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May 2011 |
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May 2011 |
by Bob Christie, Summit Tutor
The first time that I work with a new student on the SAT reading passages, I ask a very important question: “Should you look at the questions before or after you read a passage for the first time?” More often than I’d like, I hear that students want to read the questions first so they’ll know what to look for while reading through the passage. While it may seem logical initially, reading the questions before you look at a reading passage can really limit your success, not to mention drain your time and energy.
Students who look at the questions first will pick out key words or phrases that they can watch for during the first read through. Unfortunately, the folks who make the test do the same thing. Key points, phrases, or pieces of a passage are chosen and turned into the “almost correct” (and therefore completely incorrect) answer choices. By going through the passage and trying to match key words you see in the questions, you are not really taking the test or answering the questions; you are playing a word matching game!
What happens after you look at the questions, then go through the passage scouring for the answer at the same time? You still have to go back and reread many of the questions again to answer them, and here is where a great deal of time and energy can be wasted, especially for a student with a high range and therefore, very little wiggle room for time.
SAT Critical Reading questions are very complex as are their answer choices. If you try to remember all of the questions and key points in the answer choices, you won’t get a thing out of your first reading of the passage due to information overload. Right off the bat you are at a disadvantage because now you have given up your ability to “anticipate the answer!” This key strategy is like going into a store with a shopping list, as opposed to wandering around, picking up and putting back items, and ending up with an product (or in our case, answer choice) you did not really intend to “buy.”
When you actively read a passage for the first time all you should focus on is restating the main idea of each paragraph and, more importantly, the passage. When you do this, you can respond to many of the questions with your own thoughts based on your knowledge of the passage; then go into the answer choices and pick the one that matches what you are thinking. Look past the tempting answer choices and stick with your original thought! Remember also that the author often makes hints or suggestions in the questions, and your job is to infer or draw a conclusion from that suggestion. You can’t do that by looking at the conclusion before you even see the hints which will never be stated directly; that information is not going to jump off of the page at you!
So remember that when you start a Critical Reading passage go into it intending to get the main idea and structure of the passage. Don’t go near the questions! Then as you answer the questions using the “anticipate the answer” strategy you’ll avoid the “close” answers. Your knowledge of the material will get stronger as you reread sections of the passage in response to certain questions. If you put these practices into play you’ll stand the best chance of getting a great bump in your CR score!
About Bob: Bob has been with Summit since 2002 and is a One-on-One, In-Home tutor and Classroom teacher for the SAT, ACT, and SSAT. Additionally, Bob helps train prospective Summit tutors and classroom teachers.
With the end of the year fast approaching, here are a few
useful tips to help boost grades for your final report card.
Review Past Quizzes
Review your mistakes and fill-in incorrect answers with the correct answers. This serves as a good refresher.
Form a Study Group
Get together with a group of friends. Order pizza and go over homework and class notes. If there is something that you don’t understand, your friends can help you figure it out before the test.
Be Sure to Take Clear Notes
With clear and detailed notes, reviewing material will be easier. You can also try highlighting your notes, so that when you are studying, important information will standout better.
Create Your Own Flashcards
Flashcards make for an easily accessible study guide. Bullet point important facts, dates or questions and answers from your notes. Go over your cards whenever you have some free time, like on the bus or after school.
"Summit is a great organization. They are quick to respond to any and all concerns you could ever have. They really care about helping your child do the best that they can...Our tutor is terrific. He is enthusiastic and made a chore better than tolerable for my daughter. He even made her feel confident going into the SAT." -- Susan R., Summit Parent
Get to Know Summit:
Ilana Gerjuoy
Every month we shine the spotl
ight on one of our
expert One-on-One, In-Home Tutors or Classroom Program Teachers. This
month we
spoke with Massachusetts area teacher, Ilana Gerjuoy. Ilana joined Summit last year as a Verbal SAT teacher. Already she has received rave reviews from her students, who say she is "effective," "awesome and approachable."
What do you do outside of Summit?
I am a counselor, advocate, and trainer, and I specialize in violence prevention and crisis intervention.
What kind of teacher are you?
My teaching philosophy is that students flourish when they feel respected and when their intelligence, talents and creativity are acknowledged. I do my best to show students that I deeply respect them and enjoy them as people. I work to maintain a safe, supportive environment in the classroom and encourage students to ask questions. I let them know that the Summit class is a perfect place to make mistakes, in order to avoid making the same mistakes during the test!
What was your favorite subject in school and why?
I liked many academic subjects, but I especially loved art classes. Art can be a universal language and offers an alternative mode of self-expression. Art classes were opportunities to get out of my head and connect with my creativity.
Where did you go to college?
I majored in East Asian Studies with a concentration on Chinese language at Oberlin College. My major was a reflection of my love of languages and cultures. I wanted to learn about another culture in a respectful manner that enabled me to communicate with people directly.
What super-power would you most like to have?
It’s really hard to decide between flying and time travel. I would love to fly for the sheer joy of it, but traveling through time would be incredibly fascinating and illuminating.
What do you love most about teaching for Summit?
I love seeing the students’ self-confidence increase as they learn new skills and strategies.
What is your greatest Summit teaching success story?
One course started with a group of students who were unmotivated and seemed suspicious of adults. My Summit co-teacher and I worked very hard to create a positive, supportive atmosphere in our classrooms. After just a couple of weeks, we could see that the change in tone was helping the students to learn better. By the end of the course, many of the students were scoring much higher. Also, they communicated how much they appreciated the class and friendly, supportive teachers.
Why did you become a Summit teacher?
I really enjoy teaching and training. High school students are one of my favorite groups to teach, and I like helping students to succeed. It’s the perfect part-time job, because it’s meaningful and quite different from the rest of what I do.
What advice do you have for any family considering test prep?
The amount that a student gets out of test prep is directly proportional to how much effort the student puts in. That said, just a few minutes of practice each day, especially on vocabulary, can make a huge difference. Start as early as possible so that the student has time to integrate the new skills and strategies. Lastly, the test shows only a narrow sliver of information about a student: the student’s values, talents, and interests are more important than any standardized test, so remember to keep the student’s wonderful and unique qualities in mind during the college application process.
What have you learned from your students?
I learn so much from my interactions with students. A couple of things on my mind at the moment are that students these days have very busy lives and need the class to be fun, interactive, and practical. They need it to be an effective use of their time. Also, laughter and the occasional stretch break improve almost any class.
Ilana has helped countless students maximize their scoring potential, but she 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 Classroom
Programs and One-on-One,
In-Home Tutoring in your area.
On April 28th, Summit hosted a second Lunch & Learn in Connecticut. Educational Consultants and Guidance and College Counselors gathered at the Roger Sherman Inn in New Canaan for an afternoon of networking and discussion. Our featured speaker, Charlie O’Hearn, Summit Founder and CEO, presented SAT vs. ACT: Understanding Your Options.
Our most popular offering at area high schools*, this presentation compares and contrasts the format, content, and skills requirements of the SAT and ACT. During the presentation, Mr. O’Hearn offered practical guidelines for helping students determine which test they might be better suited for. Each attendee received a copy of our College Admissions Testing Guide at the conclusion of the event. If you are an educational professional and were unable to attend this event, please contact us at news@mytutor.com to receive your free copy.
*If you are Guidance/College Counselor and would like to learn more about how Summit can conduct a free presentation at your high school, please email info@mytutor.com.
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.
Massachusetts
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Tests Offered: SAT, ACT, or PSAT
Time: 9am-1pm (PSAT ends at 12pm)
Locations: Brandeis University, Waltham
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Tests Offered: SAT, ACT, or PSAT
Time: 9am-1pm (PSAT ends at 12pm)
Locations: Brandeis University, Waltham
Connecticut
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Tests Offered: SAT
Time: 9am-1pm
Locations: Homewood Suites, Farmington or Stamford Hilton, Stamford
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Tests Offered: SAT
Time: 9am-1pm
Locations: Homewood Suites, Farmington or Stamford Hilton, Stamford
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
curtail: (v) to shorten or reduce (curtailment n)---Related Words: abbreviate, foil, thwart
May 2011, VOL. 9, ED. 5
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