Your Comments on the March 2010 SAT Exam

Many thought the Math was relatively easy while the Critical Reading was very difficult. Here are some excerpted comments from students who actually sat for the March 2010 SAT this past weekend:

i thought the test was ok, and i had enough time. i thought the math was kind of easy, the reading part was kind of hard

I thought the math section was easier than the reading. I found the reading and the vocabulary difficult, and on the reading sections I was rushing at the end. I think I wrote a pretty solid essay, but it definitely was not my best. I was so nervous going into the test, and when I read the essay question, my mind went blank. But, I picked it up and my nerves subsided as time went on.

I didn't expect the SAT to be like this. It was way harder than i expected it to be. The timing was on average, I had enough time, except for the last writing part, The essay itself was okay, I think i wrote a decent essay

I GUESSED ALL THE ENGLISH PARTS AND MATH I DID ALRIGHT

I personally thought that the March SAT was totally unfair... Each section was so sporadic and nothing was "leveled" I wouldn’t be surprised if someone got like a 300 in the reading and a 800 in the math...
The vocab was ridiculous and the reading passages were super hard. I found myself reading the same lines over and over again trying to comprehend what it was all about.. I felt like I was reading Hebrew or something.
The math was fair-- many have said that it was super easy, but as you know, math is my weakest area so I'm not sure how that might turn out..
Grammar was a bit tricky. There were a lot more tricky and hard questions than I expected...
The essay topic was really random and wasn't one of those typical SAT essay topics with a cliche quote asking for my opinion so I was caught off guard.. I think I managed to BS my way through and get some awesome supporting details from novels and thanks to Hitler, I think I'll be fine

Why Do I Have To Know This?

Students often ask why do I have to know this? They may not have to know about geometry or ancient Greek poetry per se, but they do need to develop:

• Critical Reading Skills, ie. the ability to read between the lines, the ability to infer, the ability to understand the tone and thesis of an article.
• Problem solving skills, ie. the ability to solve a math problem from certain given information
• The ability to write, ie. express themselves in a clear, logical and concise manner

These valuable skills if mastered will provide a student with valuable assets to perform well in college and in the job market.

Don't Be Average!

The results are in for the class of 2009: More than 1.5 million college bound High School students took the SAT during the past school year. The average scores for this latest group were 501 for Critical Reading; 515 for Math; and 493 for Writing, according to a press release issued by the Collegeboard. The average composite score was 1509. For a more detail please read this article in today's New York Times- http://tr.im/xcS2

For those students still in High School--Prepare hard for the SAT. Try and achieve the highest G.P.A. in school. Distinguish yourself from the masses by presenting the most impressive admission application. Don't be average!

ACT Scores vs. SAT Scores

A Student who takes both tests must choose which scores to submit with his or her college application. Knowing which scores are better is a little tricky. Here is a link to an article about this issue. There is also a conversion table which will help in making the correct choice:
http://collegeapps.about.com/od/standardizedtests/a/convertSAT2ACT.htm?nl=1

Understanding the Structure of Reading Passages

Often an excerpt from a novel or a short story will serve as an SAT reading passage. Novels are narratives with dialogue. It is important for the reader to identify the fictional characters and keep track of who is saying what. It is also important for the reader to understand who the narrator is, what the narrator's tone is, and what each character's attitude and agenda is. Once the reader is able to master this, the questions which follow are easy to answer.

The other type of reading passage is the more classic reference piece, much like what one would read in a textbook or encyclopedia. This passage will read like a classic essay. It will have an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. Figure out the author's thesis. Highlight the topic sentence of each body paragraph. Understand the examples used to prove the thesis. Be aware of the essay's tone and key words. The questions which follow will be easy to answer.

You Are The President Of You

Many of you will be taking the SAT exam this Saturday or perhaps in March, May or June of this year. Barack Obama may have inspired you but Barack Obama cannot take the test for you. Barack Obama has already been to college and he has much more pressing issues to deal with.The President cannot turn a lazy student into a diligent scholar. He will not study for you, help you write your college applications or even give you a recommendation. Phrases such as "Change" and "Yes We Can" are hollow unless each and everyone one of you decide to take personal responsibility for your actions. Only then will you be able to achieve your goals, not because President Obama scatters some magic "pixie dust" over your soul, but because you have looked in the mirror and shouted, "I am the President of me!"

How Do You Know You Are Ready?

What is adequate preparation for the first SAT? Can it be measured in study hours? Major test prep companies offer approximately 15-20 hours of in class instruction plus homework and practice tests. What about the student who prefers to study at home? Or the student that has a private tutor? How much out of class study time should that student commit to? Each student is different, but from my experience a student is adequately prepared if:

• he or she starts preparing 10-12 weeks prior to test day
• he or she studies alone for at least 2 hours per week not including time with a tutor
• he or she completes 4 full length practice exams

By my math. a student needs to put in 30 to 36 hours of individual prep time prior to an SAT exam to be ready to succeed. Those who do not put in this time wind up spending much more time in the aggregate over 2 or 3 or 4 subsequent SAT's. Try and do it right the first time. This will actually free up time later.

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

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.