Last month, I discussed the importance of building good reading skills and habits. Another important way to “prepare early” for tests and improve general academic performance is to build vocabulary skills. A strong vocabulary is a huge help on virtually any standardized test. Some tests, including the ISEE and the GRE, directly test vocabulary knowledge.…
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ACT 50% Extended Time Will Be Similar to SAT’s Starting September 2018 On May 21, the ACT announced a significant change in the way it administers extended time. Up until now, test-takers receiving an accommodation for time-and-a-half on the nationally administered ACT test were given one five-hour block of time and allowed to divide it…
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On August 1, 2017, the first day registration opened for the Fall 2017 ISEE testing dates, a concerned mother got to her computer at 9:00 A.M., determined to reserve the ideal testing time and location for her son. She was shocked when she discovered several of her preferred dates were already full--other parents had gotten…
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As a test tutor, I sometimes encounter parents who want to start preparing their students early for tests like the ISEE and SAT. While students should learn some test-taking skills and strategies, my best advice to those who want to “prepare early” is to spend more time reading. Reading comprehension shows up on almost every…
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2025 ADDENDUM: This article was originally written in 2018, before many schools went test-optional and the SAT switched to its currently, digital format. Now that students have a choice about whether to apply to a school that requires testing, those who struggle with standardized tests might wish to forego testing and focus on other aspects…
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