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December 6th, 2018

Coming Soon: PSAT Scores! Now what?

College Board releases PSAT scores on December 10th in New York! 

While you’re waiting for your scores, make valuable use of your time and try a practice ACT, if you haven’t already done so. Your high school Guidance Office will have free booklets with an actual ACT exam. Make sure you strictly time yourself and answer every question. There is no penalty for wrong answers so guess before time runs out! You can also find online options to try a free, abbreviated ACT to get a predictive score.

Once you have PSAT and practice ACT scores, you have data to make an informed choice about which test may be better for you. Remember – ALL colleges accept scores from both SAT and ACT. By preparing for just one test, you will save time and money! Not sure which test is the one for you? College Board (SAT) and ACT collaborated on Concordance Tables with equivalent scores. If your scores are similar, then go with the test you felt most comfortable with. Check out Test Preps’ ACT vs. SAT chart to also help you with your decision.

Didn’t do as well as you hoped on the PSAT? Rest assured that the PSAT scores are never released to colleges. It is strictly practice and you should use score report details to see what you are doing well and what you need to work on. Remember, this is a process and the PSAT is just the first step. Feel free to contact us if you need help interpreting results. We are here to help you start your test prep journey!

June 19th, 2018

SAT/ACT Prep Doesn’t Have To Be Stressful: 3 Tips For Effective Summer Test Prep

The idea of SAT or ACT test prep overwhelms many students, especially during the summer months when they want to relax and unwind with friends. The good news is that preparing for the SAT or ACT doesn’t have to be stressful if you plan ahead. As you think about your summer schedule, here are three tips for making your summer test prep manageable and effective:

  1. Schedule self-study sessions. Every student learns differently, which is why scheduling study sessions that fit your individual learning preference is key. For example, some students learn best in short, 30-minute blocks of time while others prefer a weekly one or two-hour session. Block off time in your schedule each week to focus on test preparation. Most importantly, make sure these periods of time are free of distractions and allow you to be fully engaged in the learning process. PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY!

 

  1. READ! You may not realize it, but ramping up your reading can significantly help your test prep efforts. You’ll improve your reading comprehension and critical thinking skills, both needed to do well on the SAT and ACT. You’ll also advance your vocabulary and become more acclimated to reading passages with complex language. This will make the reading tests easier to manage when you’re under pressure.

 

  1. Enroll in a test prep program. While self-study works well for some, many students learn best in a formal test prep program such as small group sessions or private tutoring. In addition to learning directly from experienced teachers, these programs hold students accountable and keep them on a consistent study schedule. Through a test prep program, you’re guaranteed to stay on track with taking practice tests, as well as strategically improving your weak areas.

By designing your summer study schedule with these suggestions, you’ll set yourself up for success and have more confidence when taking the official SAT or ACT.

Learn more about Test Preps’ options by contacting Melissa Cook via email at contact@testprepsbuffalo.com or by phone at (716) 574-7349.

Source: http://time.com/3906983/summer-sat-study-tips/

May 12th, 2017

Conflicted About College Standardized Testing? We’re Dispelling Five Common SAT & ACT Myths!

In the past few years, college admission standardized testing has changed quite a bit, and you may have come across many conflicting opinions about the SAT and ACT. With so much new information about both tests, it can be stressful and overwhelming to get the facts. As you start this process, it’s critical that you have all your questions answered so you can make well-informed decisions about your testing options.

Below we are dispelling five of the most common SAT and ACT myths:                                                            

  1. Colleges prefer the SAT over the ACT (or vice versa). False! Because the SAT used to be more common in the Northeast, many people assume it’s more widely accepted than the ACT. You’ll be happy to know that both tests are equally accepted at colleges across the country, no matter what region or geographic area.

 

  1. You must be good at science to do well on the ACT. If you’re not strong in the sciences, don’t fear! The ACT’s science section does not evaluate your academic science knowledge, but rather includes science-based questions and passages to assess your critical thinking abilities. By honing your test strategy skills, you can master the science section in no time!

 

  1. The ACT is “easier” than the SAT. Some students perform better on the ACT while others achieve higher scores with the SAT. Your performance will be heavily dictated by your test-taking abilities rather than the test itself. That’s why it’s important to take ACT and SAT practice tests to determine which one is a better fit. All high schools offer the PSAT in October. Check with your district to see if they will be offering the Pre-ACT this year!

 

  1. The math on the SAT is harder. The mathematical material is comparable on both tests, requiring a solid foundational understanding of arithmetic, algebra and geometry. However, the SAT math section is heavily common-core based, having a narrower focus on algebraic problems to test knowledge of mathematical concepts. Another notable difference between the two tests is that the ACT allows use of a calculator on all math questions, while the SAT only allows calculator usage for certain parts of the test. Therefore, students who are highly dependent on their calculators to solve even basic equations are likely to find the SAT’s math section to be more difficult.

 

  1. The writing portion doesn’t matter on either test. Though the essay portions on both the SAT and ACT are optional, it’s a good idea to complete the writing section regardless of which test you take. Certain colleges will evaluate your writing score, so you won’t want to hurt your admissions chances by skipping out on the essay.

Remember, your testing success will be determined by your effort and preparation – not the type of test you choose to take. It’s important to evaluate your performance on each test and choose the one that’s best for your individual testing abilities. It may not be necessary to prepare for both tests.

Are you ready to start preparing for the ACT or SAT? Get in touch today with Test Preps, a Buffalo-based test prep services company offering SAT/ACT small group courses and private tutoring services. We’re happy to answer all of your questions. Let our team get you on the track to success!

June 2nd, 2015

Thorough Test Prep Tends To Your Body & Mind

As the SAT/ACT 2014-2015 testing season hurtles towards completion, time to take stock of your preparation. Attended every session of prep class? Check. Practice tests diligently completed? Check. But much more should be done to ensure you get the best possible score on test day. You need to attend to your body and mind by sleeping well, keeping hydrated and eating healthy. Each is supported by copious research and each will improve your score.

We all know teenagers are chronically sleep deprived. They go to bed late, get up early for school, and binge sleep on weekends. Not a healthy pattern, especially heading into a SAT or ACT. One site on sleep puts it bluntly, Well-rested brains do a bunch of tasks better than sleepy brains.  In tests of response time to stimuli, agility, ability to remember new material and to perform things like mental arithmetic, the superiority of the rested brain has been shown again and again.”1 Don’t believe the research? Every year we have students sign up for SATs and ACTs not realizing their prom is the night before. Regardless of how they practiced, their scores range from abominable to abysmal. A week or two before the test, shift your sleeping patterns. Go to bed at a more reasonable hour and wake up at least ninety minutes before the scheduled time of the test. You’ll find your mental abilities sharpest right when it counts, when the proctor says “Go!”

Though the exhortation to drink eight glasses of water a day turned out to be baseless, keeping hydrated is important. When I went to high school in Western New York in the 1980s, carrying a water bottle around the halls was unheard of. Research in the 1990s changed this, and now water bottles are ubiquitous sights in classrooms. Why? Adequate hydration has been proven to help us better handle stress and “a drop of just 2% in body water causes short term memory problems and significant difficulties with concentration.”2 Make a habit of bringing a water bottle to school, drink water the morning of the test and bring a bottle of water to the test so you can hydrate on breaks.

And speaking of morning, do not skip breakfast. It’s almost cliché to say that breakfast is the most important mCulture-Eats-Strategy-For-Breakfasteal of the day, but research has shown this to be true many times over. The statistics are eye opening. Students who eat breakfast regularly perform better academically, have increased attendance and less often visit the nurse’s office. Students who eat breakfast regularly also, on average, score more than 17% higher on math tests and are 20% more likely to graduate. 3 Common sense tells us that eating healthier foods leads to better physical and mental health. Eat better in the weeks leading up to the test and do not skip breakfast. Since you’re already getting up earlier, you’re sure to have the time.

Practice tests and tactics should only make up on part of your prep. Sleep, hydrate and eat well to make sure you’re at you very best on test day. Better yet, make them life-long habits.

1. “Sleep and Learning.” The Relationship Between. Web. 2 June 2015.

2.Roberts, Roger. “Benefits of Adequate Hydration Are Mind Boggling.” Streetdirectory.com. 2015. Web. 2 June 2015.

3. Bakies, Karen. “The Breakfast Benefit: Why Schools Should Make Morning Meals a Priority.” US News. U.S.News & World Report, 20 Oct. 2014. Web. 2 June 2015.

May 8th, 2015

Higher ACT/SAT Scores Can Earn You Big Bucks & Other Benefits!

We all know your ACT/SAT scores help you get into college, but your score can reward you in many other ways. A few points gained on an ACT, forty or fifty on an SAT may earn you big scholarship money and admittance to honors programs in colleges throughout the northeast and across the nation. When parents balk at the hundreds of dollars required for test prep, they may be leaving thousands of dollars on the table.

College-money-630x551Most schools grant more money for better test scores. The best part is most of these scholarships are granted automatically with no further application materials needed. A peek around Western New York offers many examples. A jump from a 21 to a 24 on the ACT (1000 to 1100 on the SAT) at D’Youville earns students $3,000 more per year. The difference between a 20 and 24 on the ACT at Niagara University? $7,000 in free money per year. And a 27 on the ACT (1210 on the SAT) at Niagara earns you $17,000 a year. Rank in the top 20% of your class? Then a 28 on the ACT will earn you $9,000-$15,000 in scholarship money per year at RIT. A 28 on the ACT at SUNY Alfred gets you a free ride including room and board. Satisfied with a 32 on the ACT? One more point and you can go to UB for free, including room & board and books. Once you’ve narrowed down your list of college possibilities, spend time visiting their websites or give them a call to learn if a few more points on the ACT or SAT may earn you big bucks.

And while we all like to be shown the money, your ACT/SAT scores can earn you lots of other under-the-radar perks. A 28 on the ACT (1260 on the SAT) can get you admitted to the All-College Honors Program at Canisius College. What are the benefits? Special living accommodations, unique field trips, research grants and internships, and individualized mentoring. At Niagara University, a 27 on the ACT can get you into their Honors Program which allows you to attend special classes, enjoy lunch with campus lecturers and visiting notables, and gets you invited to exclusive mixers. Benefits of the University Honors College at UB include special interest housing, scholarship and teaching assistant opportunities, preferential class scheduling and specialized academic advising.

Do your research! Another test, a few more points on an ACT or SAT, the cost of test prep may well be worth your time, effort and money. And when researching, keep in mind that the requirements for in-state and out-of-state students may vary. Also note that many of the above opportunities have deadlines that differ from the normal application. Your ACT/SAT scores may not just get you into college, but may help you get the most out college as well.

March 29th, 2015

Juniors! Time to Make a Plan!

Time is fleeting for the class of 2016, at least in terms of getting ready to apply to colleges next fall. If you’re a little late to the process or just need a refresher, you can easily get up to speed by the first day of senior classes. Just follow the timeline below.

Spring 2015

Ideally, you’ve earned a great score on the SAT and/or ACT. We suggest two tests minimum after prep. If you haven’t met your goal yet, or haven’t yet signed up for a test, time remains. Each test is still being offered twice: the SAT on May 2 and June 6, the ACT April 18 and June 13. Unfortunately, it’s late to begin prepping for the earlier of either test and registration for the April 18 ACT has passed. For further deadlines check out the tests’ respective sites:

https://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-us-dates

http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html

Applying to one of America’s top universities? You might then need to take an SAT II test. They are offered on both May 2 and June 6, but note that you may not take an SAT II and the SAT on the same day. If this is all news to you, no need to worry. The SAT, SAT II, and ACT tests are all offered multiple times in the fall.

Summer 2015664

If work, a sport or vacation is taking up your spring break, then plan a road trip this summer to visit some colleges. Be sure to take the official tours and sign your names in their registration books so they know you’ve visited. Showing this level of interest helps your application. Also, be sure to ask questions and talk to as many students as possible. Make notes and whittle down your list of prospective schools.

August’s arrival should have you contemplating your college application essays. We highly suggest completing these with professional help before senior year begins. The application essays have become one of the single most important factors in the admissions process as they are the sole glimpse a prospective school gets of you the person, instead of you the student. August also means time to begin prepping again for fall tests, whether it be the September ACT or October SAT.

Still have questions? Concerns? Email us at contact@raisemysatscore.com

March 11th, 2015

How to Earn the Best Test Score this Spring

unnamedThe spring prep season has kicked into high gear. You’ve signed up for a class, bought practice books, heeded the words of your tutor, but what else can you do to maximize your score? Most tutors will say that your score will largely be determined by what you do at home on your own, by how conscientiously you apply the strategies and tactics when the tutor isn’t around. Our last blog entry discussed the proper environment for doing prep at home, but what you do after completing your practice tests is just as important.

You’ve bubbled in your last answer; a large chunk of homework is off your plate, but you should be doing more. Having scored the test, you gauge how you’ve done compared with past tests and with your overall goals. To be more productive, however, spend time reading over the answer explanations to the problems you got wrong. Your goal is to get a better score on the next test, and one way to improve is to understand the mistakes you made so you don’t repeat them. For example, the ACT is repetitive with similar question types from test to test. Learning a few simple grammar and mathematical rules can go a long way to improving your score.

Secondly, look for patterns to what you got wrong. On the SAT, do you always incorrectly answer the math questions with variables? Learning one math strategy can remedy this weakness. Your tutors will do their best to identify weaknesses, so they can then teach you tactics that address them. This is no substitute, however, for spotting these patterns yourself which allows you to better understand your errors and makes you more conscientious in fixing them.

A little effort beyond merely attending class and taking practice tests will greatly impact your score.

February 17th, 2015

Make the Most of Your Prep at Home

shutterstock_114474988Your parents have plunked down the money for prep, you’ve dutifully attended the sessions, now that first practice test is waiting to be tackled. Keep in mind that your score on the actual ACT or SAT will largely be determined by the work you do at home. Beyond conscientiously working to internalize the taught strategies and tactics and adhering strictly to time limits, what else can you do at home to maximize your prep? Try paying attention to your environment.

Study locations: If you usually complete your homework in your room, stick with it. If not, beware because no room contains more distractions. Then again, if you typically complete your homework in front of the tv, better find a different location. Ideally, you want to approximate the test location as closely as possible. This means finding a location with minimal distractions. Avoid spots where people will talk to you, where there is a lot of movement, or even locations that are too quiet. The test room will be quiet, but not silent.

Background noise: Research demonstrates that doing any kind of homework with headphones on decreases retention. Yet, background noise has been found to increase students’ focus. Some studies even suggest that certain types of music – Bach, Beethoven, or flowing instrumentals – may even increase intelligence and retention of material.

Lighting: The test rooms will be well lit. Turn those lights on if knocking those tests off in your room, or if in a library or cafe, sit where the lighting is good.

You want a great score, then give every effort. Find blocks of time that will allow you to complete entire sections, review the tactics and strategies right before practicing, time yourself strictly and avoid doing work on the bus or in front of the tv. Environment matters!

January 28th, 2015

Opportunity Knocking? – SAT Changes

“What this country needs is not more tests, but more opportunities.”

                                             – David Coleman, President, College Board

With these words a new era was launched at College Board, an era that will have a big impact on your child. So why the radical redesign of this venerable, 90-year old test? Lots of reasons, actually.

One well-researched criticism of the SAT is that it favors students from affluent families who can afford expensive prep. College Board, maker of the SAT, hopes to level the playing field by first offering income-eligible students four free college application fee waivers. They have also announced an “all in” campaign, the goal of which is to encourage Latino, African American and Native American students to take at least one AP course.

Another impetus for the wholesale change is one you might not expect. Through the influenceAllNew2016SAT of the SAT, College Board is trying to promote excellent classroom work and accelerate students who are behind. To this end, the company has aligned the new SAT with with the Common Core curriculum. In fact, the new president of College Board, David Coleman, was a key player in creating the Common Core standards. More concretely, College Board will support best practice in classrooms by working with teachers and college faculty to design course frameworks and modules for use in grades 6–12.

A cynic might claim that the changes are because the SAT’s growth has slowed. This is due in part to the above critiques which led a group of universities to adopt a tests-optional admission policy. Then in 2012, for the first time ever, more students took the ACT than the SAT. Many reasons contributed to the ACT’s ascendancy, but students discovered they scored better on this upstart with less prep because it is more direct and better reflects what students do in high school.

Will the redesigned SAT truly open up more opportunities for all? Parents, educators, and students will begin finding out in the spring of 2016.

January 16th, 2015

SAT Overhaul One Year Away!

Let’s have our dessert before dinner.  Be honest, you want to know about the SAT changes more than why it’s changing, right?  Bon appetit!

  • No penalty will be assessed for wrong answers. Currently one quarter point is deducted for a wrong answer.
  • There are still three sections, but now the first section is Evidence-Based Reading and Writing while section two is Math. These sections will be worth 800 points each and take three hours to complete. The last section is the essay which will be scored separately and take 50 minutes to complete.

Evidence-Based Reading

  • 80% of the reading passages will be non-fiction and include one passage from literature, two passages from history and two from science. The great documents of American history will be heavily represented. The reading section will also require students to cite support for their answers from the text and will include graphics and charts.5318d92306393.image
  • The reading section will now contain a writing portion that will “place students in the role of someone revising and editing the work of an unspecified writer.” It will include four passages from three categories — explanatory, argumentative, and narrative nonfiction — and 44 multiple choice questions.
  • The sentence completion section, notorious for asking about arcane vocabulary, is being eliminated. Instead, words “that are widely used” such as “synthesis” and “empirical” will be asked about, but in the context of passages.

Math

  • Two parts to the math section: a 55-minute, 37 question section that allows calculator use and a 25 minute, 20 question section that prohibits calculator use. Forty-five questions are multiple choice whereas the other 12 require answers entered into a grid. The scope is being narrowed and many more multi-part questions will be asked.

Essay

  • This will now be optional and placed at the end of the test. It will no longer be an opinion piece, but directs that “Your essay should not explain whether you agree with [the author’s] claims, but rather explain how [the author] builds an argument to persuade his audience.”
  • Finally, the test will be offered in digital and print versions.

Just remember, dinner is next!

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