Archive for the ‘Standardized tests’ Category
Though it is not likely the scoring system for the ISEE test is intended to confuse you, this is often the case. The score is not straight forward. The ISEE actually has three separate numbers. There is a percentile, a scale and a stanine score. Most high schools will ignore the scaled score, so you can do the same. Concentrate on the percentile and stanine score.
Percentile Score
The percentile score is a simple calculation of how many answers you got right. The scaled score weights those answers based on difficulty, but the percentile score does not. Remember: you do not get any points off for guessing wrong on the ISEE. So, you are only being counted for how many answers you got correct. The SSAT takes points off for wrong answers, and the scoring mechanism is different as a result. For the percentile score, you are not being compared to other students on that test day. Instead, you are being evaluated based on what the test creators think should be the average score at your level. So, a score of 50% means you are right on track. This can be confusing because earning a 50% on a math or history test would be bad news. The thing to remember is the ISEE is not designed so you can get all of the answers correct. Instead you are supposed to miss about half of the answers if you are a typical student in your grade. This is the only way to get an idea of which students, if any, are well above average.
Stanine Score
The stanine score is basically just a numerical interpretation of your percentage. Two student could get very different percentage scores, such as 45% and 51%, but both get a 5 on the stanine score. This portion is a statement of how well a student does compared to other students taking the test that day. So, the stanine score is more subjective. The stanine score is usually the score submitted to a high school. This can be tricky for you if you happened to have an off day. However, it also means you will not be discriminated against if you simply got a hard test. Since other students got the same hard test, you will only be expected to perform as well as they did and not suffer disproportionately.
What is a Good ISEE Score?
A good ISEE score is 5 or higher. So few websites are willing to provide you with this information, and the ERB and ISEE sites are not willing to say this outright either. However, it is safe to say a score of 5 or higher will mean you have a chance at acceptance to most private schools. If your score is a 5 instead of a 6 or 7, you may be excluded from some of the most competitive private schools. Ultimately, the school you are applying to is the one setting the standard for what is acceptable. You should also note your score does not exist in a bubble; you are compared to other students applying that year.
Tags: good isee score, ISEE, isee scaled score, isee score, isee stanine score, reading an isee score
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Math anxiety is extremely common in children now in elementary and middle school. Math anxiety typically starts at a very young age, and it can carry over through high school and college. It is the reason identified for many low scores on SATs, and it is also believed to be the reason there is a shortage of math and science majors at college. This shortage even carries over to the professional field where math and science teachers are more scarce than social science teachers.
Math Anxiety in the United States
The New York Times highlighted the problem in a recent article that discussed how most students found participating on the American side of international math competitions are actually immigrants from other countries. In particular, India and China emphasize math as the basic skill that provides for growth of the professional workforce. In the United States, it is more common to emphasize reading and speaking skills as essential to personal and academic growth. Unfortunately, this means math typically gets the short end of the academic stick. Students think of it as unnecessary, a discipline to itself, and something to only be pursued if they want a math career.
Math Anxiety in Generation Y
Today’s students face a particular challenge because of technological impacts that reduce the need to learn arithmetic. Most students today have the opinion that they can use a calculator, which they almost always have access to thanks to cell phones and computers with the built-in function. They also tend to believe memorization is nonessential. For example, memorizing a formula seems unimportant if a student has constant access to the Internet and can simply look the formula up online. The result is a feeling that math is only taught in school because schools are outdated. Students seem to think they will never need the math again after grade school.
“Math as Life” Concept
One way to overcome math anxiety is to incorporate it more into basic and everyday needs. Students today, who are very in tune with the requirements of the real world, need to see how math can fit in and be useful on a daily basis. Introducing students to the idea math is a part of most careers is essential. For example, how will a student pursue a finance degree, keep accounting books or even simply verify a paycheck without a basic understanding of math? How about personal finance?
Interdisciplinary Instruction
In keeping with the idea that math is essential for life skills, parents and tutors can help incorporate a more interdisciplinary approach to math skills. Instead of keeping math confined to the math classroom, use the same math being learned in school to solve problems in science class or computer class. Teach students how their knowledge of the Pythagorean Theorem can help them understand how to build safe structures or even arrange furniture in a room. Never allow the same concept, such as algebra, to be taught in two classes without pointing out the connection.
Tags: math and science, math anxiety, math instruction, science anxiety, teaching math, tutoring math
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With entrance exams fast approaching, many parents are wondering if their students can really benefit from a math tutor in the crunch. Even with as little as a week’s worth of tutoring, a significant change can be made. A tutor can try following these five steps to improving your student’s score on the test and improving math grades in the future.
Step #1: Assessment
The first step for a private tutor to take is always an effective assessment. Thankfully, most prep test review books include multiple practice tests to help a tutor get a clear picture of where the student will need help. The assessment does not need to be timed, though some teachers will recommend this. Most tutors find an un-timed assessment gives as clear a picture of strengths and weaknesses as a timed assessment.
Step #2: Arithmetic Review
Many students have the knowledge to do well in math but lack the skills. They have learned them in school, but they have forgotten them as new concepts are taught. Tutors can overcome this with a basic arithmetic review. The most common areas to forget are:
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions
- Multiplication and division of decimals
- Percentages, parts and statistics
Once a student has even a cursory review of these topics, the student will be able to approach the problems confidently.
Step #3: Geometry Review
Most standardized tests do not require a student to know complicated geometry. They may require a basic understanding of some geometric principles. Those principles include:
- Properties of triangles and angles
- Finding area, perimeter, surface area and volume of common shapes
A student will need to review these principles first by remembering them and second by applying them. The geometric principles are often tested most in the reasoning section of any standardized test, meaning the question may not be asked out right.
Step #4: Algebra Review
Students tend to remember basic algebraic principles, but they may miss some of the information required to build concepts in quantitative reasoning questions. Students may forget the principles of parallel lines, perpendicular lines or even absolute value. Reviewing graphs, number lines and principles of slope is key in building understanding of the algebra required on the ISEE, ACT, SAT, SSAT and even Catholic High School Entrance Exam.
Step #5: Reasoning Practice
Most students lack enough practice in quantitative reasoning to excel in this portion of the exam. Because they lack practice, they lack confidence, and this is an easy problem to remedy. Introducing students to as many reasoning problems as possible is key. They will begin to learn how questions may be asked on the test. Thankfully, again, the help of a good test prep book will take students through the required concepts for reasoning sections. Then, a tutor can simply watch the student go through the problems to gain an idea of when and how the student gets stuck. Most students will have the biggest challenge when they need to combine geometry and algebra to solve a problem.
Tags: act testing, entrance exam, ISEE, SAT tutor, SSAT
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Most standardized test boards permit for at least two testing opportunities. This is not just true of the SAT, even in the future LSAT and MCAT tests permit retakes. Depending on the given procedure of the testing board, scores are averaged, combined or the highest score can be taken. While it is not the best idea to continually retake tests and place extra pressure on the test-taker, there are some scenarios when a retake should be used to your advantage.
You scored lower than on the practice exams
If you consistently received a higher score on practice exams than on the actual test, one of a few scenarios likely occurred. First, each of these tests is a little different, and some may play to your favor more than others. It is likely you simply got a test form that was poorly matched to your skill set. Second, it is possible your nerves got the best of you on test day. This is the more common scenario. In both of these cases, you will likely improve your score by a retest.
You failed to achieve the score required by your school of choice
If you know your college, high school or graduate school requires a minimum test score, you will want to retake a test to see if you can achieve that score. Going into the test, you should have a comfortable assumption of the score you can attain based on your practice test scores. If your practice tests are below the minimum required by the school of your choice, you may need to work on the other areas of your application in order to have a better shot at acceptance. While test scores are typically among the top three items considered, good grades and a good application can assist you in overcoming a lower score to gain acceptance. Nonetheless, it will not hurt you to try again in most cases if you are shooting for a score slightly over those you achieved on practice tests.
You were sick or distracted
You don’t usually have the luxury of changing your test date last minute if you become sick or suffer another distraction, such as a death in the family. As such, you may be forced to take the test when you are not in the best mindset. If your score comes back much lower than you’d hoped in this scenario, do not be afraid to simply take the test again. Every testing board, from the ISEE to the LSAT, knows people have off days. This is the main reason they offer the chance to retake the test.
When not to retake the test
- If you have taken the test twice and your score has not improved, you will save yourself a lot of stress and hassle by refusing a third attempt.
- If you are being pressured through an outside source, such as a school counselor, but do not want to retake the test, the choice is yours to say no.
- If your score qualifies you for the vast majority of schools you are applying to, and you are satisfied, then call it a day and take the score you have achieved!
Tags: act retake, ISEE, sat retake, SSAT, standardized testing, taking the act, taking the sat
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Finals are arriving quickly for most students. If you have a high school age student, these finals may be coming at the same time as standardized tests like the SATII subject tests. Younger students will be taking ISEE and SSAT exams within the next few weeks. This all adds up to some stressed out students.
Stress is Good
Some stress is a natural and productive reaction to a challenge. Stress is our body signaling our “fight or flight” moments. We know there is a pressured situation, and we have to choose with option to pursue. Relieving stress altogether can be damaging to a student’s need for adrenaline to make it through the long testing hours. A better approach is to make sure the anxiety leads a student to fight and not to flight.
Two Components
There are two components of stress: physical and mental. Most people forget that stress has a physical manifestation. When we are stressed, we become jittery, uncomfortable and possibly even sick. The good news is: we can use the physical components of stress as a resource to help counter the mental components.
Exercise, Nutrition and Stress
The most important thing a young student can do in preparing for an hours long test is exercise the days before. Sitting for 2 or 3 hours is a challenge for most adults; it is an even greater challenge for 7th and 8th grade students. As such, spending time outside and relieving some physical energy will help calm the body come test time. Exercise not only tires a body out, it is actually a method to relieve the mental anxiety we may feel at any given time.
Aside from exercise, nutrition will play a part in preparing physically for an exam. Sugary breakfasts wear off quickly and can cause sugar crashes, which actually show up much like ADHD. Instead of having a lone bowl of sugary cereal or a plate of waffles, try incorporating protein into the morning mix. Peanut butter toast, bacon and eggs all create a more sustainable energy to make it through the exam.
Relieving Mental Stress
Eating right and exercising has a remarkable affect on the mind, allowing it to calm and focus better. There are further steps you can take to relieve the mental aspects of test-taking stress, and this is where a tutor can be a great help. Try incorporating these tips:
- Learn as much as you can about the test before the test date. If you know how many questions are in each section, the types of questions to expect, and even common pitfalls, you will not be going into the test so blindly.
- Practice! Taking practice tests can relieve the stress of the test day. Over-practicing can lead to frustration, so aim for a moderate balance. Take one full practice test at the beginning of a study program, several practices problems throughout, and, one week before the test date, take another full exam.
- Address concerns. Talk with your tutor about your fears, and discuss solutions.
Tags: act testing, nutrition and test taking, relieving test anxiety, relieving test stress, sat ii, sat testing, studying for finals
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Its that time of year, college and high school entrance tests are coming up, and students across the country are starting to wonder how they will focus for a full 3 hours. They are dreading the rules demanding their silence, and they are wondering how much this REALLY matters to their future. Unfortunately, as we all know, these little scores matter A LOT.
Importance of Test Scores
Whether your student is taking an ERB, ISEE, SSAT, PSAT, SAT or ACT, the fact of the matter is a test score is permanent. In fact, some future jobs, such as teaching jobs, will request test scores from exams taken ten years in the past. And the scoring doesn’t stop. Even after college, a person may be subject to GMAT, GRE, LSAT and MCAT tests. Gaining the edge early is the key to setting a good pace for the rest of a student’s academic career. A promising early test score builds confidence.
Setting Score Goals
Most experts agree score goals are important. Just like in any sport, setting a goal gives a student something to strive for. Holding a student accountable to this goal is also important; it gives the student an incentive to study and a feeling that the effort is important. Unfortunately, since most of these tests are “aptitude” tests, setting the goal can be very difficult for many people. What is an appropriate goal?
- Check with the schools you will be applying to. They should provide you with a minimum as well as an average. Of course, you should aim for at least the minimum. If you have very good grades, then the minimum should be sufficient. Students with some slip ups on their academic record should aim for test scores closer to the high end.
- Complete practice tests! The first test you take should be done cold: without much information on how the test is administered or scored. This will give you an idea of how you would perform without any guidance or studying whatsoever. Then, periodically, take practice tests to track your progress. Your score goal should be set at a reasonable percentage, such as 10%, over your initial score.
- Use your grades as a guide. If you traditionally score very high on math and science tests and lower on verbal examinations, then you will know your strengths lie in the hard sciences. Of course, this does not give you an excuse to fail the other portions of the test. However, you may aim to get a much higher score in one portion of the exam. Since your aptitude is in this area, you will likely be applying to programs with a focus here in the future. It is okay to let the other area lag behind a touch if it is not your primary focus.
- Aim to get the questions you should know correct. Every aptitude test has easy questions and hard questions. Students who get all of the easy questions right end up with high scores even if they miss a portion of the hard questions.
Tags: act score, ISEE, SAT score, SSAT, standardized test improvement, studying for a standardized test
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Reports show that fiscal cutbacks in public schools have taken a toll on the ability for students to receive advisory support for the college admission process.
About half of the public schools in the country report raising caseloads for high school counselors, according to the New York Times. Averages now exceed 53 students per counselor, based on a National Association for College Admission Counseling study.
What does this mean for you?
Reports say the admissions process has only become harder and more stressful for applicants. The number of applicants to universities is expected to reach record highs this year. More students will aim to gain early admission than ever before as well. A study on the pressures reveals startling statistics:
- Over 20% of students apply to at least 8 schools
- The average acceptance rate is creeping closer to half, at 66% of students now accepted
- Less than 30% of wait listed applicants gain admission
- California has the least favorable ratio of advisors to students, with each counselor in public schools responsible for nearly 1,000 students on average.
At particular risk are students in elementary school currently. A peak in high school graduation rates around the year 2015-2020 is again expected, though this year’s classes are a touch smaller. Larger graduating classes lead to more applications to universities, which in turn leads to lower acceptance rates. The pressure to get into schools is getting worse, and the support given to students is getting worse. The result? Many students will not get into their desired colleges.
Getting into College
The college admission process is far from a science. There are many nuances and gray areas that affect whether a student will get his or her first choice. However, there are some elements that are proven. For example:
- Better entrance exam scores lead to higher acceptance rates. >If you can improve your child’s exam scores, you will be assisting that child in attaining a first choice acceptance.
- Better grades lead to higher acceptance rates.Getting good grades, especially in core subjects like math and science, will lead to a greater chance of acceptance to both top tier and public colleges. Underperforming in math and science makes acceptance less likely.
- Quality application essays can overcome other gaps.The quality of your student’s college application essay is an indication of a number of factors, including vocabulary, organizational awareness, dedication and even work ethic. A sloppy essay will stand out as a poor indicator even for a superb student.
- Class rank is important! How your student performs to others in the same school is typically a good indicator of whether grades were inflated or if the high school was very challenging. It is very hard to compare students from a number of different schools without knowing what was expected of them by teachers and faculty. Class rank takes some of the guessing out of this process. By knowing how a student compared to other in his or her class, especially if previous applicants have come from the high school, an admissions board gains insider knowledge.
If your student’s counselor cannot find the time to provide this advice, a tutor may be a good solution.
Tags: admission assistance, college admission, getting into college, test taking tutoring
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Many tutoring companies offer point increase guarantees for standardized tests like the SAT, ACT or even ISEE. These guarantees often promise you money back if your student does not meet point increase goals agreed upon at the beginning of the session. Typically, a tutor or tutoring service will administer a practice test at the beginning of a program. Then, the test will be administered again at the end, with several practice tests along the way. The student’s point increase guarantee will usually rely on the student’s goals as well as input from the tutor himself or herself about what reasonable goals will be.
Many parents look for these guarantees before they sign up for a test prep course. While these can be useful in assuring parents the process will work, they are often solely for the parents and do not affect a learning program.
Demystifying Point Increases
The truth is, any degree of tutoring will result in a point increase. Even taking the test a second time should increase a score. The first time a student takes a test, confusion with format, unfamiliarity with the test and other issues will account for some degree of anxiety. Historically, students perform much lower the first time they take a test than on subsequent tries. Once a student has completely practice problems for a test or retaken it several times, the student will automatically have a higher score, barring unusual circumstance. Even without a tutor, a student simply needs to look at a test a few times to improve a score.
Learning in School
Students will also learn a certain amount of knowledge in school (that’s the point, right?). A test scores aptitude, but there are some parts of the test that rely on knowledge. For example, vocabulary will increase each day a student attends school, whether intentionally or not. The same goes for math skills. Even if a teacher is not teaching to a particular standardized tests, just having a student work through problems in school should lead to increases in test scores. Some of the point increase you note will not be a result of any extra studying at all; it will simply be brought on by normal learning and development.
Why Guarantee?
The main reason most tutoring companies guarantee an increase is to answer the question: does this really help? The answer to the question is “yes.” It is possible to study for a standardized tests, and many tutoring services have figured out a good way to do that. They share this method with clients, and they also target specific problems the student may be having through multiple practice tests. Tutors know this, teachers know this, and most parents suspect this. However, it is a hard promise to make to a parent considering handing over their child’s future (these tests can be very formative to an education) to a tutor or tutoring company without a guarantee. The guarantees, then, are in place to alleviate fears and make the process better for parents, not necessarily students.
Tags: point increases, Standardized tests, test prep tutoring
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When students started coming to us in seventh & eighth grade asking about SAT’s, we truly understood how much secondary school education has changed in the past 10 years. The rise of private and charter schools, particularly in our home state of California, has forced the importance of early school performance into a dramatic upward spiral. Students are competing at a younger age, and the first “SAT” is often given in eighth grade. While the SSAT, which shards for Secondary School Admission Test, is different from the “Scholastic Aptitude Test” used for college admission, the two share many similarities. The other popular entrance exam, the Independent School Entrance Exam, is often given in conjunction with the SSAT.
Secondary School Admission Test
This is a multiple choice test given as early as 5th grade and as late as 11th. The test is made up of three sections: verbal, march and reading comprehension. The verbal question, similar to its SAT cousin, tests vocabulary, logic and reasoning. The quantitative portion is a test of mathematical concepts learned throughout elementary education including arithmetic, pre-algebra and geometry. Like the new SAT, the SSAT has a writing portion which requires a response to a prompt. The scores from this test can be sent to secondary schools in two different levels: lower for grades five through seven, upper for grades eight to eleven. The SSAT has been around since the 1950s, but the test has only recently grown in popularity. Written by a group of high school and college teachers, the SSAT is developed by the Secondary School Admission Test Board. The SSATB attempts to eliminate and screen questions which may present a gender or ethnic bias through a thorough review of the questions. Like the SAT, the SSAT is meant to be an aptitude test rather than an achievement test. Students should not be able to “study” for the exam, as the questions test ability rather than learned knowledge. However, there are many ways to improve a score through private tutoring.
Independent School Entrance Exam
The ISEE is similar to the SSAT in many ways. It is given to students in grades five through twelve, and it focuses on the main areas of quantitative and verbal analysis. Also similar to the SSAT, the ISEE has different levels for different age groups. The three levels are: lower level for fourth and fifth graders, middle level for sixth and seventh graders and an upper level for eighth to eleventh graders. Because the two tests are so similar, most schools with accept both or either for secondary school admission. It is also common to use one study program for both tests if you intend on taking both of them. Similar to the debate of SAT versus ACT, the debate over which is the better test to take relies wholly on the student. Some students will tend to perform better on one or the other simply due to the way the questions are written. Both tests are designed to be impartial analyses of aptitude rather than knowledge.
Tags: ISEE, SAT content, SSAT, test preparation, Test scores
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Whether a student took the SAT or ACT used to rely largely on geography. The SAT was more popular on the coasts, and the ACT was more popular in Middle America and the South. Today, the tests have become more universal. Colleges and universities commonly accept either form of aptitude test. A student should still check with the schools to which he or she is applying to make sure there is no preference. In some cases, a student may take both. Students can spare both the expense and the headache of taking both exams by choosing which will be a better fit for his or her skill set.
Content
Both tests are divided into three general areas: verbal (often called logic or reading section), mathematics and writing. The SAT typically starts with a math section inclusive of both multiple choice and free answer, or grin-in, questions. The content focuses on algebra, functions, concepts in numbers, geometry, and some statistics or probability. This portion is designed to be inclusive of a math education up to the tenth grade. The critical reading portion has some multiple choice and some sentence completion questions with longer reading portions. Basic concepts such as grammar, usage, vocabulary and logic are tested in this section. The newest portion, the writing assessment, consists of short essays on given topics.
The ACT is divided into four multiple choice sections with a fifth, and optional, writing section. The English or reading section focuses on usage and rhetoric. Questions may include themes from literature or the arts that a student should be aware of at the tenth grade level. The math portion of the ACT covers similar topics to the SAT but has some advanced trigonometry or pre-calculus. Overall, the ACT is a more broad test and the SAT contains more in-depth questioning about a particular area.
Scoring
Some students choose which test they will take based on the scoring practices of each. The SATs three parts are each worth 800 points for a total of 2400 points. Each correct answer generates one point. Each incorrect answer results in a penalty of a portion of a point. If you do not fill in an answer, no score is recorded for that question. The writing section is scored on a scale based on a number of subjective factors in the essays. Essays are graded more on logic, organization and depth of argument than on spelling or punctuation, which are not officially counted.
In the ACT, each of the four sections is graded from 1 to 36. The results are then averaged to result in a final score. The optional essay can add points to the final score. No points are deducted for wrong answers – a major difference between the two tests. This may result in a better test score for nervous test-takers. However, ultimately a student will get a similar range in score on the ACT as he or she does on the SAT. Taking practice tests may reveal which test is more toward a student’s strengths.
Tags: ACT, SAT, SAT content
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