Lifesaving Tips And Resources For Teaching Exam Prep

The ACT or SAT is one of the most iconic and important tests every high school student will take.  Being an English Language Arts teacher and an exam prep tutor, my focus is on preparing my students for the Reading/Evidence-based Reading and English/Writing and Language sections.

 

Note: Both the ACT and the SAT have a section with passages focusing on reading comprehension, inferencing, recalling facts, using context clues, etc.  The ACT calls the section “Reading,” while the SAT calls it “Evidence-based Reading.”  Each test also has a section focusing on the rules of English language grammar within the passages.  The ACT calls it “English,” meanwhile, the SAT calls it “Writing and Language.”

 

Anyway, due to the significant role this test plays in the college admissions process, it is vital that your students prepare so that they know what to expect and have the best practices to approach the questions on test day.

 

Since preparation is the key to success, getting valuable resources for your students is an operative way to aim for that success.

Let’s explore tips to help your students best prepare for the ACT or SAT. 

 

Tips for the Reading/Evidence-based Reading passages

• Scan the questions prior to reading
• Take notes in the margins while reading (between two and four words per paragraph will suffice without using too much time)
• Underline and/or circle keywords and phrases
• After completing one practice test, or at least one entire Reading or Evidence-based Reading section’s passages, start using a timer (ACT has four passages with a total of 40 questions in 40 minutes; SAT is five passages with a total of 52 questions in 65 minutes)
• If timing is a struggle, in addition to using a timer, complete the passages first that you are most comfortable with to prevent the loss of points due to running out of time.  For example, an ACT student who is strong with the social science passage, or an SAT student who is strong with the history/social studies passage, should start with that passage then return to the others
• For the questions that reference a specific line from the passage, read two or three lines before and two or three lines after that text to get a full picture of the meaning or importance of the specific line
• Use context clues to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words
• Predict the answer and use the process of elimination

Tips for the English/Writing and Language passages

• Scan the questions prior to reading because although a bulk of the questions are grammar-based, some questions ask about the overall passage structure
• If the underlined portion of the text looks and/or sounds incorrect, it probably is incorrect.  Use your instinct and your knowledge of the English language and grammar rules to guide you
• Be conscious of writing elements such as voice, tone, point of view, author’s purpose, verb tense, parallelism, and chronological order.  Look for, and in some cases create, consistencies in the passage
• After completing one practice test, or at least one entire English or Writing and Language section’s passages, start using a timer (ACT has five passages with a total of 75 questions in 45 minutes; SAT is four passages with a total of 44 questions in 35 minutes)
• Use context clues to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words
• Predict the answer and use the process of elimination

 

From personal experience as an exam prep tutor, here are some effective resources that your students can use to become familiar with the content and the structure on each test, respectively.

Resources for the Reading/Evidence-based Reading passages

• McGraw-Hill ACT 8 Practice Tests
• Peterson’s SAT Prep Guide
• Scholarly articles from reputable newspapers and magazines such as The New York Times or Time Magazine
• The Complete Guide to ACT Reading (Erica L. Meltzer)
• The Complete Guide to SAT Reading (Erica L. Meltzer)
• Words You Should Know in High School (Burton Nadler)

Resources for the English/Writing and Language passages

• McGraw-Hill ACT 8 Practice Tests
• Peterson’s SAT Prep Guide
• The Best Grammar Workbook Ever (Arlene Miller)
• The Complete Guide to ACT English (Erica L. Meltzer)
• The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar (Erica L. Meltzer)
• Sadlier Grammar & Writing for Standardized Tests

 

Of course, every student’s ability level, goal score, and amount of test prep needed will vary.  A good rule of thumb is to start practicing at least 12 to 16 weeks prior to the anticipated test date.  It is also beneficial for a student to schedule dedicated test prep time each week and to hold oneself accountable. 

 

A good starting point is to dedicate 60 minutes on three separate days per week for test prep.  That should be ample time to read content, complete example exercises, and take sections of practice tests.  Getting comfortable with the material over approximately three or four months leading up to the test is the best way to ensure preparedness that will ideally translate into goal scores. 

Here are some other general tips to share with your students about taking the ACT or SAT:

• Register for at least two test dates.  The complexity of each test varies, so one test may play to your strengths in a particular content-area, while a test on another date may, by luck of the draw, have less-challenging questions in the content-area that tends to be your troublesome subject.  Also, test dates could get canceled for unforeseen reasons, or you might have an emergency that prevents you from attending one of the tests.
• Remember that a standardized test might not necessarily reflect your performance in school.  The presentation and attempted mastery of ACT and SAT content is a whole different ball game from how you show mastery of the content you learn in school.  This is why each of these tests requires preparation specific to its format and structure. 
• The night before the test, have a nutritious dinner and pack everything you need for the test: registration confirmation, identification, several #2 pencils, an approved calculator, extra batteries, a water bottle, and directions to the testing location.  Also, go to sleep at a reasonable time to ensure that you are well-rested. 
• The morning of the test, wake up with more than enough time to have breakfast and get ready in order to arrive at the testing location at least 15 minutes prior to test time. 
• Be confident that you’ve done your best to prepare, so you’ll give the test your best effort 😊

 

I hope my blog post will serve as an effective guide to help prepare your students for the ACT or SAT.  Check out my Teachers Pay Teachers store for a variety of versatile products for all grades and subjects!   

 

Leave a question, comment, or suggestion below, in the Comments Section!   

 

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Peace.  Love.  Reading & Writing.

 

💗 Miss M