Practice tests are an essential part of test preparation. Time and time again, it’s the students who see their practice tests as learning opportunities who make the biggest scoring leaps by the end of their test prep program. They understand that practice tests aren’t about scores, but about finding out what they’ve got down pat and what they still need to work on. Often, the sticking points will show up only through the practice test. What might that look like?
We once tutored a student who, after taking her mid-program practice ACT, said there was no way she could ever finish the reading section in time. When she and her tutor reviewed the practice test, they discovered that she had written way too much for her main ideas (one of our interactive strategies), which caused her to waste valuable time. After practicing writing concise notes, she was able to finish the section in time and increase her reading score! It’s common for trouble with timing not to show up until the practice test. Without that dress rehearsal, students go into the real test unprepared.
Another of our students bombed his end-of-program practice test. His scores didn’t show any improvement from his pre-test! His tutor knew something was off because he’d been doing well in sessions and on homework. When they reviewed the test together, she saw that he hadn’t marked it up at all. The student told her that when he got nervous during the test, he stopped using his strategies. They had a great discussion about techniques he could use to manage test anxiety, as well as the importance of consistent strategy use. And you know what? He achieved his goal score on his real test! Just think, had he not taken the practice test, we wouldn’t have known nerves were going to impact his performance. Chances are good he would have tanked on the real test!
After months of tutoring and making solid progress on both practice and real tests, one of our high school students took an end-of-program practice ACT. We were all shocked that his scores dropped. During the review session with his tutor, he admitted that he’d rushed through the easy math problems (leading to careless errors) and didn’t follow their plan for the science section (which impacted his pacing). He thought he knew the test well enough to get by without applying everything he’d learned. Again, thank goodness he made this mistake on a practice test! He knocked the real test out of the park by using the strategies he’d mastered.
Practice tests enable us to truly customize our tutoring. This targeted work saves time, increases confidence, and, ultimately, results in higher scores. If you’d like to learn more about how our tailored and comprehensive approach could help your child, give us a call!
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.