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Surviving SAT, ACT May
Depend on Giving Time, Studying
By Kellie Houx
There are no quick fixes or magic pills to getting a great score on
the Scholastic Assessment or American College tests, but heeding an expert
might go a long way to improving those scores. Also seeking fun ways
to accelerate learning SAT and ACT vocabulary might help.
Some companies
offer some tools that may help students improve test scores. Kaplan Test Prep
and Admissions offers test preparation material options that may appeal to
today’s students and their individual learning styles. College Prep Programs
Director Kristen Campbell says nothing really beats the traditional classroom
setting, but one-on-one tutoring may be good too.
“When it comes to preparing for the ACT or SAT, remember these are paper
and pencil tests. These tests are intense experiences so the best advice is
to take as much realistic practice as possible,” she says. “However,
supplemental preps, in many formats and mediums, may help. Learn in any way
possible.”
Some of
these options include SAT in a Box, which provides studying on the go and a
chance to quiz friends during any sort of break.
“What students need to look for are the tools to reinforce their own
learning styles,” Campbell says. “The need is to help students
develop the confidence to tackle these tests.”
One of Kaplan’s
latest tools is the use of manga, the Japanese-style comics or graphic novels.
In June, Kaplan teamed with TOKYOPOP to alter a few titles to add SAT and ACT
vocabulary. The series kicked off with three graphic novels: “Warcraft:
Dragon Hunt,” “Psy-Comm” and “Van Von Hunter.”
“We
were actually at a convention with school librarians who were talking about
how students were using these comics,” Campbell says. “Then we
heard about teachers using them in the classroom. We thought it would be fun
to collaborate with folks in this popular genre if educators were already using
the comics.”
Campbell
says the comics have not been altered in look or feel.
The company
also has six classic novels such as Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights” and
Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” marked as SAT score raising.
The novels are full of highlighted words with accompanying definitions on the
opposite page.
“How
many people want to study vocabulary by using a laundry list?” Campbell
asks. “By reading and seeing the words in context, meanings are reinforced.
It is a fun way to approach vocabulary and read a classic.”
Last June,
Kaplan also united with Apple to create interactive systems. A handful of test
preps can be purchased and downloaded from iTunes so students can practice
for the exam on their iPods. Programs focus on the exam’s three graded
sections: critical reading, mathematics and writing. Campbell says the excitement
comes when students track their problems and gain strategies.
For others, Jay Brody, the special editor for Hundreds of Heads book “How
to Survive the SAT (and ACT),” offers some advice on preparing
for these tests and perhaps improving scores.
In the book,
there are many strategies to survive the tests; however, Brody offers five
that should not be much of a surprise.
Some ideas
all test-takers should remember:
1. Start
preparing for the tests far in advance - waiting until the last minute creates
stress and makes it harder to absorb strategies. Taking the SAT is to an extent
a skill, and prepping isn’t like cramming for a history exam that mostly
tests memorization.
2. Make
sure at least some of the practice involves real, previously administered test
questions.
“This
way you aren’t surprised to find that the real test looks nothing like
what you’ve been studying which is especially true for the SAT,” he
says.
3. Be prepared
on test day with an approved calculator (with fresh batteries), plenty of rest,
a decent breakfast, and a good understanding of what to expect.
4. Study
a lot.
“This
isn't always popular advice, but these are very important tests and deserve
a lot of your attention,” Brody says. “Schoolwork is paramount,
but finding regular time for test prep is also important.”
5. Keep
it all in perspective. At some schools, it seems as though the SAT is all anyone
talks about during admissions season.
“Keep
in mind that the test will probably not have a huge influence on your life,
and take all of the advice and information you hear from your fellow students
with a big grain of salt,” Brody says.
As for taking
both tests, Brody suggests students take at least a practice version or two
of both.
“While
officially taking both tests provides an extra opportunity for a top score,
if a student feels much better prepared for one test it's fine to focus his
or her prep time on that exam and skip the other one,” he says.
Improving
scores to take advantage of scholarship opportunities may be a goal. Brody
says a tutor could help.
“Seeking
someone who scored well on the test and has lots of tutoring experience is
probably ideal,” he says.
“A class, which is often cheaper than
private tutoring, can also be effective if you have a good instructor. For
materials, I'd recommend some combination of real exams which are available
in bookstores for each test and study guides from companies such as Kaplan
or Princeton Review.”
In the book, “How
to Survive the SAT (and ACT),” Brody and other staff members interviewed
hundreds of students who gave their best tips and strategies. Brody says the
advice in the book is so varied that readers can pull what resonates for them.
“ The
biggest mistake I see students make with the SAT and ACT is that they simply
don't study enough. Whether you hate the tests or have a near-perfect score,
spending some time on content and strategies can help you perform better and
ultimately improve your position in the college admissions process,” he
says.
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