Testing and Study Skills

Most universities will require some form of standardized testing for admission. Listed below are the major standardized tests that you will need to take. The good news is through early preparation you can actually increase your score!!!!

The SAT is a three-hour test that measures verbal and mathematical reasoning skills students have developed over time and skills they need to be successful academically. Many colleges and universities use the SAT as one indicator among others-class rank, high school GPA, extracurricular activities, personal essay, and teacher recommendations-of a student's readiness to do college-level work.

SAT scores are compared with the scores of other applicants, and the accepted scores at an institution, and can be used as a basis for awarding merit-based financial aid.

The SAT is scored on a scale of 200-800 (for math and verbal) and is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. The test is administered several times a year.

SAT II

Subject Tests, one-hour, mostly multiple-choice tests, measure how much students know about a particular academic subject and how well they can apply that knowledge.

The 22 Subject Tests include: Writing (with an essay), Literature, U.S. History, World History, Math Level IC, Math Level IIC, Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics, French Reading, French Reading with Listening, German Reading, German Reading with Listening, Spanish Reading, Spanish Reading with Listening, Modern Hebrew Reading, Italian Reading, Latin Reading with Listening, Japanese Reading with Listening, Korean Reading with Listening, Chinese Reading with Listening, and the English Language Proficiency Test.

Many colleges require or recommend one or more of the Subject Tests for admission or placement. Used in combination with other background information (your high school record, scores from other tests like the SAT I, teacher recommendations, etc.), they provide a dependable measure of your academic achievement and are a good predictor of future performance.

PSAT/NMSQT

The Preliminary SAT®/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a co-sponsored program by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT I: Reasoning Test and SAT II: Writing Test. It also gives you a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship programs.

The PSAT/NMSQT measures:

* verbal reasoning skills

* critical reading skills

* math problem-solving skills

* writing skills

You should definitely take the PSAT/NMSQT in your junior year. Many students benefit from also taking it earlier, typically in their sophomore year. If you take it earlier, recognize that the PSAT/NMSQT is a junior-level test, so don't get discouraged if your score is low. Your score will usually increase as your years of study increase.

AP

Advanced Placement courses can change your life. Through college-level AP courses, you enter a universe of knowledge that might otherwise remain unexplored in high school; through AP Exams, you have the opportunity to earn credit or advanced standing at most of the nation's colleges and universities. You have an opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

For more information regarding registration dates for the SAT, PSAT, and advance Placement got to http://www.collegeboard.com/.

ACT

The ACT Assessment® is designed to assess high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work.

The tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. Check out the ACT website for registration dates at http://www.act.org/

Educational Testing Service - Information on on AP tests, SAT, TOEFL & GMAT, GRE.

Educational Testing  Service - Information on on AP tests, SAT, TOEFL & GMAT, GRE.

ASVAB Program - This site has information about the ASVAB test, career exploration and planning for the future

California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE).

The purpose of CAHSEE is to ensure that students who graduate from high school can demonstrate grade level competency in the state content standards for reading, writing, and mathematics. For more information on the test, visit the California Department of Education's CAHSEE home page.

FREE SAT and ACT Online Test Prep

http://www.eaop.ucla.edu/

http://www.uccp.org/( Highly recommended )

http://www.number2.com/-

http://www.studyhall.com/

http://www.freevocabulary.com/

http://www.cavhs.org/

http://www.saab.org/

http://www.syvum.com/sat/

http://standarddeviants.com/

Kaplan Test Prep

A well known commercial test prep company that has classes all over the country for the ACT, SAT, and many other tests. They also have a parent newsletter that has tips for the entire college admissions/financial aid process. You can sign up for it here.
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/prep_one/practice.html

Study Skills 

Study Skills Self Help - Perhaps the best study skills help on the web! Addresses time management, concentration methods, using acronyms, notetaking and much more. Check it out! (from Virginia Tech)

Study Skills - Covers test taking strategies, effective listening & notetaking, and how to get more out of studying. (St John's in MN)

Study Skills Resources - How to prepare and set goals, how to get information, how to take tests, write papers, work on projects and how to study specific subjects. (Oregon)

College Prep 101 - Among lots of other topics of interest to the college bound and college student this site covers stress management, study skills and time management. (Oklahoma State)

Success in Mathematics 
(St Louis University)  

Paradigm Writing Assistant (Boise State) - This is an unbelievable tutorial on writing essays. Takes you through the whole process step-by-step. If you need help with writing anything, take a look at this wonderful website.

 
Education Index - This site provides an index of academic subject area websites..

Algebra Problems Online
(U of Hawaii)

Calculus@Internet
(Awesome Site!)

UNL Independent Study High School
Online high school courses. Very comprehensive program for the motivated student.

You can prepare yourself to succeed in your studies.
Try to develop and appreciate the following habits:

*Take responsibility for yourself
Responsibility is recognition that in order to succeed
you can make decisions about your priorities, your time, and your resources

*Center yourself around your values and principles
Don't let friends and acquaintances dictate what you consider important

*Put first things first
Follow up on the priorities you have set for yourself, and don't let others, or other interests, distract you from your goals

*Discover your key productivity periods and places
Morning, afternoon, evening; study spaces where you can be the most focused and productive. Prioritize these for your most difficult study challenges

*Consider yourself in a win-win situation
You win by doing your best and contributing your best to a class, whether for yourself, your fellow students, and even for your teachers and instructors. If you are content with your performance, a grade becomes an external check on your performance, which may not coincide with your internally arrived at benefits

*First understand others, then attempt to be understood
When you have an issue with an instructor, for example a questionable grade, an assignment deadline extension, put yourself in the instructor's place. Now ask yourself how you can best make your argument given his/her situation

*Look for better solutions to problems
For example, if you don't understand the course material, don't just re-read the material. Try something else! Consult with the professor, a tutor, an academic advisor, a classmate, a study group, or your school's study skills center

*Look to continually challenge yourself
Partially adapted from the audio cassette by Steven Covey, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

"M.U.R.D.E.R."
A Study System

* Mood:
Set a positive mood for yourself to study in.
Select the appropriate time, environment, and attitude.

* Understand:
Mark any information you don't understand in a particular unit;
Keep a focus on one unit or a manageable group of exercises.

* Recall:
After studying the unit,
stop and put what you have learned into your own words

* Digest:
Go back to what you did not understand and reconsider the information;
Contact external expert sources (e.g., other books or an instructor) if you still cannot understand it.

* Expand:
In this step, ask three kinds of questions concerning the studied material:

• If I could speak to the author, what questions would I ask or what criticism would I   offer?
• How could I apply this material to what I am interested in?
• How could I make this information interesting and understandable to other students?

* Review:
Go over the material you've covered. Review what strategies helped you understand and/or retain information in the past and apply these to your current studies

Adapted from Hayes, John R., The Complete Problem Solver, Lawrence Erlbaum Publishers, Hillsdale, NJ: 1989. ISBN: 0805803092

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TEST TAKING TIPS CHECK OUT THIS FABULOUS SITE!!!! http://www.iss.stthomas.edu/studyguides/