Archive for the ‘SAT/ACT Test’ Category

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The 10 Most Overlooked Way to Boost Your Grades and SAT Score

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Would you like to dramatically boost your SAT scores?  The answer for almost everyone reading this article is “yes.”  Now there are countless books that will outline for you all the different ways that you can boost your grades and your SAT scores, but many of those books fail to address some pretty basic points.  And as it turns out, these points are the ones that could impact your tests scores the most.

Factor One-Avoid Exhaustion

Getting enough sleep and not pushing yourself too hard is key to getting a great SAT score and great grades.  Sure it sounds simple, but many students don’t take these obvious tips seriously enough.  You may have invested time researching everything from what to take to college, why study abroad and even college student credit cards, but did you do so when you were exhausted?

Factor Two-Avoid Distractions

It would be easy to go on and on regarding this point.  Let’s just state that if you have distractions, you should eliminate them!

Factor Three-Don’t Expect the Impossible

If you haven’t been a great student for three years or more, don’t expect to suddenly be able to “ace” the SAT.  This is an unhealthy approach, and it will only serve to place you under tremendous strain.  Be realistic about what you can achieve in a short period of time.

Factor Four-Don’t Be Shy About Finding Advice

You should actively be looking for advice and preferably doing so well before its time to apply for college and take the SAT.  This doesn’t mean that you need to do everything that people tell you to do, but having advice from knowledgeable people could just make all the difference.

Factor Five-Invest in Quality Study Aids

Not all study aids are of the same level of quality.  One usually gets a better product by shopping around, and this rule definitely holds true for all study aids.  There are, for example, fantastic books on studying for the SAT and there are some rather poor books as well.  No matter what kind of study aids you need, research them and go with the good ones!

Factor Six-Eat Healthy Foods

Want better grades and a better score on the SAT?  One way to help give yourself a boost is to eliminate fast foods, processed foods and sugar and replace them with whole foods that are free of chemicals and other additives.

Factor Seven-Get Some Exercise!

Is there a relationship between exercise and better grades?  There most definitely is, and here is why.  When you exercise, you reduce stress, you get more blood to your brain, and exercise can even help relax your muscles.

Factor Eight-Take a Break!

You may have people pressuring you to study constantly, and there is no doubt that you have to study to get good test results and score well on the SAT.  But taking breaks is important as well.  By taking a break from studying, you will be able to return with a different perspective on the topic.

Factor Nine-Take Steps to Reduce Eyestrain

Eyestrain can be a serious issue if you are studying a great deal.  If you are spending a good deal of time studying on a computer, be sure that you adjust your settings.  Eyestrain is one of the reasons that it is important to take plenty of breaks!

Factor Ten-Don’t Believe the Hype

There are many “horror stories” regarding how to survive college life, going to college and getting a good score on the SAT.  Ignore as much of this as possible.  Worrying only distracts you from getting good grades and a good SAT score, which, in turn, will get you into one of your top college picks.  Focus on what you are doing right, not what you might be doing wrong.

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How Much Time Should You Invest in Studying for the SAT?

Monday, April 9th, 2012

Ask almost anyone that is knowledgeable regarding the college admissions process, and they will tell you that the SAT is of paramount importance.  For good or ill, the SAT dominates the college admissions process unlike few other tests.  No pressure, right?  Clearly, the SAT is serious business and going into it unprepared isn’t a good idea.  For most students, the test is rigorous and demanding.  Therefore, the sooner your begin studying for it, the better off you will be.  As a result, the issue of time management is also a vitally important one.  In this article, we will explore just how much time you should spend studying for the SAT and how you can find more quality time to study.

Don’t Neglect Your Grades for Your SAT Score

First it needs to be stated that your SAT study time shouldn’t be so intense that you fail to study for your regular classes and allow your grades to drop.  Doing this could have serious consequences and will impact what colleges and universities ultimately accept you.  So remember- focus on your coursework first and then the SAT.

Practice Tests are a Factor

Secondly, how much time you study for the SAT is somewhat dependent on you are performing on multiple practice tests.  If you are doing very well, then you may be able to study a little less than you would if you were doing poorly in every section of the SAT.  So what should you do if you fail to live up to your expectations when taking SAT practice exams?  SAT test prep tutoring might very well be a good idea in this situation.

So How Much Should I Study?

So how much time is enough?  As you might have guessed, that depends largely on how well you are performing on practice tests and what kind of score you wish to receive.  Clearly, you should study as much as possible, as the test is indeed that important.  If you take nothing else away from this article, remember that fact!  Other factors are indeed very important, but admissions officials put an incredible amount of weight on this one test.

The SAT is a Test, Not Your Future

Now that doesn’t mean that you should somehow believe that this test is your destiny.  Some students believe this, and it negatively impacts their futures when they do poorly on the test.  In the end, it is just a test constructed by people.

Don’t Forget to Relax

The bottom line is that you should study as much as you can for the SAT, but that studying has to be balanced with some “downtime” or you will become burned out and your study time may become increasingly ineffective and inefficient.  Studying all the time isn’t the answer, but when you are studying for the SAT, do your best to make every minute count!  The more you study and the more practice tests you take, the greater your chances of success on the SAT will be.

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The Top 3 Ways to Find More Time to Study

Monday, March 26th, 2012

You might feel as though you just can’t find the time that you need to study, and you might be right!  Of courser, you may have optimized your time to the fullest, but if this is the case then you are certainly in the minority.  Most students could find more time to study if they modified their schedule.  If you are in high school and are trying to find more time to prep for the SAT or get your grades up going into college, then realize that it is vital that you look for ways to boost your study time.  In this article, we will look at some of the ways that you can eliminate distractions and squeeze in more study time.

#1-Toss the Smartphone

Studies have shown that smartphones are insanely addictive. For all practical purposes, the smartphone is a portable computer with a built-in screen that allows you to connect easily to the web.  It is a perfect tool for time wasting.  No doubt your phone is tremendously useful and we would all be somewhat lost without them.  But when it comes to boosting your grades and boosting your SAT score, you likely need to put the smartphone away.  Don’t set it to vibrate either!  Turn it off and forget about it when you’re in your designated study time.

#2-Designated Study Time

We just mentioned designated study time.  You need a special time just for studying if you are going to accomplish your academic goals.  If you know that you will be studying at a given time every day and stick to this schedule without wavering, you will see results.  No matter how much your friends try and tempt you, it is critical that you stick to your guns!

#3-The Distraction Sweep

What is the Distraction Sweep?  Take a look at your life and your surroundings (including your home and your own room) and look for things that could be distracting you.  This is a situation where you need to be honest with yourself!  Only you really know all the different factors that serve to distract you.  Let’s face it, your parents really only know a fraction of the different distractions you have in your life, so that means it is up to you to eliminate as many distractions as you can!

You might be thinking that all of these suggestions require too much discipline.  College will require a whole lot of discipline, so why not start now?  If you want that great SAT score, for example, then you will need to sacrifice in order to achieve it.  If you put in the time and focus when you are studying instead of being distracted, you will see your grades go up and also your SAT practice scores.  You just need to hang in there long enough to experience that first wave of success, and after that it will get easier!

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How to Improve Your Vocabulary for the SAT

Monday, March 12th, 2012

Boosting your vocabulary score on the SAT is a smart move no matter how you look at it.  A larger vocabulary isn’t just something that will serve you well on the SAT exam.  A more impressive and diverse vocabulary will also help you in college as well.  When it comes time to write papers, a diverse vocabulary certainly won’t serve to harm your grades!  Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can build your vocabulary today so that you will be able to increase your SAT scores.

You may have taken a few SAT practice test online or taken the prep test offered by any number of books.  No doubt this is an excellent step towards boosting your SAT score.  Simply familiarizing yourself with the kinds of words that might appear on the SAT is a smart move and one that is worth your time.

Another step you will want to consider is buying SAT prep books that are specifically focused on building your vocabulary.  It is important to point out that there are many different kinds of vocabulary books, and you can learn something from all of them.  However, for the purposes of studying for the SAT, your best choices are books specifically designed for increasing your knowledge of the kind of words that are likely to appear on the SAT exam.

Let’s take a look at one good option.

Gruber’s SAT Word Master: The Most Effective Way to Learn the Most Important SAT Vocabulary Words by Dr. Gary Gruber

The strategies contained in the book are helpful, as there is a focus on not just hundreds and hundreds of commonly used SAT words, but a look at prefixes and suffixes as well. Gruber’s SAT Word Master also contains many practice tests.  The end result is a woven together book that accomplishes what it sets out to do.

While there are more comprehensive SAT prep books on the market, if you are a student, or the parent of a student that is prepping for the SAT, then this is a smart pick that you should definitely consider.

So you’re armed with a couple of good overall SAT prep books and you have Gruber’s SAT Word Master: The Most Effective Way to Learn the Most Important SAT Vocabulary Words, now what?  That depends on how much time you have.  The more time you have, clearly the more you can do to prepare for the SAT.  Here are some additional ideas that could help you boost your SAT vocabulary.

  • Create a special study group designed specifically for boosting your SAT vocabulary knowledge.
  • Study old SAT exams and practice exams so you know the kind of words that are on the exam.
  • Gruber’s book has a section that focuses on learning common prefixes and suffixes.  Knowing these could give you a serious leg up come test time.
  • Ask friends and family to quiz you on potential test words.
  • Try incorporating your new vocabulary words into papers you are currently writing, as you will likely remember a word that you recently used to write a paper.

It seems like it is a good idea to know the most commonly used SAT words going into the actual test itself.  The people that make the SAT are, of course, aware of this fact as well.  But there is no way around it, knowing these words isn’t likely to hurt your SAT score.  The only thing it can really do is help you!

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What If You Hate Taking Tests- Can You Overcome Your Fear?

Monday, March 5th, 2012

Yes, there is just no denying the simple fact that tests are a part of life.  We start taking tests at a young age, and they continue right through high school and most definitely on through college.  But what are you to do if you hate taking tests or, even worse, if you are afraid of taking tests?

The first step is to realize that you are not alone.  A large percentage of people feel that tests are stressful.  If you are unsure of the subject matter or have a lot riding on a test, such as the SAT, then its only natural that you are worried about the outcome.  In this article, we are going to examine what you can do to overcome your fear of not just the SAT, but all tests!

Evaluate the True Importance of a Given Test

Many people will treat every single test as though it is the end of the world, but is it really?  One of the biggest single favors you can do yourself is to just stop and ask, “How big of a deal is this test?”  Sometimes the test is a big deal and other times you can still recover your grade even if you do poorly.  Being able to distinguish between the two will help reduce your stress level, and that, in and of itself, can boost your score!

Be Prepared!

Learning how to survive college is partially a matter of learning how to be prepared.  Being prepared for an exam is more than being a great student or having a “big brain.”  A large part of being prepared for an exam is having good study habits, being organized and simply allocating the time to study.

Much of the time people hate taking exams because they are unprepared.  Avoid this horror by taking the time to prepare in advance.  It might sound simple, but it takes discipline.  Yet, the rewards are great.  Just imagine being able to avoid all of that panic!

Practice Taking Tests

By taking practice tests of any kind, you will reduce your anxiety levels regarding tests.  If you are specifically worried about the SAT, then consider taking SAT practice test online as often as possible, as this will help you learn what you don’t know and give you practice with time management issues.  Taking steps to get over the fear associated with tests means tackling that fear head on, and practice tests are a fine way to do it!

No matter how it may feel, your world will not end if you do poorly on a test.  Very, very few people are truly ruined by failing a test.  The overwhelming majority of people who have their lives severely impacted by a test do have a choice.  How you react to what happens to you in life usually has more to do with your ultimate success than the event itself.  Try and keep this point in mind as you find the right college for you and endeavor to learn how to survive college.

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Could Your Health Be Impacting Your High-School Grades?

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

If you’re currently in high school and your grades are not living up to your expectations, then you need to take steps.  The grades that you receive in high school will play a vital role in the kind of colleges that will accept your application down the road.  Even if you are entering your senior year and have not received good grades so far, there is still time to turn things around.

Being able to point to the fact that you are more serious about your academic life, even at the last moment, is better than having poor grades throughout high school.  It is important to stop and consider that your health could be impacting your performance.

Don’t Overlook Warning Signs Such as Eye Problems

First, we must start with the basics, and some of these points are easy to overlook.  For example, are you having trouble reading or seeing the blackboard in class?  Vision problems are routinely overlooked when it comes to academic performance, but issues such as dyslexic can greatly interfere with learning outcomes.  Yet, there are steps that can be taken to address this issue, and it’s never too late.

Issues, such as unexplained headaches, are another issue.  This could mean that you need eyeglasses or need your eyeglass prescription changed.  Again, this is also more common than you might suspect.  Likewise don’t ignore eyestrain and eye fatigue, as they could negatively impact your ability to study.

Sometimes Fatigue Could Be More Than Just Being Tired

If you feel mysteriously tired a lot, then you should take into consideration that often fatigue is tied to a diet that is high in processed foods, fast foods or excess consumption of starchy foods.  If your diet is horrible, your academic performance will suffer, as a poor diet causes inflammation in your body.  No one feels like studying when they are in pain!  In short, before you begin looking in detail at what you are “doing wrong” where your academic performance is concerned, you should first make sure that you address any health issues.

Your Health and the SAT

Your grades are one factor that will determine what college you will attend, but there are other factors as well, such as the SAT.  If you are lacking in energy, you will not feel up to studying for the SAT.  Of course, that will impact your test score.  Additionally, fatigue, general health issues or eye related issues could negatively impact your taking of the actual SAT exam itself.  This exam is important- be prepared in every way possible.

There are Rewards for Proper Health

Taking care of yourself will pay rewards.  Getting enough sleep, eating the right kind of food, getting at least a moderate amount of exercise and keeping track of your own health is a step towards the future you want.  Being healthy means feeling better, and that means getting more of what you want out of life… such as going to one of your top college picks.

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Should You Use Test Preparation Books?

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

When it comes to preparing for college, you want to make sure that you’ve done all that you can.  This means exploring many different avenues when it comes to SAT prep.

You’ve likely spent a good deal of time researching colleges, looking into how to find scholarships and pre college summer programs, and you’ve also likely given a good deal of thought to preparing for the SAT.  At the top of the list of ways to prepare for this test are SAT preparation books.  However, where SAT test preparation books are concerned, it important that you take a few factors into consideration.

The first factor that you should take into consideration is that there are a lot, a whole lot, of SAT test preparation books.  As a result, many people are overwhelmed and just throw in the towel when it comes to SAT prep books.  Others simply find the big names in test preparation and pick one of their books.

When it comes to using preparing for the SAT, you want the best tools possible.  It should be no big surprise that some are better than others.  One fact about SAT prep books that you don’t hear very often is that some of them, including one’s published by big names in the field, are poor or even awful.  There are some books that really won’t help you including an SAT test preparation book that is really boring or doesn’t explain the answers so you can improve.  Worst of all, some SAT prep books even have errors in them!  Obviously, this is the last thing you want!

Finding a good SAT test preparation book is an exercise in first patience and second research.  Look at what SAT test prep books are available online.  You should read reviews from others who have used the book and then taken the test.  Also keep a sharp eye out for books that are full of errors or that people just don’t like.  If one person states that a book is horrible that might not mean much, but if dozens of people are saying that a book is awful, then that is something you should listen to and strongly take into consideration.

How you like to study is another factor where SAT test preparation books are concerned.  Your style of studying and what you feel comfortable with needs to be factored into the equation.  Simply grabbing the book that everyone likes may not work for you, as this book might not mesh with your learning style or it may fail to focus on your weak points sufficiently.

In the end, it makes sense to invest some time and find a book or books that work for you personally.  Don’t be afraid to use many different books until you find ones that help you build your score on practice tests.  (And you should be taking practice tests!)  While it is true that everything is online, this is one time that a trip to your local library might be a good idea, as they may have a few SAT books that you can look at and compare.  This step will save you time, effort and money.

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3 Ways To Improve Your Discipline and Get Great SAT Scores

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

SAT prep is a lot more complicated than simply studying X,Y and Z.  SAT Prep involves having great study habits as well.  If you are going to get a great score, then it is necessary not just to study, but to study the right way and with the right materials and study aids.  In this article, we will look at how you can improve your study habits.  Many of the steps we will cover here are very easy, but you have to stick to them.  In time, however, you will see a big difference in how much you accomplish during your study time.

1. Draw on Discipline From Other Areas

More than likely, you have more discipline at your disposal than you think.  If you play sports, know how to play an instrument or have a hobby that requires focus and determination, then you already have a degree of discipline.  Even playing video games, such as shooters and role-playing games takes focus and patience.  You can tap into that discipline when it comes to your study habits.  Now this isn’t an overnight process and it will take time, but once you’ve given it some effort, you will discover that you are making nice progress in the direction of being more disciplined with your study habits.

2. Set Aside A Designated Time to Study

Knowing that you will study specifically for the SAT at a given time every day will help you find the success you want!  You may also want to consider mapping out what sections of the SAT you wish to focus on for a given day.  Through good organization you will decrease your chances of not properly covering a particular section of the exam well enough.

Just as you set time aside to study for SAT prep, you may want to do the same for other aspects of college success.  How to survive college and get into college may have a lot to do with the process of searching for financial aid for college tuition and financial aid and grants.  Setting aside time for this part of the process is a great idea and could literally make the difference between being able to afford the college or university of your choice and not going to college at all!  Discipline in this regard is really quite important.

3. Ask for Help

Don’t be shy about asking others to assist with your discipline if you are having trouble focusing like you should.  If you have a friend that is far more focused and disciplined than you are, then see if he or she will help you stay on track.  You may want to ask family members or even teachers to stay on top of your progress.  While this might not exactly be pleasant, your main goal should be achieving a great SAT score.  After all, you don’t want to waste all of those hours you spent on test prep tutoring, and finding SAT practice tests online.

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The 5 Pros And Cons of Study Groups

Monday, December 26th, 2011

Forming a study group for the SAT has some big pros, but it also has a few cons as well.  SAT preparation can be complicated and it’s a major step in your life.  Pretending that it isn’t a big deal might be tempting, but it really isn’t in your best interest.  If you take a “whatever” attitude towards studying for the SAT, you are doing harm to your friends as well, as you may influence their study habits and behavior.

It is vitally important that you realize with total clarity that despite what anyone ever told you, you are not competing against your classmates and friends on the SAT exam.  This kind of thinking is primitive, foolish and highly misguided.  Millions of students take the SAT exam every single year!  The thought that you are competing against your friends is silly and you shouldn’t fall for it.  If someone tells you that it’s a “dog eat dog” world and that this applies to the SAT, well, they just don’t know what they are talking about.  Remember that so many students take this test that any actual competition between you and your classmates is beyond trivial.

Once you realize that there is no real, actual competition between you and your friends and classmates, the option of cooperation opens up.  Why study alone if you have friends that are better at given subjects than you are?  By cooperating with one another, it is possible to not just break down the SAT exam, but to also pull on one another’s strengths and help with one another’s weaknesses as well.

Study Group Pros

1) Learn more as you can break down the test and study materials and split them up.
2) Pull on one another’s strengths
3) Get help with your weaknesses
4) Learn to see the test and test questions in different ways
5) Pull on collective resources, such as study guides and so on.

Study Group Cons

Unfortunately there are some cons to forming a study group for the SAT.  Let’s take a look a few of these cons.

1) There will be differing levels of seriousness among your friends.
2) There is a risk that your study sessions could deviate into socializing instead of working.
3) Not everyone will pull his or her weight equally.
4) Egos may get in the way and interfere with overall progress.
5) People may not stick with the study group long enough to get the desired results and to justify the time it took to start the group in the first place.

Whether or not you should form a SAT study group depends greatly on the quality of people that you can pull into the group.  Even if you get great people in your group, you may still find that the group dynamic doesn’t work.  In the end, you have to play this one by ear and see how it develops.  However, if your SAT study group is successful, you could really benefit a great deal.

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Ten Creature Comforts to Make Your SAT Exam Day Easier

Saturday, December 24th, 2011

All that goes into the transition process from college to high school can be a little overwhelming.  If you are thinking that the process as a whole is pretty complex, well, you’re totally right, as that is definitely the case.  Yet, one important thing you should never lose track of during this process is the importance of holding onto your commonsense and applying it to as many situation as possible.

You’ve spent a great deal of time preparing for this exam and have researched many issues from direct federal student loans to why study aboard and even college student credit cards.  The purpose of most of your studying and research is to be well prepared for college and for the pivotal SAT exam.  The so-called “little things” can make a big difference in life.

Making certain that you are comfortable for your SAT exam is of vital importance.  Let’s take a look at the small steps you can take to make sure you are ready to go for test day!  Here are ten steps you can take that while help you feel better, more relaxed and more confident on your SAT exam day.

1) Wear comfortable clothing.  The day of your SAT exam is absolutely not the day to worry about how you look or flirting with people you think are cute.  This test is a very big deal.  Wearing comfortable clothing will allow you to focus on the task at hand, namely getting a great score.  This test factor is such a big deal.  If you don’t have comfortable clothing, buy some!

2) Wear comfortable shoes.  Having comfortable shoes on is so important that it deserves to be distinguished from wearing comfortable clothing.

3) Another important creature comfort is making sure you give yourself enough time to not just eat a quality meal before the exam but have time to digest it as well.  It is difficult for your brain to work effectively until your food is properly digested.

4) Make sure you have access to healthy food and snacks on exam day.

5) Make sure that you are well hydrated.

6) If you need medication of any sort, make sure you have it on hand.

7) Don’t be afraid to be a little superstitious.  If you feel that you have a lucky charm, a lucky pencil, a lucky baseball cap or a lucky whatever, now is the time!  Anything that gives you confidence and calms you down is a smart move!

8 ) Some creature comforts involving avoiding certain things that cause you stress.  In the period before your exam, avoid stress if at all possible.

9) Just as you should avoid stress before your SAT exam, you should avoid distractions.  This is one time that you might want to leave your smart phone in your bag or backpack.

10) Chauffeur me!  Driving can be stressful.  If you can get a ride to and from your exam that is a great idea too.

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