Summer 2010

Expert Advice: Taking the PSAT
by Marla Platt, College Admissions Coach

According to the College Board, the PSAT provides practice for the SAT. It also gives students a chance to enter the competition for National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarships. The test measures critical reading, math and grammar skills and aligns approximately with the SAT, though it does not include a required essay.

In this article, college admissions and academic coach Marla Platt explains why taking the PSAT is such a good idea.

College bound students and their families are typically aware of the role of standardized testing, such as the SAT, in the college admissions process. Somehow when it comes to the PSAT, parents and students alike wonder aloud about the value of sitting for the “preliminary SAT.” It is not unusual to hear students say, “the PSAT doesn’t count, the SAT is what really matters. Why bother devoting time to the PSAT?”

That the PSAT provides the best available insight to assess readiness for college admission exams is reason enough to take it. Still, there are many other very real benefits that the exam, and its results, can offer students:

• Taking the PSAT allows students to gain a sense of the pacing, time management, and strategy that contribute to a more successful test-taking experience. Students gain familiarity with various types of questions, including passage-based critical reading, sentence completion, writing skills, and math skills. These questions closely mirror what students can expect on the SAT.

• Through the PSAT, students gain insight into their strengths and areas for improvement of the fundamental skills considered necessary for academic success in college. By reviewing the PSAT answer key against a student’s answers, the student will learn what types of questions he or she answered successfully as well as which types of questions were difficult. Thus, the student can plan on additional study in areas that require further preparation.

• PSAT results provide a glimpse toward SAT results. Each section of the PSAT (Critical Reading, Math, and Writing) is scored on a scale from 20 to 80, reflecting the SAT scoring range of 200 to 800.

• Practice makes perfect...or something close to it. The more exposure students have to testing scenarios, the less anxiety and uncertainty they experience on subsequent testing. Students become familiar with directions, question types, and section formats.

• In states with high school graduation testing requirements, such as the MCAS in Massachusetts, parents are sometimes surprised to learn that proficient performance on these exams may not necessarily translate to a similar level of performance on the SAT. The MCAS, as an example, is designed to test proficiency on high school level material and is not to be equated with college admissions testing. The PSAT is a far better indicator of predicted performance on a college entrance examination.

• By checking off the “yes” box on the Student Search Service, the Educational Testing Service/College Board provides names of students in various score ranges to colleges. Students may then receive promotional mailings from a variety of schools, thus jumpstarting the learning process for various colleges and their offerings.

• The PSAT is also known as the NMSQT – the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. By taking the PSAT during 11th grade, students enter the competition for National Merit Scholar status. National Merit Scholar status is conferred upon students who achieve certain levels on the PSAT and puts students in the running for scholarship money or Letters of Commendation. At the very least, National Merit status helps any application to favorably stand out. Students who are in a position to achieve National Merit status may want to strongly consider spending at least some time preparing for the PSAT.

While an excellent way for first semester sophomores and juniors to develop their college admissions testing muscles, taking the PSAT can provide students with so much more. Through PSAT testing, students start off on the right foot by giving themselves many advantages for attaining their potential for testing success. Consider the PSAT as one of your many efforts in preparation for the SAT, college applications, and university life in general.

About Marla Platt: Marla Platt is a college consultant and academic coach who supports students and families in the college application process.  She is also a long-standing alumni interviewer on behalf of Cornell University and a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. Contact Marla at 978-440-8210 or through Marla@AchieveCoach.com.

FREE EVENT:
Navigating College Admissions

Summit’s extremely popular speaker series is back for 2010 and better than ever! In three separate sessions, you can learn about which test you’re best suited for, get insider information about what admissions officers are really thinking when they read your application, and most important of all, how to choose the right college for you.

In Session I: SAT vs. ACT, Summit's CEO and Founder, Charlie O'Hearn, will discuss the differing format, content, and skills requirements of the SAT and ACT. During the presentation, he’ll offer practical guidelines for helping students determine which test they might be better suited for. All attendees will receive a free copy of Summit's College Admissions Testing Resource Guide.

To register for Session I: SAT vs. ACT, click here or call 617-581-6249 by September 10. Space is limited, so call now.

Session I: SAT vs. ACT
Wednesday, September 15, 7pm
Newton Marriott
2345 Comm. Ave.
Newton, MA

Additional information about Sessions II and III will be available soon. Space is limited, so register today!

More about the Speaker: Charlie O'Hearn founded Summit Educational Group in Wellesley, MA in 1988. He has written a number of highly regarded test preparation books, which are used by tutoring companies and schools around the country. Charlie is an expert in the field of tutoring and test preparation and is a frequent speaker and panelist at education conferences and forums around the country.

"I wanted to let you know that Melanie is going to Brown next year! She is very excited and we are so happy for her as this was her first choice school. I also wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all that you did to help us with her test prep etc. You were so wonderful to work with and provided such great guidance. Thank you so much for everything!" Peggy F., Summit Parent

Get to Know Summit:
Dan Labrecque

Every month we shine the spotlight on one of our expert One-on-One, In-Home Tutors or Classroom Program Teachers. This month we spoke with Connecticut area teacher, Dan Labrecque. Dan is one of our newer teachers, but he has already garnered rave reviews from his students. They say he is "smart, prepared, friendly, and fair," and that his "sense of humor and his ability to engage and connect with us was great.”

How Long have you been with Summit? I have been with Summit for about one year.

What do you do outside of Summit? Two months ago I graduated from Western New England College School of Law. I am now studying for the bar exam and hope to work as a lawyer in Connecticut.

Which subjects do you teach? I teach both math and verbal SAT classes. 

What kind of teacher are you? I encourage my students to participate in class as much in possible. I feel that the best way to study for the SAT is to consistently practice answering the questions. If students are confident enough about a concept that they are willing to discuss it in class or teach it to other students, then they’ve probably mastered it.

What was your favorite subject in school? In high school I loved American History. I was fortunate to have great teachers that made history come alive. I’ve always found that studying history is more like reading a great epic novel than school work.

Where did you go to college, and what did you study? I graduated from the University of Connecticut where I majored in Political Science. I’ve always been fascinated by how government works (or sometimes doesn’t work). I actually started my tutoring career at UConn helping student athletes, and I’m still a football season ticket holder. Go Huskies!

What is your favorite album? Oh this question is tough...How about my top five in no particular order? This Year’s Model by Elvis Costello and the Attractions; Moondance by Van Morrison; The Soft Bulletin by the Flaming Lips; Discovery by Daft Punk; and Revolver by The Beatles. If you’ve heard any of them you’ll know why they made the cut!

What do you love most about teaching for Summit? I love helping students achieve their goals and get accepted to the college of their choice. Sometimes we’re so focused on studying for the SAT that we lose sight of what the bigger picture is. No one likes the SAT, but with good scores, students can go on to a good college and begin working on whatever it is they really want to do with their lives.

What advice do you have for any families considering test prep? If they sign up for test prep make sure that their children do the homework assignments. Practicing the skills outside of the Summit classroom is key to doing well on the SAT.

What have you learned from your students? Never give up! I’m playing the role of student now in my bar exam prep class. If my students can do it, so can I!

Dan has helped countless students maximize their scoring potential, but he is only one of our expert teachers. Call us today at 1-800-MYTUTOR (800-698-8867) to speak with a Program Director to learn more about our Classroom Programs and One-on-One, In-Home Tutoring in your area.

Why Take a Practice Test?

Regular readers of The Answer Sheet know that we always list our upcoming practice tests at the bottom of each issue. Why do we always encourage students to take these? Practice tests are simply one of the easiest and best ways to prepare for an upcoming test. Here's why:

• Real life conditions. Taking a practice test at home is a good way to learn about the test, but doesn't prepare you for the actual testing conditions: the sounds of other pencils scratching, the climate controlled room, the desks with limited space. By taking a proctored practice test, you can learn what might distract you on the big day, and how to deal with it.

• Official tests. We only use tests created by the test-maker, so when you take a practice test with us, you’ll be taking an actual retired SAT, PSAT, or ACT. This helps you understand not just the types of questions you’ll encounter, but also how the test is set-up and paced.

• Detailed analysis. All students who take a practice test with Summit receive a detailed analysis of their results. This helps you see your areas of strength and your areas for improvement.

• It’s free! All of our practice tests are offered free to the public, so there’s no reason not to sign up!

To register for an upcoming practice SAT, PSAT, or ACT, click here or call 1-800-MYTUTOR (800-698-8867) today!

FREE Practice Tests

Summit Practice Tests offer students a great opportunity to take a standardized test under simulated proctored and timed conditions. These practice tests are a free service we offer as part of Summit's commitment to helping students maximize their test preparation. Students will receive a diagnostic analysis of their results in the mail.

Saturday, August 21, 2010
Tests Offered: SAT or ACT
Time: 9am-1pm
Locations: Hingham High School

Saturday, August 28, 2010
Tests Offered: SAT or ACT
Time: 9am-1pm
Locations: Brandeis University

Space is limited, so make sure to register soon!

Call 1-800-MYTUTOR (800-698-8867) or click here to register.

SAT Word of the Month

spurious: (adj) fake, false, counterfeit---Related Words: phony, mendacious, hypocritical

Summer 2010, VOL. 8, ED. 7/8
http://www.mytutor.com

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