Now is The Time To Plan Your SAT and PSAT Prep

This year thousands Colorado high school students will experience stress about taking the high-stakes SAT test. Getting accepted into their first choice college partially depends on their scores from the SAT. For many students, the math portion of the SAT represents the biggest hurdle. If you are looking for private tutoring or one-on-one instruction to prepare for the SAT math test, check out Mathnasium of Parker’s fantastic program.

• Fun Fact: The name “SAT” is not an acronym. It used to stand for Scholastic Aptitude Test. The College Board, the makers of the test, now recognize that success on the test is based on learning not aptitude. They kept the initials as the name but dropped the words.

The PSAT A.K.A. The Pre-SAT
The PSAT does not get sent to colleges and therefore is not a high-stakes test. The PSAT, usually taken in the fall of the junior year, is a great introduction to what the SAT is all about. It gives you an understanding of what the SAT will be like. It also gives an indication of what your likely SAT score will be if you stay on your current learning path. So while most people don’t take PSAT prep courses, the scores give a great baseline for improvement.

• Fun Fact: There are versions of the PSAT for 8th, 9th, and 10th graders. After all, the more experience students get with the testing format the more relaxed and able to focus they will be when they take the actual SAT. More practice translates into higher scores.

The Math Portion of the SAT
The math portion of the SAT tests computational fluency, conceptual understanding and applications. It covers algebra, geometry, problem solving, data analysis and some advanced math topics. Most questions are in a multiple choice format and others are called “grid-in.” Grid-in requires the student to write the answer in a specialized format. A calculator may be used for only part of the SAT, the other part must be done without a calculator. Since the test is timed, being quick at mental math and having mathematical fluency is a huge advantage. Students with strong mental math skills, will benefit from more time thinking about the best strategy to solve a problem.

• Fun Fact: Mathnasium of Parker teaches applications and conceptual understanding using mathematical reasoning.  Fluency is an integral part of our curriculum as well.

The Math Score
The math SAT score will be a number in the 200 to 800 range. Students will also get a percentile score indicating how well they performed compared to other people who took the SAT. Many students take the SAT repeatedly to improve their scores, however, private tutoring is the most effective way to raise scores. Students who invest in private SAT tutoring see the largest increase in scores. About 11 percent of families choose private tutoring to prepare for the SAT.

• Fun Fact: A score in the 700s on the math portion of the SAT translates to the 90th percentile or higher. A score in the mid 500’s will be around the 50th percentile. A score 400 or below will be a single digit percentile

2 Ways to Prep for the SAT at Mathnasium
After realizing the SAT is an inevitable and critical part of the college and scholarship application process, most students and parents become highly motivated to succeed. There are two ways to prepare for the SAT at Mathnasium of Parker.

Planning in Advance
 Students using this approach understand that the math portion of the SAT is a cumulative test. These families know that to reach a pinnacle of math mastery requires a solid foundation. Children, as young as seven, enrolled in our traditional program are probably not thinking about SAT prep.  But, by building their fluency and mathematical reasoning they are already preparing for the SAT.

• Fun Fact: Parents with kids entering middle school and high school may suddenly realize their kids have gaps and need supplemental math education. At Mathnasium of Parker we know that the earlier a math gap gets identified, the easier it will be to address.

Strategic SAT Test Prep
Students using this approach enroll in our private tutoring specifically designed for SAT (or for current seniors, ACT, prep). This is for juniors and seniors who did not perform as well on the practice test, the PSAT or the SAT, as they had hoped. Perhaps their first choice college has very competitive entrance requirements and they need every advantage they can get. These students will take our assessment aligned with the skills on the current ACT and SAT. This assessment identifies areas of weakness related to the SAT. We then build a program designed specifically around those skills. It is completely customized for each student based on their specific areas of weakness. We also incorporate practice tests and test taking strategies.

When to Start Prepping for the SAT
Of course, the sooner you start getting ready for the SAT the better. But don’t despair if you are taking the test in a matter of months, or even weeks. Our private tutoring will prepare you much better than relying on workbooks, getting private tutoring from most traditional tutors, or Kahn Academy. If you didn’t get the score you hoped for on the Math SAT or PSAT the first time you took it, work with us to improve your score. Call us today for prices and times. We will start an intensive program that will still give you a competitive edge.

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