There have been requests made by districts and schools in recent years to have students assessed regarding college even before entering high school. Their concern was to have some measure as to whether students approaching 9th grade were being prepared properly for high school curriculum leading to college readiness. Enter ReadiStep by College Board (similar product offered by administrators of the ACT, called Explore).
It’s not a new model of stair- stepper exercise equipment. ReadiStep is a two-hour multiple choice test created from college-readiness standards that represent rigorous academic content matter. Some see it as a scaled down version of the PSAT, containing 1 section of each of the following: critical reading, writng and math. The test was made available in the fall of 2009 for initial administration.
As with any new concept, there are pros and cons being voiced. Some say it’s a good idea to have early benchmarks to work with so that the most can be made of the high school years in preparing students for college. Others debate that more emphasis should be put on classroom assessments instead of what they call “snapshot” tests. Whatever the case, most would agree on one account: Any investment in furthering the education of students who will be our future is a worthwhile cause.
For more information, please visit Back to Basics website at http://www.BacktoBasicsLearning.com
For 25 years, Back to Basics has been recognized as the area’s undisputed leader in one-on-one tutoring. In addition, the firm offers a unique Delaware private school for all grades. Back to Basics is the 2010 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.
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ACT or SAT, which one is right for your student? Many colleges now accept either test so it benefits students to take the test they are best suited for, according to their skills. For example, the ACT tests a student’s knowledge of what was learned in high school. If a pupil has received good grades in challenging courses, the ACT may be a good choice. SATs are more of a reasoning test and measure aptitude. A student with good deductive skills may find the SATs a good fit. Below are some differences between the two tests in four basic areas.
CONTENT-ACTs focus on grammar and punctuation, contain 4 sections: English, Math Reading and Science and the math portion covers some trigonometry. SATs emphasize vocabulary, contain 3 sections: Critical Reading, Math and Writing and cap off at Algebra II regarding the math section.
STRUCTURE-ACTs are all multiple choice questions, the level of difficulty is fairly consistent throughout and it contains about 215. SATs require some student-generated answers, difficulty increases as the test progresses and there are 140 questions. Both test require the same amount of time so student have less time per question with the ACTs.
STRATEGY-The ACT does not penalize for wrong answers. If time is running out, guesses are suggested on unknown or unfinished questions. The SAT does penalize for incorrect answers so ii’s best to eliminate two choices is possible then make an educated guess at your answer.
SCORING-Each section of the ACT counts for 36 points then a composite score is obtained by averaging the 4 sections. SATs can earn a maximum of 800 points per section.
No matter what test your child decides to take, he/she doesn’t have to prepare alone. Back to Basics tutors can work with your student 1-on-1 to focus on the exact areas he/she needs. Not only will subject matter be addressed but also timing and strategies for taking the tests, such as pacing and “educated guessing” techniques will be covered as well. Help your children get accepted to the college of their choice with Back to Basics!
Back to Basics has been recognized as the area’s undisputed leader in one-on-one tutoring. In addition, the firm offers a unique Delaware private school for all grades. Back to Basics is the 2010 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.
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The words “college applications” can bring anxiety and uncertainty to even the most level- headed, eve-tempered individuals, parents and students alike. However, if you understand some of the processes involved and heed deadlines, this task can be manageable and exciting, which it should be. Below we have provided some of the categories by which a student may apply.
Rolling Admissions- This process allows students to apply to a school during a large window of time. It is used by many colleges and universities. The time period is usually more than six months and some schools do not even have an end date. When all the openings are filled, the process will end. Applicants are notified within a few weeks of submitting their applications.
Regular Decision-This policy is a non-binding option whereby students apply by a regular deadline, usually sometime between January 1 and February 15. Schools will notify applicants by about April 1.
Early Decision-This is a binding policy by which an accepted student must attend that college or university. If a student is absolutely sure that a certain school is right for him he can apply, and if accepted, can ease further stress by not having to apply elsewhere or furthering his college search.
Early Action-This process has the advantage of early notification for a student without the commitment involved in the early decision process. It is not a binding policy but is appealing because the student can find out if he is accepted early on in his senior year.
Single-Choice Early Action-This is a variation of the above process. With single-choice a student may only apply to ONE school during the early action period. Then, once early decisions are made by schools, the student is free to apply to other institutions if he chooses.
Back to Basics has been recognized as the area’s undisputed leader in one-on-one tutoring. In addition, the firm offers a unique Delaware private school for all grades. Back to Basics is the 2010 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.
For Parents, For Students
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