Preparing for the ACT® and SAT® can be overwhelming for students and parents. These tests are a chance for your child to show they’re ready for higher education. But understanding what these tests measure and how to prepare can be tough, especially with the switch to digital formats.
High school does lay the foundation, but it often doesn’t provide the individualized support and targeted practice many students need to excel. That’s where ACT and SAT prep programs come in – they offer customized solutions to help students fill gaps, build confidence and develop the strategies to succeed.
What Do the ACT and SAT Measure?
The ACT and SAT measure your child’s readiness for higher ed by testing their adaptability. Rather than memorization, they test how well your child can apply their knowledge to familiar and unfamiliar content. Each section of the ACT and SAT tests your child’s foundational knowledge so college admissions teams can get a better sense of how they’d perform in college.
If we step back and look at the sections of the ACT and SAT objectively, we’ll see they’re targeting soft skills we use every day. Essentially, the English section of both tests measures your child’s mastery of the English language by testing their:
- Use of vocabulary
- Ability to form coherent, logical arguments
- Ability to edit written works
- Understanding of English usage and grammar
These sections test your child’s written communication skills and how well they can think. The reading and writing sections are designed to test your child’s critical thinking, logical reasoning, and comprehension. They also test your child’s ability to make inferences across genres and subjects to form their own opinion. The math section requires your child to draw conclusions and to solve problems using mathematical formulas.
The science section isn’t required for the digital ACT, but if your child is planning to major in STEM, we highly recommend they take it since it tests their scientific reasoning and ability to analyze data sets.
In short, both the ACT and SAT test how well your child can adapt to familiar and unfamiliar situations using the knowledge and skills they have now.
What Does High School Do for ACT and SAT Prep?
Although the ACT and SAT test soft skills, they also require some level of academic knowledge. This is where high school comes in. During their freshman and sophomore years your child will likely take:
- Algebra and Geometry: Combined these two subjects make up 24-30% of the ACT math section. The digital SAT puts more emphasis on algebra but still includes a lot of geometry.
- English and/or Language Arts: These classes help your child develop reading comprehension, grammatical knowledge, and writing skills through essays and research projects. Assigned reading teaches your child to think critically about what they’re reading and make logical inferences based on the information given.
- Biology and/or Chemistry: These classes are more beneficial if your child is interested in STEM majors and careers since they teach analytical, scientific reasoning, and interpretation skills and foster their curiosity and love of research.
Some schools may go a step further and include ACT and SAT prep in their curriculum, but this alone isn’t enough to fully prepare your child for the tests. High school teachers have limited time to teach 20, or even 30 students, at once. They can’t always provide the individualized support and attention your child needs to reach their full potential, especially if they’re applying to more competitive schools.
Enrolling your child in an outside ACT prep or SAT prep program can help fill the gaps high school leaves.
How Do ACT and SAT Prep Programs Fill in the Gaps?
ACT and SAT prep programs are designed to prepare your child for the test of their choice. With smaller class sizes and, in some cases one-on-one sessions, your child can progress towards their goals at their own pace. These programs can be tailored to their strengths, weaknesses, and goals.
Your child can ask questions and get feedback in real-time from subject matter experts without worrying about holding up the rest of the class. These low-stakes, focused learning environments give your child the space to practice different test taking strategies, learn from their mistakes in a stress-free environment, and spend more time on their weaknesses.
Their tutors can also offer emotional support on days when your child feels lost, stuck, or just having a bad day. They can tailor each session to your child’s needs so they’re always making the most of each session. They also know what scores will give your child an edge when applying to competitive colleges.
This extra support will help your child blossom and improve both their confidence and scores.
Reduce Test Day Anxiety with ACT and SAT Prep
The mental and emotional impact of the ACT and SAT on your child shouldn’t be underestimated.
At C2 Education, our ACT and SAT prep programs can remove the unknown from test day. This can be a big relief on what’s already a stressful day that tests your child’s endurance, problem solving under pressure, and adaptability. Even high achieving students can crack under the pressure of these tests without enough practice.
While, yes, both the digital ACT and SAT have been shortened from their paper versions but this can introduce new stressors. The shorter format helps students stay focused, but fewer questions means every question counts even more. At C2, we’ll help your child tackle each question with ease.
By simulating test conditions during our practice sessions, your child can get used to the digital format, pacing, and question types. They’ll get experience with the timer while still focusing on accuracy and leveraging test-taking strategies to perform their best on test day.
As your child works through full length practice tests they’ll learn strategies to handle tough questions, manage their time wisely, and stay calm under pressure. This consistent exposure will turn the test into a familiar challenge rather than an unknown monster.
Regular practice with C2 can help turn any uncertainty your child may feel into confidence. Give your child the confidence and skill to perform their best with C2! Call us at 844-349-4853 or find a center near you to get started.
