Education Resource

Sammy asked:


My current SAT score is in the mid 1000’s; what will it take to increase my score by 500 points? Is it possible or not? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Cody

the ruler asked:


i am currrently in 10th grade and have all HR classes. i really want to go in combine medicne course. for what should i do? what should be a good sat score for that?

Norman

Kim D. Wilson asked:


The SAT can be a daunting and nerve-racking test for high school students all over California. After all, it’s a huge part of the journey on the way to applying to colleges! That’s why we’ve put together a list of ways you can significantly improve your score. Just follow these tips and you’re on your way! (Remember: You will have 3 hours and 45 minutes to take the SAT. Students with learning disabilities will receive time and a half.)

The Writing Section:

1. The highest score that you can receive on the SAT is 2400 (800 for the writing, critical reading, and math sections). The essay counts for 30% of your writing score. You will have 25 minutes to write a well-developed essay, for which you will receive a score of 1-6.

2. Decide if you agree or disagree with the essay prompt and write your thesis. Then give yourself no more than 5 minutes to quickly outline your essay response! Your essay should consist of 4-5 paragraphs: an introduction, one paragraph each detailing two or three different examples that support your thesis, and a conclusion. Try to use one example from literature / history / current events and your own personal experience.

3. After briefly outlining your essay, give yourself about 5 minutes to write each of the two or three supporting paragraphs and another 4 minutes to write your conclusion. Use the remaining time to proofread. This may seem overwhelming now, but the more you practice taking the essay portion of the SAT while timing yourself, the easier it will become!

4. Review the types of multiple-choice questions on the writing section: approximately 18 identifying sentence errors, 25 improving sentences, and 6 improving paragraph questions. Two sections will take 25 minutes each and 1 section will take 10 minutes. There is generally an unknown experimental section (an additional math, writing, or critical reading section) on the SAT that will not count toward your score.

5. Common errors tested are: subject-verb agreement, faulty parallelism, incorrect tenses, inappropriately used adjectives and adverbs, wordiness, irregular verbs, and idioms (common phrases/expressions). Examples of idioms are “better late than never” or “forget about it.” An answer choice may say “better late than forever” or “forget over it,” and you must determine that this answer is incorrect.

6. Since you will receive 1 point for correct answers and lose ¼ of a point for each wrong answer, don’t randomly guess! Eliminate incorrect answer choices to help you determine the best answer choice.

The Math Section:

7. There are approximately 44 multiple-choice and ten grid-in questions that test your knowledge up to Algebra II. One section is 20 minutes, and two are 25 minutes each. Topics tested in the math sections are: numbers, operations, algebra, functions, geometry, measurement, data analysis, statistics, and probability.

8. Always answer grid-in questions. Although you will lose ¼ of a point for each incorrect multiple-choice question, you will not lose any points for incorrect grid-in answers.

9. Make diagrams when tackling word problems; they’re especially useful for answering geometry, probability, and some algebra questions.

10. Become comfortable using your calculator before the test day. Also, the reference information at the beginning of each math section, including formulas, will help you answer many questions.

11. Underline exactly what the question is asking. For example, the question may ask you to find 2x - 4. Although the value for x may be listed in the answer choices, the question specifically asks you to find 2x - 4.

12. Try plugging in numbers for variables. For example, if the question asks for the solution of |b – 1| < 4 such that b is an integer, you can plug in different values for b.

The Critical Reading Section:

13. The critical reading section contains 2 sections that are 25 minutes long and 1 that is 20 minutes long (about 19 sentence completion questions and about 48 passage-based questions). Sentence completion questions are listed in order of difficulty: the first few questions are easier than the next few, which are easier than the last.

14. If you are unsure of the meaning of a word in the sentence completion section, you can usually tell if the word has a negative or positive connotation. Therefore, read the sentence first and determine if the blank(s) should contain words that have either positive or negative connotations. Clue words that indicate that the blanks will have opposite connotations are “despite,” “but,” “yet,” “rather,” “although,” and “however.” Clue words that indicate that they have similar connotations are “and,” “since,” “therefore,” and “because.”

15. If you know that the blanks must contain words that are similar in connotation, then immediately eliminate an answer choice like “cynical and joyful.” You can also plug in words that you would choose yourself to complete the sentence, and then pick an answer choice that is similar. Reread the sentence with your answer choice(s).

16. For the passage-based reading, read the italics before the passage, underline important key words in each line as you read, and then read the first and last line of each paragraph to get the main idea of the passage.

17. Answer line reference questions before more general questions on the passage’s tone and main idea. This way by the time you answer the more general questions, you will understand the focus of the passage. Remember: Any answer you choose must be directly supported in the passage, for example, with a quote from the passage.

Before that big day, determine what areas of the test are the most difficult for you, and improve the skills needed to do well on those sections. Practice test-taking strategies for the SAT, but also improve your ability to quickly write essays, identify grammar rules, determine appropriate vocabulary words, analyze a passage, and answer complex Algebra and Geometry questions. Apply these principles and you can dramatically improve your SAT score!



Connie

Ethan Parker asked:


What You Need to Know

The difference between children’s being accepted or rejected into their favorite universities is becoming increasingly thin. Often, all it takes is a few points’ higher grade average, or another 80 points on the SAT, to make your children’s chosen future a reality.

Of course, the opposite is true as well, and those 80 or so points that he or she doesn’t get can be their worst nightmare, and change their future altogether.

No parent wants to see his or her child’s heart crushed like that. But thankfully, there’s something you can do about it.

The way I’ve found is best to do that is with SAT and ACT private tutoring. Not only can you select the type of tutor you want (even give a specific name, if you know one), but you can be there in the home to encourage your child and ensure he or she does the preparation necessary for success. It can even be a bonding expenience.

My Recommendation

The tutoring service I recommend is one that’s been around for decades. You may have heard of it: Kaplan Tutoring.

Having been a tutor myself, I can say that Kaplan’s tutoring service really is the best way to go. The amount of professional, back-office support and assistance you get, on top of the reasonable prices and excellent tutors, makes it a winner.

Sure, classes may be cheaper, but they force your child to learn at a higher or lower level of learning than fits him or her. She’ll either surrounded by people who learn much faster than you…or much slower than her. And that’s just frustrating either way.

Top top it off, rushing to classes, when one’s got a million other things to do his or her junior and senior years, is NOT fun.

But studies show that students who get private tutoring, no surprise, see a much bigger jump in their SAT scores than classroom-taught students. It’s no surprise, really. Compare personalized service, scheduled around your needs and your busy timetable, to rushing 3 nights a week to classes you don’t have time for, or reading out of a boring SAT book you don’t have the patience for.

Really, it’s no comparison.

Kaplan tutoring sessions last only 1.5 or 2 hours, rather than the long and boring 3 hours of a typical SAT class. And as a parent, you can chart your child’s progress with regular updates from your tutor, including regular diagnostic reports from the Kaplan Tutoring office. Not only that, buy you have a choice in selecting your tutoring, unlike with the classes. And if you’re not happy with the tutor you get, you can always request a new one, for no extra charge.

It’s that flexibility and attention to detail that makes Kaplan Tutoring a winner. I’ve seen firsthand the difference it’s made in childrens’ lives, and sometimes it can be downright emotional receiving a phone call from a student saying he got the score he needed to get into that dream university!

What To Do Next

Hey, junior and senior years are stressful enough for the average American high school student. Make it a little easier, and their dreams that much more tenable, by giving your child a personalized, flexible service that gives them a tutor who knows how to get the best out of him or her.

Take it from me, having been an SAT tutor myself: Kaplan private tutoring can work wonders. Your son, or daughter, will thank you.



Brittany

Mimi Doe And Dr. Michele Hernandez asked:


Admission to top colleges and universities has never been more difficult.

Harvard broke all records this year, accepting just 7.1 percent of applicants, while Yale accepted 8.3 percent, Columbia 10 percent, and Princeton 9.3 percent. Brown and Dartmouth accepted 13 percent and 13.2 percent, respectively. Williams, Bowdoin, Middlebury, and Amherst Colleges accepted 16.3 percent, 18.4 percent, 18.3 percent, and 14.2 respectively. Swarthmore College granted admission to a record-low 15 percent, while the University of Pennsylvania admitted 16.4 percent. Boston College admitted a record-low 26 percent of applicants, and Duke reported record selectivity admitting 19 percent. The overall Ivy acceptance rate this past year was 12% — again, an all time low.

With Harvard and Princeton dropping early decision/action and Harvard, Dartmouth, Swarthmore and Tufts announcing expansions of financial aid in recent months, the pool of applicants for the Ivy League and other top schools is overwhelmed with qualified students and as a consequence, this year was the lowest ever in terms of acceptances. We don’t see this trend changing any time soon with a population bubble increasing the number of teenagers and more and more highly credentialed students applying. This year there are 3.23 million graduating U.S. high school seniors, and 60-65% of them now apply to colleges. The swelling population of 18-year-olds will peak in 2009, when the largest group of high school seniors in the nation’s history, 3.2 million, are to graduate.

We receive hundreds of emails a week from devastated high school seniors who did not receive the news they had hoped for in the college admissions journey this year. Many of them had high scores, great extras, and amazing grades. We also hear from younger high school students who are desperately seeking the secrets that will make them stand out amid the scores of other super qualified applicants. The results for the students we’ve worked with in our Application Boot Camp workshops have been astounding. But, we can’t work with everyone personally, so we wanted to share our knowledge about what it takes to stand out and achieve success in the grueling Ivy League admissions process.

We believe that knowledge is power! There is less stress when we know what it is we have to do…SO…to that end…Here’s what it takes to get into America’s top colleges:

1. Grades. This is one of the first areas a college admissions board will consider. Even if a student’s SAT scores are sky-high, high school grades matter the most. A student who starts off strong but lets his grades lag in the final year, or vice versa, will have a hard time in the admissions process. Colleges want to see grades trend up in tough classes and students in the top 10% of their class. At Dartmouth this year, 93.4 percent of accepted students ranked in the top 10 percent of their secondary school’s graduating class. Our students who have gotten into top colleges typically are A students who have taken 5-6 Advanced Placement tests.

2. Test scores. The SAT score is a big part of the admission’s picture because colleges report their freshman class averages to U.S. News and World Report. The biggest mistakes we see students make is waiting until their senior year to take their first SAT test. Remember, colleges will see all of your SAT scores and will count the highest score in each section. So, begin early and take your first SAT in December or January of your junior year. That gives you time to retake it if you need to do so, with SAT preparation in-between. We don’t much like group SAT classes, but rather encourage students to work with someone who can teach you how to be a savvier test taker or to learn that skill yourself. We supply resources on our website including some amazing tutors.

3. Extracurricular activities. Don’t trust the lists of suggested extras that some college preparation sites offer. An admissions board will be much more impressed if you follow your passions and take them above and beyond. Show leadership and a theme. Use your summers to deepen that niche or themed interest.

4. Awards. Students who are talented, driven and dedicated will be seen favorably by college admissions boards. State, district or national awards in an area of expertise will set a student far apart from their competition.

5. Hooks. Sure, if you happen to be a legacy, recruited athlete, development case, famous person or have any other major ties to a particular college, leverage that hook!

While the Harvard acceptance rate and other Ivy League admissions rates are surprisingly low, it is by no means impossible to win a spot at one of these schools. For the exceptional student who works hard and prepares for college applications well in advance, an Ivy League education is still within reach.



Dawn

Hugh Goldsmith asked:


SAT or the Scholastic Aptitude Test is specifically designed to assess the students aspiring to get admission into colleges across United States for higher studies. The test is held every year in the month of October. If you are looking for admission to a good college or university, a good SAT score can greatly put you ahead of many others increasing your chances for admission. For those of you based in New York, you can seek the services of SAT tutors in New York, who can help you improve your score.

The intellect level of every student varies and as such, some of the students may find SAT relatively easier as compared to others. Taking the help of a Sat Tutor New York is beneficial for both categories of students. Those, who are find the test relatively easy, can enhance their score and compete to get admission in the best of the colleges, while those who are on the edge, may get over their difficulties and get a reasonable score. These tutors have the expertise to help you approach the test so as to maximize your score, focusing on the weak areas of specific students. Apart from preparing you to face the examination, they also mentally prepare students so that they do not lose their calm even while attempting to solve the tougher questions that may come in the test. Once you enroll yourself, be assured that you will be fetching a good score to get into your desired discipline in a reputed college or university.

SAT tutors based in New York are experienced enough in the field to tell you the areas that require more focus while preparation. The test is designed in such a way that it evaluates the capability of a student in various fields. The test contains five different sections and most of the students, even good ones are not proficient to equal degree in all these sections. Your SAT Tutor will help you achieve a balance by identifying the areas in which you require a higher level of preparation than others. They also organize mock tests by exposing the students to a set of questions similar to what they can expect to get in the test, thereby preparing them to appear in the test with full confidence. The training for the vocabulary and language section will not only help you for the test, but will prove to be an asset to you for various situations you may face later on.

There are a number of SAT tutors in New York who can be approached to serve your purpose. You need to do a thorough research before selecting the one who is right for you. Appearing in the SAT examination is a critical stage in a student’s life and a wrong move can put you behind others for the rest of your life. Every SAT Tutor in New York would claim its excellence in the field but you need to make your own assessment. It would be good if you thoroughly go through their preparation material for the test and the record of the past performance of their students. You also need to look whether they have a student-specific teaching approach or not.



Jon

Hugh Goldsmith asked:


Realising the exemplary ambitions in life and later putting your heart and soul in achieving them is perhaps, what each one of us lives for. But at the same time, it’s not an easy task to undertake. With the stupendous rise in cut-throat competitions and hunger to amass name, fame and affluence, it gets a bit difficult to find the wanted competitive edge. Due to this very reason, students, right from the very initial times are evolved in studying vigorously. Thus, one of the most crucial roles in terms of academics is played by the tutor. By the way, who does not know that the winning steak, the single subject which makes the entire difference is maths! It has the maximum scope which can make or break your success story. Thus, the role played by a Math Tutor New York is very crucial.

To start with, the Math Tutor New York is well acquainted with the syllabus and the pattern of questions which have been asked, for the past several years. He knows, which fundamentals and concepts need to be understood in great detail while which of them can just be crammed. Thus, the tutor motivates the student to practise more sums and attempt more questions, that too with confidence rather than being afraid from them. Thus, when a good and experienced Math Tutor New York is with you, the numbers don’t tends to create agonising phobias for you.

There are several rules and interesting techniques which are important for scoring more marks in maths. No mathematics problem will jeopardise your report cards if you are able to grasp these small techniques. But, these are quite hard to understand at the first go. This makes the normal students run away from this subject. Thus, it’s only an efficient Math Tutor New York who will be able to inculcate the feeling of interest and the curiosity to do more in the students. At the same time, the tutor is also well aware of your future goals in life and thus will teach you in accordance with those needs.

But at the same time, the selection of the right math tutor is also a herculean task. As maths is a difficult subject, there have been several tutors, who claim proficient knowledge in the subject. At times, their self promotion can also be fake and deluding. So, how to select the right tutor? To start with, the tutor should have years of expertise in this domain. At times, the professionals must be genius in themselves but fail to communicate with the students.

Secondly, you should also enquire regarding the actual efficiency of the teacher from various students, who have been taught by him. Choose only that tutor who fits under your financial constraints and thus, you can easily pay his fees.  Try taking a demonstration class of the tutor, if possible so that you can judge him before making any concrete decision. Ultimately, know your level and then make the decision. After all, it’s your life, your choice!



Jerome

Devin Yeo asked:


If you’re an international college applicant, you are probably unfamiliar with the format of the SAT exam.

The SAT is normally required for all applicants at most schools. Internationals are required to write the SAT as well as Americans. However, colleges do understand that international students may not be familiar with the SAT (with the exception of internationals studying in American schools abroad) and thus may not do as well as their American counterparts. This is especially true for applicants whose native language is not English.

Do colleges give some leniency to international students with regard to the SAT? The answer depends on which college is in question. Some colleges may have a policy whereby if an international applicant scores 2000 or higher, then SATs are out of the way. Many others have no clear policies though. At highly selective institutions, the difference in weightage for Americans and internationals may be small.

In my opinion, even as an international, you should strive to do as well as you can on the SAT. There’re many books that are dedicated to SAT preparation on the market; just browse the shelves of any well-stocked bookstore. College Board itself has produced several excellent preparation materials that you should use as your preparation materials. If you can afford it, you can even join one of the many prep courses available.

Why is it important? First of all, international students with high critical reading scores have considerable advantages (hook) over other international applicants. As there will be many internationals who willl probably not have scores in the high 700s in the critical reading section, scoring well earns you some advantage over the others. It shows your willingness to learn something totally new to you.

Besides, some universities such as Northwestern and Virginia will waive the TOEFL requirement if your criticial reading score is above a certain threshold, as an acknowledgment of your English proficiency. Therefore, doing well on the SAT can only work in your favor.



Marvin