You are here: Home / Archives for SAT

Preparing for the SAT I Writing Section

July 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

High school students preparing for college will have to face the nerve racking SAT I writing section. The writing portion of the SAT I test is a 60 minute test that includes an essay writing and a multiple-choice section.

Whether you are looking to obtain an ivy league education or pursue one of the many online education degrees, the scores you get on the writing portion of the SAT I test can determine your future. Here are some tips you can use to help make the writing portion of the SATs a little easier.

Outline Your Writing

Many SAT test takers make the mistake of jumping into the essay portion of the test without outlining their thoughts. This can result in an essay that doesn’t flow or strays off topic.

If you are looking to write a great essay, make sure you take the added time to outline your essay and plan what you are going to write. This will help you create an essay that flows and reads well.

Stay on Topic

While it might be tempting to stray off topic during your essay, it will not help your SAT scores. You will be given one topic to write about. Make sure you stay on topic and only write about the given topic.

Don’t Go For Perfection

The SAT writing section assesses your writing ability but it does not look for perfection. While writing your essay keep this in mind and don’t try to achieve perfection. Instead, focus on writing a clear essay that conveys your thoughts in an organized fashion.

Using these tips will help reduce your stress and help you get a good score on your writing SAT section.

Filed Under: Education, Reading and Writing, Standardized Testing Tagged With: , ,

Importance of Taking the SATs

July 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The SATs have long been used by college admittance committees in choosing the right students for their school. Many high school students take them seriously — taking practice tests, going through prep courses, and using flashcards to help them remember concepts and vocabulary. Still, many students don’t seem to understand how important it is to get a good score.

When it comes to applying for college, a good SAT score can help make your application stand out, along with good grades, a well-written essay, and a demonstration of involvement in the community. It’s one important piece to the larger puzzle of college applications.

But what are students to do if they don’t get a good enough score? Many students take the SAT during their junior year of high school. This allows time for the students to retake the test before applying for schools if they don’t get the score they wanted. Statistically, students do better the second time they take the test. For students that don’t have this option, a really good alternative is to look into online college degree programs. This would allow the student to take classes online and if he or she would like to transfer to a college later, the school will look at grades received rather than the SAT score.

Remember, if you aren’t able to start at the school of your choice, all is not lost. Colleges and universities take transfer students each year and you could be one of them just by proving that you can get the grades needed.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: , ,

Preparing for English and Writing Sections on the ACT, SAT and FCAT

July 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When students are faced with taking tests such as the ACT, SAt or FCAT, it takes a steady plan of studying and practice to prepare. This is especially true for the English and writing sections, which are challenging for some students.

These tests are often required to study for many traditional and online education degrees. Students should studying early, especially with texts that are geared specifically for each test. These books will include a pre-test, practice problems and actual practice tests to help the student prepare. The pre-test is especially useful for finding out what weak areas need to be focused on the most.

The student will need to build a strong vocabulary, which is important on the English section. It is also imperative that they review basic grammar concepts and learn how to efficiently edit their work to save time. This is important on the test as each section is timed. Students should practice writing from prompts, carefully reading directions for each section and make sure that their writing is neat. These small factors can have a big influence on their final score for that section.

When planning how to study, the student should set up a certain time each day to work. They should concentrate on weak areas in grammar and spelling, but also practice on areas they do well in. Giving enough time to both ensures that the student will be adequately prepared for challenge ahead. With careful preparation and concentrated study, these students will have the best chance for success.

Filed Under: College Entrance Exams, Education, Online Resources Tagged With: , ,

Learning to Write for College

July 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Although college is designed to help you with a whole lot of learning, there are some basic skills that you are going to want to have before you start school for the first time. One of these skills is writing, which is why there is a writing section on the SAT, and why many colleges require you to take an English placement exam prior to signing up for your classes.

Learning to Write for College

One of the best things that you can do is to learn how to write for college. When you are in college you are going to be expected to have a basic understanding of grammar and spelling, and you are going to need to know how to write a paper and how to organize your thinking through things like brainstorming and outlining. If you do not have these basic skills under your belt yet, then one of the best things that you can do is to take some online courses, which will help you develop a better understanding of English and writing.

Online courses and seminars are going to help you develop a better understanding of how writing for college works. Once you know what is expected of you as a college student, then you can develop the right education accordingly. Knowing how to write in college is going to help you be able to excel in your courses, since you will not be taught to write but instead will be expected to already be capable of writing.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: , ,

Preparing for the Vocabulary Section of the SATs

July 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Any high school student preparing for college knows, and dreads, the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). These scores are an important part in getting into college, even if you’re getting an online college degree. The exam, which lasts about three hours, will measure your skills in writing, math and verbal.

The vocabulary is where many people get a little nervous. Here are some tips for preparing for the vocabulary section of the SATs.

Practice Makes Perfect

Most schools will offer students the chance to take a practice test for the SATs. If your school doesn’t offer them there are several free websites that will let you take a practice test. The test will let you see where your strengths and weaknesses are.

Take a Prep Course

The SAT prep class is going to help prepare you for the SATs and even help give you a great score. The teacher will give you a large list of the most popular vocabulary words that will more than likely end up on the test.

Learn the Components

By memorizing all the prefixes, suffixes and roots will help increase your vocabulary score. This will be more beneficial on the multiple choice questions since it’s giving you another way of answering questions known as the ever popular process of elimination.

Make Study Aids

This might sound elementary, but flash cards have always been the best way to study a ton of vocabulary words. Once you’ve made them and studied a little, ask a friend or family member to test you. It’s the only real way to see if you’ve learned the vocabulary words.

Filed Under: Education, Online Resources Tagged With: , ,

Preparing for the Essay Portion of the SAT Exam

March 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When preparing to take the SAT exam you will need to plan for the writing section. Looking up sample essays, essay writing techniques, and doing some practice essays ahead of time can help you be fully prepared to do well in this section of the exam. Practice essays and information can be found on the official websites for each exam type.

Following a format when writing your essays will ensure that you will have the confidence you need to complete your writing assignment in the time frame given, it will ensure that you will cover the topic completely, and it will give you a sense of structure to your essay.

In the SAT writing exam you may be asked to write a one-example essay or a two-example essay. When writing a one-example essay, choose a subject that you have personal experience with. This subject should be real and not invented. It is easier to write about something you have personal experience with. It is best to steer away from controversial subjects, religion, or politics.

In your one-example essay your first paragraph will introduce your “example” and should create interest in the subject. This paragraph can be general but must include a thesis statement and direct the reader to the general idea of your essay. In the second paragraph you will cover about half of your “example” by describing the situation. The third paragraph should include more specifics and complete information pertaining to your “example.” The fourth paragraph of your essay is where you will discuss the conclusions or moral lessons that your “example” shows and tie them into your thesis statement. In your final paragraph you will be concluding your essay. If possible you should relate your final conclusions to information in your introductory paragraph to round out your essay. Use some online colleges to look for effective tips on writing section of SAT Exam

Filed Under: Education, Reading and Writing Tagged With: , ,

What to Expect When Preparing for the ACT Writing Exam

January 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Besides the SAT another standardized college entrance exam is the ACT. Students all around the United States take the ACT every year in preparation for future college entrance. There is an optional writing section in the ACT which is offered at an additional cost and is separate from the main test and is not offered during every test date. Many colleges require that the writing test be included. On the official website for the ACT exam there is a link which allows you to determine if the college or colleges you are planning to attend require the writing portion of the exam.

When preparing to take the ACT exam there are many resources available to assist you. The official ACT website offers sample essays and pointers to prepare students adequately. Reading through the website and working through many of the samples and practice tests will help students understand the expectations for the exam and be better prepared.

For those students choosing to take the writing portion of the ACT exam, it is administered at the end of the exam and is 30 minutes long. All essays will be a response to a prompt given. Generally the prompt will pertain to a social issue that is applicable to high school students. Because this portion of the test is optional the score received on the writing section does not affect the overall composite score of the ACT exam. The scores given for the writing section are given as a separate score.

The scoring on the ACT exam is done the same as for the SAT exam. There are two trained readers assigned to score each essay. A score of one through six is given dependent on several factors. A score of zero is given for any essay that is left blank, off topic, non-English, or written in a pencil other than a number two pencil. If the two readers’ scores are off by more than one point a senior third reader is brought in to determine the final score.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With:

Submit Only Your Highest SAT Scores for Better Admissions

December 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

From March 2009, it will no longer be necessary for students sitting the SAT exams to allow selected colleges to see test results. What is more, students can actually select which, if any, test results to forward to the college. This replaces the system that had been in place from 2002 to 2009, which had required all SAT results to get forward to the student’s chosen colleges.

Some colleges have objected to the changes, saying that it is unfair for students to choose only their best scores to send to admissions offices. As a result, many colleges are adamant they will not be accepting scores that are diluted to only show the highest test scores. They want to see all the scores; applications that have SAT results filtered through Score.

Score Choice works by allowing students to take the SAT test, and then block lower scores from being release to colleges. The college will only see the highest scores achieved and selected by the student, and will have no idea of the lower marks awarded in other subjects. This way, students can actually use the first round of SAT’s as a trial test for their weaker subjects, then re-sit the SAT exam in those subjects and submit the second score.

Students counter the colleges’ arguments by declaring that they are under enough stress when taking SAT or ACT college entrance exams, without the added pressure of having to submit scores in their weaker subjects. Therefore, a poor result caused by stressful conditions may give a false or misleading reflection of the student’s ability.

Colleges counter by saying they have incredible volumes of paperwork to get through as application deadlines draw near. Having all test results to hand, first time around, makes their selection process much easier. If a student takes the SAT test three times, for example, the admissions office will select the top scores from all three tests.

Filed Under: College Entrance Exams, Online Resources, Standardized Testing Tagged With: , ,

The Advantages and Disadvantages of the SAT and ACT Tests

December 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Both Sat and ACT are standardized tests that universities accept for admission. Both has its advantages and disadvantages, but it depends on the on the strength and weakness of an individual.
Students generally score higher when they take the exam that is best suited to them. This makes it easier for them to gain admission to colleges.
Generally, ACT tests a student of the subject matters that studied in high school, whereas SAT tests a student’s thinking skills. ACT may suit those students who received good grades in classes.
On the other hand, SAT is suited to those students who have strong deduction skills. It is more like an aptitude test. It uses tricky confusing phrases intentionally to confuse the students. But some students like SAT more than ACT.
ACT gives more importance to grammar, has covers test on Science reasoning, whereas SAT emphasizes on the use of vocabulary, and has no tests based on science reasoning.
Three sections are included in SAT, that is, writing, critical reading, mathematics, whereas ACT comprises of four sections. They are reading, science, mathematics and English.
In SAT, students are required to give answers to mathematical question, whereas ACT comprises of multiple-choice questions.
IN SAT, the level of difficulty in questions increases as the test progresses, whereas in ACT, the level of questions remains almost constant.
In spite of having the same time for both the tests, the number of questions differs. SAT comprises of 140 questions, whereas ACT comprises of 215 questions.
In a SAT exam, there is negative marking, whereas in ACT exam, there is no negative marking. Further, the questions of SAT are design in such a way that it can slow down the test taker. Therefore, it is suggests to first answer the questions that are easier and then move on to the harder ones.
Students can earn maximum of 36 points in SAT whereas they can earn maximum 800 points in ACT.

Filed Under: College Entrance Exams, Education, Online Resources Tagged With: , , ,

Practice Tests Facilitate the Better ACT and other College Entrance Scores

December 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Entrance exams are stepping-stones for a student to enter into a college. Students are required to take SAT or ACT, even after they are accepted by colleges. Practice tests are designed to facilitate students in the preparation of college exams.
SAT and ACT, being the most important college entrance exams have practice examinations such as PLAN and PSAT. These tests are designed for students to help students during their sophomore years.
PLAN assists a student to take the ACT exam with ease. It normally consists of four parts
Sections in PLAN
Reading
English
Science
Arithmetic
Other sections contain Educational Opportunity Service, UNIACT interest inventory, perceived needs assessment and high school course and grade details.
The College Board administers the test known as PSAT/ NMSQT that is considered to be the official test for SAT I or SAT reasoning test. The various topics covered under this are writing, problem solving in math and critical reading.
Students who get high scores are given entry for the National Merit Scholar Program. Merit based scholarships are also offered which can be used during admission at a reputed university or college.
Either students are allowed to take SAT or ACT, out of which most of them appears for the test various times. All colleges, universities, and America accept ACT.
Since ACT focuses on four main areas that include reading, English, Mathematics and Science, most of the students feel at ease to write this exam. On the other hand, apart from writing exam, SAT deals with verbal as well as mathematical reasoning skills. This normally makes some students nervous.
In order to evaluate a student’s academic skills more effectively, certain colleges require the applicants to take both SAT and ACT.
The College Board sends all the tests results right from the beginning for those students who re take the SAT test multiple times. On the other hand, ACT sends only the latest test scores to colleges and universities.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: , , ,
« Older Posts