10 Misconceptions About SAT Prep #6 - #10

6: SAT prep programs provided by the “big name” companies are better than those offered by the smaller providers or the private tutors.

FACT: The SAT prep programs provided by the “big names” only mean higher program fees due to the heavy company operating costs but do not necessary mean better program qualities.
Smaller provider also could offer better SAT prep programs which are able to provide you more personal attention, more online tools and resources, better SAT instructors, and more customizable programs to address your specific needs.

7:  I could get into my dream university or college if I put all my efforts into preparing for the SAT and get a perfect or nearly perfect SAT score.
FACT: The SAT is only one of the many factors that the admission officers are going to evaluate in order to make a decision on your application. Your GPA, extracurriculars, leadership experience, AP scores, recommendation letters, and application essays also are important factors on your college application. Thus, while you prepare for your SAT test, you also need to allocate enough time for other tasks such as studying for good grades in school, writing application essays, and taking leadership roles in clubs or student organizations. Therefore, in order to maximize your chances of getting into your dream school, students should take the most productive and efficient approach in preparing for the SAT, and apply superior learning methods and time management techniques for their school courses.

8: I have to spend a lot of money to do well on the SAT.

FACT: Although some SAT prep courses cost from $2000 to $5000, with the help of the Internet and mobile technology, students have more options and could do much better at relatively low cost.  First, online learning tools that are integrated with good learning method are available at less than $100, and online SAT prep courses are also available for less than $500. Even an online complete SAT self training kit, which works like a private SAT tutor, is available for under $400 from NorthStar Learning Express. Moreover, students have the access to more online resources to learn SAT vocabulary and tips/strategies, review content, and do online SAT practices. As each SAT test generally has the same recurring patterns, as long as the students learn these patterns, decode the SAT questions, review required content, and learn SAT words, they should be on track to get their best SAT scores without spending a lot of money. But students do need to know what they want or need, so they could shop around and compare different options in order to select the best and most affordable solution.

9: I am a motivated student so I could prepare for the SAT by myself, get my best SAT score, and maximize my chances for college admission.

FACT: If you are exceptional talented and have good time management skills, you might be able to get a good SAT score by self-studying.
But if you are not very talented or do not have great time management skills, this is not the best and most productive approach as you will spend a lot of time on routine tasks such as planning your study, analyzing your practice results, tracking your performance, and isolating your weaknesses, which could be done easily by available online tools (e.g. “SAT I: identify weakness” and “SAT self training kit” from NorthStar Learning Express) within minutes. This will lead to less time for school course work, leadership roles, college admission essay, etc. Therefore, although you may not realize this consequence at the first time, it does decrease your chances to get into your dream school. We always recommend the students to take the most efficient and effective approach in preparing for the SAT – take the advantage of online resources such as learning tools and low-fee courses to maximize your chances for college admission.

10: All the SAT practice questions are the same. The more SAT practice questions I do, the higher SAT score I will get regardless where the SAT questions comes from. 
FACT: First of all, all the SAT practice questions are not the same. While some are relevant to the real SAT tests such as those in the “Official SAT Study Guide” from College Board, others may not be relevant to the real SAT questions at all. While your SAT score may be higher if the questions you practice are relevant to real SAT test, your SAT score may be lower if the questions you practice are misleading or inaccurate.

As each SAT test generally has the same recurring patterns, students do not really need to do a lot of practice questions as long as they can learn and recognize these patterns and know how to decode SAT questions for each pattern from a limited number of SAT practice questions, and they should spend time learning the knowledge and skills in order to solve these decoded questions correctly in a timely manner.

For more information, please visit StarCatcher SAT

10 Misconceptions About SAT Prep #1- #5

1: SAT I is a logic test

FACT: SAT is not a logic test; instead it tests your skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. It does include logic and reasoning questions, but it is based on the knowledge that you have learned in school. It tests your skills and ability in applying your knowledge in a reasoning and logic way.

2: Anyone could get a high or perfect score on the SAT as long as he or she practices enough.

FACT: Practice does help considerably, but your SAT score will be largely determined by your skills and abilities in applying your knowledge on the topics that are tested on the SAT. If the SAT practice questions that you’re doing are not representative to the questions on the real SAT, extensive practice with misleading or inaccurate questions might give you a worse SAT score!

3: SAT is all about tricks. Anyone could get a perfect score by learning the tricks.

FACT: SAT is designed to test or measure your knowledge in the topics that are tested on the SAT and your abilities in applying your knowledge. Without the requisite knowledge or skills, it is virtually impossible to get a high score on the SAT.

4: You only need to take the SAT on your senior year.

FACT: Normally students should take their SATs before their senior year begins. We recommend that students complete their SATs in their junior year. Students can request the College Board to send all or only their best SAT scores to the colleges to which they applied. Then, students can focus on college application essays and forms during the first half of their senior year.

5: For reading comprehension questions, as long as you understand the content of the passage, you could answer the questions correctly.

FACT: There are three types of questions in reading comprehension part and they are: vocabulary in context, literal comprehension, and extended reasoning. You may be able to answer the first two types of questions correctly if you can fully understand the passage content, but you need to understand the passage’s structure, the author’s purpose, and the author’s craft to answer extended reasoning questions.

More info please refer NorthStar Learning Express

10 Common Myths on the SAT Test - Myth #5: For reading comprehension questions, as long as you understand the content of the passage, you could answer the questions correctly

FALSE: There are three types of questions in reading comprehension part and they are: vocabulary in context, literal comprehension, and extended reasoning. You may be able to answer the first two types of questions correctly if you can fully understand the passage content, but you need to understand the passage's structure, the author's purpose, and the author's craft to answer extended reasoning questions.

10 Common Myths on the SAT Test - Myth #4:You only need to take the SAT on your senior year.

FALSE: Normally students should take their SAT tests before their senior year starts. We recommend the students complete the SAT tests in their junior year. The students could request the College Board to send all or only the best SAT scores to the college they applied. The students could focus on the college application essays and the college application forms during the first half of their senior year.

10 Common Myths on the SAT Test - Myth #2: Anyone could get a high or perfect score on the SAT as long as he or she practices enough.

FALSE: The practice does make things perfect, but your SAT score will be topped by your skills and abilities in applying your knowledge in the reasoning and logic way and especially will be limited by your knowledge on the topics that are tested on the SAT.

10 Common Myths on the SAT Test - Myth #1: SAT I is a logic test.

FALSE. SAT is not a logic test instead it tests your skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. It does include logic and reasoning tests, but it is based on the knowledge that you learn in school. It tests your skills and abilities in applying your knowledge in a reasoning and logic way.

SAT Prep on the GO

StarCatcher mobile version launched at http://m.northstarelearning.com/. Now the students are able to learn the SAT vocabulary words and watch SAT prep course videos on their Smart devices such as BlackBerry, iPhone, and iPad anytime anywhere.

More information please check the NorthStar Learning Express News

As a high school junior, what is the best way to prepare for the SAT?

For high school juniors, you need to find the most efficient way to prepare for the SAT as you are very busy for your school courses.

We would suggest the College Board book "the official SAT study guide" plus the StarCatcher SAT self training kit that help you to pinpoint your weaknesses and focus your effort on your weak-spots. Therefore it helps you to study smarter, not harder.

The above StarCatcher SAT self training kit acts like a private tutor but at a very low price ($399).

The following four items are included in the SAT Self Training Kit:

• Online word practice for over 5000 SAT words
• SAT I Video courses - 28 unit video courses that review all the subjects/concepts/skills on the SAT I
• Answer explanations for practices tests - Answer explanations for the practice tests in the book "Official SAT Study Guide"
• SAT I: Identify weakness
• Hundreds of SAT practice questions
• Essay grading by SAT essay experts
• Unlimited email assistance

The above website also provides score guarantee and need-based financial aid to the qualified students.

When to start and how to prepare and improve your PSAT?

The only one important PSAT test for you is the one you will take in your 11th grade (junior year) and your score of this test will be used to see if you are qualify for the national scholarship. So you may start to prepare PSAT in your 10th grade.

As PSAT is similar to SAT, you may start to prepare the SAT and eventually your PSAT will also beneficial from the SAT preparation.

What you may want to do is to find a tutor (who could identify your current position, make a plan for you, recommend preparation materials, and be available and willing to help you anytime you need) to help you start. The website StarCatcher SAT provides all the info you may need to prepare the SAT 1 from vocabulary lists and practices, online video courses, and one-on-one tutoring. I used it and liked it. :)

Good luck and have fun.

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