HOW TO HELP
STUDENTS MASTER
COLLEGE ENTRANCE
EXAMS
The college
admissions
process is
multifaceted and
stretches out over
a year or more.
High school students
who plan
to continue their
education at fouryear
schools typically
go through the admissions process at various schools
before deciding where the next step on their academic
journeys will take them.
Testing is part of the college admissions process. Parents
and guardians who want to give young people the best
chance of being admitted to their preferred school can help
students prepare accordingly. In the United States, performance
on the SAT and/or the ACT has traditionally been a
key consideration for college admissions departments. The
college information resource CollegeVine says standardized
test scores are not required in the admissions process
for public Canadian universities, although some private
ones will accept SAT scores. According to the Princeton
Review, the SAT is created and administered by the College
Board. The test consists of Math and Evidence-based
Reading and Writing. Each section is scored on a 200-to-
800-point scale, (a score of 1600 indicates mastery of the
exam). The ACT is a similar test that also helps measure
college readiness. The ACT consists of four sections: English,
Reading, Math, and Science. There's also an optional
40-minute Writing Test that some colleges may require.
The maximum composite score for the ACT is 36.
Most schools do not favor one test over the other, so it's
possible students will take just one exam. However, college
bound students are increasingly taking both the SAT
and ACT and only submitting the higher score to schools.
This is important for families and students to recognize.
Generally, students can study concurrently for both tests,
and the following are some additional strategies to prepare
for college admissions testing.
• Enroll in a test prep course. Students may benefi t from
taking test prep courses either in sophomore year of high
school or early in their junior year. These courses familiarize
students with the testing format and enable them
to take practice exams. They also offer tips for getting
through the test within the alloted time. Knowing "how'to
take the test is often just as important as knowing the material
on the test.
• Focus on vocabulary. Families can work together to
expand students' vocabularies. Everyone can learn new
words and use them on a daily basis.
• Prioritize rest and a healthy lifestyle. This can be a stressful
time in students' lives. Parents and other caregivers can
recognize this and reinforce healthy living habits that will
help teens get the rest they need to stay both physically
and mentally well. Try not to put extra pressure on students
during this critical time. Avoid emphasizing a need
to get the best test scores possible, which can lead to additional
stress, burnout and resentment.
• Realize many schools are test-optional. Students who
simply are not excellent test-takers may take comfort in
knowing that a growing number of schools have become
test-optional. Families can determine if students want to
be "one-and-done" on standardized testing, or take the test
a few times to improve their scores.
751188-1
Pg 14 - 308 S. Merrick-S. Bellmore To Advertise call: 631-698-8400 Town Crier - April 11, 2024