Professor Jesse Schneider tells us about the “SAT” test.
Jesse Schneider, our SAT prep teacher, has answered some questions about the SAT and SAT courses at the Institute. Jesse has a degree in journalism and Spanish from New York University in addition to being an accredited teacher of English for foreigners.
What does SAT mean?
The acronym SAT used to stand for Scholastic Aptitude Test, but many people believed that this was a misnomer as the test really only measures specific aptitudes. To avoid this controversy, the College Board eliminated the original acronym and now the acronym SAT doesn't stand for anything.
What does SAT stand for?
Abbreviations SAT used to mean ¨Scholastic Aptitude Test¨ (Scholastic Aptitude Test), but many people believed the name was meaningless because the test only measured certain aptitudes. To avoid controversy, the College Board eliminated the meaning of the original acronyms and today the acronym SAT does not mean anything.
Who should think about taking the SAT?
Typically, a student takes the SAT once in the spring of his or her junior year and a second time in the fall of his or her senior year. Studies have shown that students improve if they take the test a second time. I strongly recommend beginning preparation before the start of one's junior year in order to be ready to take the test either that fails or the following January.
Who should think about taking the SAT?
The typical student takes the SAT in the spring of his junior year of high school (freshman of high school) and again in the fall of his senior year of high school (freshman of high school). Studies show that students who retake the exam generally improve their grades. I recommend that students start studying for the SAT the summer before they enter high school so they are prepared to take the test that fall or the following January.
What are the different parts of the SAT?
The SAT is divided into three parts and ten sections.
The critical reading component is made up of multiple choice questions that test students' vocabulary knowledge and several passages followed by questions that test students' reading comprehension. the Math component includes a variety of topics that students typically study in school. However, the test does NOT have any questions about trigonometry or calculus. The Writing component includes a 25 minute essay in which students must respond to a short prompt. Additionally, there are a range of multiple choice questions that test students' grammatical knowledge.
What are the different parts of the SAT?
The SAT is divided into three parts and ten sections. The part of reading It consists of several “multiple choice” questions that measure the student's vocabulary level and several texts followed by questions (also “multiple choice”) that assess the student's reading and comprehension ability. The part mathematics features a variety of questions on various topics but does NOT include trigonometry or calculus. In the part of deed, the student has 25 minutes to develop a written work on a given topic. In addition, there are several “multiple choice” questions that test the student's grammatical knowledge.
Which part do students find the most difficult?
In my experience, Students generally struggle most with the reading critical section. This section requires students to have a very broad vocabulary and to be able to read and understand a myriad of topics at a very rapid rate.
What is the most difficult part of the exam for students?
In my experience, The part of the test that students have the hardest time with is the reading part. In that part, students must understand a wide range of vocabulary very well and read and comprehend very quickly a wide range of topics.
Can a student prepare to take the SAT on his or her own? If so, what should he or she do?
A student can prepare the test on his or her own. In this case, the student should buy an SAT prep book, take several practice exams under timed conditions, and make sure to familiarize him or herself with difficult vocabulary, relevant math concepts, and basic grammar rules.
Is it possible for a student to prepare for the SAT on their own? If so, how is it prepared?
Yes, you can prepare for the SAT on your own. In this case, I recommend that the student buy a preparation book and take a lot of practice tests in real test conditions. In addition, you have to familiarize yourself with the most difficult vocabulary, the most relevant mathematics and the basic rules of grammar.
What can younger middle school (ESO students) do to prepare them to take the SAT in a few years' time?
First of all, I strongly advise ESO students to start thinking about the SAT. in my mind, The best way to prepare for the SAT is to read in English as much as possible. This will help students to bolster their vocabularies and become more at ease with reading both quickly and efficiently in English. For students who don't enjoy books, I strongly recommend the newspapers The Guardian and The New York Times and the magazines The New Yorker and The Economist,.
What can be done in ESO to prepare for the SAT in advance?
First of all, I think it's great that students start thinking about the SAT early. I think that the best way to prepare is to read in English as much as possible. In this way, the student will increase their vocabulary and will be more comfortable reading both quickly and efficiently in English. For those who don't enjoy reading books, I recommend newspapers. The Guardian y The New York Times and the magazines The New Yorker y The Economist,.
When does the new SAT come into effect? How will it be different from the current exam?
The new SAT will come into effect in January 2016. There are some big changes in store for students who will take this exam, such as an optional essay rather than the current mandatory essay and questions that are designed to prepare students for the ¨real world¨. For a more comprehensive look at these changes, please click on the following link:
https://www.collegeboard.org/delivering-opportunity/sat/redesign
When will the new SAT go into effect? How will it be different from the current exam?
The College Board will begin offering the new SAT in January of 2016. There will be some pretty big changes in the new version, like an optional writing assignment instead of the current one, which is required. In addition, the goal of the new questions in each part is to prepare students for the "real world." To see the changes in more detail, please click on the following link:
https://www.collegeboard.org/delivering-opportunity/sat/redesign
Do the courses the International Institute is offering in January and March 2015 prepare students for the current or the new SAT?
The courses in January and March will focus on the current SAT.
Do the courses offered at the International Institute for January and March 2015 prepare for the current SAT or the new test?
The January and March 2014 courses focus on the current SAT.
What is the most important advice you give to students preparing to take the SAT?
I know I've said it before in this entry, but it bears repeating: read! In my experience, students who read tend to much better on the exam. In the math and writing sections, the test makers include a fairly limited range of concepts that can be learned through diligent study. However, Students who are not accustomed to reading will struggle to comprehend a wide range of texts in a very limited amount of time, which is the precise situation the test taker will encounter in the critical reading section.
What is the most important piece of advice you would give to students preparing for the SAT?
I know that I have already mentioned this advice before in this text, but bears repeating: read! In my experience, students who read do better on the test than those who don't. In the math and writing parts, the test creators include a fairly limited range of topics, all of which can be learned by studying hard. Nevertheless, the student who is not accustomed to reading will have trouble understanding a wide range of texts in a very limited time, And this is the situation you will face on test day.
What is your experience in preparing students for the SAT? What else do you teach? How long have you been in Spain?
I have been living in Spain for the past five years and have been preparing students for the SAT for that long as well. I also teach general English and mathematics to children and adults.
How many years of experience do you have as an SAT teacher? Do you teach other subjects? How long have you been in Spain?
I have been living in Spain for five years and I have been preparing students for the SAT for the same amount of time. I also teach general English and math to children and adults.
The next SAT prep course starts on January 13, Tuesday. More information here: https://www.iie.es/aprende-ingles-presentacion/cursos-de-ingles-para-ninos-y-jovenes/
