Why Reading Matters

The ability to read at a sophisticated level opens the doors to elite education and professions. That journey begins with parents who encourage children to read for entertainment.

Students who read books for fun once a day score significantly higher on reading tests. Neurological studies show that learning to read changes the brain's circuitry. Brain scans also confirm that reading a book is more cognitively enriching than reading online.

The kind of reading that best relates to higher academic performance is frequent novel reading, which predicts better grades in English class and higher overall grade point averages. The SAT and ACT tests are more reading intensive than ever, as well.

In addition, nearly 90 percent of employers rate reading comprehension as very important for workers with bachelor's degrees. Department of Education statistics also show that those who score higher on reading tests tend to earn higher incomes.

So, how often does your student visit the library?

Selective Schools Require Or Recommend SAT Essay

Most students taking the first administration of the redesigned #SAT in March will end the test by writing an essay. The optional 50-minute assignment is a significant departure from the 25-minute SAT essay of the past decade. The new test requires students to read a high-quality argumentative text and then analyze how the author builds the argument to persuade an audience. 

The College Board admits that its essay section has not contributed to the overall predictive ability of the test in the past. As a result, it has made the new essay optional. Colleges will decide for themselves whether they will require it, recommend it, or neither.

So far, about 400 U.S. colleges have responded to a College Board survey on how they intend to use the revised SAT essay. While some schools believe the essay will be useful, many do not. Roughly 25 percent of respondents report that they intend to require or recommend the essay in their applications. The other 75 percent report they will neither require nor recommend the essay.

Many of the most selective schools in the country fall into the “require” or “recommend” category. (See the College Board list here.)

Will the essay be used in admissions decisions? This question, of course, is different from whether a college will require the essay. For now, most schools will probably adopt a wait-and-see approach over the next two to three years as they study its predictive ability.

Key Academics recommends that students cover their bases  and do the SAT essay. While it probably won’t initially carry much weight in most admissions decisions, opting into the essay is the safest choice based on current information. Students typically apply to five to 10 schools, and given the differing policies, odds are that at least a few of those schools will want the essay.

Key Academics stays on top of the latest news and trends in the changing testing landscape. To discuss testing options, please call 610-940-1600 or email ceo@keyacademics.com.

The singular 'they' has its day

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/singular-they-has-its-day

2015 was a big year for the little pronoun they and its slide into use as a singular pronoun. 

First, in December, the Washington Post admitted the singular they into its style guide, saying it is fine for Post writers to use they as a singular pronoun for transgender people and to avoid awkward sentences. Then last week, hundreds of linguists at the American Dialect Society annual meeting voted for the singular they as the 2015 word of the year. 

Cutthroat Competition For Top Universities

     Competition for spots at top universities is much more anxiety-inducing than for previous generations. The reason can be summed up in one word: demographics. 
     In 1972, just 12% of those 25 and older had finished college. By 2014, that number had grown to 31%, and the size of the U.S. population had increased by 50%. The number of slots at prestigious colleges has not kept pace. What's more, the pool of high-achieving applicants continues to grow, fed partly by a rising number from overseas. As a result, some top colleges now reject 95% of applicants.
     Please contact Key Academics at 610-940-1625, or email info@keyacademics.com, for Philadelphia SAT tutoring, ACT tutoring, subject tutoring, application essay assistance, and more, at a reasonable cost. 

Tutoring Reinforces Classroom Education

Even the best schools and teachers can't provide individualized attention to all students. Learning styles also differ and may not be accommodated by teachers. 

In-home #tutoring provides time for one-to-one interaction that reinforces skills and allows for better comprehension of subjects. Our tutors review lessons taught in school, motivate students and assist with homework. Students can also pre-learn a concept. Learning a complex subject becomes easier when 
they walk into a classroom already aware of a topic, providing a competitive edge.

Our tutors know how to recognize a student's strengths and weaknesses and can provide materials that supplement the textbook. They offer detailed, constructive feedback, and also teach study skills such as scheduling, note taking, strategies for reading complex materials, and more. 

Key Academics was recently voted "Best of Montco Tutoring Service" in a poll of readers of several local newspapers. Our tutoring programs help students maximize academic performance in the classroom, and make learning interesting and fun.

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

FAFSA Changes Submission Dates For 2017-18

In September, President Obama announced significant changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process that will impact millions of students. Starting next year, students will be able to do the following:

• Submit a #FAFSA Earlier:  Students will be able to file a 2017-18 FAFSA as early as Oct. 1, 2016, rather than beginning on Jan. 1, 2017. The earlier submission date will be a permanent change, enabling students to complete and submit a FAFSA as early as Oct. 1 every year. (There is NO CHANGE to the 2016-17 schedule, when the FAFSA will become available Jan. 1 as in previous years.)

• Use Earlier Income Information: Beginning with the 2017-18 FAFSA, students will report income information from an earlier tax year. For example, on the 2017-18 FAFSA, students (and parents, as appropriate) will report their 2015 income information, rather than their 2016 income information. 

If you’d like more details about the upcoming changes, you may read the following informational pieces from the U.S. Department of Education and the White House:

FAFSA Changes fact sheet (for students)

White House fact sheet (for the general public)

Key Academics Referral Program

Anyone can earn a $50 Amazon gift card for each person they refer to Key Academics who becomes a college entrance exam client. Also, academic or study skills referrals earn $25 gift cards.

Step 1: Tell your family and friends about Key Academics. 

Step 2: Have them call 610-940-1625 and provide your name at initial inquiry.

Step 3: Receive a $50 or $25 Amazon gift card upon enrollment. There is no limit to how much you can earn!