Comments (0)

By admin, February 17, 2010 8:33 am

If your child attends a Delaware public school or parochial elementary school, chances are that annual testing is right around the corner. DSTP and Terranova standardized tests are often administered in March of each year. For some, the thought of these types of tests can raise feelings of anxiety, apprehension and fear. Here are some suggestions for putting these concerns at bay and raising confidence and self-esteem instead.

Ask for Relaxation Tips-If your child gets anxious about testing, ask the teacher for some relaxation tips.

Assure Student is in School-Don’t plan doctor or other appointments during the test dates unless it’s an emergency. This avoids stretching out the testing over a longer period of time and disrupting your child’s post-test school routine.

Encourage Your Child to Listen- Instruct your child to listen very carefully during the administering of the test, especially to the directions given for each section.

Rest and Breakfast- Be sure your child gets sufficient rest leading up to and during the testing dates. Allow time for a healthy, not sugary breakfast in the morning. It re- fuels the brain and “breaks the fast” of not eating overnight.

Do His/Her Best-Tell your child to just do the best he/she can.

If you want to help your child accomplish this goal and relieve much of the stress and anxiety that accompanies standardized testing, call us at Back to Basics. We can prepare your child for testing by teaching and reinforcing subject matter and test-taking strategies, as well as build self-esteem and confidence. Your child will be ready and relaxed when he/she walks into the classroom with #2 pencils in hand!

For more information, please visit 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.

Comments (0)

By admin, August 26, 2009 7:19 pm

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.

Comments (0)

By admin,

Chances are good that your child will be taking one form or another standardized test during the school year. Whether it be DSTP, Terra-Nova, SATs, or general placement tests, this situation is bound to arise at least once. Here are some tips to help your child get ready.

If your child seems nervous or anxious, ask the teacher for some relaxation tips or implement some that you already know.

Try not to plan any appointments on testing days and make sure your child is present. Having to deal with make up dates can be stressful.

Tell your child to listen carefully to the test-taking directions and ask any questions before testing begins.

Be sure that your child is well-rested and gets a good night’s sleep prior to test days.

See that your child eats his/her normal breakfast on test days. Hunger can cause poor performance. Brain and body need to re-fuel in the morning.

Be positive and encourage your child to do his/her best.

There are many more useful tips contained in the link below, including knowing how test results are used and interpreting differences in test performance and school grades.

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.