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Archive for the ‘Sat-and-ACT’ Category

Am I screwed by my SAT Scores?

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Dear Babs,

I’m getting my SAT scores back this Thursday, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t do as well as I had hoped. I heard that if you want to get into a top-school, you need to get above a 2100. Is this true? Should I forget about going to a good college?

-Bad Tester

—

Dear B.T.,

I wouldn’t shelve your college plans just out. Lately, there has been a lot of talk about colleges de-empahasizing the importance of sat scores in their admissions decisions. A growing number of top liberal-arts schools are joining the “SAT Optional” movement, including Bard College, Bennington College, Bates College, Drew University, and Connecticut College (to name a few). Sarah Lawrence, a private liberal arts college in New York, does not even consider SAT or ACT scores in their admissions decision. They feel that the SATs do not provide a good measure of future success at their college. In addition to a long list of some of the nations best liberal arts colleges, the president of the University of California spoke against the use of these standardized tests.

Many more colleges are simply trying to downgrade the weight of the SAT’s in admissions decisions. If an otherwise excellent applicant has poor SAT scores, it won’t automatically rule him/her out. Other schools do still emphasize SAT scores-often large universities need objective criteria to quickly filter through massive piles of applicants. Also, some schools pay attention to the SAT’s because it is a criteria that affects their rankings. Basically, low-SAT scores may or may not hurt you. If your grades are good, but you find that your SAT scores leave something to be desired, take heart. Look into some “SAT Optional” colleges to see if one might be a good fit for you, and try and make your application stand out in other areas. After all, you are more than just a test score.

Good Luck!

-Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs, Sat-and-ACT
06.23.09
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What’s the deal with the SAT Subject Tests?

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Dear Babs,

I’ve heard about the SATs, but what about the SAT Subject Tests? Do I need to take them or are they optional like the PSATs? Which ones should I take? Are there any tricks to know?

-Overwhelmed

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Dear Overwhelmed,sat scores

The SAT subject tests were started as a supplement to the regular-old SATs. The SATs are supposed to be a measure of your aptitude for learning-not what you already know. In order to better assess the actual knowledge of students applying to college, the College Board, the non-profit organization that administers the SATs, created the SAT Subject Tests. Quite simply, SAT Subject Tests tell colleges how well you know a particular subject.

Ninety-percent of the time, SAT Subject Tests are not optional-most competitive colleges will require at least two. Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to take the SAT Subject Test in writing and in math. Some schools require you to take three, in which case the third test is a “wild card”-take whichever test is in your best subject. Depending on what kind of program you are applying for, you may not have to take writing or math. For instance, most engineering schools will ask for level 2 math, and two science subject tests.

If you’re not sure where you will apply, don’t worry-you have until the fall of senior year to take the SAT Subject Tests. You’ll help yourself out by taking the subject test soon after you’ve completed studying the subject. For instance, if you take bio junior year, take the SAT Subject Test for bio in June after junior year. The Math SAT Subject Test is divided into two parts, level one covers algebra and geometry, while level two involves trig and some pre-calc. It’s recommended that you hold off on taking the math test until the fall of senior year, so that you can learn as much math as possible beforehand.

Unfortunately, there aren’t as many “tricks” to the SAT Subjects Tests as the SATs. To a certain extent, you just need to know the material. Studying what material will be on the test, however, will greatly improve your score. Try and keep the material fresh in your mind, and brush up on you’re good multiple-choice test taking skills (eliminate, eliminate, eliminate!) and you will do fine.

Good Luck!

-Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Dear Babs, Sat-and-ACT
06.09.09
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Should I try for higher SAT scores?

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009


Dear Babs,sat scores

I just took the SAT for the first time and I did okay-I got a 2000. I did really well in Reading and Writing, but I only got a 550 in Math. I want to go to a good school, maybe not an Ivy, but somewhere with a good reputation, like Tufts University. Should I retake it to improve my SAT scores?

-Trying for the Perfect Score

—

Dear Trying,

It might not be a bad idea.  Think hard about why you did not perform as well as you would have liked. Is Math difficult for you? Was it your last section and you were tired? Were you having an “off” day? If you can really focus why you did poorly on the math and learn study tips to improve your sat scores, you might be able to bring your test up by 100 points or so. However, know that with more effort going into the Math, your high scores in Reading and Writing might slip. The CollegeBoard, the organization that administers the SATs, now allows you to choose which scores you send by test date with “Score Choice” However, you can’t select which section you want to report: if you improve by 100 on one area, and “slide” in another area by “100″ your score will stay the same.

Check with your top-choice colleges about their own score reporting policy. Many schools (including Tufts) only look at your highest score from each section, even if they come from multiple tests. In that case, it might be a good idea to actually have the CollegeBoard send all of your scores (not just the best overall) to your colleges. That way you can pick and choose the best scores from each section of the SATs.

In general, know that it is very rare to make a big (over 200 point) improvement on your SATs the 2nd time around. Each time you retake the test, your chances of improving actually diminish. My rule of thumb is if you’re not happy with your score the 1st time around, buckle down to study and try again. If you’re not happy the 2nd time around, maybe just buck up and accept your SAT scores for what they are.

Good Luck!

-Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Dear Babs, Sat-and-ACT
05.19.09
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Last-minute study-tips to boost SAT scores?

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009


Dear Babs, 

I’m taking the SAT’s in 2 weeks and I haven’t studied yet! What should I do? I’m worried that it will hurt my college admissions chances if I don’t do well. Any advice for cramming for the SAT’s?

-Scared SAT-less

—

Dear Scared,

I see that you have fallen victim to the dreaded “Procrastination-itis.” Luckily, there is a cure. Get off your butt! With 2 weeks a way, you don’t have any time to spend worrying about the SAT’s; you need to be studying for the SAT’s.

Did that help? No? Well, the first thing you will want to do (if you haven’t already) is buy yourself a prep-book. The good thing about an SAT prep book is that it gives you all the hints and tricks. The SAT’s are a standardized test, and so there are some standard tricks you can use to shave minutes off your test and add points to your SAT scores. Before you even begin your SAT-research, take a timed practice test cold. Why? It will let you know what level you are at now-and how much work needs to be done in order to achieve your SAT-goals.

Then start going through the lessons. Pay attention to SAT tips and tricks for math problems, the fastest way to eliminate false-answers, and advice on whether to skip the question or make an educated guess.  The idea is to work smarter, not harder. You can’t teach yourself three years of math in 2 weeks, but you can memorize basic formulas and geometric problems, so that when you come across them you’ll know exactly what you’re dealing with. Likewise, don’t try and learn every word in the dictionary, just learn 20 often seen hard SAT words, and maybe bone up on your grammar rules. Flashcards are dorky but proven way to memorize lots of information. Some stores sell pre-maid SAT flashcards, or you might want to make your own from the SAT prep-book to help them sink in even more.

Finally, as much as you can in the next two weeks, practice, practice, practice taking the test TIMED. Recreate the settings that you will find when it’s time for the real deal: clear your desk, turn off your phone, and set a timer. Each time you take a practice test, go over the questions you got wrong. Was it because you didn’t read the instructions? Guessed when you should have skipped? Always stumble on the reading comprehension? Focus most of your efforts on those soft-spots, so that next time you take the practice test you can measure your improvement.

If you can buckle down and really practice, your cram sessions should pay off with improved SAT scores.

Good Luck!

Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs, Sat-and-ACT
03.31.09
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