What Is The SAT? A Quick Overview-San Mateo ACT SAT test prep tutoring

You have heard of the SAT and taking this exam will influence your future. It will loom somewhere in your thoughts throughout your high school career. You will devote hours to preparing this is exam. So what exactly is it?

College Board

The SAT is a test administered by the College Board. The College Board is a non-profit organization that develops the tests and administers it at high schools several times a year.

Testing Critical Thinking

The SAT is designed to measure your critical thinking skills, as well as the knowledge you have learned in high school. Reading comprehension skills are tested throughout the exam and are essential for performing well. Most universities require an SAT or ACT score for admissions. These standardized tests create a uniform criteria for comparing students. High schools can vary vastly, the SAT supplements GPA in demonstrating to universities that a student has the necessary skills to succeed in college.

Three Sections

The SAT consists of three sections, reading, writing and math. The reading section is made up of multiple choice questions that follow a passage. This section requires that you demonstrate command of evidence, understanding words in context, and analysis. The passages cover a wide range of topics including science, history and literature.

The writing section requires that you display a proper usage of English grammar, expression of ideas, analysis, understanding of words in context and a command of evidence. The essay portion of the exam is optional, but some institutions require it. You will have 50 minutes to complete an essay that analyzes a passage. You will not be required to formulate your own opinion or write about personal experience. You will be asked to discuss the argument the author is making and the methods they use to express their argument.

The math portion examines grasp of algebra, problem solving and data analysis, and advanced math concepts. The math portion is primarily multiple choice, but includes a few questions that require students to supply their own answer.

Timing

The entire test is 3 hours long and the optional essay is an additional 50 minutes. The reading portion is 65 minutes, the writing portion is 35 minutes and the math portion 80 minutes. The test proctor typically allows two breaks during the exam.

Scoring

The SAT is scored between 400-1600 and the essay is scored from 2 to 8. You have the option of sending your score directly to the institutions where you intend to apply.

Prepare in Advance

Ultimately, the SAT is designed to determine whether or not you have the critical thinking skills and base knowledge to be successful in college. Universities want to know your skill level and make an appropriate choice about admissions. Start preparing for the SAT long before you take it so that you will feel confident and perform well on the exam.

 

San Mateo ACT SAT test prep tutoring

Mr. Test Prep has been a part of the San Mateo SAT Prep community for nearly 20 years. His experience working with students—from math wizzes to numberphobes, from novelists-in-training to kids who hate to read—has shown him that improving test results first requires improving a student’s confidence. To directly address this important facet of SAT prep, his tutoring program exposes students to the conditions of the test, while training them in subject-specific skills and teaching them testing strategies that can make the test much easier.

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Science & Engineering – The Career Paths For The Future – Los Gatos ACT SAT test prep tutoring Services

Science and engineering are ever broadening career paths. New discoveries and technologies are consistently opening up new job opportunities. Some of the world’s most exciting organizations such as Google and Apple need employees that are skilled in science and engineering. If you are unsure about a future career and you enjoy math or science, you may want to look into a career in science or engineering.

Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math) have “some of the best opportunities for job growth in the future.” In 2013 the average wage for STEM careers was nearly 2 times as much as the national average wage. According to the US Department of Commerce STEM careers are expected to grow 17% between 2008 and 2018, while Non-STEM jobs are only projected to grow 9.8%

Variety in Types of Jobs

You may think of STEM careers only as working in a laboratory, conducting research, or working behind a computer screen, but a background in science and engineering opens up a wide variety of jobs. Organizations also need managers, sales people, educators, journalists and more that have a strong knowledge of science and engineering. If you enjoy working with people, managing systems, teaching or sharing knowledge, you may want to look into careers that use your science knowledge, but also harness your passion for working with people.

Rewarding Career Path

Many students who study STEM fields in college receive excellent internships and are often recruited before graduation to ideal jobs. STEM careers offer professional development and opportunities for promotion. During a time when many jobs are becoming more difficult to find and don’t offer opportunities for professional growth, science and engineering careers continue to offer exciting possibilities. Discover how your passions could lead to a rewarding and secure career path.

 

More About Mr. Test Prep’s Los Gatos ACT SAT test prep tutoring Services

Michael Romano has been offering his Los Gatos SAT prep services for almost two decades. He’s seen thousands of kids and helped with just about every kind of standardized testing anxiety a student could have. This has taught him that increased scores come down to confidence. Yes, you have to understand the material, but confidence is—more often than not—the #1 cause of a student’s trouble with testing. Bearing that in mind, he has created an SAT tutoring program that builds confidence by desensitizing his students to the conditions of the test, while providing them with targeted instruction on both the academic content of the exam and the tips and tricks that make it so much easier.

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How to Beat Senioritis – Santa Clara ACT SAT test prep tutoring

 

 

Our last post discussed why you need to beat senioritis, but when you are afflicted with a tough case of senioritis, you may be wondering how you can beat it. These five tips can help you overcome senioritis and stay on track all the way through graduation.

 

 

 

1) Celebrate

 

You’ve worked hard to get where you are. Did you get accepted to college, earn a scholarship, go to a state tournament? There are a lot of big accomplishments that happen your senior year. Take time to celebrate your accomplishments and savor all of the hard work that you put in. When you quickly move on to the next task without enjoying what you have accomplished, it can be easy to loose your motivation.

2) Sleep

You may be exhausted from studying for exams or writing college essays, now is the time to catch up on sleep. Go to bed a few minutes earlier or find time to nap. You will find yourself feeling healthier, physically and mentally and ready to tackle the last few months of school.

3) Plan

Continue to keep track of your tests and project due dates. Know when you need to get to work and when you can let up a little and relax. Studying ahead of time can reduce your stress level and you won’t feel the need to give in to senioritis.

4) Balance

Balance studying with spending time with friends and family and participating in extracurriculars. The minute you let one take over, senioritis can set in. It is important to hang out with friends and still manage to maintain your GPA. This ability to balance your social life and your academic career will be beneficial in every stage of life. Let yourself enjoy the last bits of high school without letting up on your responsibilities.  

5) Manage Your Stress

Senioritis is likely to kick in because you have been pushing yourself to the limit for so long. Feeling stressed for an extended period of time can take its toll. Instead of withdrawing from school, learn healthy ways to relieve your stress. Start exercising, eat healthier foods, talk with an adult you can trust and take breaks to relax. When you can manage your stress well, you won’t feel like you need to give up on school.

Everyone has moments of senioritis, you have worked hard and are entitled to them. However, don’t let senioritis take over. Find strategies to stay motivated so that you can finish high school strong.

 

Santa Clara ACT SAT test prep tutoring

Mr. Test Prep gives his students the deep learning skills they need to perform well on a lifetime worth of tests. At his Santa Clara SAT Prep center, he helps his students overcome years worth of bad mental habits and poor confidence so they’re ready to take on the test and reach their maximum score potential. With a combination of one-on-one and group testing, Mr. Test Prep offers the best of both worlds: experience with the conditions of the test and focused, student-specific instruction.

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Why You Need to Beat Senioritis – Cupertino ACT SAT test prep tutoring

Senioritis is apathy that sets in towards the end of your senior year. After your college applications have been turned in, you may be tempted to give up on school work and other obligations. You’ve worked so hard for so long, its hard to continue caring through your last semester. While you can slow down a bit and relax, don’t let senioritis ruin your last months of school. Here’s why:

1) Scholarships

Money is a powerful motivator. Scholarships become available all of the time, you don’t want a slip in your GPA to make you ineligible because you avoided school work the last few months of high school. Depending on the details, scholarships you’ve already received can also be lost if you don’t maintain the required GPA. The National Association of College Admissions Counseling cites examples of students who lost their merit scholarship because their class ranking fell during the last semester of school. It might be hard to imagine how college debt will impact your life in the future, but any assistance you can get is worth putting forth the effort.

2) Transition

The information you will be learning the last semester of you senior year will be helpful as you move on to college coursework. Make the transition to college easier by continuing to engage in learning and invest in your coursework.

3) Regret

You don’t want to look back on your last year of high school and regret how you spent your time. Don’t forget to spend time with friends and don’t quit the things you really enjoy. The last few months of high school can be the most fun and valuable for personal development.

4) Networks

If you are still exploring possible careers, this is the perfect time to find out more about your interests. Now that your exams are done and your applications are in, you have more time to talk with professionals, volunteer at an interesting organization, or arrange for job shadowing. Not only will you learn more about your interests, but you will develop contacts and create networks that could be beneficial to your future career.

Visualize the Future

It can be challenging to look past your current exhaustion or lack of motivation to see how the decisions you make now will impact your future. However, making wise decisions now, will set you up for a much easier time in college.

Cupertino ACT SAT test prep tutoring

Students generally dread test prep classes. They’re boring, difficult and pointless, or so most kids think. But they’re also necessary… Recognizing this, Mr. Test Prep has created a new approach to SAT/ACT tutoring that gets the job done without all the pain and frustration of traditional programs. Rather than depleting the finite well of motivation your student will need to get you through senior year, come to Mr. Test Prep for the most painless—dare I say fun?—SAT Prep in the Cupertino area. Specializing in the psychology of test taking, as well as the academic practices required to succeed, the lessons learned at our Cupertino SAT Prep center will empower your student both on Test Day and in their future academic endeavors.

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Why Old Methods Of Test Tutoring Did Nothing For Your Child’s Self Confidence-San Jose ACT SAT test prep tutoring

Mr. Test Prep offers a different approach to tutoring. Many of the mainstream tutoring programs are set in a large classroom, teach in a lecture style and require homework. Mr. Test Prep uses practice tests, one on one interactions and doesn’t require homework. Ultimately, Mr. Test Prep’s methods seek to boost confidence so that your child will feel prepared when it is time to take their exam.

Immediate Feedback

Edutopia suggests employing immediate feedback and allowing students to talk through the information they are learning to boost confidence. This method allows students to work through concepts as they encounter them and helps them express frustrations. Mr. Test Prep addresses problem areas in a one on one setting with students as they arise. Each student has an opportunity to work through some of their most difficult subjects in a comfortable setting, giving them confidence that they can conquer even the most challenging material.

Practice Testing

Practice testing helps your child feel comfortable with the exam. When they know exactly what to expect they can feel confident that they can answer the questions in the given amount of time. Mr. Test Prep simulates actual timed exam conditions so that the real exam doesn’t feel intimidating to students.

No Homework

Many mainstream test prep services offer score guarantees contingent on the completion of homework. Many students don’t have time to add more homework into their busy schedules. They begin to lose confidence when they show up to class week after week having failed to do required homework. Rather than feel better about taking the test, these students can begin to feel more overwhelmed and anxious about the exam. Mr. Test Prep works to improve your child’s score without demanding homework. Students can boost their confidence as they watch their scores improve rather than feel like they are falling behind.

Individual Strengths

Mainstream test tutoring is often based on larger classes and a methodology that is applied to all students regardless of their learning styles and capabilities. Mr. Test Prep works with students to develop individual goals and works to develop test taking strategies that play to each individual’s strengths. A student that attends Mr. Test Prep courses will have the confidence they need to perform well on significant exams.

 

San Jose ACT SAT test prep tutoring

By marrying the best of private instruction with the best of group practice, Mr. Test Prep’s San Jose SAT Prep program supplies students with the resources they need to succeed. Having served San Jose’s SAT Prep needs for the last 18 years, Michael Romano is uniquely qualified to instruct students on the content of the test and advise parents about how best to plan the SAT/ACT season. To learn more, book a Free Diagnostic Session today

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Planning For College In The 11th Grade – Palo Alto ACT SAT test prep tutoring

The 11th grade is a pivotal year for preparing to go to college. You will not apply to college your junior

year, but many of the things you do during this year will significantly impact your college application. Here

are some things you need to do during the 11th grade so that you are ready for college.

1) Take the PSAT

This exam is not required for entrance into college. However, you can get a scholarship based on your

score. The Federal Student Aid website points out that you must take this exam during your junior year in

order to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program.

2) Prepare for the SAT or ACT

The sooner you can begin taking these exams, the more opportunities you will have to get a better score

before you need to apply for college. Most students take these exams during the fall or spring of their

junior year. This allows at least one more opportunity to take the exam before you will begin applying to

colleges. You don’t need to rush it though, if you don’t feel prepared, take the test in the spring instead of

the fall.

3) Take Advanced Courses

Colleges like to see that you have challenged yourself. You don’t have to take advanced or AP courses in

every subject, but choose a few that interest you. You can also take SAT subject tests as you complete

courses in related material. This will cut back on the amount of time needed to review and prepare for the

exams.

4) Delve Into Extracurriculars

Instead of adding more extracurriculars, find a way to excel at the clubs, sports or organizations you are

already involved in. Colleges prefer quality over quantity and want to see that you have demonstrated

commitment, leadership, and improvement in your extracurriculars. My College Options, suggests

seeking out a leadership role in an extracurricular during the 11th grade.

5) Start Narrowing Your Options

Do research on colleges and careers that interest you. Seek out alumni to talk to. Find a professional to

discuss a career that interests you. Plan college visits. Start making a list of colleges that interest you and

discover what your best options are. Don’t forget to look into financial options such as scholarships,

grants and student loans.

The more you prepare during your junior year, the less stressful applying to colleges will be during your

senior year. The grades you earn, exam scores you receive, and the outside activities you pursue will

help you achieve entrance into the university of your choice.

 

Palo Alto ACT SAT test prep tutoring

With over 18 years of experience, Mr. Test Prep operates the premier Palo Alto SAT test prep program. By combining one-on-one SAT tutoring with free SAT practice tests, Mr. Test Prep offers the benefits of private SAT tutoring (focused attention, tailored instruction, a human connection) in a group environment, which prepares the student for the SAT test experience. Students who attend his Palo Alto SAT Test Prep program will see their hard work and dedication reflected in significant score increases. Call Mr. Test Prep today and get prepared!

 

 

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Fact – Sports Reduces Stress And Depression – Get Your Teen Active – Menlo Park ACT SAT test prep tutoring Services

Students who participate in sports learn a variety of important skills beyond an athletic ability. They can learn teamwork, working to accomplish a specific goal, how to lose gracefully, and focus and concentration under pressure. In addition to all of these important skills, students get the added benefit of exercise.

Improved Mood

Exercise can immediately improve mood and stave off depression over time. The Anxiety and Depression Association of American cites studies that found people “who got regular vigorous exercise were 25 percent less likely to develop depression or an anxiety disorder over the next five years.” Mayo Clinic points out that exercise releases “feel-good” brain chemicals such as endorphins, which can improve your mood in the moment. Elevating your body temperature through exercise may also have a “calming effect.” This calming effect can relieve stress and help you focus.

Stress Response

The American Psychological Association links exercise with improving the body’s ability to respond to stress. Some studies have found that norepinephrine is released during and after exercise and that this neurotransmitter may inhibit neurotransmitters that cause a physical response to stress.

Any Activity

While sports are a fun way for many teens to get exercise, not every teen enjoys organized athletics. Don’t force organized athletics if it is not something your child enjoys. The added pressure of a team sport may increase stress rather than relieve it. This doesn’t mean they can’t be active. Encourage your teen to take a walk around the neighborhood, or better yet offer to go with them. A bike ride, jog, or game of frisbee with friends are all great ways to get exercise. Whether it is an organized sport or something else, help your teen discover what activity they enjoy and then help them make time for it.

Daily activity reduces stress, improves mood, and relieves anxiety. Exercise can also improve concentration and focus. Making time for daily physical activity can lead to better grades and a more enjoyable school year.  

 

More About Mr. Test Prep’s Menlo Park ACT SAT test prep tutoring Services

 

Since 1997, Mr. Test Prep has run the #1 Menlo Park SAT Prep program. By combining the benefits of private SAT instruction with the strengths of a group testing environment, Mr. Test Prep offers the best of both worlds: one-on-one attention, experienced academic counseling, group testing and a personal bond. By hosting this in a semi-group environment, Mr. Test Prep prepares his students for a real-world test experience. High school students who use his Menlo Park SAT Prep services will be equipped with the tools they need to succeed in the highly competitive world of standardized testing.

from Mr. Test Prep http://mrtestprep.com/menlo-park-act-sat-test-prep-tutoring-services/
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