October 13, 2010 is the big day...time for my 11th grader to take the PSAT / NMSQT (Preliminary SAT / National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test). He had the PLAN test for college readiness last year at this time in preparation for the ACT. SAT means Scholastic Assessment Test and is referred to as the SAT Reasoning Test. This is NOT the same as the SAT which students from grades 1-10 take. That is the Stanford Achievement Test. (I know, it's confusing.)
If you and your student(s) are about to begin the adventure of meeting the requirements for college admission, be sure to go to THIS LINK to begin practicing now and make sure your student does a little on it EACH DAY.
If you and your student(s) are about to begin the adventure of meeting the requirements for college admission, be sure to go to THIS LINK to begin practicing now and make sure your student does a little on it EACH DAY.
Wednesday, October 13, and Saturday, October 16.
Homeschoolers, click on THIS LINK for more details if you are registered with the county in which you live rather than an umbrella school. The cost is about $13 to take the test although we are paying a little more since it is being administered by a school.
We are doing an SAT Prep class ourselves as part of our homeschool curriculum this year using the book Cracking the SAT
put out by Princeton Review. There is also one for the ACT.
Don't wait. There are many scholarships available to high school students headed for college. We neglected to search them out for our older son who received 100% scholarship to his college but with the tuition increases over the years, is now beginning to pay a portion for education. Our state keeps raising the tuition so even the 100% scholarship is not covering all the costs. Thankfully our son has only about three semesters left.
Our registration packet included practice tests as well as a list of sponsoring corporations from whom we can apply for additional college $$. We will be beginning that process soon.
Study hard and prepare! We have had some young friends who opted out of taking any of these college entrance tests when they were in high school and they (and their parents) regret it now. Tests are generally priced at about $60 for each test you take (SAT / ACT) but it is SO worth the cost if you get several thousand $$ in scholarship money. The differences between the two tests are outlined below.
You are allowed to combine the scores for the various portions to achieve the required score for scholarships (75% or 100% funding in most cases). Our older son who is now a senior in college took each test while in high school. He scored 100 points below the requirement for 100% scholarship on the SAT; and 1/4 point below the requirement for the ACT. He took the ACT a second time. He took the Language score from Test #1 and combined it with the math score on Test #2 to get the required score needed for the 100% funding. :) So, basically $180 in testing = several thousand $$ in college funding.
Students, do your best and prepare ahead of time; parents, help them prepare and encourage them along the way. Be sure not to neglect the WRITING preparation as this year, I believe, is the first year that an essay is required to qualify. Not everyone is meant to go to college but, in my opinion, ALL high school juniors and seniors should try taking both the ACT and the SAT at least once to determine this. There is no better time than this to max out on generous funding to defray the costs of college which are ever increasing. Once you graduate high school, you are ineligible for these two particular sources of funding.
put out by Princeton Review. There is also one for the ACT. Don't wait. There are many scholarships available to high school students headed for college. We neglected to search them out for our older son who received 100% scholarship to his college but with the tuition increases over the years, is now beginning to pay a portion for education. Our state keeps raising the tuition so even the 100% scholarship is not covering all the costs. Thankfully our son has only about three semesters left.
Our registration packet included practice tests as well as a list of sponsoring corporations from whom we can apply for additional college $$. We will be beginning that process soon.
Study hard and prepare! We have had some young friends who opted out of taking any of these college entrance tests when they were in high school and they (and their parents) regret it now. Tests are generally priced at about $60 for each test you take (SAT / ACT) but it is SO worth the cost if you get several thousand $$ in scholarship money. The differences between the two tests are outlined below.
ACT Facts
- What you learn in class will help since this college entrance exam is curriculum-based. That means you'll be tested on grammar, trigonometry, science reasoning, etc.
- The ACT exam is in four sections -- English, math, reading, and science. The writing section is optional.
- There are no "ACT IIs" -- the ACT is one test for all.
- The ACT is popular among students in Midwestern and Southern U.S. regions.
- Unlike the SAT, there is no guessing penalty, meaning you're only scored on correct answers.
SAT Facts
- The SAT exam is based on logic, critical thinking, problem--solving, and it tests vocabulary level.
- Math, verbal and writing are the three main sections of this college entrance exam.
- You may be required to take additional subject tests (called SAT IIs) for some colleges.
- The SAT is most popular among students in Eastern and Western U.S. regions.
- You are penalized for wrong answers, so wild guessing won't help you.
You are allowed to combine the scores for the various portions to achieve the required score for scholarships (75% or 100% funding in most cases). Our older son who is now a senior in college took each test while in high school. He scored 100 points below the requirement for 100% scholarship on the SAT; and 1/4 point below the requirement for the ACT. He took the ACT a second time. He took the Language score from Test #1 and combined it with the math score on Test #2 to get the required score needed for the 100% funding. :) So, basically $180 in testing = several thousand $$ in college funding.
Students, do your best and prepare ahead of time; parents, help them prepare and encourage them along the way. Be sure not to neglect the WRITING preparation as this year, I believe, is the first year that an essay is required to qualify. Not everyone is meant to go to college but, in my opinion, ALL high school juniors and seniors should try taking both the ACT and the SAT at least once to determine this. There is no better time than this to max out on generous funding to defray the costs of college which are ever increasing. Once you graduate high school, you are ineligible for these two particular sources of funding.
Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage...
1 comment:
Great advice.
It always amazed me to realize how many THOUSANDS of dollars for college hinged on those two tests!
I see it like earning hundreds of dollars per hour at the job of preparing for those tests!
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