By Steve Kwon
If learning were approached more like a game, students would have
fun, learn easier and retain more information. What you enjoy
you want to repeat over and over, like playing tennis or dancing.
Changing your perspective on studying can make a big difference
in your upcoming SAT test scores. With the right methods and a
light-hearted approach to learning, a student can achieve great
results, provided he is prepared for the new SAT.
Although many things stay the same, the changes to the SAT taking
place in March 2005 constitute the most comprehensive overhaul
of the test in history. For one thing, it will now be a 4-hour
test instead of 3 because of an entirely new section, called "Writing."
The current SAT has only two sections, Math and Verbal. With three
sections, allocating 800 as the top score for each, a perfect
score will increase from 1600 to 2400.
The Writing section will be comprised of a 25-minute essay and
a series of multiple-choice grammar questions. The word "essay"
intimidates many students, especially those with English as their
second language. Even if a student excels in math and science,
he may still have problems with writing an essay.
Ethnic and cultural differences will also factor into achieving
a high score on the essay portion. Written and verbal communication
are acquired skills based on an extensive vocabulary, good grammar
and a command of the language developed over time with daily usage
and practice. If a person thinks and speaks in one language all
his life and tries to adapt to a different set of grammatical
rules and sentence structure, especially in writing, he is at
a disadvantage when compared to someone reading and writing in
his native tongue.
Furthermore, just because a student gets good grades, that doesn't
guarantee he will achieve high SAT scores. The quality of education
at one school may not be the same as in a different city or neighborhood.
An "A" student from a "good" school may have a far better education
than an "A" student from a "lesser" school.
With summer vacation coming up, there is still time to prepare.
Books and study guides can help. You could hire a tutor, join
a study group, or take a class, but the main thing is YOU MUST
PREPARE. It requires practice and more practice, because practice
does make perfect. You can achieve a perfect score, if you are
motivated.
Everyone knows self-motivation and self-discipline create high
achievers and top students. However, not everyone has those built-in
abilities. Some people need cheerleaders and a good coach to inspire
and encourage them to win the game without undue stress.
Although anxiety is normal and very common in athletes, actors
and students taking tests, your stress decreases as you become
more confident and sure of yourself. You want to avoid panic and
paranoia regarding the outcome of your performance, but at the
same time a certain amount of anxiety is positive. It helps you
do your very best because your mind and body are at peak performance
level. When you are well prepared and have thoroughly practiced,
you feel confident in your ability to succeed, whether in basketball,
acting, or test taking.
Be sure you are prepared for the new SAT and ready for the challenge.
Start now taking classes, reading books, and motivating yourself
into action, and you will be one of those scoring a perfect 2400.
It's up to you. |
