CATES Blog

What is the format of the ACT? What is the format of the SAT? How do they compare?

SAT Math

When students reach their sophomore and junior years of high school, they are faced with a choice.  If they are planning to go ahead and attend college they must take a standardized test, and they obviously want to do their best.  The SAT and ACT, as the two standardized test choices that are presented to American students, share many similarities but also differ greatly.  One of the main ways the SAT and ACT differ is in their respective formats.

The SAT

The SAT consists of ten sections.  Three of these sections test you on math, three of these sections test you on reading, and three of these sections test you on writing.  The last section is called the experimental section and can test you either in math, science, or writing.  The experimental section of the SAT is not graded but is a way the College Board (the institution that creates and administers the test) can try out new questions.  You must take this section and will have no idea which section is the Experimental section.

The three SAT Math sections break down as follows: one section consists of twenty multiple choice questions, one section consists of sixteen multiple choice questions, and finally one section consists of eight multiple choice questions and ten questions that require the student to fill in the answer herself.

The three SAT Reading sections break down as follows: one section consists of twenty-four questions that includes eight vocabulary questions and sixteen reading comprehension questions, one section consists of twenty four questions that includes five vocabulary questions and nineteen reading comprehension questions, and finally one section consists of nineteen questions that includes six vocabulary questions and thirteen reading comprehension questions.

The three SAT Writing sections break down as follows: one section consists of a persuasive essay that you are given twenty-five minutes to write, one section consists of thirty-five multiple choice questions on grammar, and finally one section consists of fourteen multiple choice questions on grammar.

The ACT

The ACT on the other hand consists of five sections. One section tests English, one section tests Math, one section tests Science, one section tests Reading, and one section is an optional persuasive essay.  The English section of the ACT consists of seventy-five questions relating to 5 passages of writing. These multiple choice questions, which you are given forty-five minutes to complete, test both your knowledge of grammar and your command and understanding of style.  The Math section consists of sixty multiple- choice questions that you are given sixty minutes to complete.  The reading section consists of 40 reading comprehension questions that refer to four passages. Thirty-five minutes are allotted for this section.  The science section consists of forty questions that you are given thirty-five minutes to complete.  These forty questions refer to seven passages that describe the results of experiments and competing scientific explanations.  Finally you are given thirty minutes to complete an optional essay.  If you complete the writing portion of the ACT, it can count for both the SAT I and SATII to many colleges.

The SAT takes a total of three hours and forty-five minutes to complete, with some additional time added in for the administration and proctoring of the test.  However, within that span of time you are continually switching between subject matter and the test is broken down into more bite sized pieces.  The ACT on the other hand, takes two hours and fifty-five minutes without the essay, and three hours and twenty minutes with the essay.  In this slightly shorter amount of time you are required to focus on single subjects for a much longer span of time, however once your are done with a subject, you are really done with it – a difference from the SAT.

Both these tests are challenging and rewarding, and the only way to get a really good sense of which one is a better fit for you is to take a mock SAT test and a mock ACT test and compare them.  CATES offers free mock – tests every weekend, so come down and see which test works for you.

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The recent article in the New York Times, “Risky Rise of the Good-Grade Pill,” by Alan Schwarz, underscores the intense pressure to perform well on SAT and standardized tests, and that leads some students to use performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in the hopes of raising their scores. As the CEO and founder of CATES Tutoring in New York City, with offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester, and abroad in cities such as London, I personally have worked with hundreds of students – and Cates as a company with thousands – from elite private schools in the New York area and all over the world. Our clients run the gamut: regular time, extended time, double time, 2400 caliber on the SAT test, and students hoping to simply break 21 on the ACT test. A number of our students, particularly those enrolled in Envision Test Prep, our specialized division for students with learning differences, receive prescriptions for Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, et al and have benefitted greatly from these medications. We have often been asked about the advisability of providing PEDs to students who do not clinically need them, as a way to stay competitive with similar students who use PEDs in an effort to gain an advantage in the university admissions process. The concerns that prompt these questions underscore a key issue surrounding standardized testing: How many students really use PEDs like Adderall to get ahead?

The size of the problem

To be sure, the use of PEDs is a serious concern, but I agree with some of the leaders mentioned in the article, such as David Weiss, Superintendent of Long Beach public schools, that the issue is not as widespread as the article may lead you to believe. Why do we suspect this? From our discussions with students themselves here at CATES, we form very strong ties with our students, and get to know many of them on a personal level when appropriate. The conversation about drugs isn’t something we have ignored, particularly in regards to standardized testing. I can tell you that very few students bring up the idea of using Ritalin or Adderall – that is, if they aren’t already prescribed to benefit from supplements – during these conversations. And, when the subject does come up, we strongly encourage our students not to use a PED, especially if they’ve never tried it, as it may end up doing more harm than good.

It’s not necessary to use PEDs if you go about your preparation the right way. A little bit of prep work over the long haul is much more effective than any pill. Want to stay on top of your work? Then try creating outlines for all of your work – in every class, not just the more challenging ones – throughout the year. Re-writing your notes and your assigned reading in your own words will help you master them over time – and position you well for finals at the end of the year, which tend to be cumulative tests in most schools. Our test prep process – be it for standardized tests or school tests – focuses on helping the student embrace their strengths and weaknesses as a student, and building in strong techniques that lead to positive habits that manifest into strong results: good grades, strong SAT scores, confidence, etc. We have a blog that address some of these helpful tips (http://www.catestutoring.com/blog/preparing-for-finals/).  These practices lead to life-long success and allow students to build character and confidence in their abilities.

On a related issue, it has been our observation that students who achieve the best scores typically come from families where the parents are still together. We believe the family unit is the foundation for student success. Students who come from families where the relationships are strong tend to be more successful in their studies – be it school grades or standardized test scores – than the students who come from, unfortunately, divorced families. While there are certainly exceptions – and there is MUCH more to be said about how the character of the family unit can influence a student’s progress and performance – this is a trend I have noticed in my 12 years of working with students.

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SAT success

Alan Schwarz’s recent article in the New York Times, “Risky Rise of the Good-Grade Pill,” highlights the pressures to succeed on SAT and standardized tests, pressures that lead some students to use performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in an effort to boost their scores and enhance their positions in the university admissions process. As the CEO and founder of CATES Tutoring in New York City with offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester, and abroad in cities such as London, I personally have worked with hundreds of students – and CATES as a company with thousands – from elite private schools in the New York area and all over the world. Our clients run the gamut: regular time, extended time, double time, 2400 caliber on the SAT test, and students hoping to simply break 21 on the ACT test. Some of our students, particularly those enrolled in Envision Test Prep, our specialized division for students with learning differences, receive prescriptions for Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, et al and use them to great benefit in their work. However, we have been asked about the use of PEDs for students who do not clinically require them. These questions actually highlight a core issue in the testing process: The need to develop coping techniques that allow students to perform at peak levels despite the stress of the exams.

Coping techniques for the stress of exams

The three basic elements of a successful coping strategy for taking standardized tests are nutrition, exercise, and something we all take for granted: breathing. In our SAT coaching binder we address this last element directly: “Many students forget to breathe during the exam, and as a result, do not think as clearly. Take three deep breaths at the beginning and end of each section to focus and center yourself. Take another breath at the middle of each section to re-focus for the second half of it. If you need to “reboot” your brain, take a breath, or do some yoga or jumping jacks during the test to refresh your mind, either during a section (if you’re taking the test in a room alone) or during the break (outside the room). Go for it.”

Nutrition

Nutrition is also important. No one thinks clearly on an empty stomach. Eat a full breakfast and eat a snack at the first break. A snack allows you to maintain focus throughout the last hours of the SAT, as your breakfast energy usually peters out half-way through the exam.

A technique we recommend for students with learning differences or ADHD can help almost anyone improve their test performance: Circle 3 things in the question. We find this to be the single most useful strategy on any and every (paper-based) standardized test. For students with focus issues, regardless of whether or not they have learning differences, if they circle no less than 3 details in each question – the key facts, facts that imply other facts, what the question is asking, etc. – scores rise. Circling – and NOT underlining, which doesn’t highlight the info as well – helps you pull out the key info and cut out the distracting, non-essential wording around the key facts. Circling helped one of our students, John, stay focused through the SAT and brought him 30 points in the Reading and 60 points in the Math overnight. The difference in his scores helped him gain entrance to Georgetown. Circling helped our student Victoria gain 110 points in Reading, 90 points in Math, and 90 points in Writing. The difference in her scores helped her earn admission to a number of Ivy League universities.

Students who have been prescribed PEDs to cope with learning challenges need to understand how to best – and when to – take the medication within the course of the exam to maximize their focus and test scores. For slow release medications like Adderall and Concerta, take them before the exam and at the second break of the exam. Quick release medications like Ritalin should be taken right before the exam starts and at each break.

For tips on exercise that can help students perform their best, we have a blog on nutrition and exercise (http://www.catestutoring.com/blog/healthy-study-tips/) with great information. We invite you to speak to one of our learning specialists at Envision – whether you have a learning difference or not – to learn more about the techniques our tutors use to help their students focus better during the exam.

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college admissions

Allan Schwarz’s article, “Risky Rise of the Good-Grade Pill”, focuses on how some students use prescription drugs to enhance their academic ability to earn better grades and SAT test scores to ultimately position themselves for the university admissions process. Some of our students, particularly those through Envision Test Prep, our specialized division for students with learning differences, receive prescriptions for Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, et al and use them to great benefit in their work. However, we have at times come across the question of using performance-enhancing drugs (PED’s) for students who do not clinically require them. It’s obviously a controversial subject – as it should be – but, as I see it, the topic actually helps to crystallize a core issue: student confidence.

As the CEO & Founder of CATES Tutoring in New York City with offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester, and abroad in cities such as London, I personally have worked with hundreds of students – and CATES as a company thousands – from elite private schools in the New York area and all over the world. Our clients run the gamut: regular time, extended time, double time, 2400 caliber on the SAT test, students hoping to simply break 21 on the ACT test.

Over the course of the next few days, we’ll examine specific aspects of this article and lend some insight and guidance to help students and parents understand that a healthier attitude towards the US admissions process – whether you are from the Upper East Side, Scarsdale, or London – not only helps you succeed in the process, but also sets you up for success in your professional life.

Charity Begins at Home

As Schwarz’s article states, one of the “dealers” at Long Beach High School on Long Island plays upon the “burdens and insecurities” of their classmates. Playing upon insecurities was also cited by the current law student in Manhattan who dealt Adderall at his high school in Sarasota, FL, mentioning that the students who didn’t buy Adderall from him “would feel at a huge disadvantage.” The core issue here is that students are acting out of a place of fear rather than out of place of faith. If students felt more confident in their abilities to be successful by coupling their innate talents with consistent focus and hard work, students would feel less compelled to use PED’s.

This situation speaks to how the student needs to establish confidence early on so that he or she can build natural mechanisms to maintain and build self-confidence. Unfortunately, a lot of it relates back to parenting issues, where parents coddle and manage their kids’ schedules so much that the student does not develop the inner fortitude to be able to manage pressure on his or her own. Without facing their challenges head on, students can struggle to overcome fears and make them more susceptible to the draw of performance-enhancing drugs.

If you’re a parent looking to help your kid succeed in school, in the testing process, and college admissions process, here are some tips inspired by “Conquering the SAT: How Parents Can Help Teens Overcome the Pressure and Success” by Ned Johnson and Emily Warner Eskelen, which is a wonderful book I recommend to all parents:

Evaluate how you handle stress

How you handle stress is likely how your kid handles stress. Each of us possesses conditioned responses to the challenges and problems. If you kid is reacting adversely to the exam experience or process, he or she may be mirroring what you have demonstrated to them, however unconsciously. Share the way you overcome stress with your kid. You are probably an expert on how to handle your emotions by now. Pass along your wisdom to your child.

Set boundaries for taking about the test and about the college process

Many students get tired of the several years of constant conversation about the testing and application process. It can eat away at the student’s patience and desire to do well on the test. Keep your testing & admissions talk to 30 minutes twice a week once second semester of junior year comes around.  Then perhaps build in a 15-30 minute window after dinner three-four times a week during senior year, or establish a 90-120 minute “college meeting” once a week to connect and complete action items.

Recognize hard work & get involved

Students need to know their parents are there for them and want to be involved – that this experience (and your child) are important to you! If your child doesn’t want help, let her know that you respect her independence, are confident in her ability, and are there for support if ever needed

Diffuse social pressure

Make sure your kid understands his or her capabilities are separate from those in his or her social group. Treat her like the great test-taker you want her to be. Let her know that she can succeed and you’re going to help her get the tools to do so

Let her take charge

Empower your child to be self-reliant, let her know you believe in her. Anxiety is totally normal and controllable.

Pinpoint fears

Ask questions. Discuss different outcomes and how you will respond to them. What are they afraid of? Disappointing you? Living up to older sibling? Retaking the test? Discuss what happens when failure occurs and when success occurs. You will love them no matter what

Encourage them to no end

Always, always, always encourage your kid to think positively, and celebrate their success and effort throughout the journey. Reward small goals. SAT is a win-win. Nobody fails. Successful people have gone to all sorts of different schools. Let them know you’re proud of what she’s done. Not what she scores. Build confidence everyday.

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Over the weekend, you may have read Allan Schwarz’s New York Times article, “Risky Rise of the Good-Grade Pill”,  a fascinating article on many levels.  As the CEO & Founder of CATES Tutoring in New York City with offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester, and abroad in cities such as London, I personally have worked with hundreds of students – and CATES as a company thousands – from elite private schools in the New York area and all over the world. Our clients run the gamut: regular time, extended time, double time, 2400 caliber on the SAT test, students hoping to simply break 21 on the ACT test.

NY Times

Some of our students, particularly those through Envision Test Prep, our specialized division for students with learning differences, receive prescriptions for Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, et al and use them to great benefit in their work. However, we have at times come across the question of using performance-enhancing drugs (PED’s) for students who do not clinically require them. It’s obviously a controversial subject – as it should be – but, as I see it, the topic actually helps to crystallize the core issue: misplaced and uninformed expectations.

Over the course of the next few days, we’ll examine specific aspects of this article and lend some insight and guidance to help students and parents understand that a healthier attitude towards the US admissions process – whether you are from the Upper East Side, Scarsdale, or London – not only helps you succeed in the process, but also sets you up for success in your professional life.

The Pressure to Get Good Grades

Dear Students – Welcome to the real world! You should feel pressure to earn strong grades – the world is becoming more competitive – and you need to understand how to ask – and get – the best of yourself. With globalization and the technological revolution, the world your parents knew growing up is not the world you know now and will become even more different by the time you enter the professional world. Virtually every single job in America is at risk of being lost to someone else (yes, perhaps in Asia) and education will be the biggest advantage you have as you enter the 21^st Century work force. So, yes, good grades do matter.

Each year, plenty of students handle multiple AP’s, extracurricular activities, and standardized tests successfully and have been for years. You’re not the first to go through the process, and you will not be the last. The college admissions process stands as a rite of passage for all of us, and all of us succeed in our unique way, let alone survive. It’s not easy, but its also exciting and can act as a gut-check on how serious you are about your ambitions.  You will experience challenges – too many homework assignments in one night, 10-page papers due tomorrow, sports after school, Model UN conference this weekend – and you will have to find a way to excel at each one.

However, drugs aren’t the answer. PED’s – or any substance for that matter – act as only a short-term solution to a larger, longer-term challenge that most students – and particularly, their families – need to address: the definition of success.

Success in College

How do you define success in the college admissions process? To me, gaining entry to a college or university that best matches your personality and learning style epitomizes success in the college admissions process.  And the truth is, we currently live in a sort of golden age for US university education. With the increase in the human population after the Baby Boom, the numbers of students applying to colleges each year has risen. Of course, schools aren’t adding enough beds each year to match the number of students applying. While the competition at the top has become so much more so, one of the larger benefits of this trend is that is it now possible to earn a top-notch education at more schools than ever before.  Those top-notch students who get squeezed out of the most selective schools due to a simple numbers game are now helping to make the next tier of schools as good as the Ivy League schools were a decade or so ago. Thus, while the admissions process can be difficult, its never been easier to gain a top-flight university education.

For example, Northeastern University (NU) has seen its reputation rise; it’s considered a terrific school nowadays. Back in the mid-90′s, NU wasn’t seen as strong an academic environment as it’s seen to be now. If you were to look at the average SAT test score ranges for entering NU freshmen during that time period, few NU-bound students broke 1000 on their Verbal and Math sections. Today, NU-bound students score closer to the 1250-1300 range on their Critical Reading and Math sections of the SAT test. The difference between the student aiming for 1000 on the SAT and the student aiming for 1250-1300 can be significant, both in relation to the SAT’s and to the other aspects of their application.

College in the Age of Globalization

How important is it now to attend an Ivy League university to gain a top-flight education? Less than it meant years ago. In this age of globalization and technological innovation, where you attend college is becoming less and less important. Rather, how you make use of your college education (that is, if you even decide to go to college) is much more important, and its much easier to do so when you’re in an environment where you’re stimulated and challenged in a healthy way.

Yes, that could mean Harvard, but it also could also mean Northeastern. It’s up to you to discover and decide.

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