I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER MY SON'S TEST BOOKLET WITH THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS HE MISSED?

I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER MY SON'S TEST BOOKLET WITH THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS HE MISSED?

THIS CAN BE DONE ON THE ACT AND THE SAT. IT IS USUALLY AVAILABLE ONLY THREE TIMES A YEAR (3 TESTS OUT OF THE YEAR). FOR THE ACT IT IS CALLED THE "TEST INFORMATION RELEASE SERVICE" AND ON THE SAT I IT IS CALLED THE "SAT ANSWER REPORTING SERVICES". YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE SERVICES AT EACH WEBSITE. FOR THE ACT IT IS WWW.ACT.ORG AND FOR THE SAT IT IS WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.COM.

THIS SERVICE DOES COST AROUND $20 BUT IS WORTH EVERY SINGLE PENNY! THEY SEND YOU BACK THE ENTIRE STUDENT'S ACTUAL TEST WITH HIS ANSWER SHEET WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS WHICH QUESTIONS HE MISSED AND WHICH ONES HE OR SHE GOT CORRECT. TRUST ME, YOU SHOULD ORDER THIS!

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE ACT SCIENCE SECTION?

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE ACT SCIENCE SECTION?

I HAVE HEARD THIS A THOUSAND TIMES ESPECIALLY FROM STUDENTS!! THE ACT SCIENCE SECTION HAS BECOME MUCH HARDER SINCE 2005. I THINK IT IS JUST AN EFFORT TO COMPETE WITH THE DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THE SAT, BUT NONETHELESS IT HAS BECOME HARDER. I DEFINITELY AGREE. THE ONE SAVING GRACE THAT THE ACT SCIENCE SECTION HAS IS THAT YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW ANY ACTUAL SCIENCE AT ALL! 99% OF THE ANSWERS ARE EITHER IN THE CHARTS OR THE READING. USUALLY, ABOUT 80% OF THE ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND DIRECTLY OFF THE CHARTS AND 20% ARE TO BE FOUND IN THE READING. SO, BASICALLY THIS IS A PSYCH OUT TEST SECTION. THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO SCARE YOU WITH THE BIZARRE DIAGRAMS, CHARTS, ETC. BUT ALL THE INFORMATION IS THERE TO BE HAD!!

MY DAUGHTER TOOK THE ACT TWICE, AND THE SECOND TIME SHE TOOK IT SHE CAME UP 5 POINTS WITH LITTLE OR NO MORE TUTORING??

MY DAUGHTER TOOK THE ACT TWICE, AND THE SECOND TIME SHE TOOK IT SHE CAME UP 5 POINTS WITH LITTLE OR NO MORE TUTORING??

I JUST GOT ASKED THIS QUESTION YESTERDAY, AND IN FACT I HAVE BEEN ASKED THIS TYPE OF QUESTION LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF TIMES. THE REASON THIS HAPPENS IS THAT SOME ACT/SAT TESTS ARE EASIER THAN OTHERS AND ALSO SOME STUDENTS JUST MIGHT HAVE A BETTER DAY THE SECOND TIME THEY TAKE THE TEST. REMEMBER, WE ARE DEALING WITH HUMAN BEINGS HERE, MAINLY TEENAGERS!! SO, ALTHOUGH WE WOULD LIKE THINGS TO BE AS PREDICTABLE AS POSSIBLE SOMETIMES THEY ARE JUST NOT THAT WAY WHEN DEALING WITH THESE TESTS. HOWEVER, THIS IS CERTAINLY A WONDERFUL THING THAT MANY STUDENTS WHEN THEY TAKE THE TEST AGAIN LIKELY THEIR SCORE WILL IMPROVE.

BRIEFLY, WHAT ARE THE TOP REASONS A STUDENT MAY NOT DO WELL ON THE SAT OR ACT TEST EVEN AFTER TUTORING?

BRIEFLY, WHAT ARE THE TOP REASONS A STUDENT MAY NOT DO WELL ON THE SAT OR ACT TEST EVEN AFTER TUTORING?

THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN GREAT DETAIL IN ONE OF THE POSTS FROM SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. HOWEVER, I GET ASKED THIS OFTEN BY POTENTIAL CLIENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY GONE TO ANOTHER TUTORING SERVICE (AND SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS) AND DID NOT GET ANY IMPROVEMENT WHATSOEVER FOR THEIR CHILD ON THE ACT OR SAT. WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IS LIST SOME OF THE TOP REASONS (BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE) WHY A STUDENT WOULD NOT IMPROVE ON THE ACT OR SAT AFTER TUTORING. HERE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS I KNOW OF (PLEASE SEE MY OTHER POST ON THIS TOPIC AS IT IS HAS MORE INFORMATION AND IS VERY VALUABLE).

• 1) GROUP TUTORING - GROUP TUTORING SERVICES RARELY WORK WELL. THEY DO NOT WORK WELL UNLESS THE STUDENT IS A VERY HIGH ACHIEVER ALREADY. THE INFORMATION ON THE ACT AND SAT IS HIGHLY DIFFICULT IN PARTS, AND THIS REQUIRES ONE ON ONE TUTORING. I USED TO DO GROUP TUTORING BUT IT DID NOT GET THE HIGH RESULTS I LIKE TO GET SO I DISCONTINUED GROUP TUTORING IN THE LATE 1980'S. GROUP TUTORING IS ESPECIALLY NOT GOOD FOR ANY LEARNING DIFFERENCED STUDENT! THIS IS CRITICAL!!! AN LD STUDENT SIMPLY CANNOT USUALLY FUNCTION IN A CLASSROOM OF 10 TO 50+ STUDENTS WHO ARE ALL COMPETING FOR A HIGH SCORE ON THE ACT OR SAT. JUST WON'T WORK. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY CALLS I GET FOR THAT ON A DAILY BASIS (LD STUDENT WHO HAS ALREADY DUMPED THOUSANDS ON A GROUP COURSE THAT DID NOT HELP AT ALL). NO MATTER WHAT THE GROUP COURSE SAYS, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT ANY LD STUDENT WOULD DO BETTER WITH PRIVATE TUTORING. SOME GROUP TUTORING SERVICES ARE VERY GOOD, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT STUDENT TO MATCH WITH A GROUP TUTORING SERVICE.
• 2) ANXIETY - STUDENTS WITH A PAST HISTORY OF NOT DOING WELL ON LONG TESTS SUCH AS ERB'S OR OTHER ACHIEVEMENT TESTS ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME TROUBLE ON THE ACT OR SAT. THIS IS USUALLY DUE TO SOME DIAGNOSED OR UNDIAGNOSED ANXIETY PROBLEM. MEDICATION CAN AND USUALLY DOES HELP. IF YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER HAS A HISTORY OF DIFFICULTIES ON LONG, STANDARDIZED TESTS ALWAYS COMMUNICATE THIS TO THE TUTOR, AND DO NOT EXPECT THIS TO GO AWAY UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WITH MEDICATION, TUTORING, OR COUNSELING. I HAVE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH THESE TYPE OF ISSUES. HOWEVER, SOME STUDENTS I CAN HELP OVER COME THIS WITH STRATEGIES, ETC. AND SOME I CANNOT. THE ONES I CANNOT HELP USUALLY RESPOND WELL TO MEDICATION. ALWAYS GO TO A PROFESSIONAL MD FOR MEDICATION. NEVER SELF MEDICATE! I HAVE ALSO HAD MANY STUDENTS WHO CAME TO ME WHO DID HAVE LEARNING DIFFERENCES AND OR ANXIETY PROBLEMS AND THE PARENT WAS NOT HONEST WITH ME ABOUT THAT FROM THE BEGINNING. IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT, YOU ARE ONLY HURTING YOURSELF BECAUSE IF I KNOW THE PARTICULARS OF A LEARNING ISSUE/ANXIETY ISSUE, ETC. I CAN WORK WITH IT BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH SUCH MATTERS. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO BE HONEST WITH TUTORS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS REGARDING THIS MATTER.
• 3) INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL PRESSURE - IT IS OF IMMENSE IMPORTANCE TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENT UNDERSTANDS THAT THESE TESTS CAN BE TAKEN MORE THAN ONCE. THIS WILL HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PRESSURE ON ANY ONE TEST SITTING. SOMETIMES PRESSURE COMES FROM THE PARENTS OR THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE A SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE STUDENT TO DEAL WITH THESE TESTS. THIS INCLUDES AT HOME! I HAVE HAD SOME VERY UPTIGHT STUDENTS IN THE PAST WHO PUT WAY TOO MANY EXPECTATIONS ON THEMSELVES THAT NOT EVEN THEIR PARENTS EXPECTED. USUALLY, I CAN DETECT THIS AND WORK WITH THE STUDENT SOME ON THESE ISSUES.
• 4) UNDIAGNOSED LEARNING DIFFERENCES MAY HAVE SOME TYPE OF LD ISSUES THAT I DO NOT SAY THAT LIGHTLY. I HAVE THUS FAR BEEN 100% CORRECT ANYTIME I HAVE THOUGHT THIS. A STUDENT WHO HAS TAKEN THE ACT OR SAT MANY TIMES AND JUST CANNOT DO WELL MAY HAVE LEARNING ISSUES THAT ONLY ACCOMMODATIONS FOR LD STUDENTS CAN HELP AMELIORATE. YOU WOULD THEN NEED TO GET YOUR STUDENT TESTED.
• 5) USING INAPPROPRIATE TUTORING RESOURCES - NOT ALL TUTORS ARE EQUAL. SOME ARE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO AND SOME ARE NOT. IT HAS TAKEN ME EVERY BIT OF EXPERIENCE SINCE I OPENED IN 1982 TO LEARN HOW TO TUTOR WELL. IT IS JUST THAT DIFFICULT TO HANDLE THE MYRIAD TYPES OF STUDENTS ONE ENCOUNTERS IN TUTORING. BEFORE YOU HIRE A TUTOR CHECK OUT THEIR REFERENCES (IF THEY HAVE ANY). MAKE SURE YOU ARE HIRING A TUTORING RESOURCE THAT HAS A PROVEN RECORD OF SUCCESS. IF YOU DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE THE TUTORING RESOURCES YOU MAY END UP SPENDING THOUSANDS WITH NO RESULTS.  ALSO SOMETIMES A STUDENT JUST DOESN'T GET ALONG WELL WITH A CURRENT TUTOR.  YOU CAN TRY SWITCHING TUTORS TO SEE IF THAT HELPS.  HOWEVER, IF YOU DO HAVE A CURRENT TUTOR THAT HAS A GOOD TRACK RECORD I WOULD EXAMINE OTHER SUGGESTIONS FIRST BEFORE CHANGING TUTORS. 
• 6) OTHER LIFE CONCERNS GOING ON - BELIEVE IT OR NOT I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE A STUDENT DID NOT DO WELL BECAUSE THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH A RELATIONSHIP, I.E. BOYFRIEND OR GIRLFRIEND TROUBLES! SO BE SURE THAT NOTHING EXTRANEOUS IS GOING ON LIKE THAT BEFORE YOUR CHILD TAKES THE TEST.  I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH BREAKING UP WITH A GIRLFRIEND OR BOYFRIEND COULD INTERFERE WITH THESE TESTS!!!  I HAVE SEENT THIS TOO MANY TIMES.
• 7) PHYSICAL REASONS - I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL CASES WHERE A STUDENT TOOK AN ACT OR SAT RIGHT THE DAY AFTER A MAJOR SPORTS EVENT AND THEY WERE TOO TIRED AND DID NOT LIVE UP TO THEIR POTENTIAL. MAKE SURE WHEN YOU ARE SCHEDULING THESE TESTS THAT NO SIGNIFICANT EVENT IS SCHEDULED THE DAY BEFORE THE SAT OR ACT. THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE TEST SHOULD BE AS NORMAL A DAY AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE EVEN TOLD CERTAIN STUDENTS TO JUST TAKE A HALF DAY OFF SCHOOL AND COME HOME AND REST. YOU NEED TO REST AND EAT WELL THE DAY BEFORE THE TEST (I HAVE AN ENTIRE 8 PAGE HANDOUT I GIVE TO MY STUDENTS THE WEEK BEFORE THEY TAKE THE TEST THAT DETAILS THIS TYPE OF STUFF - I.E. WHAT TO DO THE DAY BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR ACT OR SAT). OBVIOUSLY ONE SHOULD NEVER DRINK ALCOHOL THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACT OR SAT!! (YES I HAVE HAD TWO STUDENTS SINCE 1982 THAT CONFESSED TO DOING JUST THAT AND OF COURSE THEY DID NOT DO WELL). ALSO, NEVER TAKE ONE OF THESE TESTS IF YOU ARE PHYSICALLY ILL. IF YOU HAVE A FEVER OVER 100 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT JUST DON'T TAKE THE TEST. YOU CAN ALWAYS TAKE IT AGAIN. BEING ILL TEST DAY IS NO WAY TO DO WELL.  YOU PROBABLY SHOULD NOT TAKE A TEST DURING A HOLIDAY (SUCH AS SPRING BREAK, CHRISTMAS, ETC.) UNLESS REALLY NECESSARY.  WHEN STUDENTS ARE IN HOLIDAY MODE, TESTING GOES OUT THE WINDOW SOMETIMES.
• 8) PHYSICAL INJURIES - YES EVEN IF YOU HAVE A SMALL PHYSICAL INJURY (ESPECIALLY IF IT IS VERY RECENT) THAT CAUSES PAIN IT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST IDEA TO TAKE THE TEST. IF YOU HAVE BROKEN ANY BONES WITHIN THE LAST 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE TEST IT WOULD NOT BE A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE THAT TEST. OF COURSE, THIS IS A PARENTAL DECISION ALSO BUT I HAVE SEEN MANY CASES WHERE A STUDENT WENT AHEAD AND TOOK THE ACT OR SAT UNDER PHYSICAL DURESS FROM A RECENT INJURY; THEY DID NOT DO AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. THEY TOOK THE TEST AGAIN AFTER SOME TIME HAD PASSED AND THE INJURY HAD HEALED SOMEWHAT AND THEY DID A LOT BETTER.
• 9) PREVIOUS ESTABLISHED HISTORY OF HAVING DIFFICULTIES WITH LENGTHY TESTS - THERE ARE MANY STUDENTS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THAT ARE JUST NOT GOOD AT TAKING THESE LONG TESTS! HOWEVER, THEY CAN BE IMPROVED SOMEWHAT WITH TUTORING. NOTICE I SAID SOMEWHAT. THEY WILL NOT GET AS MUCH IMPROVEMENT VIA TUTORING VS. ANOTHER STUDENT WHO IS GOOD AT SUCH TESTING.- THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO CATEGORY #2 BUT WHAT I MEAN HERE IS THAT A PARTICULAR STUDENT WHO COMES TO TUTORING AND I NOTICE THAT THEY MAY HAVE SEVERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A STUDENT WHO HAS DIAGNOSED LEARNING DIFFERENCES. YOU CAN BE SURE THAT IF I TELL A PARENT THAT I SUSPECT THEIR CHILD