The SAT is changing this March, and families across New Jersey are getting nervous. The new test is more closely aligned with Common Core standards, but still poses many difficulties for most students. All high school students can choose to take the new SAT, the ACT, or both. Since each test has different emphases, we encourage students to pick a test to conquer. While students with strong reasoning skills may prefer the SAT, students who prefer a more straightforward test usually opt for the ACT. The College Board has more closely aligned the new SAT with the ACT. Similarities between the tests include the absence of difficult vocabulary words and the inclusion of graphs and charts throughout the tests. Additionally, both tests require students to have a basic command of trigonometry. Regardless of which test a child ultimately takes, families can follow these 5 steps to make sure that their children are pre-prepared for either the SAT or ACT even before high school begins.
1. Act early. If your child falls behind even for a few weeks in math or reading, get help immediately. Help does not necessarily mean expensive tutors. Most schools offer after school programs for free or extra help from teachers. Many K 8 math skills reappear on the SAT and ACT (fractions, decimals, proportions, and word problems are especially important).
2. Encourage broad based reading. Both the SAT and ACT require mastery of different types of writing. K-8 students should gain exposure to non-fiction as well as opinion pieces. We recommend the Wall Street Journal Editorials as a good place to start.
3. Say goodbye to the calculator. The New SAT has a no-calculator section for math. Encourage your middle schooler to complete his or her homework without a calculator-even if the teacher allows one.
4. Every problem is a word problem. When reviewing math homework with your child, as your child to think about how even a simple calculation like 9*8 could be formatted into a word problem (Example: Sam buys 9 notebooks for $8 each. How much does he spend in total?)
5. Balance. Children below 9 th grade should not even know what the SAT is! We encourage families to emphasize the value of learning over an pressures on performance. A’s are great, but Bs are okay too. A good foundation can go a long way in minimizing the resources that families will have to invest in private SAT or ACT preparation.
About the Author: Sarah Weltman is the founder of Tutoring Solutions Group, a test prep firm based in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. She can be reached at 201.816.0248 or s@tutoringsolutionsgroup.com