If you’re a high school freshman or sophomore (or the parent of one!), and you’re starting to panic about college entrance tests, we have some words of wisdom for you.
First, take a deep breath. You’ve got plenty of time to build skills for the ACT or SAT. In fact, you don’t even need to worry about test-specific prep right now! We recommend taking a diagnostic pre-test the spring or summer before junior year so that you can get an idea of what you’ll need to work on.
Second, the ACT (or SAT) is just one piece of the college admissions puzzle. There are a lot of other things you should be focusing on during your first two years of high school: doing well in challenging classes, practicing good executive functioning habits (like studying, time management, organization), participating in extracurricular activities, having a good time with your friends, and getting enough sleep.
Now, that said, there are certainly some things you can do freshman and sophomore year that will impact your performance on the ACT or SAT.
In the least surprising news ever, the best way to improve your score is to develop your reading skills by…reading. Reading on a daily basis helps with comprehension skills, pacing, vocabulary, and critical thinking. Having a good handle on those things will help you on every section of the test, not just the reading section.
Start by reading what you enjoy, whether it’s novels, a sports website, or biographies. Then, once you’re in the habit of reading every day, add in other types of reading: newspaper editorials, short stories, poems. Working short non-fiction articles (like these) into your rotation is also a really good idea. This type of reading is what tends to trip up students on the ACT/SAT because they don’t typically see much of it.
You may think that to prepare for the ACT/SAT math section you should start learning how to do trig and other more difficult work. Hold your horses! As a freshman or sophomore, the best place to start is pre-algebra and algebra – even if you’re an advanced math student. Many students learn the major algebra concepts in seventh and eighth grade and then don’t revisit them until the test rolls around. They’re surprised when they struggle with the “easy” questions.
Brush up on factoring, least common multiple, and greatest common factor. Review formulas like those for distance and circle (if you’ve got old notes or flashcards for formulas, hang on to them for regular review!). If you’re not confident with word problems, that’s another area you can focus on now. For all kinds of math review, we recommend two excellent online resources: Khan Academy and ALEKS. Get comfortable with the basics now, so that when you’re closer to the ACT or SAT you can put your energy into prepping for the more challenging problems.
At this point, you really don’t need to worry about doing anything specific for the English and science sections. Developing your reading skills will have the biggest effect down the road (and right now in your current classes!). Beyond that, buckle down in your classes with an aim to understand what you’re learning—not just memorize stuff for tests.
It’s easy to feel the pressure of the ACT/SAT and give it more attention than it needs. Sure, you want to earn the best scores possible, but schools look at many other factors when making admissions decisions. They want to see that you’ve taken appropriately rigorous classes and have done well in them. Colleges are looking for students who are developing passions and who will have something to contribute to the school and wider community. Rather than starting too early with hardcore test prep, use that time to work on these other things. Not only will you be a more attractive applicant, you’ll also feel more balanced and fulfilled!
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you develop your academic, organization, and test-taking skills, give us a call!
Kim has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from University of Arizona, a master’s degree in special education from University of Illinois at Chicago, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education. She previously worked as a teacher for fourteen years, and as a tutoring director for Nurturing Wisdom—we’re excited to have her back on the team! Learn more about her below.
My favorite class in high school was…geometry (although I prefer algebra) because my teacher, Mr. Warwick, was organized and explained the concepts in an engaging and understandable manner. He made me feel confident when asking questions and was always open to teaching material in a variety of ways.
I loved UIC because…it allowed me to explore Chicago and meet incredible people while working in a variety of schools and educational programs. The Graduate College of Education had teachers that provided real world context and were very supportive to students’ individual goals.
On a day off, you’ll find me…at a sporting event for one of my four daughters, floating down the DuPage River, or at the dog park with my dog, Daisy.
What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… the individual care we take with the families we work with and the strong team behind each tutoring decision, including tutoring plans, curriculum, and tutor matches.
Sarah graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in education and sociology, and she’s completed coursework in childhood literacy and museum studies. After nine years as a fifth grade teacher in Wauwatosa, Portland, and Chicago, Sarah initially joined NW as a tutor. Learn more about her below!
A tip I’d give to a student to make the most of tutoring would be… that you get out of it what you put into it. If you put in time and energy, and bring a positive attitude, you’ll achieve so much!
I loved Marquette University because… it put me on the path to teaching, introduced me to amazing, life-long friends, and made me fall in love with Milwaukee.
On a day off, you’ll find me… taking a long walk to a coffee shop, chatting with friends, or going on a bike ride and cooking while listening to my latest podcast obsession.
What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… that everyone on the team is a life-long learner at heart, and that we care about the whole student. Everyone is dedicated to getting to know families in order to find a great fit for students and tutors.
Shannon has a degree in marketing from Creighton University. After working in the business world for over five years, she decided to go back to school to get her master’s degree in elementary education from Quincy University. Learn more about her below!
My favorite book is… The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. This is an amazing book that made me want to travel and see more of the world.
My favorite subject in school was… history because I loved learning more about the world and how the past helped shape who we are today.
On a day off you’ll find me… hanging out with family and friends. In the summer, usually doing something fun outside.
What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… it’s team approach to tutoring as well as it’s individualized curriculum! Both the team approach and the curriculum make tutoring and learning more fun and efficient.