The Case Against the March SAT
For the last decade or longer, I’ve staunchly advocated the idea that high school students should take the SAT and/or ACT as early in junior year as makes sense for them. Once winter break ends, testing options tend to conflict with other commitments, such as January midterms, spring break, APs, finals, prom, sporting events, etc. But no matter how hectic a high school junior’s schedule may be, one month seems blessedly free of distractions. That’s why March has traditionally been an ideal time to take the SAT. In 2016, however, March does not look like such an ideal time to take the SAT. Nothing changes as far as the timetable or competing commitments go; May and June remain problematic for both academic and extracurricular reasons. One major thing has changed, though, that impacts planning on a much deeper level: the SAT itself. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you…
Meet The New SAT: RECOMMENDATIONS
The scope of the SAT redesign, in terms of style, content, and philosophy, steers this once predictable exam into uncharted waters. While the College Board has released a full practice PSAT/NMSQT Practice Test in the new format and various examples of the redesigned SAT, many questions remain. To a large extent, the PSAT administered in October 2015 and the SAT first offered in March 2016 will be brand new to the world. If your teen is a sophomore this year, do you want him or her to be among the first to sit for the new test? Probably not. Early indications suggest that the new SAT will be more challenging in many ways than the current SAT or ACT, which may be sufficient reason to avoid it. Of even greater concern are the entirely new question types and content. The great strength of the College Board has historically been the…
When Should You Take The SAT or ACT?
If a four-year college, especially a competitive one, is in your future, the question is not if you’ll be taking the SAT or ACT, but rather when. Some families want to start planning for test day during the first week of high school. Others, unfortunately, don’t consider testing until midway through senior year. But, as you’ve surely heard, timing is everything. Taking the SAT or ACT at the right time ensures the right levels of readiness while allowing a buffer for retesting. When should a student take the SAT or ACT? In the absence of extenuating circumstances, the best time to take these tests is 11th grade. Junior year is ideal for the tests for many reasons, which ACT has skillfully summarized: You’ve probably completed the coursework corresponding to the test material. You’ll have your test scores and other information in time to help you plan your senior year. (For…