves precious time and increases your accuracy. When doing practice tests, you may want to physically cover the answer choices with your hand to force yourself to gain confidence in your ability to predict. If you are unable to predict an answer, skip the question and come back to it later. Believe me, subconsciously your mind is still trying to process and figure out the answer even while you have moved on to other questions.

When the Student is Ready The Teacher Will Appear

This ancient Chinese proverb is a fixture on this blog. Applying it to prepping for your SAT or ACT is simple. Just remember there are many wonderful resources that are ready, willing and able to help prepare you to ace this exam. Internet resources, books, podcasts, blogs, review classes and private tutors to name a few. They are all here for you today tomorrow and next month. Its up to you to avail yourself of these tools and its up to you to put in the time and the effort.

Happy Fourth of July!

The fourth of July marks a time to relax, kick back and have a good barbecue with family and friends. The 4th of July is also exactly three months from the October 4th SAT. Most well thought out SAT study plans are about 12 weeks long. Most of my students hire me for 12 sessions, usually a week apart. The longer you plan in advance, the less stress you have for last minute cramming. Why force a situation where a tutor must meet with you 2-3 times per week? Those who wait until September must prepare with the added stress of senior classes and college planning. The summer is a quiet time to focus on preparing for the October exam. So have a wonderful July 4th. However, starting July 5th, make a pact with yourself to wake up an hour early and study at least 30 to 45 minutes. Slow and steady wins the race.

AP Classes, Think Before You Act

Advance Placement classes have lots of benefits: the potential to earn college credit; a chance to delve deeply into a subject you enjoy; a transcript enhancer and a plus to any college application. Too much of a good thing, however can often be self defeating and unnecessary. Before signing up for every AP class known to mankind, realize that some colleges impose limits on the amount of AP credits they will accept. Some colleges require AP test scores of 4 or 5 to receive credit while other colleges will not accept certain AP credits even if you achieve the highest score of 5. If you are entering your high school senior year, take the time this summer to learn the AP credit policy for each school you will be applying to. There is no point accumulating 30 AP credits and then applying to schools which will only accept 15.

How to Approach Improving Sentence Questions

Good writing is short and to the point. A succinct sentence is preferable to a wordy or run on sentence. When approaching the Improving Sentence Questions on the Writing multiple choice section of the SAT try and correct the sentence by inserting the shortest choice possible. If this does not work, then try the next shortest choice and so on. After doing many practice questions in this area the student will begin to discover that the shortest answer choice is usually correct unless such correction makes the sentence a fragment or does not correct the original problem.

Do The Easy Questions First

Today's Question of the Day involved a series of mathematical combinations and permutations. While the mathematical calculations were simple (as they always are) understanding and setting up the problem would have taken a lot of time (as most difficult math questions take). SAT scoring does not reward more points for these difficult questions. The SAT is not like Olympic diving or figure skating or even AP classes, ie. there is no extra credit for degree of difficulty. So don't be a hero, get as many easy points as possible, then go on to the medium questions then after checking for careless mistakes, use any extra time to tackle the more difficult questions. A math question which takes 5 minutes to solve is clearly not worth the time and effort and omitting such a question will not adversely impact your score.

Track Your Study Progress

Fitness trainers map out the workout routines of their clients by using written progress charts. Writing things down and observing incremental progress is good for the psyche. The same can be said for an SAT study plan. I give my students a 10 week progress chart. Each week they cross off with a big red marker vocabulary words, reading passages, math problems, essay topics and writing multiple choice questions that were assigned to them. At the end of 10 weeks many stare in awe and ask, "Did I really just learn 100 new words, write 10 essays, complete two books of math problems and read fifty essays in Time Magazine? I didn't feel like I did all that!" Yes because it was done in small baby steps. You certainly can accumulate a lot of knowledge working one hour per day. If anyone wants me to send them a sample SAT Progress Report template, please email me at steve@testniques.com

Learn From Your Mistakes

When reviewing practice exams, you will learn more from the questions you get wrong than the ones you answer correctly for several reasons. First, if you answer a question correctly, presumably you already know how to do it, so there is no reason to focus on something you already know. Or worse, if you got the question right because it was a lucky guess you may think you know something you don't. Wrong answers represent with certainty, questions and concepts that must be studied. Ask yourself, "Was this a careless error? Do I understand why it is wrong? Is there a better method to get the correct answer?" For sentence completions, study all the vocabulary word answer choices you don't understand. Re-read a passage and try and find the answer. Learn a new rule of grammar from an incorrect short answer writing question. Look for patterns. Do you find that the same type of questions always give you the most difficulty? For example, a student of mine had trouble answering the critical reading main idea questions. So I directed the student to some study aids and quizzes designed specifically for that type of question. This is what I call efficient study time. Use your time wisely by zeroing in on those questions that pose the most difficulty.

Why Do I Have To Know Geometry?

At my local pool, a teenage girl sat on a lounge chair, highlighter and pencil in her hand along with a bunch of math problems. Eventually, overcome with frustration, she blurted out for all around to hear, "Why Do I Have To Know Geometry?" One adult surmised, "Well if you're not going to be an astronaut, I guess you don't really need to know geometry" Wrong!!!!!!! While the the subject of geometry is not important per se, the problem solving skills used in geometry are life altering. Geometry, crossword puzzles and sudoku all are activities which involve problem solving skills. Many successful people on Wall Street who are the top traders in their field are also champion chess, bridge, backgammon and poker players. Many social scientists use "game theory" to solve complex issues. Just realize that when studying for the SAT you are not wasting your time. Acquiring problem solving skills is a good thing! It will help you in college and aid in your profession and in your ability to make money.

New SAT Reporting Rules.......

Be Careful what you wish for! Starting with the class of 2010, the College board will give students the option of choosing which of their complete SAT scores to share with college admissions offices. This rule is similar to that of the ACT and it favors students who can afford to take the test as many times as possible. This policy will include the SAT and the SAT subject exams known as the SAT II. Please note--this new found freedom to choose can backfire as well. Colleges that consider the best sub scores will not be able to cherry pick the Math score from October and the Reading score from January. You must elect to send in scores from an entire test or exclude an entire test. Some schools which oppose this policy such as U.S.C. may still require full reporting as a condition of admission. For more information on this breaking news please click on this link to the L.A. Times http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sat21-2008jun21,0,1318580.story

A Journey of 3000 Miles............

begins with one step. Ex NY Giant captain George Martin just completed a 3003 mile walk from NYC to San Diego, CA to raise money for 9/11 rescue workers. Martin began his journey on Sept. 16, 2007 and averaged 22 miles per day for approximately 10 months. The lesson here is that remarkable things can be accomplished with baby steps. Students who can devote as little as one half hour per day this summer, will be able to accumulate up to 45 hours of study time before school starts in the fall. Imagine 45 hours of study time for the SAT without impacting your daily routine. It takes 21 days to form a habit. So by July 10th, the half hour study time should be as routine as brushing your teeth. Slow and steady wins the race. Start now, don't wait until the last minute. Be the best prepared of all your classmates for the PSAT in October 2008.

SAT Writing Section

According to a new study by the Collegeboard, performance on the SAT Writing Section is the best indicator of a students performance in his or her freshman year of College. According to the data on 150,000 students, the writing section is a better predictor than the math or critical reading sections. Introduced in 2005, the writing section consists of one 25 minute timed essay, one 25 minute multiple choice section and one ten minute multiple choice section. The complete study is to be released this summer. To read more about this please click on the link to USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-04-24-sat_N.htm

The Math Is Easy...................

Its setting up the question that is the hard task on the Math section of the SAT. Read the question, if you don't understand it, read it again! I cannot tell you how many of my students make silly mistakes on math questions because of poor reading comprehension. Focus only on what is being asked. Focus only on what is being given. Do not invent things that simply are not there. Today's question of the day was a classic--Two sets of two lines were drawn. Only two of those lines labeled (l and m) were specifically given as parallel. The other two lines looked parallel but YOU CANNOT ASSUME THAT THEY ARE PARALLEL! If you assumed they were parallel your answer would be totally different and wrong. Remember there is always a wrong answer waiting for you if you are careless and misread the question.

Tiger Woods and Focus

Tiger Woods hobbling on one leg forced a playoff in todays US Open Golf Championship by sinking a long putt on the 18th hole at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, CA. By just watching Tiger's eyes lining up the putt, I knew that that ball was going in. His uncanny ability to concentrate and block out any distractions makes him the greatest golfer in the world. Why am I writing about this? Because all successful people in life have this type of focus. Imagine how much clearer those boring reading passages would be, how much easier those convoluted math word problems would be if you, the student could focus like Tiger Woods. The ability to concentrate and focus for an extended period of time is a skill that will greatly enhance your performance on the SAT and ACT. Concentration and focus starts with your ability to set aside a quiet place each day and attempt practice questions without any distractions from the outside world. Sure you will be depriving your social life for an hour a day, but think of the places that this new found skill will take you later in life. In the summer time if you get up early and focus, all your friends will be sleeping anyway so you really will not be missing out on anything.

Strive to be the Best!

According to the College board, the average SAT scores for college bound seniors during 2007 were: Critical reading: 502; Mathematics: 515 and Writing: 494 for a combined score of 1511. Why be mediocre? The world is full of average people trapped in the middle. Strive to be the best, separate yourself from the pack. If you think the college process is highly competitive, just wait until you become an adult and then the fun begins! Competition only gets more intense in the job market when you graduate from school. Prepare for the SAT by taking baby steps. Set aside a small amount of time each day (30 minutes) but allow enough time (3 months) to get the job done. Do not miss a day! No excuses! Suddenly the study time becomes a way of life, a habit just like brushing your teeth. A half hour per day for 3 months amounts to 45 hours of studying. Have you ever studied for anything for 45 hours? My guess would be no. Ask yourself, how much better than average would my scores be if I put in 45 hours of study time? 30 minutes per day is a small price to pay for success. I bet everyone reading this post wastes 30 minutes per day text messaging, watching reality TV, sending IM's to your friends, etc. etc.

Flashcards

Flashcards are an old school but very effective way to study for anything academic, including the SAT and ACT. Sure, a student can purchase commercially prepackaged flashcards, but the better way to go would be to create original flashcards from scratch. When you make your own flashcards, the retention rate of the material is better because you are writing down the concepts. I recommend purchasing a minimum of 300 standard size blank flashcards. Pick three different colors. Divide the cards into three sets of 100. For example use yellow for math, blue for critical reading and green for writing. Use the math cards for concepts and formulas citing specific practice test examples to refer to on the flip side of the card. Use the reading cards for vocabulary words. Use the writing cards for the rules of grammar as well as for ideas for essay topics. Imagine creating 300 new concepts on your own! As you go over the flashcards set aside in a separate container those concepts which give you the most difficulty. Focus on the concepts you are weakest with so as to make those concepts your new strengths.

The Odds of A Perfect Score

According to the Collegeboard, 269 of the 1.5 million students who took the SAT in 2007 earned a perfect score of 2400. The odds of perfection are almost 6,000 to 1. When I speak about setting realistic goals, I do not assume your goal is to achieve a perfect score. Proper goal setting is an individual matter. In any given year, the average scores for all sections are around 500, or 1500 total.

Who wants to be average? Nobody! Don't be mediocre, strive for much better than the average score. Answering 70% to 75% of the questions correct as a general rule should bring your scores into the 600's. Put in the time necessary to achieve the desired results. There is no greater satisfaction in life than working hard and enjoying the benefits of that effort.

SAT Question and Answer Service

For $18 a student can order the SAT Question and Answer Service through the Collegeboard. This service gives the student the test questions, a breakdown of his answers along with the correct answers, the question type and the degree of difficulty for each question. In my opinion, this is an invaluable piece of information. Students and their tutors can use the information to try and find a pattern of mistakes. With such data, a student can better prepare to retake the test by focusing on those questions and subjects that prove to be the most challenging. This is money well spent because it will make the preparation for the next SAT much more efficient. To learn more about this service please visit the Collegeboard at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/scores/qas.html

College Information Blog and Discussion Groups

Allen Grove writes a great College Admissions Blog for About.com. Tons of useful information are scattered throughout his page. Top college rankings, test prep, tips on the application process, essay ideas, planning a college campus tour are just some of the many topics discussed. This is a must have reference for the dreaded application season. Please click on the following link: http://collegeapps.about.com/ to subscribe. You will receive weekly email updates, so if a new topic interests you, there is probably a discussion forum which will lead you to in depth resources about a particular issue. I have personally subscribed to this blog and it has helped my children navigate the college application game. In some upcoming posts, I will be discussing many college issues such as How many AP credits do colleges accept?

ACT Test Dates Fall 2008

September 13, 2008 and October 25, 2008 are the last two practical dates for High School Seniors to sit for the ACT exam. There is a December exam on December 13, 2008 but this should be only used as a last resource. Summer is almost upon us. There will be plenty of time to prepare for the September and October exams without the distractions of other schoolwork. Please plan ahead and use your time wisely. The ACT has a wonderful student friendly website http://www.actstudent.org/index.html with lots of good information including free practice tests. I have also reviewed a wonderful DVD package from College Prep Coach. There are three DVD's which include general test taking strategies; Official Study Guides for both the SAT and ACT as well as specific lessons for solving problems on both tests. College Prep Coach sells this terrific study aid for $249, but if you mention Testniques you will only pay $225! For more information please go to http://collegeprepcoach.net/

SAT Fall Test Dates

The College Board www.collegeboard.com has just released the 2008-2009 test dates and registration deadlines. If you will be a high school senior in the fall of 2008 please be aware of these important dates: October 4, 2008; November 1, 2008 and December 6, 2008. Most college applications must be complete by December 31, 2008. Be logical please! Take the October or November tests so there is ample time to forward your results to the appropriate schools. Furthermore, if you need these SAT scores to narrow down your choices of colleges, it is even more essential to take the October or November test so you have enough breathing room to make an informed decision.

Vocabulary and the National Spelling Bee

I watched last nights National Spelling Bee from Washington, DC with awe. A parade of kids mostly 12 years old were spelling words that most people will never be exposed to in their lifetime. None of these really hard words is ever likely to show up on the SAT as choices for the sentence completions. However, these spellers were trained to ask certain questions before attempting to spell these words. Often the first question asked was, "Can I have the country of origin please?"

Which brings me to the point that I emphasize time and time again--You know more words than you think! If you are fluent in another language you should notice many difficult words have similar root words. For example ami and amigo mean "friend" in French and Spanish respectively. So, it should come as no surprise that amiable is an English word that means friendly.

Not Happy with Your SAT? Try the ACT

After studying hard for the SAT and taking the test at least two times, you are still not satisfied with your score. What to do? Well, you can take the SAT again, or you can consider the ACT. Both exams are acceptable at all colleges. College admissions officers do not favor one exam over the other. And depending upon the type of student you are, the ACT may fit your skills better than the SAT.

The ACT is curriculum based, that is, the questions are aimed more at what you actually learn in High School. Therefore the ACT is more knowledge based and straightforward. The SAT on the other hand is more of a reasoning test which favors students who have excellent problem solving skills. The format of the ACT consists of three mini tests—Math, English and Science with an optional 30 minute writing test. While the ACT is shorter (2 hours 55 minutes vs. 3 hours 45 minutes for the SAT), it is more time intensive—the student must answer each question quickly in order to get through an entire section in the allotted time.

Many college advisors contend there are two distinct groups of students which may score much higher on one test or the other. High achievers who get the highest grades in the most difficult classes through hard work generally do better on the ACT. Gifted underachievers who are bored in class generally do better on the SAT. Which type of student are you?

My advice for all High School juniors is simple. After you receive your May or June SAT score, check to see whether your SAT score fits into the admissions criteria for the schools you will be applying to. If not, purchase The Real ACT Prep Guide (2nd Edition) and familiarize yourself with the test during the summer. Take the ACT in September or October of your senior year. Whichever test yields the highest score, send the scores of that test along with your college application. It’s a no lose proposition.

Order Your 2008 Summer Study Guide

For Sophomores in particular who will become juniors in the fall of 2008, the summer is a precious time that you must use to your advantage. I have written a 31 page comprehensive summer guide. This is a step by step method which sets forth a game plan during the summer months. Following this plan will put you light years ahead of your friends. It is available in E-Book form for the low price of $9.97. It is available now through June 15, 2008. To order please go to www.testniques.com and click on the Special Offer Tab.

The May SAT is Two Weeks Away

With two weeks to go, the best way to prepare for the May 2008 SAT is by doing as many practice tests up to the Thursday before test day. Allocate one hour each day to complete two 25 minute sections of a practice exam. When you are ready for sections 8, 9 and 10, complete those in your one hour practice time since those sections are on 50 minutes in the aggregate. Using this regimen, you should be able to complete at least 2 full practice exams, possibly three. Score the exam pursuant to the instructions in the test book. With persistent practice your scores should improve with every exam. This will give you positive reinforcement and confidence going into test day.

College Admissions

The 2008 College Admissions data is being released by the elite schools. According to the NY Times and the Wall Street Journal many Ivy League schools are accepting applicants at rates lower than 10% with Harvard's acceptance rate at around 7.9%. Once again schools are swamped with a record number of applicants for a limited number of spaces. This trend is expected to continue at least through 2010. In this highly competitive environment, it is important to prepare a well rounded resume with your application. This includes your entire body of work throughout High School--grades, extra-curicculars, standardized test scores, leadership roles, community service, recommendations, work experience as well as any other creative talent you may have to stand out from all those qualified applicants.