SAT Prep

[punkin]

About college tours, I took DD on a college tour the summer before her sophomore year. We did not focus on particular schools so much as types of schools, i.e. big state flagships compared to small liberal arts schools compared to engineering schools, etc. This was very helpful to her in focusing her thinking about where she wanted to be. It also helped her to hear the admissions officers talk about expected grades and test scores (because everyone knows that mothers know absolutely nothing about anything).

 

[Aliceacc]

The SATs have nothing above algebra and geometry, which around here is 8th and 9th grade for most children. The SAT can be easily taken as a sophomore.

It can be taken easily by a 5 year old who understands how to fil lin a scantron.

But functions are typically taught in Algebra II, as are fractional exponents and the unit circle. Likewise, some of the verbal problems and the systems of equations involve concepts not typically taught before Algebra II & Trig or Precalculus. Likewise some of the factoring-- specifically sum and difference of cubes and factoring by grouping-- aren't typically taught before Algebra II and Trig or Precalc. The knowledge of the special angle trig functions make some problems a whole lot easier, as does an in depth knowledge of the Pythagorean Triples-- many Algebra I and Geometry teachers simply don't have the time to emphasize that the way Algebra II & Trig teachers do.

According to the directions, it can also be taken without a calculator. And, to be honest, I've done many entire sections without the use of a calculator. But it's not what I would suggest for a typical student.
It's an exam to help decide who gets in to college. As a result, it's typically taken successfully by students on the verge of going to college.

Best wishes.

 

[Debbie7452]

OP, there is an SAT prep DS game I got my daughter when she was a Sophomore. She did the free question of the day emails(College Board) and also word of the day from Dictionary.com. I think a lot of people miss out by not stressing practice for the PSAT before the Junior year. It determines National Merit Scholarships. This opens many, many doors for your child. If a child is showing ability to make the cutoff for National Merit (varies by state) then I would spare no expense to get that child prepared. My DD has about 10 full ride offers on the table for college, based on this strategy. She started taking the PSAT every year since she was a freshman, so I knew she was getting pretty good scores.

We prepped independently, but some kids need more "structure".

 

[marcyinPA]

The SATs have nothing above algebra and geometry, which around here is 8th and 9th grade for most children. The SAT can be easily taken as a sophomore.

The practice SAT that DS16 took was heavy in Alg 2, which he only has this semester (2nd semester of his junior year). Granted, he is about a year behind in math- he was not on the "fast track" in that area- he is more of an English/history guy. Even his "all AP class" friends thought the SAT was challenging. I don't think that it is considered easy for most kids.

 

[marcyinPA]

I really am listening and hear everyone. Hopefully she will get swept up in the tide of SATs/colleges during Junior year and start working toward that goal. We really didn't receive any guidance from the Guidance Dept. It's a huge public high school (2600 students) and anyone below Junior or Senior year is sort of swept aside as they need to focus on those students. Without pushing there's lots of info I wouldn't have received and it really would have been hard for her to play catchup.

My DS also goes to a huge public high school (about 2800 students). The guidance office gave us a Junior year calendar at the end of Sophomore year. It is a month by month guide of what you should be doing during Jr. year to prepare for college. It is really helpful. Perhaps your school does the same type of thing? Also, does your school have a website with a parent link? Ours has all kinds of great info on there from the guidance office regarding everything from college apps to scholarships.

I'm finding this to be an interesting road to navigate as well. He is my first one, so it's all new. Things have changed since I went to college many moons ago! But, at least I will know what I'm doing when it's time for DS12 to go to college!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

FYI, DD took Algebra I freshman year, just finished Geometry and is now working on Algebra II. She'll have Pre-Calc next year. That's why I'd like her to take the SAT at the end of this year, when most of the math will be freshest in her mind. Of course I'm expecting she'll take the test once or twice in Junior year and, if necessary, again in Senior year.

 

[cornflake]

FYI, DD took Algebra I freshman year, just finished Geometry and is now working on Algebra II. She'll have Pre-Calc next year. That's why I'd like her to take the SAT at the end of this year, when most of the math will be freshest in her mind. Of course I'm expecting she'll take the test once or twice in Junior year and, if necessary, again in Senior year.

Do you think she'll be taking SAT IIs, because that's when the scheduling gets really tight and tricky, if people leave this stuff until later and then need IIs.

 

[goofy4tink]

Navychica, my friend and I had discussed taking the girls (BFFs since they were 4) on college tours this summer but thought that was putting the cart before the horse. Since neither one knows what they want to do, where they want to go, it seemed extreme at this point. However, my DD did compete in a Constitution competition at Rutgers last month and really enjoyed the little bit of the campus we saw. However, Rutgers has 3 campuses so there's no guarantee that would be the campus she'd be on.

Be careful when visiting campuses in the summer. We found that the schools that we visited in the summer, were the schools that dd least wanted to go to!!! There is nothing going on, there are completely empty dorm rooms, cafeterias look deserted, no one is on campus...they tend to look like ghost towns. But, similar schools that we visited once kids were back in class??? Yep, those are the schools she is now choosing from.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Do you think she'll be taking SAT IIs, because that's when the scheduling gets really tight and tricky, if people leave this stuff until later and then need IIs.

The subject tests? Yes, she'll be taking a few of those as well.

Be careful when visiting campuses in the summer. We found that the schools that we visited in the summer, were the schools that dd least wanted to go to!!! There is nothing going on, there are completely empty dorm rooms, cafeterias look deserted, no one is on campus...they tend to look like ghost towns. But, similar schools that we visited once kids were back in class??? Yep, those are the schools she is now choosing from.

The few schools I looked at schedule their tours during the school year, presumably for this purpose. Makes sense. However, we were going to do a roadtrip on the east coast for a week or two and just go from place to place and check them out, knowing they'd probably be deserted. The problem comes with pulling the kids out of school for these tours (which are not excused absences) and my friend having to take time off from work (she's a high school teacher). Guess we'll have to try to do some of these during Easter break/Christmas break or on weekends (for the in-State schools). Although I'm thinking for Christmas break it could be the same problem -- everyone going home for the holidays. (Have you noticed how I overthink things?)

 

[PlutoPony]

For college visits, spring break and teacher workdays are when juniors visit schools around here. The key is to find out which schools require sign-up and make sure you get your name in before the sessions are filled..... we found the tours on teacher workdays filled up very early, while spring break not so much. There are also a fair number of schools that don't require you to pre-register for a visit, and quite a few that offer admissions tours on the weekend during the school year.

Question - do most kids do 2 SAT II's on the same day or break them up?

 

[cornflake]

The subject tests? Yes, she'll be taking a few of those as well.

Then you're really not planning far ahead if she hasn't taken any IIs and she's going to be taking them. Many people have one or two on the books at the end of sophomore year.

There are only so many testing dates. If she's looking at 3 IIs, you can't assume she wouldn't want to retake any of them, and if she took the SAT itself, say, three times... there are only so many dates in a year. Plus what IIs is she thinking she's going to take and when's she going to prep for those, you know? Is she thinking she'll do them ALL at the end of jr. year? That's not really feasible, which is why people who will do 3 usually have at least one before jr. year.

 

[cornflake]

Question - do most kids do 2 SAT II's on the same day or break them up?

You can do two - don't do three - but depends on which two as to whether they do them same day or not, generally. Some are more intense than others. Also depends on the kid. Most would do like, lit and a math on the same day but maybe not math 2 and chem. Depends.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Then you're really not planning far ahead if she hasn't taken any IIs and she's going to be taking them. Many people have one or two on the books at the end of sophomore year.

There are only so many testing dates. If she's looking at 3 IIs, you can't assume she wouldn't want to retake any of them, and if she took the SAT itself, say, three times... there are only so many dates in a year. Plus what IIs is she thinking she's going to take and when's she going to prep for those, you know? Is she thinking she'll do them ALL at the end of jr. year? That's not really feasible, which is why people who will do 3 usually have at least one before jr. year.

I believe she's going to take the English and History. This year she's doing English/AP World History I. Next year is English/AP World History II, so we were told they shouldn't take the Subject Test for History until after next year.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Can someone explain the difference between SAT Subject tests and AP tests? Is there a difference? I just noticed a section on AP tests. Now I'm

 

[cornflake]

I believe she's going to take the English and History. This year she's doing English/AP World History I. Next year is English/AP World History II, so we were told they shouldn't take the Subject Test for History until after next year.

That makes sense with the World, yes. If those are the only two she's doing, then not so off (you said a few, I thought you meant 3). She can do the lit anytime with prep (it's got nothing to do with any class, it's reading comprehension with mostly poetry, basically. It does use poetry terminology but it's stuff she should know and can get from a prep book regardess), but this is what I mean about scheduling -

So she's planning on the IIs at the end of jr. year, presumably May or June test date. Say she does the June.

So for SAT she now has Jan, March, May, and then the next October.

If she wants to have a retake date for the IIs, she's either only got October, which leaves her no last-chance SAT (if she has stuff in a later application cycle she can do Nov), or she does May and June for the IIs, leaving her Jan, March and the Oct for the SAT.

I'm not saying she's messed up or anything, but that thinking about this now is not really planning far ahead because if you left thinking about it until the END of jr. year, all she'd have would be May, June and October and maybe Nov.

Even the way many people are saying, like start thinking about it spring of jr., gives you March, May, June, Oct. realistically.

Also remember you have very little prep time between the month apart dates, because you get scores back in almost 3 weeks, so you only have about a week between getting the scores from the last test to retaking the next if you decide you didn't like those scores.

 

[cornflake]

Can someone explain the difference between SAT Subject tests and AP tests? Is there a difference? I just noticed a section on AP tests. Now I'm

I'm not sure what you mean - do you mean is there a difference in what the tests ARE or the content? Yes to both but I'm not sure what you're asking about.

 

[Aliceacc]

Can someone explain the difference between SAT Subject tests and AP tests? Is there a difference? I just noticed a section on AP tests. Now I'm

AP is Advanced Placement; the kids receive college credit for scoring WELL on the AP exam. AP exams are typically given in early May and are usually taken after a year of college level material. Each college sets the bar as to what score is deemed "acceptable" but few really strong schools are satisfied with grades below 4/5. Many of the really top schools either don't take AP credit or don't accept it as replacement for their own classes, particularly in your major.

SAT subject tests cover high school material. Some schools prefer that applicants to some majors also take the subject tests to indicate strength or weakness in a particular subject area. Those are the tests frequently taken by kids after completion of a particular high school course. So, for example, it makes sense to take the World History exam after taking World History-- in my school, that's sophomore year.

But which schools prefer what exams tends to be largely regional. In the northeast, the standard SAT is probably the preferred exam more often, while other parts of the country prefer the ACT.

Your daughter's high school guidance counselor can help her here; we have an entire office dedicated to college placement.

 

[runwad]

OP I'm right there with you, totally unmotivated kid. I just gotta let her learn these life lessons herself even though it kills me. Our situation is she needs a 24 on the ACT to be able to take college classes her Jr year in hs, she's a sophomore.We have a distance learning lab so she can earn dual credit for hs & college right at the high school. She didn't even study for the ACT and got a 21. Oh well she says she'll try again next year. All I see is all the lost money on not being able to do the dual enrollment at high school while it's free. But this will be her life lesson. If she's not into it I can't force her. I'm hoping she'll serve as an example to her brother and sister coming up behind her. We can't pay for all 3 to go to college, we have saved but not enough for 4 years for all :-( wish we could've saved more but on our salary there was no way.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I'm not sure what you mean - do you mean is there a difference in what the tests ARE or the content? Yes to both but I'm not sure what you're asking about.

Since AP's were listed on the College Boards, I thought that would be yet another standardized, run by the SAT/College Boards people test she would have to take in addition to SATs and Subject Tests. So my question was, is this different from the standardized SAT Subject Test she'll have to take or just the AP test she takes through her school?

 

[cornflake]

Since AP's were listed on the College Boards, I thought that would be yet another standardized, run by the SAT/College Boards people test she would have to take in addition to SATs and Subject Tests. So my question was, is this different from the standardized SAT Subject Test she'll have to take or just the AP test she takes through her school?

Ah. Yes and no. They are from the same place, but they're different.

Advanced Placement (AP) tests go with AP classes. They're theoretically swappable for college credit but in reality... regardless, AP classes take AP exams, yes in school not at an offsite testing facility (which is usually just a school, heh).

The SAT subject tests are different, they're offered like SATs, at offsite facilities, you have to register for them yourself, pick and choose what you want and the scores are sent to schools for application purposes like the SAT I.

Contentwise, they're overlapping but different. Some classes tend to teach toward the AP, some the SAT. In general, the AP exams tend toward the why of stuff, the SATtends toward the what, so a class that leans toward prepping kids for the AP exam won't necessarily produce kids that do well on the SAT in the same subject. Might, but you can't assume.

Especially with World History, btw, it's the beast of the SAT IIs, it's brutal in scope and depth. If the class and teacher are very, very thorough, kids can do very well on both exams. If not... so whenever she takes it, she needs to at least try a practice SAT II to see where she is. Ususally there's a lot of AP exam prep in AP classes.