Guest Blogger: Karen Berlin Ishii - Teacher and Test Prep Expert

With this year’s October SAT test date earlier than anticipated, many students and parents are feeling the pressure. Thankfully, Launch Education guest blogger, Karen Berlin Ishii, has provided some full-proof tips on how raise your confidence and scores before October 1st rolls around.

How to prep for the October SAT in less than two months

September and school are looming on the horizon, with the October SATs just beyond. But even if you didn't spend your summer studying, you can still make great gains in your scores. Here's how:

Approach the test with confidence: Your spring SAT scores may be reasonably strong in one or two of the test sections. Great! Colleges will cherry-pick your best scores for each section – Critical Reading, Math and Writing. So focus your studies now on the areas you most need to improve upon. Also, take comfort in the fact that you are nearly a half year older than you were last time you took the test, which often has intangible effects on scores. Many students who studied hard in the spring see their big score improvement in the fall.

Take practice tests: Take full, timed practice tests to build your skills in pacing and identify specific areas to improve on. Take each test in a single sitting, using a pencil and the bubble answer sheets. Turn off cellphones and don't take more than a couple short breaks – make it real! Use the first three tests in the CollegeBoard book of practice tests, if you can, as those are the most recent, real, published SAT tests. Furthering understanding of how questions and answers are formulated, Private SAT tutors can prepare you for any tricky questions. 

Don't just score, learn more! Review your errors, analyze your pacing. Review the math for the CollegeBoard tests 4-10 at khanacademy.org/sat, review all answers and explanations for tests 1-3 at ShowMeSAT.com, or use a great book of explanations to all the tests, "Tutor Ted's SAT Solutions Manual." When you find question types that you repeatedly have trouble with, look for more of those questions in other drills and then do lots of them, reviewing answers and explanations after each.

Be physically prepared for test day: So, you're mature and prepped. Now the single most important factor affecting your score is your physical and mental condition on test day. Get a good night's sleep all week before your test so you have energy in reserve if you can't sleep well the night before the test. Have everything ready to go the night before: lots of sharpened #2 pencils, test ticket, ID, calculator and fresh batteries. Wake up a few minutes early on test day and do a couple practice questions in each test section to warm up. Eat a good breakfast, then go to your test with an energizing snack, a sweater, and a watch (so you are in control of your own test pacing).

If you've done this homework, you can walk into your test with confidence, and you can be proud of whatever you achieve as you move on to the next tasks in your studies and your college applications.

by Karen Berlin Ishii

Karen Berlin Ishii, a graduate of Brown University, has more than 25 years' experience as a teacher and test prep tutor. Karen teaches students in New York and internationally for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT and GRE, and also offers tutoring in reading and writing skills, math, and college application essay consulting. Learn more about Karen at www.karenberlinishii.com.

The SAT Essay: Shocking Secrets Revealed!

For second-semester high school juniors, SAT season is in full-thrust and many private SAT tutors are studying the latest modifications. With the March 12th test date only a few weeks away, many students are engaged in feverish cram sessions with tutors or test prep classes. Perhaps one of the most bewildering features of the upcoming test is the Essay. Students wonder anxiously, “How can I possibly write anything half-decent in twenty five minutes without ANY preparation?” As a seasoned SAT Verbal instructor, I can say with certainty that there are definitive methods for writing an excellent essay. Test-takers, do not despair!

In order to obtain a high score on the essay, it is important to first understand how the essay fits into the context of the exam and how it is approached by CollegeBoard graders.

The Facts:

• The SAT Essay is a fraction (about 1/3) of the overall Writing score - the bulk of the score is determined by a student’s performance on the two Grammar Multiple Choice sections. Nevertheless, the essay can be a terrific area for students to rack up points, particularly for those who are not “grammatically inclined.”
• The Essay is always the first section of the exam and lasts 25 minutes.
• The Essay is evaluated on a scale from 2 to 12. Two essay graders are assigned to review each essay and select a score from 1 to 6 based on their “holistic impression” of the writing. In other words, essay graders are more concerned with the overall content, organization, and cogency of the writer’s argument than minor mistakes in grammar, mechanics, or spelling. As a caveat, an accumulation of these mistakes can hinder a score if they obscure the clarity of the argument.
• The Essay prompt is not revealed until students sit down and take the exam; however, the prompt is broad enough to allow students to develop well-supported arguments within the allotted time.
• For an in-depth look at the scoring rubric used by the CollegeBoard, click here.

The Method

• Take a stand! Perhaps one of the greatest mistakes students make when writing the Essay is refusing to take a definitive stance on the prompt. Although advanced English students are typically rewarded for writing arguments that synthesize opposing viewpoints, this is NOT the case on the SAT. Students should save themselves the hassle of thinking too far outside the box and pick the side of the prompt that they feel most comfortable writing about. A well-defined argument forms the crux of a high scoring essay.
• Include two or three strong supporting examples! Another key to an exceptional score lies in the writer’s ability to pick relevant, specific supporting examples and expound. A common trap that students fall into is choosing supporting examples that sound “academic” that they actually know very little about. Although the plot and character development of Jane Eyre might be more palatable to an academe than, say, the events on the latest installment of “The Bachelor,” both of these things may provide grade-A fodder for a high-scoring SAT Essay. As long as the supporting example is detailed and well-linked to the argument, the source of the example is inconsequential.
• Create an Idea Bank! The number one complaint volleyed at the SAT Essay is the unknown-nature of the question; nonetheless, there are things a student CAN do to prepare himself before the tumult of exam day. With my past students, the best way to improve an essay score was to come up with an Idea Bank of potential supporting examples. As I mentioned earlier, the best supporting examples do not need to be drawn from scholarly sources. Many of my previous students who scored 11’s or 12’s on their essays had written about their favorite movies, books, television shows, or tabloid magazines (I am particularly reminded of a student who connected the proliferation of internet-based social media to the fall of Britney Spears. Brilliant!). The purpose of an Idea Bank is to devise five or six well-researched supporting examples that can be instantly recalled and connected to various essay prompts. Even the most glaringly “un-academic” sources (e.g. Jersey Shore, Twilight, SpongeBob) can be parsed for sophisticated themes (e.g. the perils of excess, the volatility of romantic love, the bliss of total ignorance). On test day, it is the student’s job to determine which examples in his Idea Bank can be manipulated to address the concerns of the prompt.
• Make it up! As a last resort, it’s better to improvise supporting evidence than to omit it entirely. Be creative and come up with a believable personal anecdote or an “imaginary” novel. Graders do not have the time to fact-check your essay. I was once fooled by one of my students who had written a fascinating account of her pilgrimage to the South American pyramids. Said pilgrimage NEVER happened, but the tale perfectly aligned with the prompt and her developing argument. I gave her a high-five.

And there you have it. Although daunting, the SAT Essay is totally beatable AND can be prepared for in advance. Test-takers should feel empowered to write about what they know rather than what might “sound good” to essay graders. Craft an Idea Bank and practice connecting supporting evidence to a variety of potential essay questions prior to exam day.

All You Need To Know About The ISEE In Five Minutes

Are you and your child applying to private middle school or high school for fall 2011 admissions? Do you find yourself staring bewilderingly at the application request for your student’s recent ISEE scores, and reminding you that its never too early to consider SAT tutoring?

Sure, you may have questions – but you are not alone: every year about 45,000 kids take the ISEE, which means your questions have been considered, asked, and answered before. Short on time? Look no further – in just a few minutes you will understand the basics of the ISEE.

1. The ISEE sounds familiar. Has my child taken it before?

Unless you have applied to private school in the past, your child has not taken the ISEE. However, it is likely that you have heard of the company that makes the ISEE – the ERB. The ERB is responsible for the CTP (“ERBs”), an exam administered every year in private school to test student performance against “advanced” grade standards. The ISEE is based on similar expectations.

2. I went to the ERB website to register my child for the ISEE, and it asked me what grade we are applying for. Why?

There are three levels of the ISEE: the Lower Level, the Middle Level, and the Upper Level. The level your student will take depends on the grade your student is in. However, the ERB has clustered certain grades: students in 4th or 5th grade take the Lower Level exam, those in 6th or 7th take the Middle Level exam, and students 8th grade or above applying for any grade in high school take the Upper Level exam.

3. Does this mean that my 8th grader is taking the same test as a 9th grader? That’s not fair!

Correct. But your 8th grader’s performance will only be calculated and scored in comparison to that of fellow 8th graders.

4. How are the tests scored?

There are five sections on the ISEE: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement and an Essay. Each student’s raw score (per section) is calculated based upon the number of questions answered correctly (there is no penalty for an incorrect answer). Each raw score is then converted to a scaled score between 760 and 940 (according to the “three year rolling norm pool” for that section) and then converted in to a percentile (ranking) that appears in the form of a stanine (a number from 1- 9).

5. I’m confused. What is considered a “good score”?

Since scores are evaluated in various terms of “comparison,” we encourage students to simply do their best to achieve their potential. Each school accepts a range of stanine scores, but most admissions counselors I’ve asked want everyone to remember that ISEE scores aren’t the only factor considered in the admission decision – schools are building classes, and they emphasize that test scores are just one of dozens of factors they look at when considering a student for their school.

6. My child is nervous about the exam. What can I do?

As with any new experience, familiarity breeds confidence. We recommend having your child take practice tests so that he or she will know what to expect on test day – everything from how much time is allotted for each section to when they can take bathroom breaks.

Since the ISEE is standardized, with studying and review, students can become familiar with the types of topics the test will cover, improve their knowledge base, and practice efficient test-taking strategies (like ways to derive the correct answer choice without taking the time to “solve” the question). The more comfortable students feel with the task at hand, the more they will feel like they can put their best foot forward.

Unfortunately, the ERB has only published one real ISEE from each level, which makes the “test-day” experience difficult to match. That said, since rehearsing what will happen on test day is a key component to any student’s preparation, Launch Education Group has created two practice exams based on the published ISEE exams from the ERB to provide more opportunity for practice. Princeton Review and Kaplan also offer practice exams, although they have not been updated for the new ISEE format.

7. When is the test? Can my child take it more than once?

Testing this year starts December 4th. Most schools recommend taking the ISEE as soon as possible, but there are test dates offered throughout the early spring. Check with the schools on your application list to make sure the test date you have selected is within the deadline. Students can only take the ISEE once every six months. Therefore, plan accordingly!

For registration and more information, visit the ERB website.

Good luck!

Making The Academic Journey Part of Everyday Life

I find myself reading and talking a lot about “how busy kids are these days,” but it has come increasingly apparent how much busier their parents are – and how little support they receive in respect to managing their kid's academic futures.

In the same breath, I also hear a lot of parents say that “it just seems like everything is happening younger and younger” – like students taking the SAT in 9th grade when most used to only take it in 11th -which makes keeping up with academic trends and timelines seem hard to plan, let alone accomplish.

However, there are easy ways to keep up with academic planning that will enable you to seamlessly (especially with private SAT tutors) incorporate steps toward your student's academic future in to your everyday routine – so while it may seem that “everything happens so quickly,” at least you will be prepared and already half-way there!

Steps To Achieve Higher Education Goals
By Jeannie Borin M.Ed., College Connections
In addition to the challenging academic workload most teens are faced with, many students are simultaneously working, engaged in extracurricular activities and want social time. Compile this busy lifestyle with the time and energy it takes to prepare and apply to colleges.

Step One: Guidance

Applying to college is no easy task. Examine a college application and you will see the various elements required. Universities require more information from students now than ever before to make distinctions and admission decisions. Applications are often difficult if not impossible for students to complete without the proper support and direction.

Most colleges suggest support and counseling, but from whom and how?

Well meaning high school counselors are often spread too thin and many families do not know the current application requirements, options, statistics or what university admissions officers want to see. If universities are requiring numerous components to the college application process, students are entitled to know what to do. Before even beginning the college process, families should learn exactly what is involved and make sure their children have the proper guidance.

Step Two: Stay Current

There are factors in the admission process that change from year to year. What are the different ways to apply? Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive First Choice Early Action, and Rolling Admissions... What do these terms mean? What is the best strategy? Harvard, Princeton and the University of Virginia along with other select universities have eliminated their Early Admission Plans. How do students and their families become aware of such news? A few ways include:

1. The National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) will have current college news and updates. Visit www.nacacnet.org

2. Contacting university admission officers as well as carefully reviewing college websites will provide current brochures and admission information for free

Step Three: Testing

Each year, students face additional concerns regarding the standardized testing process. Families we work with are constantly unsure about what tests to take (ACT and/or SAT I), what colleges require SAT II Subject Exams, when they are given and where and how to register to take them. The testing requirements change as some universities require certain tests and some do not or simply recommend them.

Step Four: The Essay

Since over 800 universities in the United States are test optional, often greater emphasis is placed on the college essay. What are these university admission officers looking for in the student essay?

Although many universities do give a “topic of your choice” there are also those questions that are specific. For example, an essay question may quote legendary philosophers and tell the applicant to decipher the content and connect it on a personal level. To write intelligently anywhere from 100 to 600 words (depending on the institution) is yet an additional skill. Essays should be in story format, creative and wonderfully intriguing. However, students generally do not learn to write first person essays in high school, which makes the process more challenging. Many colleges require three to four essays; some long and some short – but nevertheless all different.

Step Five: Recommendations

The amount of recommendation letters necessary vary per college. Here are a few of the questions I get from students and parents: “How many do I need?” “What information should be included?” “Who should I give them to?” “Should I submit my recommendations with the rest of the application?” “Should I waive the right to see them?” The answer is that universities have different methods of how they want their applicants to submit recommendations.

Step Six: The Brag Sheet

The “Brag Sheet” is essentially a list of extracurricular activities, honors and awards received in high school. Students need to know the best way to state and present their activities. In most cases, applicants are given approximately seven short lines to list years of experience and accomplishments. They are entitled to know how to maximize this space.

Step Seven: Financial Planning

Most families approach college years for their children without having given much thought to how they will finance their children’s college education. Funding college education for your children will probably represent the second largest out of pocket expense that a family will incur in their lifetime

Author Bio:
Jeannie Borin, M. Ed, is Founder and President of the independent educational and college consulting firm College Connections.