Do you wish to help your high school kid with the SAT preparation? As a high school parent, you know the importance of SAT and ACT scores to get into a US college or university and to get scholarships. However, these tests are challenging and you cannot take the test in your child’s place. However, you can help them in numerous ways throughout the process. Moreover, you can guide them to get a high score to get admission into their dream college. By following a proper study plan, practice tests, prep resources and online tutors you can face this challenge easily and make your kid ready for a great score on the SAT. Here is a parent’s guide to help your child in the weeks before the SAT or ACT dates.
SAT Preparation: The Right Time
Students need plenty of time to go through the practice tests and understand the format of the exam. This will also help them to get an idea about their abilities and weaknesses. If you start early, you can take a retest if you don’t succeed in your first time. Moreover, retesting will help you improve your test scores for your dream college.
Motivate your child to take PSAT and related SAT practice tests to identify how well they will do in actual tests. Moreover, based on the test score they can figure out the subjects they need to focus on more and how much daily practice they require for the ideal score. A child whose score is close to the ideal score can begin studying just a few months before their first SAT day. Otherwise, they need at least six months to prepare. Choosing a study schedule for your children can be challenging, but preparing regularly and gradually will help them succeed. Ideally, you should start test preparations in the spring or summer before the junior year.
Take a supportive approach
The first step as a parent is to be supportive throughout the process and never let them feel alone. You know the kind of pressure these tests put on a child. Instead of pushing your kid to study more, help him or her create a study guide and practice schedule to help lower the stress. When you talk about practice, consistency is the key. Whether it is preparing a study guide together, helping them solve problems, or rewarding them for improving on practice tests, you can be a part of every step of their SAT preparation. Parents can ease this whole journey for their children by giving them the right direction and support, so don’t dominate. Ensure that your child understands that the SAT is not about testing their intelligence but rather their preparedness for college and university.
Get to know the SAT
SAT is an entrance exam universities and colleges in the US require for college admission. This is a multiple choice type(MCQ) and time-based exam. This course includes Math, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, as well as an optional essay. It is a three-hour long exam and the score is out of 1600 points. Both SAT and ACT are standardized tests which evaluate a student’s ability and preparedness for university. Since high school grades vary depending on the school, SAT and ACTs measure students from different school backgrounds on the same standard.
Although the SAT has been there in the college application process for many years, its pattern, content and grading keep on changing. Hence, you must be familiar and updated with the current version of the SAT. This test happens six times a year – February, April, June, July, September, and October. The registration deadline is approximately one month before the actual exam and the scoring results are put after two weeks of the test. To find out upcoming deadlines and dates, go to the college board website page, select a date and register. Later, you can create an SAT prep schedule accordingly.
Search for trusted and top-quality test-prep resources
You can find a lot of resources online to help with the SAT and ACT prep. However,it is a daunting task to choose one. Therefore, it is advisable to follow the Official SAT Practice program. This program is designed by the partnership of College Board and Khan Academy to ensure students can get all the online SAT prep resources to succeed. This is a 100% free and personalized practice program which includes practice questions, tips to study, video lessons, engaging lessons and much more. It is a tailored program for each student.
Once the student links his Khan Academy and College Board accounts, he will receive a customized plan. This plan is based on previous SAT/PSAT results and diagnostic quizzes attempted by the child. After creating the study plan, your child can create a practice schedule and dedicate 15-30 minutes daily to working through it. As the student attempts the questions, they will get feedback and the site also monitors the child’s progress. Additionally, your child can benefit from full-length practice SATs, whose questions are developed by the College Board, the same organization that designs the SAT each year.
Invest in a private tutor
Sometimes even with all the right resources, study plan and practice, the child still struggles and faces hard times. Here, you can help them by arranging a private tutor for them. Online tutors act as a middle path between self-study and prep courses. Juni Learning is a well-known and renowned name for offering online courses to help kids achieve great results. They offer personalized online SAT tutoring and test prep. This one-on-one tutoring is customizable as per your kid’s needs and progress.
Students can openly share their past scores, practice questions and doubts with the tutor. As part of the tutoring session, the tutor will discuss test-taking strategies, from time management, and focusing on specific areas to quick tips and tricks for various questions. Juni instructors establish a bond with your high school students. All these tutors or instructors have passed the SAT and are graduates of top universities and colleges. With all the knowledge and experience of test prep, they are not just teachers but also role models for the students, promoting confidence and interest in learning.
SAT Test Day Tips
Lastly, on the SAT day, you can make sure your child has all the necessary things in place so that they are not stressed out. Check the instructions carefully, to find out what to bring and what not. For best results, arrange all these things a night before the test so that the students can focus on the exam. Also, remind the child to take proper rest before the test day. A student following a systematic study plan will not benefit from cramming the night before or the morning of a test. Rather, focus on sound sleep and a healthy breakfast in the morning.
