SAT and ACT Prep in Arlington
by James Pipkin
by James Pipkin
Many parents come to a crossroads regarding which admissions test would be best for their child. Many stick with the test that is more prevalent among colleges in their area. For example, the ACT is more prevalent in Oklahoma and Arkansas, whereas the SAT is more popular in Texas. Surprisingly, this is not because colleges in these places exclusively require one test or the other. In fact, I do not know of a single school in any of these three states that exclusively requires either test. Therefore, students should choose according to what is best for them.
The best approach for nearly every student is to take both tests. A student may elect not to send the scores to schools from any test until he or she is ready. For example, say a student plans to take both tests during the spring of their junior year but is not sure how they will do. They can decide not to send the scores to any colleges until they find out how they did. There is an additional fee but it might be worth it just to relieve some of the pressure. If they like their, scores they can go ahead and have them sent to the colleges to which they are applying or they can decide to take either test again and then send the scores.
Another reason to take both is that some students may do better on one test than the other. This may depend on a student having skills that are better suited to one test more than the other. For example, students who know all the key math formulas have an edge on the ACT because these useful formulas are not included in the test instructions; students must know them. In contrast, these formulas are present as part of the SAT instructions so students do not have to know or memorize them.
Sometimes a student may feel more comfortable with the nature and design of one test over the other. I had a student last year who did well on the ACT math section but poorly on the SAT math section. This difference appeared consistently on both real and practice tests. She was above the 60th percentile on the ACT math section and around the 40th percentile on the SAT math section. The only explanation I could come up with was that the layout of the ACT fit her better. Taking both tests will give the student feedback that he or she can use to decide if another test is a good idea and which test on which to focus their preparation. If the student does considerably better on one test, they should probably study for and take that test again.
Excerpt from The Parent’s Guide to the SAT and ACT by James Pipkin, 2007
by James Pipkin
For as long as I can remember, the highest scorers on verbal sections of the SAT and ACT have been the kids who frequently read books on their own. Regular reading increases your vocabulary, knowledge, critical thinking, and ability to see things from different points of view. Even occasional reading helps and at least is a positive start, especially in the current day where kids can be very busy with scheduled activities or distracted by a multitude of things online.
It’s very common for parents to tell me that they can’t get their kids to read on their own, but I find it helps to look more closely at their interests and try to find books that appeal more to them personally. For example, if a kid plays sports, they can usually find biographies of athletes who excel at their particular sport. Or if they play an instrument and love music, they can look for biographies or books that tie into that interest. Or maybe they just need to find the type of book that grabs their attention such as mystery/thriller, westerns, or science fiction. It may be a challenge and take some effort, but if they can just find that first book that they really enjoy, then it’ll be easier to keep up the reading habit.
Here is a link to some Summer reading lists provided by a charter school(arranged by grade): Summer Reading Lists. It has lists for every grade in junior high and high school. Please check this out and feel free to reach out to share feedback or let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Here are some from the list that I also recommend:
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
The Time Machine, H.G. Wells
Twelve Mighty Orphans, Jim Dent
by James Pipkin
by James Pipkin
The test optional policy used currently by some colleges is a great opportunity for students to prove that they have the skills essential for college. The SAT and ACT measure math, grammar, and reading comprehension skills which are critical for success in college. The SAT and ACT tests are the most objective part of the college application, because while the quality and variety of high schools vary, everyone takes the same test on a given day. These tests are an excellent way for students to leave no doubt about their readiness for college level classes.
Who Should Submit their Scores?
Students who are near or above the median score for acceptance at a given college would probably benefit by submitting their scores. In fact, students who fall between the 25th and 75th percentiles for a particular college should consider submitting. This way, if the student is competing with another student with comparable grades and resume who chose not to submit their score, then submitting a decent score could be the deciding factor. By including the score, then you provide the college with clear evidence of what you’re capable of, instead of leaving them to wonder. Also, submitting a qualifying test score may exempt the student from a placement test such as the TSI or comparable test. In addition, a strong SAT or ACT score will qualify you for some of the best scholarships available, and the requirements vary a lot for different colleges. To get help deciding whether to submit or not, feel free to contact us at 817-451-6200, check with your school counselor or college advisor, or contact the college directly.
Should You Prepare for the SAT or ACT?
A good score on the SAT or ACT still has the same advantages it had pre-Covid, prior to the test-optional policy. It can still improve your chances of admission at competitive colleges and improve your scholarship options. It is still a way for a capable late-bloomer to show what he or she knows. In my experience, parents usually know what their kids are capable of and have a good sense of what barriers they need to overcome. So, if you have a strong feeling that your kid can score higher on these tests, it might be worth putting some work into, either in the form of self-study or in the form of a more structured course like we offer. Of course, motivation is essential. But, I’ve found that motivated kids can usually increase their SAT score by 200-300 points or more and their ACT score by 4-6 points or more if they put the time and effort into it.
"My son’s first PSAT scores were good but he thought he could do much better. I hired James mainly to help improve my son’s reading score. We were hoping to get it into the 700s. He concentrated on vocabulary and grammar. He scored a 217 on the PSAT and an 800 reading/ 760 math on the SAT. Thanks James! The tuition at Knowledge Guides is so much cheaper than the college tuition waivers we hope to get from merit scholarships."
Knowledge Guides
3901 W Green Oaks Blvd, Ste. A
Arlington, TX 76016-2795
817-451-6200
*SAT, PSAT, and NMSQT are registered trademarks of the College Board. All are unaffiliated with Knowledge Guides. ACT is the registered trademark of ACT, Inc. It is not affiliated with Knowledge Guides.