Wii! Take a break from SAT prep.

The December SAT test is now over and it's officially the holiday season! Congratulations to everyone who took the SAT test this year. You worked hard and you deserve a break. A Wii break. If you're asking yourself what those crazy people are doing, then you haven't played the wii yet. Nintendo's newest game system is the coolest thing since sliced bread. Motion sensor controllers make it fun and easy for even the biggest video game novice to play.

If you don't want to play, then sit back and watch your friends move around. It's funny. Trust me. Check out this video clip from the Nintendo website (hard not to laugh).   

December SAT test..around the corner.

The SAT test is coming up this Saturday, December 2nd. No need to worry if you are going to be taking the test. There is still plenty of time to review important topics or just refresh your memory. The most important thing you can do is feel confident and ready on test day. Don't lose points due to nerves. Find out if you're ready. Take a free SAT IQ quiz here. 

Also, check out these tips so you're ready on test day:

On Thursday (before the test)
** Get a good night's sleep.  The night before the test you may be restless, so stock up on sleep now.
** If you will be bringing a calculator with you to the test, replace the batteries.

On Friday (before the test)
** Take the night off. Do something relaxing and then get a good night's sleep!
** Before you head to bed, make sure your alarm is set and gather the things you will need in the morning.     

On Saturday (test day)
** Dress in layers and eat a good breakfast. 
** Try to arrive 30 minutes before the start of the test. 
** Register, find a seat and take out your pencils and your calculator.  Take a deep breathe. 

An SAT sing along?

You know how it is. Your favorite song comes on and you just can't help signing along. A few years later that song has come and gone, but anytime it comes on you remember the tune. Just image if everything you ever learned in school was like your favorite song from 2002 (mine was Get the party started by Pink). I could bust out in the Get the party started chorus right now, but I'd have a hard time remembering what I learned in physics class that same year.

Some people out there are attempting to bridge the gap learning important things and learning all the words to Ridin' by Chamillionaire.

Study for the SAT by learning vocabulary words through song. Clever. Not sure of the last time I heard a song that made use of the words taciturn and laconic.

Number of standardized test-takers movin' on up

According to an article in the Washington Post, the number of students taking both the SAT and ACT tests increased this year compared to last year. The number of students who took the SAT on October 14, 2006 was 660,000 compared to 570,000 who took it the same weekend last year. The ACT also showed a 17% increase. The article sites the possibility that more students are showing interest in attending college. The increase in the ACT appears to be coming from the number of students who choose to take both the SAT and ACT tests. Many experts believe that individual students can leverage their strengths by trying both tests and seeing which fits them best.

Should your SAT essay be written in cursive?

There's been a lot of talk about the new SAT essay question, which asks test-takers to plan and handwrite an essay in just 25-minutes.  Amidst all the heavy discourse, here's a lighter fun fact that was published last week in the Washington Post:

Of the 1.5 million students who have answered the SAT's new handwritten essay, only 15% submitted their essay in cursive.

As a group, the cursive writers had a slightly higher average score than the printers.  Is this because the SAT readers prefer cursive?  Not necessarily.  According to the article, studies have shown that students who write in cursive tend to be better at expressing their thoughts and can do so more quickly. 

Still, in an age of keyboards and text messages, many educators feel that time spent teaching penmanship should be very low on the list of educational priorities.  Others argue that the related cognitive skills are worth 15 minutes a day, and site the historical value and intimacy of handwritten communication as further argument for continuing to teach handwriting.

How about you?  Do you write in cursive?  block print?  Do any of your teachers require you to submit your work in cursive or print, or do they prefer your papers to be typed?  Do you think that being able to write in cursive is of any value in the digital age?

Read the full article "The Handwriting Is on the Wall, by Margaret Webb Pressler, and let us know what you think. 

Are you feeling the stress?

According to a recent National Public Radio segment titled School, Study, SATs: No wonder Teens Are Stressed if you are feeling overstressed and overscheduled you are not alone.  The highly competitive college admissions process is increasingly taking its toll on teenagers preparing for college.

According to NPR, "To help teenagers cope, the American Academy of Pediatrics is launching a new Web site where teens can go and design their own stress-reduction plans, described by the doctors as a “prescription for balance.”

If you are feeling the pressure of academic and extra-curricular demands of your life, here are the steps the site recommends for reducing your stress:

Point 1: Figure out what the problem is and make it manageable.

Point 2: Avoid things that bring you down.

Point 3: Let some things go.

Knowing how to successfully manage and reduce the stress in your life is an important skill.  The pressures of high school and college admissions will eventually end.  College studies, work, family, and the bumps and tumbles of life will introduce new pressures.  Learning the skills you need to manage stress now will help you for years to come.

Focus on what you DO know.

In the final days before the big test, you may begin to feel anxious about the things you don't know and you may be tempted to start cramming.  Although it may seem like a good idea, last-minute cramming can negatively impact your performance – causing unnecessary stress and a false sense of confidence. Instead of worrying about what you don't know, focus on feeling confident about all you DO know.  You've worked hard to prepare, so relax and give your mind some time to digest everything you've learned. 

Preparing for Test Day

Here are some guidelines for things to do in the days before the test:

On Thursday

• Get a good night’s sleep.  The night before the test you may be restless, so stock up sleep now.
• If you will be bringing a calculator with you to the test, replace the batteries.
• If you are still feeling nervous, you may want to review the lesson on Reducing SAT Anxiety, but avoid cramming which will only increase your anxiety.  Focus on feeling confident about what you do know, instead of worrying about what you don’t know.

On Friday

• Take the night off, do something relaxing, and then get a good night’s sleep!
• Before you head to bed, make sure your alarm is set and that you have set out the things you will need in the morning including: your admission ticket, a valid id, several sharpened number two pencils with good erasers, an approved calculator that you are comfortable using, a watch, with no alarm, a snack and something to drink, directions to the test site. Knowing you are prepared will help you feel more relaxed and enable you to get a better night’s sleep.
• Be sure your alarm is set correctly.  It’s also a good idea to have a back up – just in case – so set a second alarm or to ask a parent or friend to make sure you don’t oversleep. 

On Saturday

• In the morning have a good breakfast – but keep it light and watch the liquid – after all, you will only have two ten minute breaks during the exam. 
• It may be hotter or colder than you would ideally like it to be in the test room so wear layers. 
• Plan to arrive at the test location at least 30 minutes before the start of the exam.  Register and then find a seat you are comfortable with.  Take out your pencils and your calculator and take a deep breathe.  Feel confident knowing that you are prepared.
• If you have a little extra time, take a quick lap around the parking lot or climb a flight of stairs to burn of your nervous energy and wake you up.  And make sure you go to the bathroom before the test starts as there may be a line during the breaks. 

Finally, keep the SAT in perspective. As all consuming as the SAT might seem right now, it is just a test. SAT scores are not the only factor considered for college admissions. Take a breath and remember you CAN do it.  The SAT is not a one shot deal. You can always retake the test and Boston Test Prep will always be here to help you prepare.

Dear Prep Procratinator,

This month's SAT is just days away, and if you have been putting off your SAT prep you may be starting to regret your procrastination.  You may even be teetering dangerously close to an SAT-panic spiral and thinking, "If only I'd spent some time prepping last weekend instead of watching that Monk marathon . . . " And while it's true that there is nothing can replace weeks of prep and years of paying attention in school, there are still some things you can do to quickly help you get more prepared for test day. 

Heading into the test you should know that, like it or not, your SAT score will be a reflection of two things - 1) your knowledge of the things you've learned in school and 2) your ability to take a standardized test.  Here are some suggestions for some quick prep in both areas:

First, learn about the standardized test you'll be taking - the SAT.  Start by reviewing the lesson "Part I:  About the SAT" to learn about the test's overall design, the question types it contains, and how the test is score. Then review the lesson "Part II:  Test Taking Strategies for the SAT" to understand how to use what you've learned to help you maximize your score.  Reviewing these lessons takes less than an hour in total and will quickly get you up to speed for what to expect on test day.

Once you've done that, focus on your knowledge of the topics tested.  Begin by taking a Practice quizzes in each of the three areas.  When you come to a question you have trouble answering, click on the "lesson" button for the question and polish your skills.  By the time you complete one quiz, you will have learned several things you don't know while familiarizing yourself with the overall style of the questions.

Nothing will replace weeks of prep and years of school, but by following these steps you'll be able to familiarize yourself with the test and polish a few of your skills.

SAT Scores get low like they're playing limbo

SAT Scores--Limbo Lower Now

There is a lot of news out there about how the SAT test had it's lowest score drop in over three decades. The College Board, the makers of the SAT test, announced this drop stating that fatigue wasn't to blame. The class of 2006 was the first class to take the new, longer SAT. College Board officials state that the drop in scores is a result of students taking the exam only once. In past years, most students took the exam at least two times to see an increase in score.

"When a new test is introduced, students usually vary their test-taking behavior in a variety of ways, and this affects scores," College Board President Gaston Caperton said in a press release.

Skeptics blame the new longer exam (3 hours and 45 minutes) for lower scores. They say the test is too long and causes fatigue. The College Board says that student scores do not decrease towards the end of the exam, proving that fatigue doesn't cause low scores.

There are many articles and opinions out there that pose many interesting questions on this topic of lower SAT scores. Here are snapshots from a few:

"Maybe the decline in SAT scores will force people to notice that their children are not getting good educations. If your children don't read or do math, why would you think that they would do well on the SAT? I would love to get into a time machine and go back to 1960 and give this new SAT to high-school students back then. I suspect that they would do much better than today's students. If we want people to get good scores on the SAT, I have a suggestion. Stop complaining about how unfair the test is and do your homework." BY DAVID S. KAHN, The Wall Street Journal Editorial Page

"Declining SAT scores do not necessarily reflect less learning, but they do accurately measure specific educational accomplishments that help students succeed in college. However, low SAT test scores are simply low SAT scores. They cannot prevent a person from succeeding if there is a strong desire and willingness to work." Larry Weis, letters to the editor starbulletin.com

Early Decision v Early Action

Traditionally, many colleges, particularly ivy league colleges, have accepted up to one-half of their incoming students from their early applicant pool. Because this pool of applicants tends to be significantly smaller, and because the odds of acceptance are greater, applying early can often improve a student's chances of acceptance into his/her college of choice. 

In general, early applicant programs can be divided into two categories: 

Early Decision is usually binding, meaning the student is making a promise to attend, if accepted.  Students seeking this form of early admission are expected to submit an early decision application to only ONE school.  However, this type of decision can present problems for students who need financial aid, as there is little leverage for negotiating.

Early Action is usually non-binding, meaning the student are not obligated to attend the school if accepted.  Students may apply "Early Action" to multiple schools, allowing them to compare offers before making a final decision. How long the student has to decide can vary from school to school.

Early acceptance to colleges . . . maybe not for long!

For the past 30 years, students intent on attending Harvard University have had the option of applying for early acceptance.  Each fall, thousand of Harvard-hopefuls send in their applications by November 1st, in the hopes of receiving an acceptance (in the form of early action*) by as early as mid-December. 

Earlier this week, Harvard University announced that it will be eliminating its early action process and moving to a single deadline of January 1 for all applications.  Many are expecting several other colleges to follow suit.  The change will affect students hoping to attend Harvard in the fall of 2007, but will impact students hoping to attend Harvard in the fall of 2008, or later. 

Tell us what you think:

Is doing away with early action a good policy for colleges and universities, or a bad one?

For more information, read the Associated Press release, "Harvard plans to drop 'early action'" or listen to the related NPR Story, "Harvard Ending Early Admissions Process."   

*To learn more about the difference between type of early acceptance, check out our blog posting Early Decision v Early Action.

Differences between the SAT and ACT

Test season is here.  With all of the recent press about the New SAT, and the recent 8-point decrease in the average SAT score, some students are considering the ACT as an alternate test for college admissions.  Here is some basic information about the two tests.

The SAT is designed and produced by Educational Testing Service and is administered by the College Board.  The test is given 7 times each school year and is more popular in the Northeast and the West Coast. The test is 3 hours and 45 minutes long and contains 10 sections that test students' abilities in three areas: Math, Reading, and Writing.  In most sections of the test, questions are organized by ascending order of difficulty and become increasingly "tricky" toward the end of a section because of the intentional inclusion of "attractors" (incorrect, but plausible answers).  The SAT does include a written essay, but does not include trigonometry or science questions.  The SAT is negatively scored, meaning students lose 1/4 point for incorrect answers.  Therefore, knowing when and how to guess is a key strategy for the SAT.  Overall SAT scores range between 600 and 2,400 points. 

The ACT is administered by ACT, Inc.  The test is given 6 times each school year and is more widely used in the Midwest and Southeast.   The test is 2 hours and 55 minutes long and contains 4 sections that test students' abilities in four areas:  Math, Reading, English, Science.  The ACT also has a 30-minute Writing test, but this fifth section is optional.  The ACT includes science and trigonometry questions.  Most sections of the ACT contain a passage, scenario, or other information about which multiple questions are then asked. The ACT is positively scored, meaning students do NOT lose points for incorrect answers. On the ACT it is a good idea to leave yourself a bit of time at the end of each section to randomly fill in answers for unanswered questions.  Composite ACT scores range between 1 and 36.

Professor iPod

Cruise out your door, grab your iPod, put in your earphones, and transport to your favorite biochem professors Wednesday lecture. Add the word spaceship to that sentence and you'd think it was the year 2200. Well...maybe not, but nowadays it's becoming more and more likely that your college professors will experiment with making lessons and lectures available in MP3 format. According to an article in USA Today, iPods are becoming study aids for students, allowing them to fast-forward to a part of a lecture they may not have understood the first time or review complicated themes before exams. Last year, Duke University gave all their incoming freshman iPods (sweet). Keep this trend in mind, looks like it's here to stay.

Want feedback on your practice essay?

Lola, just posted an essay and wants to know if she stayed on point.  What do you think? What score would you give Lola's essay? Why? Check out her essay and practice using the SAT Essay scoring criteria.

Did you know that you can post a practice essay online and ask for feedback?  It's true.  The BTP Blog contains a section called Student Essay Posts where we post essays submitted by students like you.  For more information on submitting your essay check the blog for Post an essay. Ask for feedback.

Is it thorough? Did I stay on topic?

I was asked on my opinion on if big changes required small steps. I would like to know if I was thorough, and if I stayed on topic. Did my points fit the essay and is there anything that would have fit?  Thanks!  - Lola

---

Prompt:  What is your view of the idea that great change is often the result of many small steps? 

Although it may seem like history happens in great leaps, it actually requires many small steps as a precident. Freedom of slaves, for example, did not occur overnight, but took many years of fighting and oppositionto achieve it. Another example is women's sufferage. Women struggled for many centuries to be treated as equal to men. It cost many women their lives to bring about such a change.

The Emancipation Proclamation is one of the most important documents ever written.It was signed by Abraham Lincoln before the end of the Civil War, and it legalized the freedom of slaves. Before the signing of this document, many small, insignificant things helped bring about this occurence. Events such as the underground railroad, politicians who fought for equal rights, and men and women who treated slaves with kindness and compassion.

Women's Sufferage did not come to be till the twentieth century. Since women were considered inferior, they did not have a say in anything. The way women changed this was by writing novels, fighting on battlefields in disguise, speaking their minds on all matters, and pushing for their education. These things may be small, but combined, women changed the way they were viewed.

Freeing of slaves and women's sufferage illustrate that great changes require and enormous amount of small changes in order to happen. Small changes such as acts of kindness, getting an education, and speaking your mind are all pieces of a puzzle. Put them together and you get the final picture; a great change, an accomplishment, or even history.

_________________________________

Please use the "Comment" feature below to post your feedback.  If you would like to sumit your own practice essay, please send it to essays@bostontestprep.com

Music makes you smarter.

Ah summer. The sun, the water, the ice cream trucks, the music. Like many of you, one of my favorite things about this season is all the concerts. Whether you're a frequent concert goer, addicted to your MP3 player or just love listening to the radio I have some excellent news.

According to new research presented at the 102nd Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association music can enhance a key component of our intellegence. Sweet.

Those of you studying for the SAT right now probably don't need any more persuasion to go see your favorite artist in concert or download a new tune, but now that you have scientific evidence that it will make you smarter--hurry up! Here are some sites to check out fellow music lovers:

http://blogcritics.org/music/  This site has a review of Christina Aguilera's new CD, among many other interesting reviews. I recommend you check it out.

http://www.audiolunchbox.com/ Super independent music download site. If you're tired of the same old stuff. Check this place out.

http://www.pandora.com/ Sweet internet radio station. You put in your favorite artist. They make a 'radio station' so you can discover new music. Try it. I just did.

   

Which SAT question is worth 10% of your score?

Open up any SAT test booklet and the first section you see will be the written essay.  Your essay score represents approximately one-third of your Writing score, which means that this one question actually represents 10% of your overall sAT score!

The criteria used to judge the SAT essay are not a secret.  The College Board publishes both the grading criteria (known as the "scoring rubric") and the guidelines by which readers are told to evaluate the SAT essays they review.  And, the standards the readers apply to your SAT essay are not unlike those your college professors will use to evaluate your writing in college. 

At BTP we focus on helping you to strengthen your ability to write a logical and precise essay, using the accepted academic format (introduction, thesis sentence, body paragraphs, and conclusion).  We've created a step-by-step tutorial for guiding you through the process.  We also focus a lot of attention on helping you to learn to think like a reader.  Once you understand how your writing will be evaluated, you will know how to write a high-scoring essay. 

Take the time you need to develop this skill.  Not only will it serve you well in college, but it could also increase your overall score by more than 100 points!

Tips for the Class of 2007

It's a Friday afternoon.  The last Friday in July, I just realized.  I find it hard to believe that the summer is flying by so quickly, but there you have it.  Only four weeks left. 

If you are a member of the class of 2007, you are about to embark on a crazy year.  Not only will this be your last year of high school, but it will also be a year of decisions about college and your future.  On top of your regular studying and activities, you will need to find time to prepare for the SAT, visit college campuses, write college admissions essays, and, of course, make some "Senior Year Memories" with your friends.

To help you get ready, I've located a great College-Bound High School Senior Planning Calendar to help you plan your year and avoid last minute craziness. This article also contains links to some other great articles written by Dr. Randall Hansen, the webmaster at Quintessential Careers.   

Report Suggests College Board Considers Moving Exam Online

We posted some interesting news about the problems The College Board's SAT test scoring. A recent article in The Boston Globe reports that The College Board commissioned a report to review the problem. The report also included information on how to improve scoring methods.

Interestingly, one of the suggestions in the report is that the SAT test move online.

Boston Test Prep's students already know the benefit of PREPPING online. In the future, students will both prep and take the SAT on a computer.   

SAT Scoring Issues

There's been a lot in the news lately about the SAT scoring problems that occurred last year. For those of you who are unsure what happened or are confused by the articles, here's a summary:

• The SAT is owned and administered by the College Board, but is scored by Pearson Educational Measurement.
• In late January, scoring discrepancies were identified after two students requested that the tests they had taken in October be rescored by hand.  (The College Board offers this service for a $50 fee.  If a scoring error is found, the fee is waived.)
• As a result of these discrepancies, answer sheets from the October, November, December, and January exams were rescored (approximately 1.5 million, in total). Overall, approximately 5,000 of the 495,000 October exams were found to contain scoring errors.  (4,400 were scored too low and 613 were too high). The College Board reported that 83% of the incorrect scores were off by 40 points or less. One score was off by 450 points.
• An additional 1,600 answer sheets, which were being reviewed under a special exceptions process at the time of the initial rescoring, were later reviewed. This review uncovering an additional 400 incorrectly scored tests.
• An investigation into the cause of the errors found two causes:  1) excess moisture, which caused some of the answer sheets to expand, and 2) scanners that failed to properly read bubbles which were lightly marked.
• The College Board issued an apology to all students affected by the errors, refunded their registration fees (and any other fees associated with the error), and contacted the affected high schools, colleges, and scholarship organizations.
• Information about the scoring errors reached many colleges just as they were making final decisions.  Although many colleges scrambled to re-open the admissions files of the students affected, several stated that despite their review, they did not anticipate they would result in admission decision changes. 

How to register for the SAT

The SAT is given seven times each year and the College Board makes it easy to register online.  They even provide a handy brochure with answers to questions you may have about online registrations. 

The Registration and Test Fee for the SAT Reasoning Test is $41.50, so make sure you have a credit card handy. (And make sure you register by the deadline to avoid the $21.00 fee they charge for late registrations! Ouch.)

2006-2007 Test Dates	Registration Deadline ($41.50)	Late Registration ($62.50)
October 14th	September 12th	September 20th
November 4th	September 29th	October 11th
December 2nd	November 1st	November 9th
January 27th	December 20th	January 4th
March 10th	February 2nd	February 14th
May 5th	March 29th	April 11th
June 2nd	April 27th	May 9th

(Note:  If you are taking the SAT outside the U.S., additional registration information is provided on the College Board site)

Why the drop in SAT Scores?

Let's face it.  The NEW SAT Reasoning Test is here and it is harder, longer, and more expensive. 

The NEW SAT was created in response to criticism that the test was too easy to “game.”  The argument was that gaming techniques could be taught to increase scores.  This meant that the test was unnecessarily biased toward students who were able to pay for test prep courses and tutors who could teach them the tricks.  A second, complaint was that the SAT was not accurately measure a student’s abilities and readiness for collegiate study.

To level the playing field and better align the test with the current curriculum taught in American high schools, a NEW SAT™ Reasoning Test was developed and released in March of 2005.  The changes made to the SAT de-emphasized reasoning skills and shifted the test’s focus toward assessing the test-taker’s knowledge of academic content. Additionally, a new writing component was added to help colleges make better admission and placement decisions.

These changes, according to many colleges, have caused SAT scores to drop.  Not a big drop, but a drop.  However, when you consider the changes, this is not as shocking as many are making it out to be. Here's why:

THE NEW SAT is LONGER. The old SAT contained two sections (Math and Verbal).  The new SAT contains three sections (Math, Reading, and Writing).  With this third Writing Section, the NEW SAT is also 45 minutes longer than the original, making it close to 4 hours long!  Students have consistent complained about this length, saying they have a difficult time staying focused.  The length of the test may be one of the factors impacting performance.

THE NEW SAT is HARDER. The NEW Math section contains higher-level math, including Algebra II concepts and quantitative comparisons. The NEW Verbal Section (aka the Critical Reading section) contains more reading comprehension questions and no longer contains analogies. In other words, both of the sections have been changed to include more difficult and time consuming content, which may also impact SAT scores.

THE NEW SAT is MORE EXPENSIVE. The registration fee for the old SAT was $24.  The fee for the New SAT is $41.50.  This means that in recent years a student could take the SAT twice for the same cost as taking the new SAT just once.  Where as, in the past, students would take the SAT a second time in hopes of improving their score, many students may be reluctant to spend the money to take the SAT a second time.  Reluctance to pay for a second SAT may also be a contributor to the slight drop in SAT scores.

SAT Scores Have Dropped

You may have seen the news.  Some colleges are reporting that SAT scores have dropped.  USA Today has an article about these score changes, which appeared earlier this week.  See: SAT scores drop; some see red flag

According to the article, the class rank and course work of students remained the same or even went up a bit, but SAT scores went down.  This is causing some colleges and critics of the SAT to question the validity and reliability of the SAT. 

For a better understanding of the reasons check out "Why the drop in SAT Scores?" or learner more about how SAT scores are being compared.

SAT Score Comparisons: Old v New

Here's a great question.

If top score of the old SAT was 1600 and the top score of the new SAT is 2400, how do colleges compare student's score? 

By now you've heard about the new SAT.  You now that the new SAT contains a third writing section and you know that the "1250" your older cousin got when she took the test is not longer an impressive number.  But how are college admissions offices handling this change?

If you look at the admissions applications of several colleges, many will have spaces provide for recording your Math and your "Verbal" scores, but will not include a place for your writing score.  (Note: the Common Application does ask for your writing score.)  Similarly, admissions offices that provide "student profiles" most commonly will list their school's minimum SAT scores using the original 1,600 point scale. 

The fact of the matter is that many colleges haven't yet begun considering the new 2,400 point mark.  Instead, they are making comparisons between the old test and only two of the three sections of the new test.  In general, when you hear people talking about SAT score comparisons, what they mean is that they are comparing either:
1) the old math score to the new math score,
2) the old verbal score to the new critical reading score, or
3) the old total SAT score to the new total of math and reading score.

Preview of the Program

Still thinking about how to prepare for the SAT?
Not sure how the Boston Test Prep Online SAT Program works?
Want to know more about ways the Build Your Brain^TM Learning System will help you prepare?

Take a look at this short Preview of the Program and learn more.

Are you ready for the SAT Essay?

Take a quiz and find out.

For many students, the essay is the most feared of all of the SAT sections because it is the most unfamiliar.  It’s a very unusual assignment when you stop to think about it.  When else will you be asked to write a well-structured essay, on a random quote, in pencil, and in a limited amount of time?   

One of the newest features of the BTP Online SAT Program is the Essay Quiz, which provides you with 10 different Essay questions to practice with.  Each essay is timed so you can get a feel for how quickly you will need to plan and write your essay.  We even provide you with Essay Writing Sheets that look just like the sheets you'll be given on test day.

Once you finish, use the tools provided to score your essay, or post your SAT essay here on the BTP Blog and get feedback from others. 

Find out if you are ready for the SAT Essay BEFORE test day arrives.  Afterall, this one question represents 10% of your total SAT score (which can translate to as many as 180 points)! 

Are you ready for the SAT Essay?

Introducing two NEW Lessons to help you prepare for the SAT

Test-Taking Strategies for the SAT

This lesson will teach you the "Top 12 Strategies" for maximizing your SAT score. For right or for wrong, your performance on the SAT is a reflection of both your knowledge of the things you've learned in school and your ability to take a standardized test.  By using what you've know about the design of the SAT to your advantage, you can learn the ways to maximize the points you earn on test day.This BTP Online SAT Prep lesson will teach you the strategies you need to master the SAT.

Reducing SAT Anxiety

Generally speaking, anxiety is defined as "A state of uneasiness and apprehension caused by uncertainty."  Reducing test-taking anxiety means learning to replace these feelings of uncertainty with feelings of confidence. By teaching you to focus on the things you CAN control, this lesson will teach you several strategies for removing your uncertainty about the things you DON’T know, as you gradually become more confident in the things you DO know.

This lesson discusses some of the most common causes of SAT anxiety and provides strategies and techniques for reducing anxiety, building confidence, and mentally preparing for test day.  The lesson also provides some last-minute prep pointers for the final days before the actual test.

Planning on taking the SAT this spring?

Spring is here and if you are a Junior, you are probably planning on taking the SAT at least once this spring. (And if you aren't planning on it, you probably should!)

There are only three test dates left for this school year.  The registration deadline for the April 1st test has already passed, but you have until March 8th to make the cut-off for late registration(though it will cost you an additional $21.00 on top of the usual registration fee of $41.50). 

Test Dates for Spring 2006	Registration Deadline ($41.50)	Late Registration ($62.50)
April 1st	February 24th	March 8th
May 6th	April 3rd	April 12th
June 3rd	April 28th	May 10th

The College Board makes it easy to register online and they have a handy brochure with answers to questions you may have about online registrations.  Once you are registered, the only thing left to do is prepare for test day.  Just knowing what the test is about and practicing with SAT-style questions can improve your score and your confidence. 

We want to see you do well on the SAT and have designed the Boston Test Prep Online SAT Program with your busy schedule in mind. Learn what the SAT is about.  Take quizzes to spot your weaknesses.  Review lessons to brush-up on the things you don't know.  Learn the strategies and tips for maximizing your score.

Get the most out of the time you spend preparing by focusing on what YOU need to improve YOUR score.

Happy Pi Day!

Here's a fun fact for you . . .

March 14th is Pi Day.  A coincidence that the date is written 3.14?  I think not.  But it is a good time to learn a few interesting facts about this common math symbol and it's use.

• The pi symbol is actually the Greek letter for "p."
• Pi represents the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.
• Pi is an irrational number and it continues infinitely without repeating. (In September of 2002, Dr. Kanada of the University of Tokyo set a record by calculating pi to more than 1.2 TRILLION decimal places!)
• Pi is most commonly represented using the three digit approximation, 3.14.
• Ahmes, who was an ancient Egyptian scribe, wrote the oldest known text providing a value for π.  (He was only two-hundredths off the true value of pi!)
• There is a museum in Paris with a gallery dedicated to pi.  It is a circular room called "The Room of Pi."
• And if you live near San Fransisco, you can join in the Annual Pi Day Celebration festivities at the Exploratorium.

For an up-to-the-minute countdown check out the Pi Day Countdown Clock.  And be sure you are dressed approriately with your pi gear.

(Oh yeah - and for those of you still reading, March 14th is also Albert Einstein's 127th birthday!)

Who knew pi could be so fun!

What I Like About You

So you've taken a quiz. You've built your brain.

Now tell us what you think about Boston Test Prep.

Just post a comment here.

January 28, 2006 - THE SAT

Good Luck to everyone taking the SAT tomorrow.

Keep an eye out on a survey from us. Just a few questions to see what you thought about the SAT.

We'll talk to you soon.

Have a great weekend!

-M

Last Minute Test Anxiety

The SAT can be stressful.  Follow these quick tips to help you combat test-anxiety:

1. Know what to expect.  Review the All About the SAT lesson so you are familiar with the design of the test and each question type.  Being familiar with the test will help you feel more confident.
2. The goal is not 100%. Tying to answer ever question on the SAT can hurt your score.  Focus on correctly answering ever question you attempt, rather than on answering every question.  You'll be less hurried, make fewer careless mistakes, and be less likely to fall for attractors.
3. Be ready for hurdles.  Inevitably, there will be questions on the SAT you that you have difficulty answering.  When this happens, say to yourself, "I knew there would be some questions I wouldn't know and here's one of them," and then move on.  Don't beat yourself up or dwell on what you don't know.  Keep going.
4. Keep focused.  Don't rethink questions you've answered or worry about the questions to come.  Instead, focus all of your attention on the question in front of you and do your best to answer it correctly.
5. Each section is a new start.  Between each section, as you put down your pencil, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and clear your mind.  Don't waste brain space thinking about the section.  Clear you mind and focus on the next section. 

T-3days and counting

Yikes! The SAT is only three days from now.

Don't freak out! Relax...it's be okay. Use your time wisely. Spend the next couple of nights taking review quizzes or writing an essay. Take a few moments to flip through the flashcards and to review the test directions and formulas.

Then on Friday night - REST! RELAX! Watch a movie, read a book, go do something fun that has nothing to do with the SAT!

That's all for now.

-M

BTP on Fox News

Our program and company was featured on Fox news. This clip was syndicated to all of the local outlets, so you may have seen it already.

Watch it now (Flash player required)

Build Your Brain,

Ben

Danger: Don't Cram

Score Guarantee

Hey There
I just wanted to let you all know about the BTP Score Guarantee! We believe in our program and are prepared to back it up with a money back guarantee.
To qualify you need to have been a paid active member for at least 3 months, and have earned a minimum of 60,000 BTP Prep Points. If you meet these requirements and your SAT score doesn't improve by at least 200 points then we'll give you your money back. 

Take a look at the Guarantee page for the "Official" information. We're behind you all the way. What do you have to lose?

-Mikki

T-17 days (and counting)

The first SAT of 2006 is 17 days away. Sounds like a lot - but it will fly by quickly.

If you plan to take the SAT on January 28th you should have already registered (if you haven't, the April test is only a couple months away). Dedicate an hour a day to preparing for the SAT. Take a lesson to review a subject you may be a little weak in. Take a quiz to test your smarts. And remember, if you study hard and do well you'll also rack up Prep Points. 

17 days is plenty of time to kick it up a notch and build the skills and confidence you need to crush the SAT.

I'll check back with you later.

-M

It's time to register for the SAT.

The New Year has arrived and if you plan on taking the SAT this spring, it's time think about registering for one of the upcoming test dates.  The College Board makes it easy to register online and they have a handy brochure with answers to questions you may have about online registrations.  The Registration and Test Fee for the SAT Reasoning Test is $41.50, so make sure you have a credit card handy. (And make sure you register by the deadline to avoid the $21.00 fee they charge for late registrations! Ouch.)

Test Dates for Spring 2006	Registration Deadline ($41.50)	Late Registration ($62.50)
April 1st	February 24th	March 8th
May 6th	April 3rd	April 12th
June 3rd	April 28th	May 10th

Is the New SAT too long?

"Bo Xu's back started to ache, his hand cramped up, and even the hissing heater distracted the Newton North High senior as he tried to tackle the new, much longer version of the SAT . . ."

This is an excerpt from a longer article Counselors Air Concerns Over Length of New SAT that recently appeared in the Boston Globe.  This article is just one of many that have appeared in newspapers across the country during the past few weeks.  The articles are in response to a letter sent to the College Board and signed by more than 200 guidance counselors.  The letter asked the College Board to consider allowing students to take the SAT in parts, over three days, rather than taking all three sections on the same day.

What do YOU think? 

Have you taken the New SATTM Reasoning Test?  Do you think the test was too long or unrealistic?  Would you rather be tested over three days?

Join the debate at Boston.com or post your comments here on the BTP Blog.

In the news . . . articles about the length of the SAT.

More than 200 guidance counselors from across the country recently signed a letter to the College Board expressing their concern that the New SAT^TM  Reasoning Test is too long.

Here are some articles:

• College Board May Split the SATs from the Washington Post
• College Board Mulls Length of SAT from CNN.com
• College Board Weighs Dividing SAT Sections from ABC News
• SAT Length May Mean Multiple Tests from the Denver Post

Winter Break - Thinking about SAT Prep?

So you're in the middle of your Winter Vacation...one, maybe two weeks off from school! (By the way, we here a BTP are VERY jealous) The last thing you probably want to be thinking about is the SAT. The test may be a few months away, but you don't want to be caught off guard at the last minute. A couple hours of week now will make studying a whole lot easier...and it will get your parents off your back.

Enjoy your last few days of vacation. Sleep late for me!

-Mikki

It's off to the slopes for Santa!

Ready for a study break from your SAT prep? Check this out!

http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/christmas/games/skijump/index.htm

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Holidays to all!

Jillregin

Santa Catch!

santa game from bunnyhero labs

How to build a gnome swing

Today i received a belated birthday gift from my fellow BTP SAT blogger Allison.  She gave me a garden gnome - complete with a fake garden, scenic backdrops, and a book all about gnomes.

Right now my gnome (possibly named Olaf) is standing in his garden in front of the Eiffel tower. He does like to travel.

I wanted to share a bit of knowledge from the book. Here are instructions on building a Gnome Swing - from The Garden Gnome Book by Marcus B. Mennes.

Step One: Create the chains. Link together three two-inch paper clips end to end. You will need two of these chains.
Step Two: Each chain should be linked to a binder clip. Thread the chain through the top lever and link it to the bottom lever.
Step Three: Clip each binder clip onto either end of a small sticky note pad.
Step Four: Hang swing from two thumbtacks on a bulletin board.
Step Five: Place gnome on not pad and allow the breeze to set him swinging.

- Mikki

Print your scores. Track your progress.

We've heard from a lot of teachers, and even a few students, asking us for an easy way to print quiz results.  Now, when you go to the Past Quiz Results tab in any of the three SAT test areas, not only will you see your quiz results for the past 90 days, you will also see a printer icon labeled "Print Friendy Version."  By selecting this button you can now print the results shown on the screen to pass in to a teacher or take with you.

When you talk, we listen.

Yet Another SAT...

As you know tomorrow is the last SAT of 2005.

Don't worry if you're not ready...there's another one just around the corner.
The first SAT of the new year is January 28th (My sister's birthday...I guess I won't forget this year!)

Taking the test tomorrow?
Relax, get a good night sleep and remember - you're prepared to tackle the SAT.

Have a great weekend!

-Mikki

What's the SAT all about?

Ever looked for answers for the following questions?

1. What is the SAT?
2. Does Boston Test Prep give the SAT?
3. How do I register for the SAT?
4. Who is the College Board?
5. What does the BTP Program include? And what’s with the payment plans?

Well, look no further than the Boston Test Prep Home Page.

Check it out!

-Mikki

Finding time to prep for the SAT

Finding time to prepare for the SAT isn't easy.  Homework, activities, friends, family . . . it's hard to find the time and easy to come up with reasons to put off studying for the SAT. 

One strategy for combating Prep Procrastination is to realize that you don't need a big block of time.  In fact, more than 60% of students enrolled in the BTP Online SAT Program study in short sprints.  Are you one of them? 

Just 30 minutes is enough time to review a lesson, complete a diagnostic quiz, or review the answers for a quiz you've already taken.  Once you stop believing that you need a big block of time to study, you'll find you have more time to study.

Here is when some students find time to prepare for the SAT:

• I use the half-hour between The Simpsons and Family Guy (when that horrible new show is on). 
• While I'm waiting for dinner.
• I got my dad to drive me to school for a month by promising to study.  I get to school faster than when I take a bus and I use the extra 25 minutes to study online.

When do you find time to study?  Post a comment and share your study habits and tips with other students.

Johnny Cash should have written a song about test prep.

Movie Corner with Aurora

Saw Walk the Line this weekend, the movie about the late singer Johnny Cash. It pretty much covers the early days of his life and career. The movie was fun to watch but lacked a lot of momentum. The acting, on the other hand, was awesome. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon did their own singing for the roles of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. Joaquin Phoenix isn't likable but you have to give him props. Reese Witherspoon stole the show with her bubbly impersonation of June. I didn't know June Carter, but I'd imagine she'd be proud.

The cinematography was really interesting. Lots of wide close shots. If you're into photography or artistic things you'll definitely notice.

I didn't know much about Johnny Cash before seeing this movie. I liked a few of his songs, especially long black veil. If you know nothing about the guy you should check out the movie and some of his music. He was a major force in the early days of rock and roll in the United States.

It isn't a crazy, raging, action adventure film with stuff exploding all over--but it is well done.  I give Walk the Line a medium size popcorn. I wouldn't run out of the theater demanding that all your friends see it, but I bet Reese and Joaquin will be nominated for Oscars.

What the tough critics say:

My dad was disappointed and thought it was boring- 2 stars.