TOP REASONS WHY A STUDENT MAY NOT DO THEIR BEST ON THEIR (FIRST) ACT OR SAT I (EVEN IF THEY HAVE OUTSIDE HELP SUCH AS A TUTOR):
IT IS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN TO WONDER WHY YOU DID NOT DO SO WELL ON YOUR (FIRST) ACT OR SAT I, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE OUTSIDE HELP. THERE ARE DOZENS OF REASONS, AND I AM GOING TO POST HERE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES. BEAR IN MY ALL MATERIAL HEREIN IS MY OPINION AND EXPERIENCE ONLY. THE SAT I IS THE MUCH WORSE OFFENDER. STUDENT'S SCORES ON THEIR VERY FIRST SAT I SEEM TO BE ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE ACT SEEMS TO BE MORE PREDICTABLE, BUT NOT ALWAYS PREDICTABLE. STUDENTS STILL DON'T DO WELL AT TIMES ON THEIR FIRST ACT, BUT THE SAT I IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN A GREAT DEAL OF THE TIME. SO BE AWARE, YOU MAY HAVE TO TAKE THESE TESTS SEVERAL TIMES TO ACHIEVE YOUR OPTIMUM SCORE; THE SCORE THAT TRULY REPRESENTS YOUR ABILITIES. TUTORING WILL ENABLE YOU TO HAVE A VERY SAFE SHOT AT GETTING YOUR VERY BEST SCORE, BUT IT MAY TAKE A FEW TIMES TAKING THE TEST. HERE THEY ARE:
1) THE NEW SAT I AS OF MARCH 2005 IS MUCH LONGER AND HARDER THAN ITS PREDECESSOR. IN FACT, THE NEW SAT I IS LONGER THAN THE MCAT (MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TEST), GRE (GRADUATE RECORDS EXAM), THE LSAT (LAW SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM), AND THE GMAT (GRADUATE MANAGEMENT APTITUDE TEST). MAKING AN EXAM IN HIGH SCHOOL LONGER THAN A POST COLLEGE EXAM IS A SERIOUS EXAMPLE OF STUPIDITY. IT SHOWS ABSOLUTELY NO CONCERN WHATSOEVER FOR STAMINA. A TEENAGER CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO DO WELL ON AN EXAM THAT IS THREE HOURS AND 45 MINUTES LONG (THE OLDER ONE WAS LESS THAN 3 HOURS). THIS IS A 25% INCREASE IN LENGTH. THAT IS A LOT. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE AT THE TEST CENTER 30 MINUTES EARLY AT 7:30 IN THE MORNING. SOMETIMES BY THE TIME EVERYONE IS SEATED AND READY TO BEGIN THE TEST IT MAY BE AS LATE AS 9:00!! THIS IS ABSURD. SO IF YOU BEGIN AT 9 YOU WILL FINISH AT THE EARLIEST AT 12:45. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SEVERAL BREAKS SO YOU WILL ACTUALLY FINISH BY ABOUT 1:15 OR LATER. BEING AT A TEST CENTER FROM 7:30 IN THE MORNING TO 1:15 IS A DAMN LONG TIME FOR A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. ALMOST EVERY SINGLE STUDENT I HAVE TUTORED ON THE SAT I HAS COMPLAINED THAT THE TEST WAS TOO LONG. THEY SAY THAT TOWARDS THE END OF THE EXAM EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME AND THEIR MINDS WONDER AND ARE TIRED. I CAN AGREE THERE! THUS, THE LONGER TEST TIME HAS CAUSED INITIAL SCORES TO BE ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE OLDER SAT I WAS MUCH MORE PREDICTABLE AT 3 HOURS OR LESS. FOR GOD'S SAKE THE LSAT (LAW SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM) IS ONLY 3 HOURS AND 25 MINUTES!! UNBELIEVABLE!! HERE IS AN INTERESTING ARTICLE I FOUND REGARDING THIS MATTER:
OR JUST HIT THE LINK BELOW
Link
SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE LONGER TEST PRODUCES GRAVE PROBLEMS WITH CONCENTRATION AND STAMINA - SOMETHING THE COLLEGE BOARD EITHER TOTALLY FORGET TO CONSIDER OR TOTALLY DECIDED TO NEGLECT. EITHER WAY, IT IS PRODUCING MANY PROBLEMS. MY PERSONAL THEORY IS THAT THEY WANT YOU TO HAVE TO TAKE THE EXAM MORE THAN ONCE SO THEY MAKE MORE MONEY. THEY ARE NOT A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION!
2) AS WITH ANYTHING IN LIFE, THE FIRST TIME YOU DO SOMETHING NEW YOU CAN BE ANXIOUS. MANY STUDENTS WHOM I HAVE TUTORED TEND TO BE VERY ANXIOUS ON THEIR VERY FIRST SAT I TEST. THIS IS NORMAL, AND I DO TRY TO ALLEVIATE THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE (I HAVE MANY PSYCHOLOGICALLY INSPIRED TUTORING METHODS THAT CAN HELP SOMEWHAT WITH THAT). FURTHERMORE, MANY STUDENTS TELL ME THEY HAVE NEVER EVER EXPERIENCED A TEST THAT LONG (SEE #1) SO THEY WERE CERTAINLY NOT USED TO ANY TEST BEING THAT LONG. TAKING THE TEST AGAIN IS THE SOLUTION TO THIS. I HAVE HAD LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS WHO DID MUCH BETTER ON THEIR SECOND SAT I VS. THE FIRST ONE WITH LITTLE OR NO MORE TUTORING. RECENTLY, I HAD 4 STUDENTS WHO GAINED 50-200 POINTS ON THEIR SECOND SAT I WHICH WAS ONLY ONE MONTH AFTER THEIR FIRST ONE. SO, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED MORE TUTORING YOU JUST NEED TO TAKE THE TEST AGAIN. SOME STUDENTS DO NEED MORE PRACTICE, BUT NOT ALL. I ALWAYS TELL MY PARENTS WHAT I THINK.
3) THE SAT I AND THE ACT ARE FAMOUS FOR MAKING CERTAIN TESTS HARDER THAN OTHER TESTS. HOW DO I KNOW THIS? BECAUSE I PHYSICALLY SIT DOWN AND TAKE EVERY SINGLE SAT I AND ACT FOR PRACTICE. I ALSO HAVE STUDIED MOST EVERY BOOK ON THE MARKET TODAY ( I HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED HERE AT MY OFFICE) REGARDING THE SAT I AND ACT. SO I CAN ABSOLUTELY SAY THAT SOME TESTS ARE MUCH HARDER THAN OTHERS. STUDENTS WILL ALSO CONFIRM THIS. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS ABSURD, BUT IT IS TRUE. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THEY DO THAT TO MAKE MORE MONEY. THAT WILL FORCE A STUDENT TO TAKE THE TEST MORE THAN ONCE. THEY MAKE $50 PER TEST OR SO. WHY ELSE DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE 8 TESTS DATES PER YEAR!? COLLEGES KNOW THIS, AND THAT IS WHY MOST ALL COLLEGES WILL ACCEPT YOUR HIGHEST SAT I SCORES NO MATTER WHAT THE DATE. THE ACT IS NOT AS GUILTY OF THIS AS THE SAT I IS, BUT IT IS STILL SOMEWHAT TRUE OF ACT TESTS. I HAVE SEEN SAT I TEST VARY IN THE EXTREME IN DIFFICULTY. FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE SET TWO MATH TESTS SIDE BY SIDE FROM DIFFERENT DATES AND FOUND THE GRADES OFF THEM I GET TO VARY TREMENDOUSLY BETWEEN STUDENTS. ONE IS OBVIOUSLY EASIER THAN THE OTHER. YOU CAN SEE THIS FOR YOURSELF IF YOU PURCHASE THE SAT I BOOK CALLED, "THE OFFICIAL SAT I STUDY GUIDE" BY THE COLLEGE BOARD. THE LAST 3 SAT'S IN THE BOOK ARE EXTREMELY HARD IN THE MATH. USUALLY ON ANY TEST DATE IT IS EITHER THE MATH OR THE VERBAL THAT IS THE HARDEST.
4) USUALLY OUT OF THE 8 TESTS THE SAT I GIVES PER YEAR, 2 OR 3 ARE VERY HARD. THE FALL OCTOBER TEST IS ALMOST ALWAYS BAD. THEN IN THE SPRING, ONE OR TWO TESTS SEEM TO BE HARD. THE EASIEST SAT APPEARS TO BE IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER (WHEN IT IS THE LAST ATTEMPT FOR OUTGOING COLLEGE SENIORS WHO CANNOT TAKE ANY MORE SAT TESTS - NO REASON TO MAKE THOSE HARD AS THEY CANNOT GIVE THE SAT I ANY MORE MONEY BY TAKING THEM AGAIN). THERE IS NO FOR SURE WAY TO PREDICT WHICH TESTS ARE GOING TO BE HARDER SO I CANNOT SAY ANY OF THIS WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINLY (BECAUSE IF IT WAS PREDICTABLE THEN YOU WOULD KNOW WHICH TESTS TO AVOID). JUST SAY THAT ON THE ACT AND SAT THAT THE FIRST TEST OF THE FALL IS USUALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, THE HARDER ONE. THERE SEEMS TO BE ALSO ANOTHER HARD ONE OR TWO IN THE SPRING.
5) THE SAT I AND THE ACT ARE DESIGNED TO BE SENIOR YEAR TESTS AND YOU MAY BE TAKING THESE TESTS TOO EARLY WITHOUT TAKING THE CLASSWORK THAT CORRESPONDS TO THEM. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO BE TAKEN AFTER THE STUDENT HAS COMPLETED 3 YEARS OF MATH (ALGEBRA I AND ALGEBRA II AND GEOMETRY), 3 YEARS OF ENGLISH, 3 YEARS OF HISTORY, ETC. ETC. JUNIOR YEAR IS NOT ALWAYS APPROPRIATE FOR A STUDENT TO TRY AND FINISH THE SAT I OR ACT TESTING. SOME STUDENTS CAN DO THIS, SOME CANNOT DO THIS. INITIALLY, TAKING THESE TESTS JUNIOR YEAR WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THE REASON OF TESTING THE WATERS SO TO SPEAK. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU TOOK THE TEST JUNIOR YEAR TO SEE HOW YOU FARED AND TO SEE IF YOU NEEDED ANY OUTSIDE HELP OR FURTHER PRACTICE. NOWADAYS, THAT HAS TURNED INTO LETS TAKE ALL OUR TESTING JUNIOR YEAR AND BE DONE WITH THIS! THAT IS GREAT IF YOU HAVE THE APPROPRIATE COURSE WORK BEHIND YOU TO DO THIS, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF STUDENTS DO NOT. SOME HIGH SCHOOLS DON'T EVEN START HAVING STUDENTS STUDY VOCABULARY WORDS UNTIL LATE IN THE JUNIOR YEAR OR EARLY SENIOR YEAR. SO YOU HAVE TO BE RATIONAL ABOUT THIS. EVEN TUTORING CANNOT MAKE UP FOR THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE PROPER COURSE WORK YET. IT CAN HELP, BUT CANNOT REPLACE IT. MOST PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE CAPABLE OF TAKING THE ACT OR SAT I THEIR JUNIOR YEAR AND DOING WELL.
6) PRESSURE BOTH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL. PARENTS, TEACHERS, TUTORS, AND PEERS PUT TREMENDOUS PRESSURE ON STUDENTS TO DO WELL ON THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT. DO NOT PUT EXTRA PRESSURE ON YOURSELF. YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT YOU CAN TAKE THESE TESTS MORE THAN ONCE. THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING. USED TO WE COULD NOT TAKE THESE TESTS MORE THAN ONCE. NO COLLEGE WHATSOEVER WILL PENALIZE YOU IN ANY WAY FOR TAKING THESE TESTS 4 OR 5 TIMES. DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT IT. IN FACT, MANY COLLEGES PROBABLY SEE A STUDENT WHO TAKES SEVERAL ACT'S OR SAT'S AS A STUDENT WHO IS HIGHLY MOTIVATED. TAKE THE ANXIETY AND PRESSURE OFF. PRESSURE AND ANXIETY WILL DESTROY A CHANCE AT A GOOD TEST GRADE.
7) TEST DAY ANXIETY. MANY STUDENTS ON THE ACTUAL DAY OF THEIR VERY FIRST TEST GET EXTREMELY ANXIOUS. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE WITH THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS SINCE 1982. WHAT I DO IS GIVE ALL OF MY STUDENTS AN 8 PAGE HANDOUT WHICH HAS EVERY SINGLE POSITIVE THING ON IT THAT I CAN THINK OF. THIS SEEMS TO HELP SOME WHAT. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO WAY TO TOTALLY ELIMINATE TEST DAY ANXIETY. ITS A FACT OF LIFE. EVEN WITH GOOD TUTORING STUDENT'S WILL STILL GET TEST DAY ANXIETY. HOWEVER, I MUST SAY THAT A LOT OF STUDENTS I WORK WITH TELL ME THAT ON THEIR SECOND TEST THEY FELT MUCH LESS ANXIETY (OF COURSE BECAUSE THEY HAD ALREADY TAKEN THE TEST ONCE BEFORE). EXPERIENCE LESSENS ANXIETY. FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN ALSO CAUSES ANXIETY. YOU CANNOT BUY ANXIETY AWAY; YOU CANNOT MEDICATE ANXIETY AWAY; IT IS A FACT OF LIFE WHICH CAN ONLY BE ALLEVIATED.
8) TEENAGERS IN GENERAL. REMEMBER WE ARE DEALING WITH TEENAGERS. CUT THEM SOME SLACK. THEY ARE NOT ADULTS. THEY DO NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH LONG TESTS LIKE THIS. THEIR SCORES USUALLY ARE VERY NOT PREDICTABLE ON THEIR FIRST TEST (ALTHOUGH MY STUDENT'S HONESTLY ALMOST ALWAYS GET WITHIN 5-10% OF WHAT THEY WERE SCORING ON PRACTICE TESTS AT MY OFFICE). BE EASY ON THEM. BEING NEGATIVE NEVER HELPS THEM. I TRY TO BE AS POSITIVE AS I POSSIBLY, HUMANLY CAN WITH ALL MY CLIENTS. NEGATIVE FEEDBACK TO TEENAGERS ABOUT THEIR ACT OR SAT I SCORE USUALLY NEVER MAKES A HIGHER SCORE HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS COMING FROM PARENTS. I WOULD RECOMMEND BEING AS HIGHLY KIND AS POSSIBLE. CONGRATULATE THEM FOR DOING WELL UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, ETC. ETC. I REALLY CANNOT EMPHASIZE IN WORDS HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.
9) PHYSICAL ILLNESS. I HAVE SEEN STUDENTS GO RIGHT AHEAD AND TAKE AN ACT OR SAT I WHEN THEY WERE VERY SICK. THAT IS RIDICULOUS! POSTPONE YOUR TEST. IT COSTS NOTHING OR VERY LITTLE. JUST DON'T SHOW UP AND CALL THE ACT OR COLLEGE BOARD (SAT) THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY AND TELL THEM YOU WERE SICK. DON'T BE STUPID; I HAVE HAD STUDENTS TAKE A TEST WHEN THEY WERE DESPERATELY ILL AND THEY DID TERRIBLY BAD ONLY LATER TO FINALLY ADMIT THEY TOOK THE TEST WHEN THEY WERE SICK. YOU CAN CANCEL A TEST SCORE AFTER THE TEST BEFORE YOU SEE YOUR SCORES IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE A VALID REASON TO DO SO. I HAVE HAD CASES OVER THE YEARS WHERE IN SUMMER'S HEAT THE A/C WENT OFF AT A SCHOOL AND EVERYONE WAS DRENCHED WITH SWEAT AT THE END OF THE TEST. I REALIZE THAT IS A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT IT HAPPENS. NO ONE CAN DO THEIR BEST UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. CANCEL YOUR TEST OR LEAVE. EVEN IF YOU HAVE A HEADACHE THAT CAN BE ENOUGH TO LOWER YOUR TEST SCORE SIGNIFICANTLY. STUDENTS NEED TO BE AT THEIR VERY BEST WHEN TAKING THESE LONG TESTS.
10) "ADVERSE CONDITIONS" THE NIGHT BEFORE OR THE MORNING BEFORE THE TESTS. MEANING LET'S SAY THE NIGHT BEFORE YOU STAY UP UNTIL 2 A.M. THAT IS ABSURD. YOU SHOULD GET A MINIMUM OF 7 TO 8 HOURS SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE; I MEAN GOOD SLEEP. I EVEN HAD A STUDENT GET DRUNK THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS TEST; HE ADMITTED THIS LATER ON AFTER WE GOT A TERRIBLE SCORE BACK. GO TO BED BY 9 OR 10. EAT BREAKFAST THE MORNING BEFORE. TAKE MEDICATION THAT IS NORMAL FOR YOU TO BE TAKING. IF YOU ARE ON ADD OR ADHD MEDICATION TAKE IT AS PRESCRIBED. I HAVE HAD STUDENTS MISS THEIR MEDS AND DO POORLY. BELIEVE ME, I HAVE SEEN ALMOST IT ALL IN 26 YEARS. OF COURSE, NEVER GO AND AND "PARTY" THE NIGHT BEFORE A TEST!!
11) ADVERSE CONDITIONS AT THE TEST SITE. THIS WAS TOUCHED ON ABOVE. IF ANYTHING BIZARRE HAPPENS AT THE TEST SITE THAT YOU FEEL HAS STOPPED YOU FROM DOING YOUR BEST JOB TELL YOUR PARENTS OR TUTOR. WE WILL HELP DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO CANCEL THE SCORES. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 1990 I HAD AN LD STUDENT TAKE AN SAT I AT A LOCAL SCHOOL IN DALLAS. THE CLEANING CREW WAS VACUUMING THE ROOMS WHILE STUDENTS WERE TAKING THEIR TESTS, AND THE PROCTOR WAS GRADING PAPERS AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE TEST TIMES SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE POSTING. NEEDLESS TO SAY, BOTH AFOREMENTIONED THINGS ARE A REASON TO CANCEL YOUR TEST. USUALLY THE ACT OR SAT I WILL ALLOW YOU TO RETAKE THE TEST FREE IF SUCH THINGS HAPPEN. ANOTHER TIME I HAD A PROCTOR TAKE UP A STUDENT'S CALCULATOR BY MISTAKE SO SHE HAD NO CALCULATOR TO TAKE THE TEST WITH. WE REPORTED THIS TO THE SAT AND GOT THE TEST CANCELLED.
12) EXPECTATIONS. EXPECTATIONS ARE VERY DANGEROUS. DO NOT GO IN EXPECTING A CERTAIN SCORE. JUST FOCUS ON DOING YOUR BEST. THAT IS ALL. EXPECTATIONS, WHETHER APPROPRIATE OR NOT, PRODUCE ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS. FOCUS ON STUDYING THE TEST MATERIALS, LEARNING FROM YOUR MISTAKES, ETC. FOCUS ON WHAT IS AT HAND. IF YOU DO YOUR BEST, YOU WILL EVENTUALLY GET THE SCORE YOU WANT.
13) LACK OF EVER TAKING A FULL LENGTH PRACTICE EXAM. MOST TUTORS DO NOT HAVE STUDENT'S TAKE A FULL LENGTH PRACTICE EXAM. I HAVE RECENTLY DECIDED TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROCESS AT MY OFFICE (IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR ALL STUDENTS BUT CERTAINLY SOME). THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS APPEAR TO BE EXTREMELY PROMISING. PRACTICING A FULL LENGTH EXAM AT ONE SITTING GETS THE STUDENT READY STAMINA WISE. I HAVE MY STUDENTS THEN EXPLAIN TO ME IN WRITING WHY THEY MISSED EACH PROBLEM. THIS MAKES THEM BASICALLY MY TUTOR. AGAIN, INITIAL RESULTS SEEM TO BE VERY PROMISING.
14) EXTENDED TIME TESTING FOR LD STUDENTS. WITHOUT BREAKS, THE SAT I WITH EXTENDED TIME IS EXACTLY 5 HOURS AND 37.5 MINUTES. VERY LONG! WITH BREAKS, IT WOULD BE 6 HOURS AND 10 MINUTES OR SO. THUS, IF YOU GET TO THE TEST CENTER AT 7:30 AND THE TEST BEGINS AT 8:30, YOU WILL GET OUT AROUND POSSIBLY 3:30. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS A HUGE SHOCKER FOR THE LD STUDENT. FOR LD STUDENTS, THIS IS AMOUNTS TO AN ACTUAL DISADVANTAGE. SOME LD STUDENTS GET TO TAKE THE TEST OVER 2 DAYS, BUT THAT IS VERY RARE. THIS IS REALLY GROSS. IT HAS ACTUALLY BACK FIRED ON MANY AN LD STUDENT. THEY HAD TO SWITCH TO THE SHORTER ACT. HOWEVER, THE ACT IS ALMOST AS LONG WITH EXTENDED TIME. ITS ABOUT 5 HOURS AND 10 MINUTES OR SO WITH EXTENDED TIME. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE BREAK TIME, GETTING TO THE TEST AT 7:30 ETC. SO THEY BOTH ARE JUST ABOUT THE SAME LENGTH WITH EXTENDED TIME. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. HOW DO THE TEST MAKERS AVOID THE QUESTION OF STAMINA? EVEN THE MOST RUDIMENTARY LIFE FORMS ON THE PLANET KNOW WHAT IT MEANS WHEN YOU GET TIRED!!! TRY SITTING DOWN AND TAKING HARD TEST MATERIAL FOR 5 HOURS OR MORE. MOST PEOPLE BECOME VERY ANXIOUS, BORED, AND ANTSY TO SAY THE LEAST!
15) THE ACT AND ESPECIALLY THE SAT I ARE NOT EASY EXAMS! LOTS OF PARENTS WILL ALWAYS TELL ME STORIES ABOUT WHEN THEY TOOK THEIR SAT I (INSERT LENGTHY STORY HERE). THIS IS NOT AT ALL, IN ANY WAY, THE SAME EXAM YOU OR I TOOK FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. THEY HAVE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON SO CALLED DEVELOPMENT OF THIS EXAM. THEY ARE DAMN HARD. IT IS LONG, AND THE READING PASSAGES ARE HORRIBLY LONG AND THE TIME CONSTRAINTS THEY PUT THE STUDENT UNDER ARE ABSURD AND THEY EXIST NOWHERE IN THE REAL WORLD EXCEPT ON THE ACT AND OR SAT I. THE SAT I IS THE WORSE OFFENDER HERE. IT IS MUCH HARDER THAN THE ACT FOR MOST STUDENTS. FURTHERMORE, VERY FEW HIGH SCHOOLS PREPARE THEIR STUDENTS IN ANY WAY FOR THESE EXAMS. THEY JUST LEAVE IT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL. SOME SCHOOLS DON'T EVEN BOTH OFFERING VOCABULARY STUDY PROGRAMS.
16) HIGH SCHOOLS DO NOT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THESE TESTS. NO THEY DO NOT. VERY RARE THAT ANY HIGH SCHOOL HAS ANY TYPE OF PROGRAM OR CLASS DEVOTED TO ACT OR SAT I WHICH IS A PART OF THEIR REGULAR CURRICULUM. MOST PARENTS ASSUME THAT HIGH SCHOOL WILL PREPARE YOU ADEQUATELY FOR THE ACT OR SAT I. IT OFTEN DOES NOT. NOT EVEN PRIVATE SCHOOLS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE ACT OR SAT I.
17) SKIPPING BREAKFAST THE DAY OF THE TEST. A LOT OF STUDENTS I HAVE TALKED TO GET INTO A RUSH AND SKIP BREAKFAST. THIS IS A HUGE NO NO. YOU CANNOT DO WELL WITHOUT FOOD FOR YOUR BRAIN. SO, EAT SOMETHING FOR BREAKFAST. DO NOT EAT A LOT OF SUGAR OR CAFFEINE. EAT SOMETHING GOOD LIKE FRUIT, EGGS, ETC. YOU DEFINITELY NEED A SOURCE OF PROTEIN AND CARBOHYDRATES.
18) NOT MEMORIZING THE INFORMATION YOUR TUTOR HAS GIVEN YOU OR NOT DOING HOMEWORK FOR YOUR TUTOR OR NOT FOLLOWING YOUR TUTOR'S ADVICE, ETC. I HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT TIMES WITH SOME STUDENTS. I WILL TELL THEM TILL I AM BLUE IN THE FACE TO MEMORIZE EVERYTHING AND THEY JUST DON'T. I DO ALWAYS REPORT THIS TO PARENTS BUT SOME PARENTS GIVE ME NO FEEDBACK. IT IS HARD TO ENFORCE ANY OF THESE THINGS WITHOUT PARENTAL HELP. HAVING A TUTOR CAN BE EXTRAORDINARILY BENEFICIAL ON THESE TESTS AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW THEIR DIRECTIONS TO THE LETTER! I HAD A VERY NICE YOUNG LADY TELL ME RECENTLY THAT I HAD MADE HER LIFE SO MUCH MORE EASIER BECAUSE BASICALLY FROM TUTORING SHE LEARNED EXACTLY HOW TO HANDLE EACH OF THE PROBLEMS ON THE TESTS (SHE SAID THAT I BASICALLY SPOON FED HER ALL THE SECRETS WHICH WAS TREMENDOUS HELP). THIS YOUNG LADY SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME MEMORIZING MY INSTRUCTIONS AND DOING HER HOMEWORK.
19) NOT ENOUGH PRACTICE. SOME STUDENTS BEGIN PRACTICING OR TUTORING WAY TOO CLOSE TO THE ACTUAL ACT OR SAT TO DO ANY GOOD WHATSOEVER. I WOULD SAY THAT THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM YOU SHOULD BEGIN SOME TYPE OF STUDYING FOR THE ACT OR SAT IS 6-9 MONTHS PRIOR TO YOUR VERY FIRST TEST. THAT WAY, YOU HAVE PLENTY OF BREATHING ROOM. SOME OF THE THINGS ON THIS TEST REQUIRE A LOT OF PRACTICE, SUCH AS THE READING. READING IS AN ACQUIRED SKILL. SOME STUDENTS CAN LEARN IT VERY QUICKLY SOME CANNOT. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT!
20) THESE TESTS ARE LONG AND HARD PERIOD, ESPECIALLY FOR A STUDENT WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES! YOU CAN EXPECT A STUDENT WITH LD ISSUES TO DO WORSE ON THEIR VERY FIRST TEST VS. A STUDENT WITH NO LEARNING DIFFERENCES. IT JUST TAKES AN LD STUDENT LONGER TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE TESTS. DO NOT COMPARE NON LD SIBLINGS TO LD SIBLINGS. THAT COMPARISON IS TOTALLY INVALID AND INAPPROPRIATE.
21) SOME TUTORS ARE NOT GOOD TUTORS! IF YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER DOES NOT IMPROVE AFTER THEIR 2ND OR 3RD ACT/SAT JUST FIND SOMEONE ELSE. PERSONALLY, AT ANYTIME 15%-25% OF MY CLIENTS HAVE COME FROM ANOTHER TUTOR WHO DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB. SOME TUTORS JUST HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE THAN OTHERS AND KNOW MORE. I HAVE OVER 27 YEARS DAILY EXPERIENCE TUTORING THESE EXAMS. IF THE TUTOR OR ORGANIZATION YOU ARE USING IS NOT HAVING THE STUDENT TAKE ACTUAL TIMED PRACTICE SECTIONS THEN YOU NEED TO GET ANOTHER TUTOR. THE ONLY WAY TO TUTOR THESE EXAMS IS TO HAVE STUDENTS TAKE PAST EXAMS AND TEACH THEM EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM THEY MISS. PRACTICE IS A MUST! I KNOW OF TUTORS WHO JUST DISCUSS THE EXAM, ETC. THAT IS NEXT TO WORTHLESS. THAT WOULD BE LIKE TRYING TO PLAY SOCCER BY JUST TALKING ABOUT IT AND NEVER PRACTICING IT! LUDICROUS. LOOK FOR A TUTOR WITH LOTS OF EXPERIENCE WHO CAN ALSO SHOW YOU THEIR PAST SUCCESSES. I HAVE OVER 400 LETTERS ON FILE FROM PAST CLIENTS WHO CAN SHOW I DO A GOOD JOB. PLUS, I HAVE A VERY LONG WAITING LIST USUALLY.
22) TEENAGERS HAVE BAD DAYS! EVERYONE HAS A BAD DAY HERE AND THERE. YOU CAN CERTAINLY HAVE A BAD TEST DAY. THE REASON FOR THIS IS BEING A HUMAN BEING. THIS JUST HAPPENS. THERE ARE DOZENS OF REASONS FOR THIS. JUST TAKE THE TEST AGAIN AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD DAY.
23) DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. YES I HAVE HAD STUDENTS GET DRUNK THE NIGHT BEFORE THE TEST AND DO HORRIBLY. LUCKILY THE CONFESSED THIS TO THEIR PARENTS. THEY DID TAKE THE TESTS AGAIN!
24) UNDIAGNOSED LEARNING DIFFERENCES - SOME STUDENTS IF THEY HAVE UNDIAGNOSED LEARNING DIFFERENCES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FINISH A TEST ON TIME. FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS IS LOCATED IN THIS BLOG (SEE THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WHERE I LIST THE QUESTION TOPICS).
25) EITHER DIAGNOSED OR UNDIAGNOSED LONG STANDING ANXIETY ISSUES - IF A STUDENT HAS A LONG HISTORY OF NOT DOING WELL ON LONG TESTS SUCH AS ERB TESTS OR ACHIEVEMENT TESTS, THEN THEY WILL PROBABLY HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON THE ACT OR SAT. THEY SHOULD BE TESTED FOR LEARNING ISSUES/DIFFERENCES. ANXIETY CAN BE MEDICATED AS CAN MANY OTHER LEARNING DIFFERENCES. I HAVE SEEN MANY STUDENTS WHO GOT MEDICATION FROM THEIR DOCTOR AND SUDDENLY THEIR SCORES REALLY JUMPED UP! BE HONEST WITH YOUR TUTOR OR OTHER PROFESSIONALS ABOUT THESE ISSUES. I HAVE HAD PARENTS NOT TELL ME THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS TYPE OF ISSUE WHEN IF THEY HAD TOLD ME THE TRUTH IT WOULD HAVE MASSIVELY HELPED ME DEAL BETTER WITH THAT PARTICULAR STUDENT. IF I KNOW A STUDENT HAS AN ISSUE OF ANXIETY ON A TESTING SITUATION I CAN USE THE SPECIAL STRATEGIES I HAVE FOR THAT TYPE OF ISSUE AND GIVE THOSE TO THE STUDENT IMMEDIATELY!
26) LIFE ISSUES SURROUNDING THE TEST - THIS IS A STRANGE ONE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL STUDENTS WHO BROKE UP WITH A BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND A WEEK OR SO BEFORE THE ACT OR SAT AND THIS MOST DEFINITELY ADVERSELY AFFECTED THEIR SCORE! THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN HIGH SCHOOL. THEY CANNOT BE DISCOUNTED. DO NOT DISCOUNT YOUR CHILD'S FEELINGS; REMEMBER, TO THE TEENAGER THEIR FEELINGS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!! I RECENTLY HAD A MALE STUDENT WHO BROKE UP WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND THE WEEK OF THE SAT AND HE BOMBED IT! HE WENT TO COUNSELING AND TOOK THE SAT AGAIN JUST 8 WEEKS LATER AND MADE 300 POINTS HIGHER!
27) IMPROPER SELF MEDICATION THE DAY BEFORE OR DAY OF THE TEST- I HAVE SEEN STUDENTS WHO WERE ALREADY TAKING ADD MEDS TAKE MORE OR LESS THE DAY BEFORE OR DAY OF TEST! THAT IS STUPID! TAKE THE MEDICATION EXACTLY AS PRESCRIBED. YOU RISK DOING GREAT DAMAGE TO YOUR HEALTH AND TEST SCORE IF YOU DON'T!!!!!!! NEVER TAKE MORE MEDICATION THAN IS PRESCRIBED. NEVER!! NEVER TAKE ANYONE ELSE'S MEDICATION EITHER!!!!! NEVER!! ONLY TAKE YOURS THE EXACT WAY IT IS PRESCRIBED. IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED MORE MEDICATION THE DAY OF THE TEST BECAUSE THE TEST IS LONGER YOU MUST CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THAT, PERIOD.
.jpg)