My kids are getting close to taking their SATs and College admission. Good schools wont even open your file if your SAT score isn’t enough for their requirement Is College board the best site to prepare.
What other resources are helpful even strategies like.. is it good to skip more answers than to guess etc etc
Thanks in advance
Re: Please share the best way to prepare for the SATs
I did the SAT in 2011 and I got a score of 2200 out of 2400. When is their exam? College Board is where you sign up for the exam so it is the best site to practice on.
I suggest they buy at least 2 books of the latest SAT edition and go over them again and again. Get flashcards to help with the vocabulary and grammar parts. Take every test. I think they have the Official SAT Test reviews on their official website. Practice and practice. I studied from the Princeton Review book.
In the Maths section, don't miss any question even if you think you have the wrong answer. Every answer counts. Because if you miss any questions that hurts your score a lot.
In the Critical Reading question, you will have to complete all of the sentence completions as well as vocabulary.
In the Writing section, I got an 11. You can write about the topic which will be fairly easy and just write. I remember my topic was about Penguins and I included stuff from Disney movies, haha. Every little bit counts.
And, that's about it. Just practice and time yourself while doing the Essay bit.
Re: Please share the best way to prepare for the SATs
Thanks so much ameeraf... for the detailed info and might I add, I am impressed by your scores. Awsome! So where do you plan to go?
I have already registered the older one in Huntington for the summer.. Boy they are EXPENSIVE. My boys have some test anxiety issues too cose they are grt in shcool and have all honors courses but it didn't show in the SAT..
GRT thanks again
Re: Please share the best way to prepare for the SATs
I appeared in the SATs in 2005 & I never got my results....hahahaaaaa
SATs work books are very helpful.
Re: Please share the best way to prepare for the SATs
I took a prep course for grad school admissions tests and also worked an SAT prep instructor in classes and one-on-one tutoring sessions. I'm most familiar with Kaplan & Princeton review as that is part of my experience. My students improved significantly once they went through the course. If your kids have the discipline to go through the books on their own, then don't waste your $ with the course as the same materials are available to study on your own. But if they need the structure, then it's a good option.
It all comes down to practice. I would also advise parents to start the SAT prep early, like a year or so before they take the test. Go through the book at a good pace so that they can learn the techniques. There are no shortcuts, it's basically, you're cramming in things that they should've been learning all along the previous 10 years.
As for the anxiety, help your kids learn some calming techniques such as deep breathing, perhaps some yoga and meditation. Anxiety can really mess up someone's scores. At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter where they go to school. I know people who are making more money and/or are happier than those who went to top schools.
Re: Please share the best way to prepare for the SATs
I appeared in the SATs in 2005 & I never got my results....hahahaaaaa
SATs work books are very helpful.
Howccome?????
Re: Please share the best way to prepare for the SATs
I took a prep course for grad school admissions tests and also worked an SAT prep instructor in classes and one-on-one tutoring sessions. I'm most familiar with Kaplan & Princeton review as that is part of my experience. My students improved significantly once they went through the course. If your kids have the discipline to go through the books on their own, then don't waste your $ with the course as the same materials are available to study on your own. But if they need the structure, then it's a good option.
It all comes down to practice. I would also advise parents to start the SAT prep early, like a year or so before they take the test. Go through the book at a good pace so that they can learn the techniques. There are no shortcuts, it's basically, you're cramming in things that they should've been learning all along the previous 10 years.
As for the anxiety, help your kids learn some calming techniques such as deep breathing, perhaps some yoga and meditation. Anxiety can really mess up someone's scores. At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter where they go to school. I know people who are making more money and/or are happier than those who went to top schools.
Thats awesome!
Yes Huntington also provides one to one tutoring. They unfortunately do not have the discipline to do it on their own, being typical video game addict teens. He is finishing his sophomore year so yes we have time. I like what you said in the end and believe in it too but it is the 'desi' in me that wants to push them want them to excel at least to some extent you know.. Come summer we will the using the vocab words in the house :)
Re: Please share the best way to prepare for the SATs
practice practice practice!! take past exams. that's it. it's so easyyyyy.
Re: Please share the best way to prepare for the SATs
Thanks Phil.. I never took it being desi so.. i am just anxious for the kids to do their best...
Re: Please share the best way to prepare for the SATs
SATs? An American thing I suppose.
Re: Please share the best way to prepare for the SATs
^Yes, they are standardized tests that colleges/universities look at.........nowadays you need a pretty good score to get into a good school.
Everyone gave you really good advice. Have them practice, practice, practice!
It depends on person to person and for your case I think personal tutoring is the better option since they are not motivated to go through the book themselves. But the review books are good and contain pretty much everything they need to know.
Also have them take the test early.........so if they do want to retake it for a better score they can.
Since they take honor courses/AP classes and are doing well, the SAT should be a piece of cake! The most important thing is to help them get over their test anxiety..........because even if you know your stuff the anxiety will mess you up.
Good luck!
Re: Please share the best way to prepare for the SATs
Thats awesome! Yes Huntington also provides one to one tutoring. They unfortunately do not have the discipline to do it on their own, being typical video game addict teens. He is finishing his sophomore year so yes we have time. I like what you said in the end and believe in it too but it is the 'desi' in me that wants to push them want them to excel at least to some extent you know.. Come summer we will the using the vocab words in the house :)
To tell you the truth, what school you go to, your rank, the company you work for, your job title, none of this matters if you're not happy doing what you're doing.
I went to a top school and graduated as my class valedictorian. I ended up working with people with similar backgrounds and others from lower ranked schools, much lower GPAs, not in any exclusive honor societies or social sororities/fraternities, but none of that mattered. There was no difference between the Ivy Leaguers and the state schools, not even the social skills. Everyone came from different backgrounds and at the end of the day, what mattered most was whether we enjoyed what we did.
I too was a perfectionist. Actually, I'm a recovering perfectionist :) Our insatiable desire to be number 1 and perfect is detrimental to our own well being. From my personal experience, I have come to realize that it is not perfection that we should aim for but for excellence. Also, I'm not going to push my kids to get ahead and Achieve, Achieve, Achieve at no expense because the true expense is the waste of a happy life. At the end of the day, all parents want their kids to be happy. Sometimes, they mistakenly believe that happiness comes from achievements, accolades, big salaries, and snazzy titles. if only...
Re: Please share the best way to prepare for the SATs
To tell you the truth, what school you go to, your rank, the company you work for, your job title, none of this matters if you're not happy doing what you're doing.
I went to a top school and graduated as my class valedictorian. I ended up working with people with similar backgrounds and others from lower ranked schools, much lower GPAs, not in any exclusive honor societies or social sororities/fraternities, but none of that mattered. There was no difference between the Ivy Leaguers and the state schools, not even the social skills. Everyone came from different backgrounds and at the end of the day, what mattered most was whether we enjoyed what we did.
I too was a perfectionist. Actually, I'm a recovering perfectionist :) Our insatiable desire to be number 1 and perfect is detrimental to our own well being. From my personal experience, I have come to realize that it is not perfection that we should aim for but for excellence. Also, I'm not going to push my kids to get ahead and Achieve, Achieve, Achieve at no expense because the true expense is the waste of a happy life. At the end of the day, all parents want their kids to be happy. Sometimes, they mistakenly believe that happiness comes from achievements, accolades, big salaries, and snazzy titles. if only...
Hi peony.. So inspired to see tht you were valedictorian.. this is such an achievement.. I love your post .. this idea that in life one should be happy doesn't matter if they succeeded or not... achieve anything or not.. just be happy.. soo I am a living example of this very idea. I graduated with a design major - just because I loved art... I could have done accounting, business or anything but it was too great a force inside me and i followed it... i loved it while i worked because i loved my work... Now comes the question of asking your kids to achieve and excel.. dear let me tell you ... today's media brain wash already makes it a norm to fail a class because it is cool! and don't be a straight A nerd... I saw it in my boys and all I did was told them hey, just because you get A's doesn't make you uncool! repeatedly.. this was like an ongoing thing .. imagine if I never asked them.. with the amount of distractions these days games .. you tube.. they would probably be failing high school..remember they are just kids. They don't 'want' to go to school.. don't 'want' to do their homework.. so what will make them..
I disagree on 1 that I am a perfectionist... but, I do realize my job to raise them with proper whats the word 'tarbiat' upbringing.. I have an example in my own family, where the parents weren't assertive at the right time... and now its too late.. the kids is failing HS let alone going to a college.. breaks my heart.. Question my dear peony beta jee is where do you stop .. For example, I see that my lil one has grt interest in writing. Now, If i get keen on him being a doctor.. thats where it would be wrong.. let me disagree with you one more time on the Number 1 comment.. No I haven't asked them to be #1. All I ask is...Just don't stop before your potential... it is a fine line again.. but encouragement and positive reinforcement is a must....you can not let them be... you just can not..
Again don't feel that all your achievement is equal to nothing.. there is and always will be a difference between community college and Ivy leaguers.. You don't have to push your kids.. you just have to make them realize that you do it once in your life.. so make it the best .. lastly.. if happiness doesn't come from big salaries.. it also doesn't stop it .. as long as you have the right attitude and right mind set.. where there is more charity than material gain..sure happiness does come from money...
now wish my babies luck :)