Why So Many Students Struggle with the SAT/ACT Entrance Exams and Why So Many Parents are Surprised!
It is common knowledge that students who wish to go on to college must take the ACT or SAT entrance exam. Parents and students alike are usually aware of this step in the college application process and make plans accordingly.
Many assume this step is an easy one.
For some students, it is. For most students, it is not!
The fact is that many students who expect to do well on these exams, are shocked to discover how unprepared they really are for the SAT and ACT. Students with high GPA’s are perplexed to receive scores that are, at best, mediocre. Students who consider themselves to be strong in reading and writing cannot understand why their essay does not score a 12 or why the English section on the ACT seems so difficult. Others cannot begin to accept that they would run out of time during the exam. Parents are equally as shocked when the scores do not seem to reflect the “caliber” of student their child has proven to be in school.
Technically, these students have learned usage and mechanics in grammar and generally most do know what a rhetorical question is. But, few understand how these are presented on the English section of the ACT exam. Similarly, most students know how to read material and are able to answer critical reading questions but few understand that both the SAT and the ACT have a unique “style” and “expectation”. In other words, when preparing for the SAT, students must think the SAT way. And the same can be said when preparing for the ACT.
The dilemma might be best summed up this way. Imagine being fully capable of finding your way around town, completing tasks, and accomplishing goals. In other words, you are someone who has good ownership of your every day life, just as your child has good ownership of their school material. Then, without warning, you are lifted into air and dropped in a foreign land where, despite your many skills, you are at a loss as to how to proceed given the expectations, rules, and language of this new world. Your failure to do well has little to do with your skill level but much to do with your understanding of “how things get done” in this new place.
Some might argue that these exams are a waste of time and do not represent a student’s academic readiness.
They might be right.
That, however, is not the issue at hand.
The issue at hand is that most students will have to take the SAT or ACT exam and most will not be equipped to do the best they can unless they are prepared!
by Cammie McKenzie, M Ed, MBA (Education Specialist) as Published in “Inside South McGregor” and “Inside Gateway-Colonial”
Helpful Tips for Students and Parents Preparing for the SAT/ACT Exams
• Plan to begin reviews, whether at home or with a class, at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to the scheduled ACT or SAT.
• Consider Time Management as a critical component of the review process especially when preparing for the ACT.
• Be sure to understand the difference between the Critical Reading and English components. Critical Reading is designed to test a student’s ability to read and understand information. The English component focuses on a student’s mastery of usage and mechanics. In other words, the English section represents what students know as grammar. Most students will benefit from in depth review of the basic rules of grammar.
• ACT/SAT self – prep can be effective for the student who is disciplined and already has a good command of the math and verbal skills required on these standardized exams. Students who are also, by nature, good test takers can generally find working through practice tests on their own very productive.
• ACT/SAT classes or tutorial sessions will benefit those students who are not good test takers and those students who may need some re-teaching of basic reading comprehension, grammar or math skills.
• The ACT contains a Science component which tends to intimidate many students. Contrary to what most think, this section requires more skill in the area of reading comprehension than it does in the area of science.
Learning in Motion Tutoring offers private, one on one SAT/ACT review sessions throughout the year. Sessions are 1 ½ hr long and students work with a tutor specialized in the area of verbal or math depending on student needs. Sessions are designed to provide testing strategies, time management skills and a review of academic material.
Learning in Motion suggests that students complete at least 3 Verbal and 2 Math sessions in preparation for their standardized exam. Some students may choose to take their first SAT/ACT exam without preparation to establish a benchmark of sorts. Then, with benchmark scores in hand, students schedule review sessions. Other students choose to attend Learning in Motion for reviews prior to the first exam with the intention of then using their initial scores as a guide for additional tutoring to increase scores where needed.