KnowledgePoints Learning Center Blog

ACT Prep: Tips for Good Preparation

If your high schooler is planning on taking the ACT Exam, help them prep by sharing these quick tips with them.

Be prepared for what’s on the ACT. The ACT or American College Testing Exam is made up of five tests: English (45 minutes), Reading (35 minutes), Math (60 minutes), Science (35 minutes), and Writing (optional, 30 minutes). There is also a short break period during the test. All of the tests have multiple-choice questions, except Writing. Before registering to take the test, find out if the colleges you plan on applying to require applicants to take the Writing portion of the ACT.

Prepare early. Research the colleges you want to apply to and find out if the ACT is required for admittance. Once you find out that you will need to take the ACT, begin to study. The sooner you begin to practice, the more comfortable you will become with the exam. It will be very difficult to cram in the information in the last few days before taking the test. Instead, devote specific ACT study time each day.

Use practice tests to become comfortable with the ACT. The ACT test lasts for 2 hours and 55 minutes, or 3 hours and 30 minutes if you are taking the optional Writing Test. Many high schoolers have never sat for a test this long, so taking practice tests will help to build up your mental endurance. Practice tests will also help you to become familiar with the types of questions that are asked on the ACT so you know what to expect on test day. You can also use a practice test to focus your study time. For instance, if you are getting many of the science, questions incorrect, you may want to brush up in this area.

Set up a study area. Go somewhere quiet to simulate the ACT test environment when you are taking a practice test or studying. Libraries often have a quiet study area or room that you can use. Turn on a timer for each section so you can learn how to pace yourself through the questions. Go through an entire test in one sitting so you won’t be surprised on test day.

Read, write, and review. The content on the Reading portion of the ACT covers a variety of genres and topics including short stories, magazine articles, natural sciences, social studies, and humanities. By exposing yourself to texts that cover these topics before the exam, you may find the content easier to read and understand. Brush up on your writing skills for the English portion of the exam, which will test your knowledge of usage and mechanics. A review of science and math topics, including reading graphs, interpreting results, geometry, algebra, and trigonometry will help you with the Science and Math portions of the ACT.

Familiarize yourself with the directions. It is important to read all the directions carefully on the ACT so that you don’t make a mistake when taking the exam.

Take an ACT Prep Class. If you find that after taking several practice tests, you are struggling, don’t be afraid to ask for help. An ACT Prep Class will help to review the content covered on the exam and allow you to work with an experienced tutor. It will also give you the chance to ask questions you have about specific exam content, test registration, and scoring.  KnowledgePoints ACT Prep offers customized programs for each student.

Answer all the questions to the best of your ability. Since your score on the ACT is based on the number of multiple-choice questions you answer correctly, answer all of the questions. You won’t lose points for guessing or answering a question incorrectly. If you are stuck on a question, eliminate as many choices as you can and take an educated guess. You can also skip a question and return to it later.

Prepare the night before and the morning of the test. Organize the materials you will need for test day, including, an ID card, admission ticket, two sharpened number 2 pencils with good erasers, and a calculator. Get ready for test day by getting a good night’s sleep, setting your alarm clock, and making sure you have transportation to the ACT exam site. On the day of the test, make sure to eat a good breakfast and arrive early at the test center. Wear a watch to keep the time and help pace yourself through each section of the exam.

Take the ACT several times if needed. If you take the ACT and are not satisfied with your score, you can retake the exam and choose the scores you want to submit to colleges that you apply to.

Good luck and try your best!

Increase Reading Comprehension by Understanding Patterns

One definition of intelligence involves the ability to discern patterns among seemingly disparate bits of information. For example, an Italian mathematician named Fibonacci* made a discovery about the pattern of numbers. If you child can discern a pattern in the writing of a particular author, he can more easily comprehend what the writer is attempting to say.

At KnowledgePoints we stress that good writing has a logical flow. And good reading means being able to recognize that flow or structure. "Deduction" is one of the more common patterns of organization. Once your child spots this pattern, she can determine the focus around which the facts are organized. She can actually scan the supporting details once she has determined the premise on which everything else is based.

An example of deductive writing is the following, which begins with the main point (underlined), which is then amplified with supporting details.

Knowledge Points  of Florham Park offers a wide array of services. Our headquarters in Florham Park provides learning and tutoring help. Additionally, we offer SAT preparation at LifeTime Fitness. Study Skills is offered in Madison at the Adult School of the Chathams, Madison & Florham Park. But no matter which location your child visits, or what subject is being taught, your child will receive specialized attention from outstanding tutors.
 
Perhaps the simplest way to assert the connection between reading comprehension and patterns is to quote Isaiah Berlin, a leading thinker of the 20th century: “To understand is to perceive patterns.”

*Fibonacci's name is actually a "portmanteau," but that's another blog. We'll study it when we discuss words that will help improve your child's writing.

**Here's a Fibonacci brainteaser: What number is next in this sequence?

             0  1  1  2  3  5  8  13  21  _________
 
Answer:   This problem illustrates the Fibonacci sequence, which has each number equal to the sum of the two numbers that preceded it. Thus, the correct answer is 34. Spotting patterns will help your child on standardized tests and IQ tests that have numerous questions like the one above.

Reading Comprehension: How to help your child

Did you know that 90% of newspaper paragraphs contain the main idea in the first sentence? (See what we mean? The first sentence of this paragraph lets you know finding the main idea will be the focus of the paragraph.) In our SAT preparation classes (and ACT), our tutors make students aware of the fact that time is limited in a test situation. And while comprehension depends on a careful reading of all words, too-careful a reading will slow your child down and prevent him from getting a high number of correct answers.

So, acknowledging that speed and accuracy are both important, we encourage finding the main idea as quickly as possible in a test situation. You can help your child at home with main-idea comprehension by encouraging her to get a quick general sense of the paragraph by reading the first line carefully and then reading the remaining sentences more quickly.

If you are eager to add fun to your child's academic amelioration, have another family member (without the advantage of knowing the first-line tip) read a given paragraph, raise her hand, and write down her answer when she thinks she knows what the main point of it is. The child who's already been coached about the main-idea-in-the-first-sentence will start at the same time and will, in all probability, be able to discern the main idea much more quickly. He, too, though, will raise his hand, and then write it down the main idea. Discuss how helpful the first-line tip is. Then, compare the two answers and discuss what may have been omitted.

And, if you truly want to challenge your child (or drive your family crazy), take a few key words from the article. Write them so letters are missing in both the beginning and at the end. For example, if the article were about London's subway system, you might have selected  _ _ _ e r g r o _ _ _, an especially difficult brainteaser. It has the same three letters missing at both the beginning and the end of the word. The word itself is a common one. (The answer will appear in next week's blog.)

Calculators for Algebra, Geometry & SAT: Back to School Bargains

Art Meisler

Check out these blogs for back to school bargains and a chance to win a free graphing calculator from Texas Instruments.  This calculator, which comes in handy for high school math (Algebra and Geometry) and is permitted on the SAT, AP, ACT, IB, PSAT/NSMQT
MomsNeedto Know
BargainBriania

These sites have lots of other great information and bargain information to help you get your kids ready for the new school year.

SAT Prep: Tips and Suggestions Large and Small

By Alicia N. Miller

Help your high schooler with their SAT Prep by having them follow these simple, effective tips. 

Know what to expect. The SAT is a timed test that takes three hours and 45 minutes to complete. There are also three five-minute breaks. The test consists of 10 separately timed sections: three critical reading sections (70 minutes total), three math sections (70 minutes total), three writing sections (60 minutes total), and one unscored section (25 minutes total). The unscored section could be an additional critical reading, math, or writing section. The developers of the SAT use the unscored section as research for future exams. The types of questions that appear on the test include multiple-choice, open-ended responses for math, as well as one essay. The test is scored by machine, with the exception of the essay, which is scored by educators.

Take as many practice tests as you can. Set up a test-like environment when you take the practice tests. Go into a quiet room and ask not to be disturbed. Many libraries have quiet study rooms where you can take a sample SAT Test undisturbed. Make sure to have a timer on hand so you can learn how to pace yourself through each timed section. Go through an entire test in one sitting so you won’t be surprised on test day. 

Know your weaknesses and turn them into strengths. After taking several practice tests, pinpoint the areas that you struggled with. Use your practice and study sessions as a guide to the areas of the SAT that you need to focus on. 

Practice a little each day. Set aside some time each day to practice sample questions. At the beginning of your week, mark out specific blocks of time on a calendar that will be devoted to studying for the SAT. The more you practice and become familiar with the types of questions that are asked on the SAT, the more comfortable you will be on test day. 

Ask questions. If you don’t understand why you got a question wrong, find someone who can explain the answer to you. You never know if you will encounter a similar question on test day.

Do your homework. If you are taking an SAT Prep course or working with an SAT Tutor, they often will assign homework between sessions. Homework is critical as it well help keep you fresh and familiar with the SAT material. It will also help both you and your tutor to see where you need additional help. 

Study for the SAT with a friend or family member. For the critical reading section, you can create flashcards with SAT vocabulary words on the front and the definition and a sample sentence on the back. Take turns quizzing each other on vocabulary and their meanings. 

Do your best on the entire test. Remember one section is not scored, but there is no secret or trick to figuring out which one it is. Give each section the same attention and dedication.  

Prepare the night before and the morning of the test. Organize the materials you will need for test day, including, an ID card, admission ticket, two sharpened number 2 pencils, an eraser, and a calculator. You can also bring a small snack for the breaks, so prepare that as well. Get ready for test day by getting a good night’s sleep, setting your alarm clock, and making sure you have transportation to the SAT testing site. On the day of the test, make sure to eat a good breakfast and arrive early at the test center. You may also want to wear a watch to keep the time and bring extra batteries for your calculator.

Seek help if you need it. If you take practice tests and are not doing as well as you would like, do not hesitate to seek out SAT tutoring. A tutor can work with you to successfully develop your essay or conquer math questions that you struggle with in a judgment free environment.

Good luck and try your best!

KnowledgePoints provides premier SAT Prep in Florham Park, Madison, Livingston and other surrounding towns. Click here for more on KnowledgePoints SAT Test Prep Programs

Words and Writing - Falling in Love Part II

Poet John Ciardi once remarked that to be a good writer, you have to fall in love with words. You can help your child improve writing skills by encouraging a verbal love affair. Our Writing, Language Arts and SAT Programs Preparation programs direct students on the clear and more-nuanced aspects of good writing. You can assist at home by focusing on some of the more intriguing--and even fun--elements that constitute good writing.

Start with the metaphor. Using it well will benefit your child both now and later in his professional life as well. (Business guru Warren Bennis asserts, "If I were to give off-the-cuff advice to anyone seeking to institute change, the first question I would ask is, 'How clear is your metaphor?' ")

Metaphors are simply comparisons between two things not usually compared. Point them out when your family sees or hears them. Collect some on your own and share them with your child. Encourage her to develop some on her own and include them in her own writing.

Here are a few you to get you started. Discuss their deeper meaning with your child. Be the bridge between your child's current efforts and her future success.

• Like cars in amusement parks, our direction is often determined through collisions. -Yahia Lababidi

• Everyone is kneaded out of the same dough but not baked in the same oven. -Yiddish proverb

• A lawn is nature under totalitarian rule. -Michael Pollan

• Conscience is a dog that does not stop us from passing, but that we cannot prevent from barking. -Nicolas de Chamfort

• Tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it. -Albert Richard Smith

Writing: Can your child fall in love with it?

By Marlene Caroselli Ed.D.

Mathematician Alfred North Whitehead once observed that "romance precedes precision." If you can get your child to fall in love with writing, then he's more likely to develop precision on his own. Whether it's a classroom composition, a college-entrance essay, or reading/ comprehending the writing of others, the student who loves to write has a head start in life's race toward success (however it's defined).

After a while, the tutor, teacher or parent, can step out of the picture. The child, if he's been hooked, will begin to pursue the subject on his own and will need very little prodding. Writing becomes fun and then the child seeks his own precision. He becomes a "self-connoisseur."

If you doubt the possibility, consider the child whose mind can easily memorize batting statistics for her favorite players on her favorite team. Such knowledge is easy for her to acquire, mostly because she's interested in the subject. If you can generate comparable interest, your child's knowledge-acquisition will be facilitated.

Here's one easy tool for doing that. Use examples relevant to the child's interest--whether it's sports, animals, science fiction, fashion or any of the other topics that fascinate young people. Then use those examples to illustrate an educational precept.
To illustrate, a recent newspaper article featured Michael Jordan. In the box beneath his photo, he is quoted as saying, "I'm not out here to say, 'I'm perfect.' " And for you, a perfect opportunity to review punctuation principles--the quote within the quote. If your child is not a sports enthusiast, you can easily collect other examples.

Our tutors and your at-home tutelage can help your child fall in love with a subject that he's now struggling with.

SAT or School Tests: Help Your Child Avoid Test Anxiety

By Marlene Caroselli Ed.D.

A recent article from the New York Times online edition ("Outdoors and Out of Reach, Studying the Brain," by Matt Richtel, August 16, 2010) asserts the need for focus. Many children, facing a test in their immediate future, lose their focus and yield to fear and anxiety, thus diminishing their mental acuity. And, in all likelihood, their test scores as well.

The article discusses a seminal study done at the University of Michigan.It found that people learn better when stimuli are reduced. Walking in a quiet forest, for example, leads to better knowledge-acquisition than walking on a busy street, where the brain is figuratively pulled in so many different directions.

How can you take this research and apply it to your own child's ability to perform well on tests? It's easier than you may think.

As close to the actual start of the exam--we're talking minutes, ideally--put your child in the right frame of mind by focusing his or her attention. (To quote David Strayer, a psychology professor at the University of Utah, "Attention is the holy grail.") Getting away from distractions, such as electronic devices, positive impacts both memory and learning.

Focus your child's mental energies on a fun-but-challenging brainteaser. Here's one from MIT that has been modified to calm pre-exam jitters.

If the word "cat" were written like this -- c a t -- you'd recognize it immediately. The same goes for the word "dog," written as d o g.

You'd be equally good at recognizing these words if they had a bracket in front of, or behind them: [c [a [t. Or, d] o] g].

But what if these two words were written like this:

[c d] [a o] [t g]. Suddenly, it's much harder to recognize them, isn't it?

Prepare pairs of equally long words and hand the list to your child so he can concentrate on using his brain power right before that test, instead of dissipating his mental energies with worry. Use vocabulary/spelling words with which he is familiar.

Here are a few appropriate for middle school:

[m s] [i c] [d h] [d o] [l o ] [e l]

Have your child write the whole word beneath each line. And, make it easy for her--use a computer-generated list, rather than your own handwriting.

Whether it's for quizzes, mid-terms, finals or SAT Tests, simple excerices can rev up your child's brain.

 

How strong is your child's vocabulary?

By Alicia N. Miller

Did you know that by the time your child graduates from high school, they will have encountered over 50,000 words?* One of the best ways to make sure they understand and correctly use the words that they encounter is to introduce vocabulary into their daily activities. In addition to school and tutoring, parents can play a big role in their child’s vocabulary development. Try some of these tips for helping your child become a top reader and get on the road to reading comprehension.

• Use phonics and familiar words to help add to your child’s vocabulary. For instance, if your child knows some words that end in “ock,” such as “clock” or “knock,” they can also learn “rock,” or “block.”

• Introduce new vocabulary by writing the word along with a picture on a sticky note and placing it on the item. Encourage your child to say the word when asking about or using the item, rather than just grabbing for it.

• Take the time to use sophisticated vocabulary in your conversations with your child, making sure they understand what you are saying. Instead of always using words such as, “good” or “nice,” infuse your conversation with rich vocabulary such as, “pleasant,” “decent,” or “delightful.” Make sure to share the meaning (or meanings) of the word with your child. Use new vocabulary often as it can take several times to become a frequently used word.

• Engage your child in vocabulary by playing games such as vocabulary hangman, bingo, crossword puzzles, or word searches. Create a custom game and challenge them to a competition.
• Set up a quick memory game for your child. Write vocabulary words on small pieces of scrap paper and draw corresponding pictures to explain the meaning of the word. Play the game by matching the correct word and picture. More advanced students can play the game by matching vocabulary with its corresponding definition.

• Have your child become a word detective. As they read and come across unknown words, have them keep an ongoing journal listing the new vocabulary and definition. See how many new words they can find and learn.

• Encourage your child to read multiple types of texts on a variety of subjects. Think magazines, newspapers, blogs, biographies, or poetry, to name a few. This diversity will help your child develop a rich and varied vocabulary.

• Challenge your child to see how many new vocabulary words they can use in one day.

The more vocabulary your child learns the better their reading comprehension will become. Many students often struggle with reading not because they can’t read a specific word, but because they cannot understand the word. One of the best ways to reinforce the tutoring your child receives is to practice at home what was learned in class.

*Michael Graves, University of Minnesota.

Organization & Study Skills Help Middle School Transition

For many students, the transition from elementary to middle school can be both frightening and exhilarating. They want to reach for independence but still need the support and guidance of parents (although they may not want to admit it). Parents, also, can find the transition difficult. They have to walk a delicate line between providing oversight (without nagging) and letting the students spread their wings. Here are a few things parents can do to help their new middle schooler:

• Get started before school begins: gather supplies, tour the school, and set up a study place at home
• Help your child break down big tasks and goals into bite-sized pieces. Assignments and goals can be overwhelming at the middle school level. Breaking them down into achievable pieces can facilitate success.
• Make sure your middle schooler has the foundation skills he or she needs. Address any gaps in your child's academic skills -- math, reading, or language arts. From this point on, schools assume the skills are up to par for the middle school workload. If they aren't, get help. (A KnowledgePoints diagnostic assessment will give you the information you need about your child's basic skills.)
• Organization is key to middle school success. Encourage your middle schooler to use a daily planner. Keeping track of six classes and teachers is a lot more confusing than keeping track of one or two. Many students stumble in 6th grade because they forget to complete or hand in homework assignments, or they underestimate how much time will be needed to complete a project or study for a test.
• Remind your middle schooler about deadlines...but try to stop short of badgering. Get into a daily routine of checking together all upcoming assignments. Use online tracking systems when they are available.
• Step up the Study Skills: Some students didn't need to study very much in elementary school to be successful. As a result, they never developed the habits they will need to study effectively for tests at the more challenging middle and high school levels. For those students, consider getting guidance, such as attending the Middle School Study Skills workshop.
• Respect and encourage your child's growing independence. Middle school is the time students learn how to take care of their own academic lives. The habits they develop in middle school will be used in college and beyond. Click here to find out more about how KnowledgePoints can help you and your middle school student be successful.