How To Choose Between SAT Essay and ACT Writing

The essay portion of the SAT or ACT is technically optional, but many colleges require it, while other schools will consider the essay during the admissions process. 

Here are three ways that the SAT Essay differs from what the ACT calls its Writing section.

1. Timing: The SAT allows 50 minutes to complete the essay section, while the ACT allows 40 minutes. The SAT requires that students read and understand a relatively lengthy passage before they begin to write. If you read rapidly with strong comprehension, the SAT essay may be a good option.

2. Analytic depth: The SAT requires you to analyze how an experienced writer accomplished his or her goals (and also grades clear reasoning and use of language). The ACT Writing section requires that you build a persuasive essay around a central thesis. You must reference introductory statements but are free to build on your own ideas. 

3. Complexity: Both essays require strong analytical skills. The SAT Essay provides rich source material. The ACT Writing is a more free-form test, allowing plenty of freedom to craft your response. If you excel at analyzing others’ work, read quickly and accurately, and appreciate having a framework for your own writing, the SAT essay may be a good choice. If you can create a thesis from a simple prompt, are quick to organize your thoughts, and aren't the strongest at analytical reading, you may score better on the ACT essay. 

5 Key Skills For Academic Success

As students head back to school, a combination of skills will help them achieve academic success. 

1. Organization. For many, academic challenges are related more to a lack of organization than to a lack of intellectual ability.
2. Time Management. Learning to organize time into productive blocks takes practice and experience.
3. Prioritization. Prioritizing tasks is a skill your child will need throughout life, so it's never too soon to get started.
4. Concentration. It's important to study and do homework in an area with limited distractions and interruptions.
5. Motivation. Tapping into your child's interests is a great way to get him or her geared up to do well in school.

Please contact Key Academics for expert help if your child is having trouble in any of these areas.

'Should I Take The SAT Or ACT?'

Three-quarters of students who take both SAT and ACT full-length diagnostic tests score roughly the same on both. Colleges treat both the SAT and ACT equally, so the decision usually comes down to which one the student feel more comfortable with. In general terms, many students who are more oriented toward reading and writing choose the SAT, while those who enjoy science and math more prefer the ACT.

To help undecided students determine which test to prepare for, Key Academics offers official tests from ACT, Inc. and the College Board (SAT) that can be taken at home.

Don't Skim SAT/ACT Reading Test Passages

The SAT and ACT Reading tests are about more than reading comprehension. Students need to understand not only what is stated in a passage, but also what is implied, how parts of the text function and work together, and why the author decided to develop the passage as it is. 

Reading actively and effectively is a skill that requires practice. On other exams, you may be able to skip to the questions and then skim the reading passage for easy answers, but the SAT and ACT are challenging tests, so that method will not work. These Reading questions require a deep level of insight, and students can only solve these questions quickly and confidently if they possess the necessary academic skills and also understand how to take the test. 

Key Academics tutors review and develop the academic skills students need for the SAT and ACT, and also teach practical, powerful, and up-to-date test-taking strategies. For more information, please call 610-940-1625.

Summer Is A Great Time For SAT/ACT Test Prep

The Aug. 25 SAT and Sept. 8 ACT test dates provide an opportunity for well-paced, intensive preparation during the summer when students don't also have to focus on keeping up their grades. 

And with a $200 summer discount, Key Academics' program of 13 90-minute, in-home lessons is more affordable than ever. For a free, in-home official SAT or ACT diagnostic test and analysis, or to learn more about one-to-one summer test preparation, please call 610-940-1625.

Cut Through College Marketing Clutter

The college selection process can be less stressful if you cut through the marketing clutter to discover how colleges approach teaching and learning in and out of the classroom.

• Don't just rely on shortcut sources such as rankings, guidebooks, and popular college review websites.
• Drill down into the college website. Learn about clubs and extracurricular activities that align with your  interests. Your knowledge of these activities can also be helpful for your admissions essay.  
• Contact the college. Contact an admissions representative and introduce yourself by asking a well-researched question.
• Visit the campus. Talk with students and faculty about their experiences and expectations, and of course, speak with your admissions counselor.   
• Follow along online. Read the student newspaper online and experience the college through Facebook.

Once you have assessed institutional characteristics, you will find that your choices are broader than you imagined.

Tips for Coping With Test Anxiety

A bit of nervousness before a test can be a good thing. It's only when it gets out of hand that it's a problem. The following tips can help overcome feelings of self-doubt.

• Make sure you are adequately prepared. Give yourself enough time to learn the material.
• Get a good night's sleep. Adequate rest is more beneficial than studying until late.
• The day of a test, be sure to eat a good breakfast. 
• Arrive early. Feeling rushed will amp up feelings of nervousness.
• Keep a positive mental attitude. Visualize success and replace negative thoughts with positive ones. If you find yourself becoming anxious, stop and regroup.
• Sometimes, a few quick answers can be used to get the ball rolling before turning to more difficult questions. Always read directions carefully.

Parents and students voted Key Academics the philly.com Readers Choice award and Montgomery Media's Best Of Montco award. Our tutors improve test scores and grades and make students more self-sufficient. For more information, please call 610-940-1625.

Reading Skills Needed For ACT Science Test

Accepted at all U.S. colleges alongside the SAT, the ACT offers students a choice in admissions tests. Some students avoid the ACT, though, because of its Science section. 

Fear of the ACT Science section is often misplaced. (There are also science questions throughout the SAT, although there is no specific Science section.) The ACT Science test uses scientific language and reasoning, but rarely requires any specific knowledge from science classes. The section contains two to three data representation passages, three to four research summaries, and a passage that compares the commentary of two or more scientists. 

Many of the skills tutored by Key Academics for the ACT Reading section, such as staying engaged and mapping a passage, can also be applied to the Science test. Key Academics also offers actual ACT and SAT tests that are analyzed to determine which test will produce better results with tutoring. For more information, please call 610-940-1625 or visit www.keyacademics.com.

One-To-One Help With AP Homework And Exams

Key Academics tutors use their expertise to build prep plans that factor in students' individual study habits and goals to make sure each gets the most out of an AP class and test. 

AP courses are among the most rigorous a high school has to offer. They can lift a GPA above a 4.0, thanks to transcript weighting. And if you take the exam (usually right after taking the class) the course may be  exchangeable for college credit. The exam fee is $94, significantly cheaper than taking the equivalent class in college. Another potential advantage is that many students thrive on the courses' high expectations. 

Nearly three million students at 22,000 high schools will take Advanced Placement exams in May 2018, twice the rate of 10 years ago.

Key Differences Between The SAT And ACT

Have questions regarding which college admissions test is right for your student? A chart that outlines the key facts and differences between the SAT and the ACT is available as a free download from Key Academics. 

However, a better way would be to contact us about taking free, in-home complete diagnostic tests for one or both exams. Upon completion, our expert Program Director will discuss with you the results of a computerized test analysis. 

Download the SAT versus ACT chart here.

What Colleges Want in an Applicant (Everything)

"The admissions process is a maddening mishmash of competing objectives, and an attempt to measure the unmeasurable: you. No, it isn’t fair, and likely never will be," notes the N.Y. Times. "Generally, nothing carries more weight in admissions than grades (plus strength of the high school curriculum) and ACT/SAT scores," the Nov. 1 article noted. Read more at
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/education/edlife/what-college-admissions-wants.html

5 Tips For Scoring College Scholarships

The National Scholarship Providers Association designates November as National Scholarship Month. For high school seniors and college students looking for #scholarships to help fund the cost of school next year, now is the time to begin the search.

Local private scholarship deadlines tend to be in the spring, but applications for some of the biggest national scholarships are due in the next few months. These scholarships are based on merit, not financial need, although family income can be a factor in some cases.

Click here for five ways to maximize your chances of getting money that can help with your college bills.

5 Steps To Improved Reading Comprehension

Students who readily grasp information found in textbooks earn better grades and experience less stress. Follow these five steps to improve comprehension of complicated concepts.  

1. Read the introduction.
First, look over the introduction, table of contents, section and chapter headings, and any highlighted text. Home in on general information rather than specifics. If focus questions and study guides are provided, look those over, as well.

2. Define your purpose.
Many texts contain details that are unrelated to the most important concepts and ideas. Defining your objective ahead of time can help weed out information that is irrelevant to the main concepts.   
     
3. Read the text.
Now it's time to read the text. Consider reading parts out loud if you have difficulty concentrating or are an auditory learner, someone who depends on hearing and speaking as a main way of learning.

4. Take notes or highlight important concepts.
As you come across key concepts, facts and ideas, use a highlighter, write them down on a piece of paper, or make notes in the margin. This will help you remember what you've read and quickly access important sections for future reference.

5. Identify the takeaways.
After reading the text, identify what you've learned and the important takeaways. This will help you internalize the material for future reference and identify for further review concepts you don't fully understand. 

Key Academics tutors utilize study techniques that help students achieve their learning goals. For more information, call 610-940-1625 or email info@keyacademics.com. 

Superscoring Versus Score Choice

One of the biggest sources of confusion regarding college admissions tests concerns which scores schools actually consider. There are three general SAT and ACT options colleges use, based on their admissions policies:

Superscoring: These schools use the highest scores from different test sections, even if the tests were taken on different dates. For example, you can use a math score from one SAT test sitting and a reading and writing score from another test session. The vast majority of colleges superscore the SAT and an increasing number are superscoring the ACT. 

Score Choice: These schools take the highest score from one test date, but do not combine sections from different dates. Usually, you are only required to send one set of scores regardless of how many times you take the SAT or ACT. Penn State is an example of a school that does not combine the best scores from different test dates. 

Schools that require all test scores: A small number of colleges require students to report all scores so they can see their entire testing history. All SAT scores are automatically sent unless you select the Choose Scores option. The ACT asks you to specify which test dates you want reported to each school.

Please keep in mind that Score Choice, superscoring, and other testing policies vary from school to school. It is your responsibility to ensure that the colleges to which you apply receive the appropriate test results in a timely manner. Contact individual college admissions offices or your high school guidance counselor for more information. 

College SAT Essay Policies

The SAT Essay is a lot like writing assignments you’ll see in college. It asks you to read a passage and analyze how the author constructs a persuasive argument. You’ll have 50 minutes to complete your response.You aren’t required to take the SAT Essay—it’s optional—but many colleges require or recommend it. Click here and scroll down for a list that includes essay policy information for U.S. and international colleges, as well as scholarship providers. If you don’t see a college you’re looking for, or if you want to make sure a college’s essay policy hasn’t changed, contact them directly.

Private School Applications: A Timeline

Registration Reminder: SSAT and ISEE registration for the Fall 2017-2018 season opened this week.

The independent school admissions process can seem overwhelming, but having the right plan in place can make the entire process run more smoothly. Key Academics' ISEE/SSAT Timeline shows how a sensible testing plan fits into a timeframe for independent school applications.

Key Academics tutoring begins with a diagnostic test and a detailed score report to identify strengths and weaknesses. Our SSAT and ISEE course books feature engaging and challenging lesson modules that allow students to work through difficult material with a tutor while practicing more general concepts on their own. Additional ISEE or SSAT tests provide valuable information regarding progress. 

 

Please call 610-940-1625 to learn how in-home tutoring can bolster independent school applications by developing the skills required to do well on the admissions test.

Write A Great College Admissions Essay

The application essay is an important part of the college admittance process. Students often need help in crafting a compelling essay that will catch the attention of an admissions committee. 

An experienced Key Academics admissions essay writing coach can help with brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revising an essay that showcases a student's character, aspirations and talents. One opportunity is to complete the essay over the summer. Alternatively, rising seniors should work on it early in the fall semester.  

Philly.com Readers' Choice: Key Academics

For the second year in a row, Key Academics has been named best tutoring service by both Philly.com and the Montco Happening List.

We're celebrating with a 15 percent discount for new students who mention either award. Just register by Aug. 1, 2017, and begin tutoring by July 31, 2018. (This discount cannot be combined with other offers.) Thank you to everyone who has supported our efforts to help more students.

Save $200 On Summer SAT/ACT Tutoring

A new summer SAT, debuting Aug. 26, provides an opportunity for rising juniors to get admissions tests out of the way early. Rising seniors can retake the test and have more time to concentrate on their grades in the fall. 

Summer is always a great time to prepare for the ACT or SAT. And with a $200 summer discount, Key Academics' program of 13 90-minute, in-home lessons is more affordable than ever. Students can start by taking an official SAT and/or ACT diagnostic test at home and receiving a detailed analysis. 

Summer can also provide an opportunity for students to prepare for fall classes by reinforcing content from the previous year and previewing the academic work ahead. A special 10% summer discount is available for subject tutoring for all grades. As always, our expert tutors provide one-to-one instruction in the convenience of your home, with no minimum number of sessions required. 

For more information, please call 610-940-1625, email info@keyacademics.com, or visit keyacademics.com.

SAT Subject Tests In Limbo

When will the SAT Subject Tests be redesigned and aligned with the new SAT? The short answer -- nothing new is expected for Subject Tests for at least five years. 

In a survey of higher education institutions, College Board representatives were told that colleges and universities don't want to handle more changes all at once. The College Board has also been learning some important lessons while redesigning AP courses. It wants to apply some of this research to Subject Tests, but that will take planning and time.

Subject Tests are written to test at the high school level, which is why they are considered in admissions but do not often result in college credit. AP classes emulate college-level content and rigor, so those test results are more often used for actual college credit and placement.