The PSAT Is Not Exactly a Practice SAT
The best way to begin a conversation about SAT prep is to already have a baseline score that turns a hypothetical conversation into a practical planning session. I can often sketch out a sensible plan without diagnostics but will, in some instances, recommend a practice test in Bluebook. This advice almost always makes sense, except at the beginning of the school year as October approaches: ME: “Have you considered having your son take a practice SAT?” PARENT: “Yes, we registered for the PSAT.” ME: “No, I mean a practice SAT.” PARENT: “Right, the PSAT.” ME: (⊙_◎) Perhaps the point is not obvious. The PSAT clearly provides some degree of practice for the SAT. However, beyond the picayune distinction that the P in PSAT stands for Preliminary, the PSAT is not exactly a practice SAT and does not provide all the benefits a perfect practice SAT can. CONTENT Every question on…
Deliberate Practice and 4 Not-So-Easy Steps to Success
Over 25+ years as an entrepreneur, author, and publisher of (now-defunct) SUCCESS magazine, Darren Hardy has relentlessly studied and dissected the habits of the most accomplished people on the planet. He can attest that the secret to success isn’t much of a secret at all: practice. However, the kind of practice that drives stratospheric levels of accomplishment and excellence is extremely specific. Deliberate practice requires tremendous commitment and structure over time. But no other path takes you to even the chance of doing your very best when it matters. How do you know if you are practicing properly? Hardy described four essential steps to attacking deliberate practice: You must be motivated to attend to the task and exert effort to improve your performance. The design of the task should take into account your pre-existing knowledge so that the task can be correctly understood after a brief period of instruction. You…
How Many Times Should I Take the SAT or ACT?
Thinking carefully and proactively about how often to take the SAT or ACT makes a lot of sense; after all, very, very few of us actually enjoy taking these tests (my secret shame!) This common question has two answers, one easy and one a little more complicated. Consider both to craft your testing game plan. How many practice SATs or ACTs should I take? When wondering how many practice tests to take, simply commit to as many as needed to prove to yourself before test day that you can consistently meet or exceed your target score. Many tests lie between where a student begins and where she wants to arrive. You’ll minimize that number by making sure you take the highest quality practice tests possible, meaning official exams under strictly timed test conditions. Follow each practice test with targeted review of every aspect of your exam to really supercharge its…
Five Ways to Ruin Your SAT Experience
I had the rare pleasure of proctoring a free practice SAT at a local library this weekend. Pre-pandemic would find me or another member of the Chariot Learning team at one venue or another nearly every weekend to oversee the administration of a free SAT or ACT. These days, busy teens find it harder than ever to commit to the same four-hour block during days off of school. Plus, the implementation of Bluebook has made testing at home easier than ever. That said, putting yourself into a true simulation of test day conditions surrounded by other test takers can elevate the value derived from practice. No wonder I was so happy to see 21 high schooler devote a chunk of their Sunday to make the most of one of those Bluebook exams. We all learned a few things about what not to do on test day! 1. SHOW UP LATE…
Why Take the PSAT?
This time of year finds us answering a lot of questions about the PSAT, from parents eager to arrange prep to others wondering if their teens should take the the October test at all. And, really, the question deserves consideration. Just about every high school has its juniors, and sometimes even sophomores, sit for the PSAT. Schools have good reason to administer these tests, thanks to the wealth of score data the College Board sends back. But is the test worth any single student’s time? Why take the PSAT? The College Board has historically promoted many benefits to taking the PSAT, but only a couple of them seem persuasive. Consider each one: Discover Your AP® Potential BAD IDEA, at least if you are already a junior. By that time, qualified students with access are already enrolled in several AP classes. 10th graders who haven’t already tried AP European or World…
How to Take a Great Practice SAT
Nobody performs their best on a complex challenge like the SAT without practice. When you really want to excel, not just any practice will do. As legendary coach Vince Lombardi said, “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” So make sure that every practice SAT (or PSAT) you take is perfect by following these steps: BEFORE THE TEST 1. Find a full-length digital adaptive SAT practice test. The ones offered through the College Board Bluebook app are the best possible tests, as they best represent official test content on the official test platform. However, since College Board has only released 6 (as of October 2024) official tests, you may have to use third party tests. PRO TIP: If you plan to take many practice tests, save the Bluebook tests for practice closer to your official exam. 2. Make sure you have your fully charged approved device ready…