Different Perspective for high school students: Why certain tests might be good for you, but not for the reasons you think...
Forget high scores. And forget paying anyone for help. You can do this. And it can help you. And yes, I am talking about the ACT and the SAT.
What's to gain? Plenty.
· Like you, over the last 17 or so years, these tests have grown. They've become more reasonable, more articulate.
· They can even enhance your already fabulous, well-spoken self!
· There's a resource called Khan Academy. Please look it up. It will help you. It's free. I don't work for Khan. But I love it.
· Khan Academy is all about cool learning opportunities. Search the free programming lessons, test prep, more.
What's to lose? Nothing, really.
· Study SAT/ACT math and you will deepen and reinforce your handle on math concepts. When has that ever been a bad thing?
· Study SAT/ACT reading and you will stretch your vocabulary to galactic proportions (or, like me, your ability to exaggerate).
· Study SAT/ACT writing and learn how to write on the spot, timed, which makes take-home essays look like gifts from Heaven.
· Study SAT/ACT English/verbal and you will gain mad grammar skills that help in the real world.
· Study ACT science and realize that once you gain analytical skill in chart, data and graph reading, you can conquer it all.
· Study for these kinds of tests and learn time management, how to eliminate poor options, and keen reading/analytical skill. Really.
And...
· These tests now align much more closely with what's actually happening in high school. They parallel the CORE.
· You build confidence in your ability to manage on-the-spot tasks and challenges.
· You've got this! High five!
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Anne is one of those people who never 'clicked' with standardized testing, but then, as a teenager, she didn't particularly try. In retrospect, it's worth the effort. She wouldn't suggest studying for a standardized test if it didn't give you useful skills that extend WAY beyond the five or so hours involved once or twice a year. BUT, keep it in perspective! Don't spend disproportionate amounts of time on it, just give it some polite, focused attention. Just like you're doing for me.