<p>Ds just finished his last practice test before Saturday’s SAT, his first. He can’t decide whether he’s happy with his score. It’s better than his other practices, so at least he’s on an upward trajectory, but I didn’t know what to tell him.</p>
<p>Do your kids have a goal for their SAT/ACT scores? I told him the only bottom line I saw for him was a 1410 CR+M, as that’s a minimum for a scholarship at one of the school’s he’s interested in. His practice test was a 1460, so that’s great, but is it “good enough” for the schools he’s applying to? Who knows. I did tell him that if he did end up taking it again, it wouldn’t be until next fall, so don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>My D1 also just finished her last practice SAT, scored somewhere around 1480 CR + M (hard to say exactly because the test book she used expresses scores in a range). We don’t have a specific numerical goal for Saturday’s test, but I’m encouraging her to aim for 700+ in math (not her strong suit) and to keep her CR up. She generally scores in the 750-800 range in CR practice tests and nailed a 790 on the December administration of the Literature SAT II, but surprisingly her CR score dropped enough on her junior year PSAT—the one that counts for National Merit—that she probably won’t make the cutoff this year. I think she just got overconfident on the CR section and concentrated her prep on raising her PSAT math above 70, which she did. She’s trying to stay on a more balanced test prep plan this time around.</p>
<p>Bottom line, she’s hoping to score high enough that she can make this her first-and-only SAT I sitting; or as a fallback, to score high enough that she can re-take it later without a ton of pressure.</p>
<p>YDS, 1300 would put Son right at the midpoint for most of the reach schools on his list. (WFU, Bucknell, Laf, Richmond) His PSAT CR + M was 127. So, I’d like to hope/think 1300+ on the “real thing” is do-able and the reach schools aren’t out of the question.</p>
<p>Congrats to your S on his great practice tests. What did he use? CB Blue Book? CB online?</p>
<p>Math is his strong suit. He only missed one on this last practice, which avg’d out to a 775 (780). CR is his weakest area. He seems to get it narrowed down to two and then guesses wrong. His writing has been his most volatile. His practice tests have been consistently in the 680-740 range and yet on his PSAT he went down to 64. He was bummed.</p>
<p>Beginning this past summer, he took a practice test a month using seven tests in the Blue Book. In between he’d do various sections from that eighth test untimed, a la xiggi, and then try to identify areas where he needed help. At the time I had no idea he’d take the SAT in January, but the timing worked out beautifully. For some reason, I saved all those old SAT tests, and it’s interesting to look at the progress he’s made. That first test, taken on 6/28, was 640/660/690 for 1990; the one he took today was 670/780/710 for a 2160, though individual CR and W scores have been higher than today’s. I guess the key for him is makng sure he nails that math! </p>
<p>The only other thing I made him do was to read real books. He already reads the sports section on his own and does the crossword every day, but what he lacked was reading longer material, if it wasn’t for class. He ended up loving the three books he read this summer and we actually have one he wants to read – for pleasure!!! – on order right now.</p>
<p>What helps is he has a good set of friends who are interested in doing well, too. He called one of his good friends on Saturday to ask a homework question (and to talk about the 12-hour party they were going to the next day!), and that kid was studying for the SAT this Saturday, too.</p>
<p>Youdon’tsay, have your son write some practice essays too. Our son got an 800 on the PSAT writing, but never managed to crack 690 on the SAT. Even if you can’t score them, he’ll have the practice in writing the ^($$#@ things.</p>
<p>I’ve only had him do one essay because I think if he had to do one for each practice test it would have been a deal-breaker! When we grade his practice test, we assume he’ll get a 4.</p>
<p>We’re having D do an essay a day until Saturday. It’s not a deal-breaker because she enjoys writing and is becoming a pretty good writer. Besides, every minute she spends writing is a minute she can’t do math, which she finds terribly tedious. To each his/her own, I guess.</p>
<p>YDS, math is D’s forte as well, but her practice tests were consistently better than her actual SAT score. At home she was getting perfect scores to one or two wrong, but did much worse on the test. Of course, she has other issues.</p>
<p>Different topic: Are your children deep into 1st semester finals? D took two last week and has 3 more coming up next week. I am keeping my fingers crossed for an A in AP World.</p>
<p>The school tried a different system this year: instead of 3 exams on one day and 2 on each of the other 2 days, they spread them over 4 days. The first day had one exam after a shortened bell schedule, and each of the other 3 days had 2 exams. This seems less stressful on the kids.</p>
<p>S has exams this week. They only have to be in school when taking a test - there are no regular classes. The exams are all in the mornings, spread out over 4 days, so the latest he’ll get home is 11:30. This way he can watch the inauguration tomorrow, not to mention the extra time available for studying, which he sorely needs!</p>
<p>D’s school gives regents and midterms next week. I’m not sure how many she has though. </p>
<p>My D is also taking the SAT on Saturday. I’m a little concerned because she’s barely practiced at all. I explained to her that I don’t have unlimited funds for her to keep taking these tests, and that she doesn’t have unlimited Saturday mornings when they’re offered. Not sure how she’ll manage to squeeze in the study time this week.</p>
<p>Finals here next week for my S. He asked us if we’d write him a “sick note” for Wednesday so he could stay home and study. This is because school has finals for 5th and 6th period that day, which for him consist of a blank period (when he typically does the work for the on line linear algebra class) and water polo, for which there is no final but the kids must report to the gym, and then sit around and play cards, or study for finals (the studious ones.) He figured it would be more efficient to stay home and study (plus he could sleep in!) </p>
<p>We’ll have to figure out how to finesse the note. It was be easier to just be up front and say what he’s doing but the HS won’t buy because they get state funds based on attendance. Sigh!</p>
<p>D is not taking SATs this week because it is too close to finals. She will take them in March. She has not studied for them (or even cracked open a book) since she took the last set in December. Hopefully, she’ll start after her finals are over.</p>
<p>FAP, just wright that S was not feeling well (not exactly lying that he’s sick and I am sure he does not feel all that hot having to go into school) and you decided it would be best to keep him home so he would be rested and better prepared for his finals.</p>
<p>The 3 days last week that S only had exams also had no classes, so they were home by 11:30 or so. </p>
<p>Too bad it’s not this week–he has lunch at noon when the swearing-in occurs. I presume that batch of students will find classrooms to watch it in. If you bring your own lunch it’s no problem to eat somewhere else in front of a TV!</p>
<p>Yes, it is St. Lawrence. SLU is a wonderful school, but you are about 2 hours from Syracuse & about 1.5 hours to Ottawa. (plus time for customs) There are other schools in the neighborhood-SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Canton, & Clarkson University. So if being near a big city area is important to a student, it would not be a good choice. </p>
<p>But great academics, financial aid & student life. </p>
<p>And Buffalo? I never make fun of Buffalo because I was born there, about 56 years ago this month. My family moved when I was very small.</p>
<p>Not sure what to say about the writing section of the SAT. My D went from a 65 on the October PSAT to a 790 on the Dec. SAT. I don’t believe she practiced at all, and she definitely didn’t write a practice essay. She said she followed the advice of her older friends when it came to writing the essay, and I think that worked out well for her - not quite sure what the advice was though.</p>
His writing has been his most volatile. His practice tests have been consistently in the 680-740 range and yet on his PSAT he went down to 64. He was bummed.</p>