The Importance of Goal Setting
Many families begin the test prep process with nothing more than a vague idea that they want their child to do well on the test, without bothering to think about what exactly “doing well” means for them. This relaxed approach may seem tempting for parents who want to spare their children some of the stress of the college admissions process, but it actually places a great deal more pressure on students. Without clearly defined goals, it is impossible for students to understand their own progress. Aiming simply for a “doing well” creates a situation in which there is no definition of success. And success, when it has not even been defined, can never be achieved. In contract, Goals, set clearly and realistically, turn the test prep and college admissions process from a never-ending uphill struggle to a journey with a definite destination.
Where to Start
Now let’s talk briefly about how families should go about this process. First, it is important to understand that test scores are a means to an end, not an end in themselves. They are a key that students can use to open the door to a specific school. So with that in mind, it is important for families to do a little research. Think about the schools your child would like to attend, then look up what kind of SAT or ACT score that school requires. This information will be presented as a percentile range, from the 25th to 75th percentile. For students who are neither athletic recruits nor legacies, admission usually requires a score towards the upper end of that range.
Which Test?
Next, you need to decide which test is the best fit for your child, the SAT or the ACT. Many families, especially in China, don’t make this choice at all, essentially defaulting to the SAT. There are two main reasons for this. First, the SAT is considered the more popular, more established test, especially abroad. Secondly, many parents believe that elite schools prefer the SAT to the ACT. Fortunately for fans of choice in test prep, both of these points are completely untrue. For years, more American students have taken the ACT than the SAT, and the gap is only getting wider. The international test taking community has been a little slow to catch up, but the ACT is gaining ground worldwide as well. The latter point is just unequivocally false. Colleges, no matter their rankings, have absolutely no preference between the tests.
With that in mind, students should choose their test based on which one is a better fit for their specific strengths. This topic is far too large and nuanced to discuss comprehensively in this article, but there are a few general guidelines that students can follow. The SAT focuses on depth of understanding and critical reasoning skills. It is more analytically based than the ACT, and rewards deep, methodical thinking. The ACT focuses on speed and precision, with less difficult reading passages that must be completed at a more demanding pace. Both tests contain a reading, grammar (English/writing), and math section, though the ACT contains a scientific reasoning section as well. To figure out which test is the best choice for their families, parents should have their children sit down and take each test, then compare their starting scores. Such diagnostic tests are offered for free at New Pathway, as well as certain other test prep centers around Shanghai.
Get Started!
Now it’s time to get down to the business of test prep. Remember: this process should be a marathon, not a sprint, so it is important get start early (sometime during grade 11) and pace yourself. Take a good look at your child’s goal score, and then the score from that very first diagnostic test, and figure out exactly how much work will be needed to bridge the gap between the two. Also remember that there are plenty of professionals throughout the city, ready, willing and eager to help your family with every step of the process. Good Luck!
