Beyond High School: Answering Questions about the SAT and ACT

It’s that time of year again! High school students across the nation are preparing for the SAT and ACT, fueled by steaming cups of pumpkin-flavored lattes. As stressful as test preparation is for students, it can be just as stressful for you, the parent, as you guide your child through the process. In this post, I answer four common questions about standardized tests.

Should my child take both the SAT and the ACT? Colleges and universities accept scores from either test, so strictly speaking, your child does not need to take both tests. The tests differ in several ways, and some students score much better on one test than the other. If you decide to focus on one test, take a look at the differences so you can choose the one that complements your child’s strengths.

How should he prepare?

SAT. Khan Academy is the best option for SAT prep. Their partnership with the creators of the SAT means that their videos, practice tests, timelines, and tips offer an insider’s view of the test. Also, Khan analyzes your child’s PSAT and SAT scores and uses them to create a personalized study plan. Even better: all of Khan’s services are free!

 

 

ACT. To prepare for the ACT, the ACT Online Prep and the ACT Prep Coach & Practice Test are excellent options. The first program was developed by ACT itself, so it offers reliable information about the in’s and out’s of the test. For $39.95, you get the online program—with practice tests, flashcards, personalized study goals, daily reminders, and more—and an app containing the same materials.

 

ACT

Image Courtesy of ACT at ACT.org

The ACT Prep Coach & Practice Test is an online program that’s available in a free version and a paid premium version. The free version includes some video lessons and practice questions, while the paid version includes access to the full video lesson library and all practice questions, plus customized options for test practice. The cost of the premium plan is $79 for one month, $89 for three months, or $99 for 12 months.

Both the free and premium versions include a companion ACT Test Prep app, ideal for on-the-go study. (Speaking of apps, they also have a free ACT Flashcard app, which gives definitions and examples for concepts in English, math, and science.) I encourage you to keep it simple: choose one program, and put as many miles on it as you can!

Should my child retake the test? Whether he retakes one or both tests depends on whether his scores are competitive at the schools he plans to apply to. To find out if they’re competitive, search “average SAT score at [name of school].” As you compare those scores to your child’s, keep in mind that on average, students’ SAT scores improve 60-70 points the second time they take it. For the ACT, the average improvement is less than three points.

My child retested and his scores aren’t competitive. What now? For many students (and parents), it’s crushing to realize that their dream school is not an option. The future suddenly seems very unstable. Help your child focus on the facts: many people have successful careers and wonderful lives without attending a fancy university—even without a college degree! Hard work and determination open many doors. As you and your child make a new plan, consider non-traditional options, such as community college, vocational-technical schools, and apprenticeship programs. The next post in the “Beyond High School” series will take a closer look at these non-traditional educational options.

Until then, I wish you and your child optimism and determination as you tackle standardized testing! – Bethany

 

Dr. Bethany Bowen-Wefuan (Ph.D. in German Studies from Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill) is a teacher, writer, wife, and mom. She has taught German language and literature at Duke University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The University of North Carolina Wilmington, and the University of Missouri. As an educator, she loves helping students become more curious about words (German and English!) and the world.

Beyond High School: 4 Reasons Parents Make Great Guidance Counselors

“What is your daughter (or son) doing after she graduates?”

“How many campuses has she visited?”

“What is she using for SAT/ACT prep?”

“Has she applied for any scholarships?”

“Does she plan to live at home after graduation?”

“What are her top schools?”

“Is she doing an internship this summer?”

“How are the college applications going?”

 

If questions like these have become a routine part of your life, you must be in the guidance counselor phase of parenthood. This blog series is for you!

 

Over the next few weeks, our “Beyond High School” series will offer practical advice about preparing for life after high school. Topics include: SAT and ACT preparation, the advantages of community college, alternatives to college, tips for minimizing college debt, and more. But first, I want to encourage you: even if you feel like you’re trekking through unmapped territory, you have four tools that make you a better guidance counselor than you might realize:

Fuschia 1

 

You have a Ph.D. in your child. 

You probably know your child’s personality, talents, limitations, and fears better than anyone. You’ve seen her areas of unusual strength, and weakness. Celebrate her natural abilities, and encourage her to cultivate them—to use, explore, and strengthen them. The insight you can offer her about herself is priceless. The better she knows herself, the easier it will be for her to make wise decisions about her future.

 

Fuschia 2

 

You have Google.

How many colleges should your child apply to? Can she get into her dream school with her SAT score? How much will her dream school cost? Google has the answers! If you have a few minutes and an internet connection, you can shrink a mountain of ignorance down to the size of an anthill. Here are a few examples of searches to inspire your own research:

 

–   “Average GPA of students at UNC-Chapel Hill”

–   “Do I have to take the SAT to go to community college?”

–   “Best SAT online prep services”

–   “Average SAT improvement”

–   “Most affordable colleges in North Carolina”

–   “Where can I go to college with a 20 ACT score?”

–   “How many colleges should I apply to?”

 

By setting aside 15-30 minutes per day to research your college-related questions, you will quickly have a realistic picture of your child’s options.

 

Fuschia 3

 

You have a larger perspective about the future than your child has.

Your child needs assurance that life is more than test scores, GPA, admissions letters, or scholarships. She may believe that her SAT score quantifies her identity, or that the prestige of her college determines who she is. She may think that her chances of a successful life depend on attending her dream school.

Remind her often that her identity and future are more than scores and schools. Encourage her to enjoy her family and friends, serve others, and pursue her interests, even if they won’t bolster her resume.

 

Fuschia 4

 

You have a base of operations.

High school is a pressure-cooker of test scores, GPA’s, and college plans. Comparison and competition among classmates make it even harder. Often, home is no better than school. But your home doesn’t have to be a source of pressure. It can be a refuge from comparison, where acceptance has nothing to do with performance. It can also be a base of operations, where you and your child work side by side to move towards her next phase.

 

So put on your guidance counselor hat, pull up a chair next to your child, and start researching, strategizing, and dreaming together! I wish you and your child perseverance, wisdom, and success as you blaze a trail to her life beyond high school.

–  Bethany

 

If you have a question you’d like us to answer in the “Beyond High School” series, we would love to hear from you! Email your questions to us at info@firmfoundationstutoring.com.

 

 

Dr. Bethany Bowen-Wefuan (Ph.D. in German Studies from Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill) is a teacher, writer, wife, and mom. She has taught German language and literature at Duke University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The University of North Carolina Wilmington, and the University of Missouri. As an educator, she loves helping students become more curious about words (German and English!) and the world.