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=Albert Deep's SAT Prep=

Since high schools across the nation do not teach in a truly standardized manner, administering one standardized test to all high school students is how colleges can compare students in a relatively equal manner. The SAT was developed by College Board to determine the academic aptitude of students as they prepare to graduate from high school. Along with a student’s high school GPA, transcripts, and teacher recommendations, many colleges rely heavily on SAT scores to determine whether or not to admit a student into their institution. The test is nearly four hours in duration and is comprised of three scored sections: The SAT begins with the Essay portion of the test, the Writing multiple-choice questions are last and the other sections of the test may be given in any order. Total test time is 3 hours, 45 minutes with about an extra 30 minutes attributed to test introduction, instruction and short break periods.
 * Mathematics
 * Writing
 * Critical Reading

**The Writing Section**
The writing section is 60 minutes in duration and is divided into one 35 minute section of about 50 multiple-choice questions and one 25-minute essay. The multiple choice questions test the ability to identify grammatical and linguistic errors and improve sentences and paragraphs. The essay section is given to determine a student’s ability to organize, develop and support ideas and the ability to use proper language in written format.

**The Critical Reading Section**
The Critical Reading section is a 70 minute timed test and has about 70 questions. It is divided into two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section. This section requires students to read various short paragraphs (400-850 words), and then answer questions that refer back to these passages. Students are assessed on their ability to understand the topic, and the ability to complete sentences.

**The Math Section**
The math section of the SAT is part multiple-choice and part fill-in with 44 multiple choice questions and 10 fill-in questions. This section lasts for 70 minutes and is broken up into two 25-minute sections and a 20-minute section. The questions are on basic arithmetic, algebra and geometry. Students are allowed to use a calculator in the Math section. Of note, the math questions are in order of difficulty, with the easier questions first, and the more difficult questions towards the end of the section.

**The “Experimental” Section**
Aside from the above sections, there is one non-scored 25-minute experimental section that is given to develop future versions of the exam. This is a multiple choice area and the questions may pertain to math, critical reading or writing. Though this section is not graded, it should be noted that students will not know which part of the test is the experimental section, so they must treat all sections as if they are all being scored.

=Should I take the SAT or ACT (or both)=

If you are not quite sure which test to take, then you have not done enough homework on the schools to which you are applying. To determine which test to take, you need to see what test scores your schools of interest will accept. Though the SAT is more widely accepted, some schools require ACT test scores, while others will accept scores from either test. Be sure to check if you will need to supplement either SAT or ACT scores with SAT II subject test scores. If you are applying to a multitude of schools your best bet is to take both the SAT and the ACT tests to cover all bases.

**Selective schools use these scores to determine acceptance**
Along with grades, class rank and extra curricular activities, colleges use SAT scores to determine whose application to accept or reject. Colleges that receive more applications than they can accept can afford to be more selective and tend to rely heavily on SAT scores. In that regard, SAT scores do matter if you are set on attending a selective or top rated school.

**Differences between the SAT and the ACT**
Though both the SAT and the ACT help colleges assess your academic accomplishments, the two tests are structured a bit differently from each other. The ACT measures scholastic proficiency in English, mathematics, reading, and science, while the SAT focuses on logic and reasoning in math, critical reading and writing tests. The ACT has an optional Essay question, whereas the SAT has a mandatory essay question. As expected, the tests have their own scoring methods. The ACT awards up to 36 points for a given section and the SAT awards points up to 800 per section. The SAT also subtracts partial points for incorrect answers, and the ACT does not.

=SAT Registration Information=

All students set on taking the SAT must register with The College Board. Registration for the SAT can be done online at [|www.collegeboard.com] and paid with a credit card, or students can mail in a registration form and payment check. Registration cost to take the SAT is $41.50. The registration process requires personal information such as name, address, social security number and age, plus there are several questions about your high school curriculum and grades. The SAT is given seven times each year and is typically held on a Saturday, beginning at 9 am. The upcoming SAT test dates are as follows:
 * January 22nd, 2011
 * March 12th, 2011
 * May 7th, 2011
 * June 4th, 2011

=Why preparation is a "key to success".=

Technically, preparation for the SAT should begin in your freshman year of high school by selecting a strong curriculum with plenty of relevant courses. As for shorter term SAT preparation, a good bet is to engage in a 6-8 week practice test study plan, and read plenty of books and periodicals to improve your vocabulary.

**SAT Preparation and Study Plan**
Before you start preparing for the SAT test, you should map out a study plan. Determine what subjects you need to focus on and then determine the methods of study you will use. You should also schedule in actual study dates, times and location(s), and stick to your schedule.

Areas of Focus
Practice tests contain sample SAT questions, and taking them can help you get used to the format and length of this test. Further, practice tests will be able to reveal your strengths and weaknesses, and help you determine how much study time to allocate to a particular topic: Math, Critical Reading and Writing. Take a practice test and see how you score in each area.

Methods of Study
There’s no better way to prepare for the SAT than to start taking practice tests. You should have covered much of the underlying subject matter tested on the SAT in school, and thus spending too much time on a lesson is not a good idea. The SAT’s challenge lies more in the manner questions are cleverly positioned than the core math, writing or critical reading material tested. Practice – Grade – Review – Repeat. This is the proven ePrep method of study, and it can work for anyone. Get a set of practice tests, begin by taking one in its entirety, have it scored, review what you missed, and go on to study the areas you need work on -- and then repeat the process. This sounds easy, but it is actually a lengthy process requiring committed dedication. Go into this process knowing you will have to allocate a large chunk of time to your method of study.

Create a Schedule
Creating a study schedule is more than jotting down “SAT Study, 6-7 pm” on one of your calendar’s Sunday cell. Think about when you are less prone to procrastination, and also think about where you intend on studying. Depending on what test date you signed up for will determine how many weeks you have to prepare for your test. Ideally you want to begin preparing for the test at least 8 weeks in advance. Look to take one practice test per week, and do the follow up review and study the days following your practice test. Take the practice test, or better yet, take a different variation of your practice test on the same day of the week, abut the same time of day. This will give you a routine, and routines make for a quicker rate of habit adoption. Be sure to have your test graded immediately after your practice test, and review your missed or skipped questions. Allocate about 1 hour of focused review post-practice test, and then bookmark the rest of the missed questions for review later in the week. Approximate about 3 hours per study session – 2 hours for the practice test, and one hour for review. Approximate about 2 hours per day on each day of your follow up study session. Because ePrep.com has its grading component online, it’s important that you have close access to a computer when using the ePrep Learning Cycle. With this in mind, if you have a computer at home, look to find a place that is relatively quiet, but not silent. For example – the dining room or kitchen table away from a noisy TV or family members is a good option, or how about the patio table? If home is not an ideal option, seek out your local library as they often have computer access. Another option is a friend’s house that is also on the SAT study path. Teaming up with peers is a great way to find support and a possible place to study. The best way to ensure you will do well on the SAT is to do the prep work consistently. A few hours per week using the ePrep study method and you will significantly improve your SAT test taking ability.

=SAT Writing and Critical Reading=

Critical Reading – Reading Comprehension The key to success in the SAT Critical Reading section is to master the ability to concentrate on the topic, and take in what you’ve read. The SAT Critical Reading section does not require special knowledge of the given topic as all the information needed to answer the related questions are supplied in the passage at hand. Each passage is prefaced by either a short or long description. For some students, reading and “absorbing” the entire passage prior to reviewing the questions works best. However, many students find it better to first read the questions and then selectively refer to the passage to find the specific answer in question. As you read the passage, determine the main purpose or theme. Summarize or take notes after each paragraph to help remember key points of what you have just read. Most important, however, is remembering that this part of the SAT is about how well you are able to understand what the author is conveying. The best way to prepare for SAT Critical Reading section is to do plenty of reading. Get your hands on higher level reading material such as novels or academic journals. As you read, remind yourself to truly absorb the material and not just skim through it. You need to develop your sense of comprehension when you read.

**Critical Reading - Sentence Completion**
Part of the Critical Reading section contains a sentence completion exercise. You are given a sentence with a word missing, and the multiple choice options ask that you select the word that best fits the given sentence. Having a broad and varied vocabulary is critical to succeeding in this area and unfortunately not something you can “cram” for. Instead, you need a longer runway to develop the deep and broad vocabulary that the SAT will require. Develop a habit of jotting down words you encounter when reading and making a point to look them up and incorporate into your vocabulary. Learning just ten words a week can add over 500 words to your vocabulary in a year. ePrep features an interactive vocabulary building tool called WordSmith that can systematically help you build a strong vocabulary.

**Writing - The Essay**
The essay portion of the SAT is given to provide a better understanding of a student’s true writing ability. The essay requires students to establish and develop a point of view on a given topic by using evidence, reasoning and examples based on their own observations, thoughts, learnings and experiences. Students are given a paragraph to read, and it is followed by a question that is the basis for the Essay. Read this paragraph thoroughly - twice if you must - to get a good grasp of what you’re being asked. Because you only have 25 minutes for the essay, first determine your standpoint – do you agree or disagree with the question? Then write an outline with an introduction, body and conclusion, and jot down points to discuss in each. When writing the essay, envision having a discussion with the writer about the topic, and try to see a different point of view other than yours, and address this if possible.

**Writing - Multiple Choice Questions**
The SAT Writing – Multiple Choice section requires that students identify linguistic errors and improve sentence or paragraph structure. Students are presented with sentences that may or may not contain errors, and they are asked to identify which section of the sentence is incorrect. The best way to succeed in this area is to ‘listen’ to the sentence. Read it to yourself and if it sounds a bit strange, find out what part is throwing it off. The multiple choice answers may list out the possible wrong areas of the sentence. Read these and sound them out to yourself to see if they fit with what you think may be wrong in the sentence. Preparation for this part of the SAT begins with reading, reading and more reading! Read higher level novels, journals and periodicals and you’ll be able to see and “hear” what proper writing looks and “sounds” like. The more you read proper writing, the easier it will be to spot mistakes on the SAT Writing section.

**Math**
The Math section of the SAT has problems based on arithmetic, geometry and algebra, and logic. You are allowed to use any available space in your booklet as scratch paper, so work out the problems before filling in the corresponding bubble on the answer sheet (something we call “show yourself the answer”). The best preparation strategy for the Math section is practice - practice as much as possible. When you miss questions, take note of why you missed them. Was it a careless error? Are most of your missed questions on algebra or geometry, multiple choice or fill-ins? Taking practice tests will reveal which types of problems are most difficult for you, and this will allow you to better focus your study time on the areas you need. Though you can use a calculator during the actual SAT test, it’s best to practice without using one. You don’t want to create the habit of relying on the calculator. A calculator can actually take time away from the test from the fumbling of going back and forth between calculator and pencil. You will burn precious seconds and you will break the flow of problem solving when you look away from the paper to your calculator. Calculators can ultimately keep you from staying on point.

=How the SAT Is Scored=

The SAT score for each of the three sections falls within a range of 200-800. Specifically Writing: 200-800 Math: 200-800, and Critical Reading: 200-800. The highest overall score a student can get on the SAT is 2400. Actually, all students walk into the SAT test with a 2400 score, and as they take the test, any missed or skipped questions begin detracting from this score. Once a test is completed, the College Board begins the tally of wrong or omitted questions to form the Raw Score. Raw scores are calculated by awarding one point for each correct answer, subtracting ¼ or .25 of a point for incorrect multiple choice questions, zero points for each blank or wrong non-multiple choice question and then rounding up the nearest integer. The raw score is then converted into a scaled score through a statistical process called "equating” and a final scaled score is given and is a multiple of 10 in the range 200 to 800. Typically, SAT scores are available on the internet approximately three weeks after the exam, and are sent home by mail a month after the SAT testing date.

**How the Essay is Scored**
The essay is scored by 2 different readers from the College Board with each reader assigning an essay a score between 1 and 6. The essay grading process requires that readers begin by quickly reading the essay for an overview. The reader then rereads the paper and looks for organization, development, spelling, diction, sentence structure etc. Readers also look for examples from personal experience, history, science, politics, sports, etc. Unbeknownst to many is that readers are asked to keep in mind that each paper is essentially a first draft written under test conditions in 25 minutes by 16 or 17 year old students. Neither penmanship nor length of essay is taken into account, nor are unfinished papers penalized - provided they are well developed up to the final point. However, do realize that if your essay is illegible by the reader due to poor penmanship, you might end up with a very low score.

=The Test Day=

By the time your actual test day arrives, you will have completed your study course, watched scores of ePrep video lessons, and learned hundreds of new vocabulary words. Be sure all your prep work pays off and prepare one last time – this time for the big day. Here are our tips on what to do, bring and expect on your SAT test day. Test booklets and answer sheets are handed out simultaneously. Test administrators then guide students through the initial standard information entry form – date, ID number, name, Social Security Number, birth date, etc. After the test is completed, administrators collect and count the test material from everyone and then everyone is dismissed. The whole process is about 4 hours long, so be prepared for a long day.
 * **Get a good nights rest and wake up on time**. Set your alarm the night before and try to get to bed at a decent hour. Not too early, but not so late that you will be groggy the next day.
 * **Consider doing some light exercise** to clear the cobwebs from your head.
 * **Eat a light, nutrition breakfast.** Don’t overeat, but don’t skip eating a breakfast meal that can help rev up your energy, keep hunger at bay and make for a poised and ready mind. Be sure to avoid sugary foods that can zap your energy soon after consumption.
 * **Go over your notes**, review the day’s paper to warm you mind up before you walk into the test.
 * **Dress in layers.** Since you may not know what the temperature will be in the test room, bring a jacket or sweater in case the room gets chilly. You don’t want to be distracted by temperature nuances, so best to be prepared. Also, setting out your clothes the night before is a good idea.
 * **Bring your supplies.** Prepare your supplies and charge your cell phone the night before. You should bring your admission ticket, your photo ID, pencils, sharpeners, eraser, a healthy snack and beverage for the break, and other items such as your purse, or backpack.
 * **Don’t be late.** If you have never been to the test center before, make sure you know how to get there. Map the location from your home, and set aside more than enough time to arrive about at least 15 minutes before your test start time. Getting there early will allow you to get your bearings and put you a bit more at ease. You’ll also be able to be one of the first people into the exam room so you can choose a good seat.
 * **What you can’t do or bring.** You can’t eat or drink during the test, but you can bring a snack for the break. Store your snacks in a backpack or bag as you are allowed to bring one be stowed beneath your seat. You also can’t bring scratch paper, cell phones into laptops, PDAs, books, you can not use pens on the test either.
 * **The Registration Process.** When you arrive, you will likely experience some type of registration process. You will be asked to present your admission ticket and you may have to be assigned to a particular test room if there is a large group taking the test.
 * **Test Administration.** Once in, test administrators will read information and instructions from a booklet and will also inform students about the duration of the test and break times. Students will be asked to keep books sealed and not write anything until instructed to do so.

=The Top Ten Test-Taking Tips=

Proper training, preparation and common sense are all paramount for a successful test day and a successful test score. That aside, here are few good tips to take with you on your test day.
 * **Bring the proper supplies**. Bring a bottle of water, a pencil sharpener or extra lead for mechanical pencils and bring an approved calculator. Be sure to shop or find these items early on and have them ready the night before the test day.
 * **Know all of the instructions before stepping foot into the test room.** Don’t waste valuable time by reading these instructions on the test day. Your best bet is to familiarize yourself with them very well so that you area ready to go once the clock starts.
 * **Use your test booklet as scratch paper.** There is no need to keep this booklet neat and clean as no one will read it afterwards anyway. Use the booklet to help work through a problem or to mark a particular question for review later on.
 * **Be very careful when bubbling in your answers**. The answer sheet can do a number on your eyes after a while and it can be easy to bubble in a “D” for number 11 when it was meant for number 12. Be sure you bubble in the correct answer for the given questions. Otherwise one misstep can throw off your whole test.
 * **Be mindful of each question**. It’s easy to go too quickly and make careless mistakes. Don’t overlook the heart of a question, or not take in each answer possibility. You must move through the test quickly, but the key is finding a balance between a quick pace and recklessness.
 * **Answer the easier questions first**. If you come across a hard one, skip it and come back to it later. Time is of the essence, so be sure to tackle questions you know you can get right first. If you find yourself working on a question for more than 90 seconds, move on to the next. Come back to it at the end.
 * **Don’t rush, but don’t waste time.** Though you know that you can’t afford to waste time you also want to be accurate on the SAT. Be sure to focus and read each question thoroughly before attempting to answer. After reading the question, review the multiple-choice questions if applicable, and then make your choice. If you can’t decide what to do on a question, mark it as something to come back to. It’s best to keep moving, you can always return to that question later. If you find yourself skimming through the questions to fast, take a step back and refocus.
 * **Have confidence!** Don’t assume a question may be too difficult to answer. Be sure to read each question and think about the answer before determining that you need to guess or skip that question. Have a “CEO’s” mentality; leave your emotions at the classroom door and go in with focused confidence.
 * **Know when to guess.** On more difficult questions, try to eliminate as many wrong answers as possible before making a guess. Remember that you are penalized only ¼ point for an incorrect question. You receive 1 point for a correct answer, and 0 for a skipped answer.
 * **Breath**e. Bring a sense of perspective to this test. Yes, the SAT is an important test, and you should concentrate to do well, but keep in mind that this is only a test. Remembering this throughout your test day may even help you to relax, in turn help you do better over all.

 =SAT keys to success=

All great successes begin with hard work. **//ePrep for the SAT//** will help you achieve your maximum score if you apply yourself in our program. The follow are the keys to SAT success, and the roles expected from you and ePrep to achieve them. > Throughout the course, ePrep for the SAT will teach and re-teach everything math-related that you need to know. You will be responsible for working diligently through the course. > ePrep will teach you virtually everything you need to know in this area. However, you will be responsible for working through the course and applying what you learn to improve your everyday spoken and written English. > ePrep features the innovative WordSmith vocabulary builder. You have to make using it part of your daily routine. Establishing the routine, and making it a habit, will likely be the hardest part. > Your reasoning skills will develop naturally as you work diligently through the course. > Like your reasoning skills, your problem-solving skills will develop naturally as you work diligently through the course. > The course will certainly help in this area. To maximize your SAT score and prepare for college, however, you have to start, and continue, reading widely outside of the course and your school assignments. > The course will help you become a more critical reader. We think you’ll find that critical reading is actually more fun than plain old reading. > ePrep will train you to take short breaks in between problems, not during problems. > You can build your endurance by taking full-length ePrep tests or by simply making an effort to read for longer periods of time. > Your speed will increase naturally as you work diligently through the course. > As you work through the course–experimenting with the idea of leaving your emotions at home on test day–you will be rewarded with higher scores and a more pleasant SAT experience. > I will teach you all the strategies you need. You have to work through the course and master them. > You will gain this familiarity by simply working through the course. > You will gain this familiarity by simply working through the course. While the last two ingredients are not really useful for anything other than the SAT, all of the others will help you succeed in both college and life beyond. Thus, “ePrep-ing”for the SAT will certainly be worth your efforts. Remember, there is no such thing as a magic SAT wand. All you really need for SAT success is a genuine desire to succeed and a willingness to work earnestly. So here’s the deal: You work hard and take this course seriously, and ePrep will do the rest. //Karl Schellscheidt// //CEO, ePrep, Inc//  =Test Prep Questions=
 * 1) **Knowledge of specific math facts and concepts**
 * 1) **Knowledge of specific grammar rules and idiomatic constructions**
 * 1) **A large and varied working vocabulary**
 * 1) **Reasoning skills**
 * 1) **Problem-solving skills**
 * 1) **Reading comprehension skills**
 * 1) **Critical reading skills**
 * 1) **Ability to complete a specific problem without lapses in concentration**
 * 1) **Stamina to endure several hours of testing**
 * 1) **Ability to work quickly**
 * 1) **Maturity to complete tasks unemotionally**
 * 1) **Familiarity with test-taking strategies**
 * 1) **Familiarity with the overall format of the SAT**
 * 1) **Familiarity with the various SAT question types**

SAT test preparation can be confusing and expensive. If you’re motivated, you can prepare yourself well for under $25. (See our video post entitled [|“How You Can Prepare for the SAT on a $25 Budget”]) If you are not super motivated or are willing to spend some more money, there are plenty of options. Below is my take on the options currently available. I hope my thoughts help you make informed decisions about how you can best prepare for the SAT.

**The SAT Self-Help Book**
For between $15 and $30, a student can purchase a book that contains practice tests, answer keys and answer explanations.
 * Positive Aspects:** Self-help books are relatively inexpensive and, thus, very affordable.
 * Negative Aspects:** Self-help books tend to be dry (i.e., boring) and working through them is typically a very labor intensive process. The answer explanations contained in self-help books are static in nature, they often fail to offer adequate solutions and, for practical reasons, they typically present only one solution to each problem (even when multiple approaches are valid). An obvious shortcoming of self-help books is that they do not offer parent feedback.
 * Conclusions:** Self-help books are best suited for students who are extremely talented academically and extremely independent and motivated.

**The SAT Prep Classroom Course**
For between $800 and $2,500, a student can participate in a classroom preparation course.
 * Positive Aspects:** Students typically take practice tests under conditions that closely simulate the actual test-day environment. Instruction is dynamic in nature and instructors can answer student-generated questions. Students can interact socially with their peers. Most classroom preparation courses offer some parent feedback.
 * Negative Aspects:** Classroom preparation courses are expensive. They are typically only offered in densely populated regions. They require the otherwise busy student to make a long-term and regular time commitment (e.g., every Saturday morning or weekday evening for several consecutive weeks). Students often miss classes due to illness or unexpected schedule conflicts. Practice tests may be of substandard quality. Instructor quality is difficult to regulate. (Many instructors have little or no teaching experience.) To maximize profits, classes are often overcrowded. Classroom preparation courses are typically populated with students who vary greatly in academic ability, forcing the top students to sit through answer explanations that benefit only the less capable students in the classroom. Lower-achieving students are typically reluctant to ask questions in a group setting. Finally, because classroom time is typically used for both testing and review, the number of practice-grade-review cycles completed is typically insufficient.
 * Conclusions:** Assuming a qualified instructor and quality practice tests, classroom preparation courses are best for below-average students with sufficient financial resources and manageable schedules. From an educational or time-management point of view, classroom preparation courses are not well suited for average, above-average or advanced students.

**The Private SAT Tutor**
For between $100 and $350 per hour (aggregate $5,000 to $15,000), students can receive one-on-one private tutoring.
 * Positive Aspects:** Assuming a qualified master teacher, private tutoring affords a test preparation experience that is personal, dynamic and uniquely tailored to maximize the individual student’s test scores and academic potential. The personal relationship between the private tutor and the student often enables the tutor to inspire the student to practice with enthusiasm and, ultimately, to test with confidence. Private tutors typically offer detailed feedback to parents.
 * Negative Aspects:** Private tutoring is very costly. Furthermore, depending on the locality, it may be difficult or impossible to find an experienced and qualified private tutor. Unlike self-help books, once a given tutoring session is over, access to answer explanations is no longer available without payment of additional fees.
 * Conclusions:** Assuming a qualified instructor, private tutoring is a great option for students of all ability levels with sufficient financial resources.

**Online SAT Preparation Products and Courses:**
For between $30 and $1,000, students can purchase online preparation products and courses.
 * Positive Aspects:** Online products and courses offer (i) a wide range of products and services, (ii) a wide range of prices, (iii) programs that offer diagnostics and (iv) programs that cater to the various and changing ability levels of students. Most importantly, however, properly designed online products and courses offer **convenience**. Properly designed online products and courses hold the promise of time-shifting education in the same way that pay-per-view and TiVo have begun to time-shift home entertainment in America. These products can offer students around the world rewarding educational experiences when it is most convenient and beneficial for them as individuals.
 * Negative Aspects:** The range of products and prices can make choosing the right product difficult for consumers. Some online preparation products are not very interactive or dynamic. In fact, a few are not much more than an internet-delivered self-help book. Students sometimes experience frustrating technical difficulties when using online products. Many online courses have students practice and review online; this is problematic because simulated practice conditions require that students practice offline with pencil and paper. Some of the companies that offer online products share the private information collected from students with third parties. Such third parties, in turn, often direct-market their unrelated products and services to users. Finally, while a few online products include audio files containing spoken instruction, most online preparation products lack important personal interaction.
 * Conclusion:** Online preparation products and courses are well-suited for busy students who have internet access and possess average to above-average computer skills. Since most teenagers are busy, have internet access, and possess at least average computer skills, it is no surprise that the online educational product have become extremely popular.

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