Parents of high school students often feel overwhelmed and bewildered by all the information about the standardized exams students must take in preparation for college. At Academics Plus Tutoring Center, we are often asked questions such as: When should my child take the SAT? What does the SAT measure? What are the SAT subject tests? How many SAT subject tests must my child take? Which SAT subject tests should my child take?
We figured the questions our students ask are most likely the same questions our readers have, so over the next few weeks we will post the most frequently asked questions and our responses. Feel free to post your own questions in our comment box, and we will do our best to answer your question as well.
What is the SAT?
This often misunderstood standardized test, the SAT is an exam that often throws the lives of students as well as their close family members into disarray. Much of the chaos and confusion that surrounds the SAT is due to lack of understanding. So what we like to do, as plainly and simply as possible, is to explain what the SAT is, what the SAT measures, when the SAT is offered, and how your child can prepare such that he or she will maximize his or her chances for getting into a choice university.
Okay let’s begin.
The SAT is a college entrance exam composed of three sections:Math, Critical Reading and Writing. The test itself is 3 hours and 45 minutes and is offered 7 times a year. Now the next piece of information we are about to share is likely the most important: The SAT is a logic test.
So what do we mean when we say the SAT is a logic test?
We mean that the SAT will test your child’s critical thinking skills; it will test his or her ability to reason and deduce a correct answer given the information presented; the SAT will test his or her ability to conceptualize, analyze and synthesize the information given. One of the most common misperceptions students have about the SAT is that they think if they know the math and verbal concepts covered they will do fine. And that is not necessarily true, because the math and verbal concepts are often shrouded in word problems that take strong critical thinking skills to decipher. Many students often possess the knowledge needed to solve SAT problems, but they often don’t know how to interpret the question, they have no idea what the question means or is asking, so although they have all the resources to solve the question, they are not able to translate that knowledge into practical application on the SAT.
Understanding exactly what a test measures is crucial. If students do not have a clear sense of what the test measures, the preparation is not effective, which can lead to frustration, upset, and confusion. If you, as parents are properly informed, then you can help your children to prepare in the most effective, streamlined way possible, which not only maximizes their chances for success, it also will contribute to a better quality of life. Stay tuned for further information about the SAT!
Our goal is to make this blog the most helpful and informative blog on Academic Success and SAT preparation. To do this, we need your help, so please give us your feedback and make comments to our blog!!
For more information, FREE articles, resources and audio files, visit: www.howtoacethesat.com and www.academics-plus.com
