Which college applicants submitted ACT or SAT scores?

Reporting was “far higher … among applicants living in more affluent communities, as defined by local median household income in applicants’ local ZIP codes.”

Which test should my son or daughter take: ACT or SAT?

This is (by far) the most frequently asked question, even though it has a relatively simple answer: have your daughter or son take practice tests and then we can help you make the decision. Ideally, students should take both practice tests within a 2-3 week period. If your student is a junior, you might be able to compare an ACT practice test score to his or her PSAT score. At Lafayette Academy, practice tests are ALWAYS FREE.

When should my daughter or son take the actual ACT or SAT?

Most students take their first ACT or SAT during the spring of their junior years. Advanced juniors can take a fall test (the beginning of their junior year). In all cases, you should consider extracurricular activities and how your student is scoring on practice tests when choosing a test date.

How many times can a student take a test?

Many students take the ACT or SAT test twice; some take each test once and then take one of the tests a second time. You should NOT take any of the tests more than three times.

What are the major differences between the ACT and SAT?

The math on the ACT covers more topics, ranging from Algebra 1 to Pre-Calc. The math on the SAT tests fewer topics, stopping at Algebra 2, but more in depth. The ACT has a science section while the SAT includes a few reading passages that focus on science topics. Time management is a big challenge on the ACT, especially in reading and science. The content on the SAT reading section is more challenging, even though you have more time. Again, taking practice tests is the best way to pick a test.

“What about the PSAT?” (for some reason, people often phrase PSAT questions like this example)

The PSAT is a good opportunity to get your son or daughter to take a practice test because most students take the PSAT. If you happen to have a genius living under your roof, the PSAT could be hugely beneficial because of the National Merit program. For most students, PSAT scores don’t matter so you should not spend money preparing your son or daughter for this test.

How can I be a great test prep parent?

In the interest of full disclosure, this is not a FAQ. If it were a FAQ, this would be my answer: challenge your children to embrace the preparation challenge on their own by promising to leave them alone (after you enroll them in one of our programs). We all mean well, but we fail to realize how much added stress we place on our children by micro-managing their test prep experience.

Does my son or daughter really need to take either test?

This has become a frequently asked frequently asked question because the University of California schools will no longer consider ACT or SAT scores in their evaluations, and other schools have followed their lead. There are many schools that still require or consider ACT or SAT scores in their evaluations or for scholarship purposes. Unless you are certain that your son or daughter will only apply to schools that won’t consider ACT or SAT scores, your child should still take one of these tests. Give us a call if you want to hear our more detailed thoughts.

Tips to Ensure You Get the Most Out of Each Tutoring Session

Whether you meet with a tutor once a week or several times a week, it’s essential that you make the most of every moment spent with your tutor. Tutors help you learn new or challenging content by providing encouragement, motivation, and clarity, all of which are especially useful now during the post-pandemic period, when readjusting to traditional classroom instruction can seem daunting. For tutoring sessions to be effective, however, it’s important that both tutor and student are sufficiently prepared.

Steps to a Successful Tutoring Experience

To best make up for the learning time lost during the pandemic lockdown, below are some useful tips on preparing for your tutoring sessions.

Go over your notes before each session, and list all the material you’re struggling with so that your tutor can focus on the key content.
Make sure to attend sessions regularly. Since your tutor won’t be able to duplicate all that your teacher went over in class, your task is to inform your tutor about the material to cover so that the most important concepts and facts are clarified.
Take careful notes during every tutoring session, preferably in one notebook used only for tutoring sessions so that the notes are all in the same place. The notes taken during your sessions can be read later for hard-to-understand concepts and exam prep.
Make sure to purposefully schedule your tutoring sessions. The times that you arrange are critical. Avoid scheduling right after a day of classes or during mealtimes. Instead, allow yourself time to wind down before having a session to help in remaining alert and focused.
Tell your tutors about any material that you don’t understand, and give feedback on which teaching methods work best and which are not as effective. This will help you more easily grasp concepts and facts.
Review your notes often. It’s essential to constantly review notes from class and from your tutoring sessions to keep the knowledge in the front of your mind. Before each tutoring session, briefly review the notes from your last session to refresh your memory.
Maintain a positive outlook. Your attitude about your tutoring experience affects how the sessions go. If you keep a “can-learn” mind-set, stumbling blocks will be easier to overcome. Remaining positive is key to raising your confidence level, which in turn impacts your ability to learn and succeed academically.

Call Lafayette Academy or Visit Us Online for Tutoring Help Today

To learn more about all of our dynamic tutoring programs, get in touch with us today at Lafayette Academy. We’ll be happy to help your child stay on track during this challenging post-pandemic time.

Tips to Ensure You Get the Most Out of Each Tutoring Session

Steps to a Successful Tutoring Experience

Call Lafayette Academy or Visit Us Online for Tutoring Help Today

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