Spring testing is quickly approaching. Testing will take place from April 14 to 16. Freshmen and sophomores will be taking the PSAT, and juniors will be taking the SAT. Both test scores are an important display of a student’s knowledge and growth. SAT scores are often used during college and scholarship applications, and can even be used to place college freshman in proper courses.
If a student wants a high score on their respective test, there is still plenty of time for them to prepare. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t take hours of daily studying to improve a score and do well on the test. Growth is possible for students involved in sports, clubs, or other commitments that take up their free time.
PSAT and SAT preparation also doesn’t require a costly tutor or program. There are plenty of free resources online and at Palmer High School to support them.
- IXL – All students except seniors should be doing 10 minutes of IXL every day in their math and English classes. IXL has a multitude of SAT style questions for various subjects that can prepare a student for what they may encounter in April. This time should be valued and taken seriously, especially by busy students, as it is built into class for them.
- Palmer Perch Tutoring – If a student prefers in-person studying or needs some more one-on-one help, the tutoring center is open after school on Tuesdays and Thursday until 5:00 pm for just that!
- The College Board’s Question of the Day – Every day, the College Board provides a reading and writing and a math question with a difficulty rating. Students can pick one of the two subjects to do the question for. This is a quick and easy way for students to familiarize themselves with questions that will be on their tests.
- Khan Academy Digital SAT Prep – Khan Academy worked with the SAT creators to compile comprehensive resources to give test-takers confidence going into it. It is recommended to do 6 to 8 hours of the Khan Academy course before the test. If a student starts now, that could be as little as one hour a week to be fully prepared.
It is also important for students to remember that a test score does not define them or their intelligence. It is simply one way to demonstrate it. However, if they want to get a specific score or struggle with test taking, test prep is always a great way to improve their confidence and capabilities.
Stay tuned for more information about testing windows, and good luck, Terrors!
