SAT Tip: Setting goals for your score will help you to score higher

Many people are intimidated by the SAT and tests like it. However, one of the best ways to increase your score is to set a goal for how many questions you want to get right in a section. For example, if you have a test section with 25 questions and you typically get only ten correct, the next time you take the test aim to get at least 12 or 13 correct.

You'd be surprised how many students fail to set goals when they take a test. They just look at a section and hope for the best. This doesn't work. You need to be engaged when you take a test, just like when you play a game you really want to win. It really doesn't matter if you don't know all the content that's being tested in order to score well. But, you do need to use strategies to pass the SAT and most standardized tests and setting goals is one of the most important strategies you can use. You may wonder how you will know for sure if the answer choice you selected is the correct one. Just make sure that you have the feeling that you get when you know your answer is right for the number of questions you set in your goal. So, if you want to get 15 out of 25 items correct, you want to make sure that you feel confident about the answers on 15 of the questions before you put your pencil down.

So, the next time you take a test, set a concrete goal for how many questions you want to get correct and then you'll see that you'll hit or even surpass your goal.

Planning Effective Tutoring Sessions

You know your subject matter and you've done this a thousand times before.  You don't have to have a plan, you can just wing it in your next tutoring session.  Playing it by ear works sometimes if you really have a handle on your subject matter and if you've tutored the same student in the past.  But, winging it doesn't leave the best impression on your students and it doesn't benefit them as much as when you have a specific plan.  Planning a tutoring session doesn't have to be a time consuming or lengthy process.  You can break it down into manageable parts and the best part is, once you've done it once or twice you'll be a pro and you'll breeze through in no time.

Pre-Assess

First things first.  On your very first meeting with a potential or registered client, you should give them an assessment.  For the SAT, you can go to online sites like MajorTests.com or the CollegeBoard.com and have them take a few scored practice questions.  If you're tutoring in another subject, simply give them a practice activity in that area and see how well they do.  Once you have the data, you can better gauge where your future sessions will go and implement a plan to get where you need to go.

Analyze Assessment Data

Analyzing assessment data can be as simple or as complicated as you make it.  If you use an online source, it will tabulate and score the data for you and you just have to pull out the areas that need improvement and build upon the areasthat are already strong. If you use your own tailor made assessments then you will have a little more work to do, but the extra effort will help your students in the long run and increase your credibility.

Read Up On Theory

One of the best things you can do to power up your tutoring sessions is to read up on the latest and best educational theories and research.  You don't have to get your doctorate, but knowing the theories behind how students think and learn will help you better plan for your students.  Here is an article that presents an excellent mind map of the important learning theories that teachers use to help their students.

If you follow these three simple steps when planning your next SAT tutoring session will be more effective and streamlined and you'll feel more productive. Most importantly, your student will reap the benefits of a personalized, planned and professional tutoring session.  For more information on SAT tutoring, or to schedule a free consultation, visit Simply Tutoring and fill out the contact form on the right.

How To Get The Most out of Each SAT Tutoring Session

You take your education seriously and you pay serious money for it as well. It stands to reason that you want to make sure that every moment spent with your tutor is time well spent.  But, many students are passive when it comes to their tutoring encounters.  There are simple ways to be a more active participant in your tutoring sessions without undermining your tutor's plans and expertise.

Ask Questions

Don't be afraid to ask questions, and lots of them.  Sometimes problems arise because of poor or miscommunication and a simple question from you can clear things up.  Can't understand an explanation that your tutor give you about a tricky problem? Try asking clarifying questions, like; how does this work when applied here, or can you show this to me in a visual way?  You'd be surprised how effective a simple question can be in clearing up misunderstandings in tutoring sessions.

Give Feedback

Don't forget that your tutor is a person just like you and loves to receive feedback.  Feedback is one of the most important things that you can provide you tutor with that can increase the effectiveness of your tutoring experience.  A great SAT tutor will incorporate your feedback the next time that they meet with you so that you can begin to benefit from it.  Feedback can be positive, negative or both.  It's all in the manner in which it's delivered that determines how it will be received.  Couching negative feedback between two positive bits of feedback is a great way to deliver feedback.  Remember the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do to you.

Do Your Homework

Okay, so your tutoring session isn't school and you feel you already have enough homework to deal with from your regular teachers.  But don't skip out on the assignments that your tutor assigns you to do on your own time, the only person you're hurting is yourself.  Remember you're paying to get the best SAT tutoring help available, so if you get homework, it's for a good reason.  Your tutor wants you to score well on your SAT so they might assign vocabulary words, practice sample questions and more.  Treat these like gold.  The more practice you get before the test, the better you will score.  Asking questions, giving feedback and doing your homework will only enhance your SAT tutoring sessions and help you to get the most out of the experience.  For more information on SAT tutoring or to schedule a free consultation, visit Simply Tutoring.

Tutoring vs Teaching: Two Sides of the Same Coin

With the myriad of instructional methods around today, it's a wonder that our kids aren't confused...well, maybe they are.  From online high schools that offer self-regulated students rigorous academic choices, to traditional public school settings where a one-size-fits all method is often implemented despite proclamations of differentiation, today's educational choices are almost endless.  Having taught in the public school system for over five years, I've noted a few drawbacks and benefits to each.  But before making a choice between the two, it's important to know what the two things you're comparing are and how they compare or contrast.

What is Tutoring?
I would argue that tutoring is teaching without an over populated classroom, without the politics, without many of the things that we as educators have just grown to accept as a reality of teaching in today's educational environment.  Tutoring involves the transfer of information from one person to another.  When you have the added credentials and education in your subject area, there is nothing less effective about tutoring than there is in classroom teaching, in fact historically this was how it was done.

What is Teaching?
In the past, teaching to the masses involved one or two teachers in a classroom full of bright, well-disciplined students eager to learn.  Today, however, classrooms are filled with students of varying abilities and levels of discipline, and there are a few other key people involved. The backstabbing co-teacher, the about to crack under the pressure administrator, and the Principal with their own agenda. The politics surrounding the classroom of today rivals that of the last Presidential election and is stifling many of the teachers who attempt daily to serve our kids.  Because their jobs, political careers and bonuses are dependent on scores and ranking, they will crush a new teacher without a blink.  Also, despite their claim of being student centered, actual concern about learning is secondary to test results and their personal agendas.

Sadly, many people think that with long summer breaks and sprinklings of holidays in between, that a teacher's life is a bed of roses.  "Teaching" in a school system is one of the most stressful,  underpaid, unappreciated and health depleting jobs I have ever encountered.  I have never been in a profession where I was hospitalized each year and dreaded going in to work each morning.  It resembles in many ways, a life of law enforcement, which is also a noble profession, but one that I never had any intention of pursuing.  One of the saddest things is that you rarely get to actually teach in the system and when you do, it's at a great cost. Even sadder than this is that we could do better.  It really doesn't have to be like this.  Our educational system needs revamping, but because I don't see that happening in the near future, I'd choose tutoring over teaching and here's why.

Tutoring Benefits
One of the best things about tutoring is that you can work with students one on one and learn about their specific strengths and weaknesses. Not only does the student benefit, so does the tutor.  Another thing is that you don't have to deal with the politics and testing pressure.  Politics and bickering over scores is not what helps students learn.  Targeted educational plans that focus on students' academic strengths and weaknesses are what help them learn. Tutoring offers this, which is why tutoring centers and companies are springing up all over the country and what used to be a supplemental industry is becoming more prominent.

Online teaching is becoming more prominent as well and blurs the line between "tutoring" and "teaching" even more.  With today's technology, it is extremely easy for me to prepare an entire curriculum, deliver it to one or more students and provide them with one-on-one assistance.  Gone is the overcrowded classroom with students, administrators and Principals vying for my attention.  I can provide focused and deliberate attention to a student's specific and unique needs. Sadly, this puts the issue of funding for education back on the table.  Public education is free, but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. And although teaching and tutoring are two sides of the same coin, tutoring comes up heads.  As always, for more information about tutoring or to schedule a free consultation, visit Simply Tutoring.

Hiring A Private SAT Tutor vs Taking SAT Course

Having a great SAT Tutor can make a huge difference in whether or not your SAT scores are high enough to get you into your top school choice, but there are as many ways to prep for the SAT as there are students. Choosing the right SAT Prep format is as much a matter of learning style as it is a personal preference.  Think of the following pros and cons before making the best choice for you.

When to Hire a Private SAT Tutor
Time Crunch
While there is a lot to be said for taking a group SAT course, sometimes one on one help is best, especially if there are unique time constraints.  For example, you've waited until four weeks before the test to start prepping.  Never an ideal scenario in any situation, but in this case, a private SAT tutor might be best.  SAT courses and classes are not designed to provide individual assistance in the case of rapidly approaching testing deadlines.  If you have a time crunch and need intensive help right away, hiring a private tutor is the best way to go.  Unencumbered by multiple students, this type of situation ensures that your tutor will provide you with the most help, in the least amount of time.

Learning Style
If you are a solitary learner, or someone who is easily distracted, then you may opt for private tutoring sessions instead of the traditional classroom setting. This makes sure that you remain focused and retain the information that you are getting.  Without the distraction of the student tapping a pencil next to you or chewing gum loud enough for the dead to hear, you can be assured that you will be able to practice and apply the SAT test taking strategies that are vital to passing the test.

Taking a Group SAT Prep Course
Social Learner
If you learn best when surrounded by a group of other students you can bounce ideas and questions off of, or talking through difficult concepts with, then taking a SAT prep course or class may work to your advantage.  You're not studying in isolation and you have your classmates to fall back on if you forget something or have a question.

Cost
This type of option might also be more cost effective as a large part of the cost of SAT prep will be dispersed across many students.  Although there are pricey SAT classes, you can find a prep course that will fit into your budget.  Take into consideration travel costs associated with this option as you have to pay transportation costs to and from the SAT prep course location, while private SAT tutors may often come to you or meet you half way.

Time
Group SAT Prep Courses often lend them selves better to students who aren't under a time crunch and who have at least eight weeks or more to prepare.  Since the course times are set in advance, you can schedule your time accordingly and time the course with when you are planning on taking the SAT.

Hiring an Online SAT Tutor

A newer, but effective option is hiring an online SAT tutor.  This combines many of the Group SAT benefits and Private SAT tutoring options.  If you are easily distracted by a group setting, you can log into a online session in the privacy of your own room or wherever else you are.  If you need the benefit of collaboration, you can join an online forum and get answers to your most troubling SAT questions.  It is also extremely cost effective for both the student and the tutor and cuts down of the cost and hassles of transportation.

So, in a nutshell, when it comes to getting the best SAT prep help, the options are varied and can be tailored to fit your unique needs, and economic and time constraints.  Just make sure that you take the time to take a true self assessment of your study habits to reap the benefits of whatever option you decide upon. For more information on choosing the best SAT tutor for your or to schedule a free consultation, visit Simply Tutoring.

4 Ways to Raise your SAT Reading & Writing Scores

Passing any standardized test requires both knowledge and skill and not only of the subject matter. You need to know how the SAT is designed and have the reading, vocabulary and grammar skills to pass this section of the SAT successfully.  Standardized tests can and should be approached like a high stakes game or problem.  You have to approach both strategically.  The good thing about the SAT is that it is standardized.  The bad thing about the SAT is that it is standardized.  Getting a SAT tutor who knows how to help you achieve the scores you want is crucial in planning your SAT test taking strategy.

SAT Reading Comprehension/Grammar & Writing
Some students think that the reading section is more subjective than the math section and as a result it's harder to pin down the right answers.  But, the verbal section of the SAT has a structure and a method all its own. These sections on the SAT require you to have a strong command of the English language and its vocabulary.  Having a SAT tutor who can give you strategies and tips on the sentence completions and reading comprehension questions is vital.  An effective SAT prep tutor will be able to help you increase your scores on practice tests so you can gain the confidence and knowledge necessary to pass the test.  They should assess your progress often, while at the same time continue to add to your SAT toolbox of strategies.  There are several ways to raise your SAT verbal scores, but try to use the ones that work best for you.

Read, Read, and Read Some More!
Okay, it's true that we're in the age of rapidly growing technology, but take a break from multimedia sources of information and get back to good old reading. Hey, you can read on your tablet, phone, computer, whatever! Just read and do it often.  This alone can help you get better scores on the SAT.  Much of the vocabulary on the SAT  isn't used in conversational English, but it can be found in classic and some contemporary literature.  So pick up a book already!


Improve Your Logic
Like puzzles and problem solving games?  Good, many of the sentence completions on the SAT require you to think in logical ways.  This is in addition to having a stellar vocabulary.  You often have to know whether a word is positive or negative in relation to another word or phrase in the question.  While this is a relatively simple process, simple often becomes complex under time constraints.  Practicing these skills for fun and on your own time can cut down on the time it takes you to figure things out on the actual test.

Insert Your Own Word
This perhaps is the top of the line tip of SAT sentence completion tips.  Before you look at any of the answer choices, plug in a word that you think would fit in the blank.  If you can't think of a specific word, use a phrase and jot it down in the margin.  Once you've done that, then scan the answer choices to see what word would fit.  If all the words in the answer choice look like hieroglyphs, don't worry.  Look at the word or phrase you wrote down and see whether it's positive or negative.  Eliminate any words that you do know that don't fit with your written down word and then use prefix or suffix knowledge to narrow down your choices even more.


Memorize Common Prefixes and Suffixes
This could save you from SAT score disaster, especially if you didn't follow the instructions above.  Just knowing common prefixes and suffixes can help you figure out the meaning of words on the SAT. Combined with context clues, prefix and suffix knowledge is very helpful on the SAT.  Remember, these are words even your English teacher won't know without a dictionary, and it's okay.  Once you've passed the test, you probably won't ever see them again except on Jeopardy. 

SAT Writing
To get a good score on the essay portion of the SAT, it's important to spend the first two minutes planning your thesis statement.  It doesn't have to be outlined because you don't have the time, but you do need at least a skeleton of an essay or you could run off course or end up with one big paragraph, or worse yet, fail to cover one of the points that you needed to make.  The best thesis for these types of essays is a three part thesis.  For example, if you think that Michael Jordan was the best basketball player of all time, a three part thesis for this would be as follows:  Michael Jordan was the best basketball player in history because of his jump shot, his stats and  his work ethic.  Just make sure you answer the question with a strong opinion and state three reasons for your position and the rest of the essay will be a breeze. Whatever you do, don't just jump into writing your essay without taking a minute or two to do this.  Planning a good three part essay doesn't take long, helps you save time and gives your essay structure.

These are just a few ways to increase your SAT reading and writing scores, but don't just stop here. Make sure you find a great SAT tutor that can help you get the scores you need to get into the school of your choice.  For more information, or to find an online SAT tutor, contact Simply Tutoring today.

5 E's to Look For In A Great SAT Tutor

While getting Es in school is usually a bad thing, there are exceptions.  When it comes to being a great SAT tutor, having the following 4 Es will help you stand out from the rest.  There are so many SAT prep courses and private tutors for students to choose from when preparing for the SAT, that it's important to give them valid reasons to choose your services from the myriad of options that they now have.  With technology, online and mobile tutoring options, students now have more choices than they did in the past.  Make sure that you have the following Es when looking for tutoring prospects.

Expertise
One of the most important things to have before starting to tutor for the SAT is expertise.  Whether you know the entire SAT like the back of your hand, or you are an expert on a certain subject area or section of the test, you will need to become an expert before you can claim and retain the best clients.  Once you can sell yourself as an expert, then the floodgates will open to new clients and better paying tutoring jobs.


Experience
In the field of education, like most other fields, having experience helps potential clients to have more trust in  your ability.  Students also benefit from experienced tutors who know how to increase scores.  This doesn't mean that if you have less experience that you can't be an excellent tutor.  It just means that your fees starting out might be lower and that you will have to work your way up before you can attract the kind of clients that you would like.

Effectiveness
Perhaps one of the best ways to promote your services and to gain and retain clients is to have a proven record of success.  Remember, being effective in raising student SAT scores is why you're in this business in the first place.  A great SAT tutor knows how to take a low scoring student and turn them into a high scoring one. Ways to become an effective tutor will be covered in the upcoming posts, but just know that once you have a reputation for being effective at what you do, you might have to start turning clients away.


Enthusiasm 
Think about that last class you took.  Was the instructor laid back, dry, or energetic?  Their personality and energy level probably had a lot to do with your interest level and participation in the course.  This is no different for tutoring.  A great SAT tutor has enthusiasm and a certain level of energy for what they're trying to achieve.  The best tutors want their students to succeed and they derive energy and pleasure from doing just that.

Make sure that your SAT tutor has all Es on their report card, the 4 Es that is, before you invest in their services.  Your education is your investment into your future and you shouldn't leave it to chance.  For more information on finding a great SAT tutor, or to schedule a free online consultation, contact Simply Tutoring Today!