What are Standardized Tests?

I just wanted to write to everyone and to tell them that I had so much fun writing my first blog. I was skeptical at first because I had never written a blog before, and was unsure how to do it. After writing a few posts, I became very comfortable with how the process works. I hope everyone enjoyed reading about my topic of Standardized tests. I wanted to write about this topic because this topic is very important to me. I am not a huge fan of Standardized tests, but I do believe that they are important. No matter which test you are taking, you should always be prepared. I can not wait to hopefully hear from some of my viewers and I hope my posts help ease your anxiety about Standardized tests. Thank you all for your support!

-K

Are test prep classes important? Are they free? Are they expensive? These are just a few questions that students ask when it comes to getting prepared to take a Standardized Test. I have taken many test prep classes before because studying on my own was not doing anything. The courses I was taking were free because of who I signed up for. When I would study for the ACT, I would notice that every time I took the test, I was making the same score. My score was not improving, nor was is getting worse. I began to think to myself what could I do in order to score better? That is when I talked to my counselor at school and she recommended I take an ACT test prep course. It helped me raise my score 4 points! Test prep courses are important because they help you gain familiarity with the test you are about to take. You will take many practice tests and each time you take a test, your timing will improve. You will learn to pace yourself, and you will also learn how long you need to take on each question. You will also gain a lot of confidence when it comes to taking a Standardized test. Trust me, taking these types of tests can be very stressful and can also make you feel scared. Test prep classes can help ease your anxiety and can also help you improve you test taking skills. No matter what test you are trying to take, you should take as many test prep courses as you can! They help 100%, and you will see results in your scores.

Like a lot of Highschool students, I used to think that the ACT was not very important. I remember thinking… “Why am I taking this test?” Even though it may seem like a pointless test, it is actually very important. Below are 9 reasons why every student should take the ACT.

1. Most Colleges will require your scores

– There are many colleges that do not require ACT scores in order to get in, however, there are many that do. Colleges want to see how you scored on either the ACT or the SAT. The ACT is not required, but not taking it can limit your chances in getting into the college that you want to get in. m

2. There are Score-Based scholarships for the winning

– Many colleges reward students with tuition money if they perform well on the ACT or the SAT. In fact, scoring really good on these tests can lead to a full ride at many schools and generous scholarships at other schools.

3. Some Jobs require your test scores

– This might sound odd, but some potential bosses will want to see data from your previous SAT or ACT scores before hiring you. This mainly applies to jobs that are in consulting and in the financial sector.

4. The ACT has a science section

-The SAT does incorporate some scientific passages, but there is not a section that is just for science. If you really like science and feel like you would score good on it, taking the ACT is your best bet..

5. The ACT is lighter on Algebra than the SAT

– The ACT makes up for its lack of algebraic problems by Shining the light on geometry and trigonometry more than the SAT. This is why you should prepare wisely for the ACT. If you are not an algebra fan, the ACT is your best bet.

6. The ACT permits calculators throughout the Math test

– The SAT has a calculator portion and a no-calculator portion. The no-calculator questions are typically the questions where you need a calculator. Therefore, if you count on using a calculator you need to take the ACT.

7. The ACT does not have any grid-ins

– Student produced response questions, or grid-ins, are the ones where you supply your own answer, as featured on the SAT. These questions do not exist on the ACT. This means that you always have answer choices handed to you to work with.

8. The essay on the ACT wants your opinion

– The essay wants you to provide your opinion and it wants you to provide an argument. The essay on the SAT is all about reading comprehension and literary analysis. If that doesn’t sound fun, I would go with the ACT.

9. The ACT is required by some States

-If you are in Highschool and you are in the states that require the ACT, then you have to take the test. You can either take it with writing or without writing. There is not really a choice when it comes to the ACT if you live in a particular state.

I hope all of these tips and facts help you understand just why the ACT is important!

Below you will find a video that talks about how eating certain foods can actually help you score better on a test.I remember being in Highschool and the night before I would take the ACT, I would make sure I eat a good dinner and get a lot of rest. Some people like to stay up late and study more, but studies show that if you get a good nights sleep, you are known to score better on the test because you can focus more. When I would wake up in the mornings, I would make sure that I eat a very good and nutritious breakfast. You should never skip breakfast because then you will not get the energy and brain power needed in order to test well during the test. Some people believe this, some don’t. Should you believe it though is the important question?

https://www.newsweek.com/eating-breakfast-linked-better-test-scores-1472966

When it comes to Standardized Testing, there are several tests that can be taken. The most common test is the ACT. Scoring a good score on the ACT can help students receive scholarships for college. Another Standardized Test that is common is the SAT. It is similar to the ACT, and can also help students get into college. However, many students can get confused when it comes to which test they need to take. Hopefully the video below will help any questions that you may have.

https://withfrank.org/how-to-pay-for-college/what-do-i-need-to-prepare-for-college/tests-needed/what-are-the-various-standardized-tests-for-potential-college-students/

Can scholarships be provided if you make a good score on certain tests? This is an important question that every student asks. For some, getting into college can be hard due to money expenses. As everyone knows college is expensive, and not everyone can afford it. Scholarships are the number 1 reason why many students get into college. Whether it be a sports scholarship or an academic scholarship. After doing my own research, I came across this amazing website that goes into so much detail about scholarships and Standardized Tests. The link below can help anyone with any questions they have regarding whether or not making a good score can get them into college.

https://www.privateschoolreview.com/blog/college-prep-are-sat-act-necessary

When it comes to Standardized Testing, preparing is the hardest part. I remember being in Highschool and having to force myself to prepare for the ACT. If we are being honest, not everyone wants to study for the ACT. It takes a lot of time, and effort in order to study everything that will be on the test. The video above will anyone and everyone who is trying to prepare for the ACT or any other Standardized Test.

This video will help show everyone the ins and outs of Standardized Testing. I, myself, have always been against Standardized Testing for many reasons. The main reason is that I do not think a test should determine whether or not a student receives a scholarship for college. Now, just because I do not agree with Standardized Tests, does mean everyone else does. There are tons of people who agree with Standardized Tests. Whether you agree with Standardized Testing or not, the video above will help show anyone who is curious as to why Standardized Tests can be looked at as bad and as good.

This week we are going to talk about the different tips and study prep one can do in order to do a good job on either the ACT or SAT. When I was in High school, I dreaded the day I would have to take the ACT. I was never a good test taker, so I used tons of tips and study strategies that helped a lot. Below are some tips for taking the ACT or the SAT.

1.) Use a test manual. I used the ACT for dummies for book and there were tons of practice tests and tips on how to succeed on the ACT.

2.) Learn in advance. It is always important to start studying EARLY! Studying for the ACT or SAT is already hard, and when you procrastinate to study until the last minute it is even harder.

3.) Make use of online resources. Just like the book, there are tons of practice tests for free online. Take as many as you can.

4.) Be prepared and organized. Always make sure you have everything you need the morning of the test. This will help calm your nerves because you know you are prepared.

5.) DO NOT cram the night before the test. Yes, it is important to study the night before a test, but it is even more important that you try to relax and get a good nights sleep.

6.) Dress in layers. Most rooms when testing can get very cold. If it happens to be cold, you will be prepared and if it happens to get hot, you can just take your jacket off.

7.) Arrive early. Make sure you arrive early that way you have extra time in case you don’t know where you are going.

8.) Relax. Try to relax and to not be so anxious. It is just a test and the more you relax, the better you will do.

9.) Set goals for time and always pace yourself. Make sure you bring a watch to time yourself. This way you know exactly how much time you have and you won’t feel rushed.

10.) Lastly, do not spend too much time on one question. If you do not know the answer, guess aggressively and move on to the next question.

I hope these study tips help anyone who is stressed about the ACT or SAT. I know I was when I was in High school. Always remember that it is just a test and to always relax! Until next week.

-K

Welcome back readers! Last week we talked about the pros of standardized testing. This week we are going to address the cons of standardized testing. Like I addressed in my post last week, there are plenty of pros when talking about standardized testing. However, there are plenty of cons too. To start, I am going to name a few cons that I came across while searching through the internet.

1. Standardized testing can creat major stress: Students can feel pressure when it comes to taking certain standardized tests. The test scores can affect a student’s confidence. This can then lead to students developing a negative attitude about their abilities and will result in them disliking school.

2. Teachers may end up “teaching to the test” rather than giving students a deeper understanding of the subject: This can also create a classroom atmosphere that lacks creativity and can limit a student’s learning potential due to boredom.

3. Standardized tests evaluate student’s performance without considering external factors: Standardized tests do not consider factors such as test anxiety, home life, or the simple fact that some students are extremely bright but do not test well.

4. Standardized tests only consider a single test performance upon evaluation: It does not consider how much a student has grown over the course of the year. This can be a disservice to teachers who have helped their students grow, and students who put their best effort to get better during the year and performed poorly on one test.

5. Standardized tests create a limiting scope of learning and success: These types of tests only measure specific areas like reading, wiring, and math. They don’t provide a full picture of soft skills needed to learn.

As you can see, standardized tests can be destructive to students. How is it that something that was created to “help” students, actually causes students more pain in the long run? Come back next week to read more on standardized tests and how they can hurt students more than help them.

Until next time,

K