Preparation is key to
Success.
Establish a Foundation
Develop a Strategy
Have the Confidence to Execute
Overview
Specializing in the verbal sections of both standardized tests, I believe that preparation is key to success. While other tutors seem to focus on the “tricks” associated with each section, I believe that without a solid foundation - especially in grammar - success is almost impossible. I will not only offer the students strategies for each section, I will insist they have the skills necessary to answer the questions. I have also had experience and success working with kids with learning difficulties and processing issues, many of whom deal with dyslexia and/or have Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) at school.
Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension is a difficult skill to teach, especially when I have just met a student in high school. However, the success I have found in reading comprehension among the bulk of my students is an area of pride.
Both tests require students to annotate or closely read each passage, focusing on the thesis or the “so what” statement, character names, organization of the passage, and the subtle transitions. Both also require a solid knowledge of vocabulary.
I will help by guiding students to memorize several vocabulary words that I have found are prevalent in both tests (especially the SAT). I am a strong advocate for reading - of any kind - and therefore, will always advise students to read, read, read.
ACT
In April 2025, the ACT will introduce several changes to its four-sectioned (Reading, Grammar, Math, and Science) test. While the scoring will remain out of 36, the ACT has indicated that the Science section will now be optional. It is also my understanding that the test will lower the number of questions in each section, which I anticipate will help with what used to be a rather fast paced test. Apparently, ACT will also allow students to choose between a paper or digital test.
SAT
In March of 2024, the SAT introduced a new Digital version of the test. The College Board also decided to combine reading comprehension + grammar + vocab into one Reading and Writing Section that is divided into Two Modules (32 Minutes each). An algorithm will monitor the student’s progress, and if a student does well in the Module 1, the questions will get harder. The first module of each section contains a broad mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. Based on how a student performs on the first module, the second module of questions will either be more difficult or less difficult.
Prior to the roll out of the new test, I took a supplemental class with AList Education in NYC to ensure I was prepared to tutor the new SAT to my students. The grammar skills the students are expected to know seem much easier than in years past. The changes seem positive; however, I am not a fan of the digital format as I see a huge benefit to the paper test, which allows students to physically underline/highlight key aspects of questions. I have also seen a huge ramp up in the level of vocabulary the students are expected to know. My vocab lists - as a result - have been growing ever since March of last year! I have also seen some inconsistencies in the Modules, seeing some Module 1 questions much harder than some in Module 2. Hopefully, the College Board will continue to modify this test to make it more inline with what students are given to practice!
Grammar Sections
In both the ACT and SAT, students are expected to know grammar. Although the format is different, students must be proficient in the concepts they probably have not seen since - most likely - seventh grade.
In my experience, students have very little grammar background, and therefore, when a tutor only focuses on the “tricks”, he or she is doing the students an extreme disservice. I will teach the difference between clauses and phrases in order to master subject-verb agreement. I will teach students the four proper ways to combine two sentences, knowing that the comma splice is all over the grammar sections of both tests. I will teach: how to use commas, semicolons, colons, and dashes appropriately; differences between who and whom; appropriate transition words that are tested in the rhetoric sections of the grammar portion; possessive/apostrophes; pronoun antecedents; and how to avoid redundancies.