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Category Archives: Standardized Tests
How Do I Cancel My SAT Scores?
Canceling Scores & Utilizing Score Choice: Part 1 How Do I Cancel My SAT Scores? If you come out of the SAT knowing you did poorly, you have 2 options to “cover up” your bad score. 1) You can cancel your SAT score or 2) You can use Score Choice when sending colleges your SAT scores. In this post, I will cover canceling your scores, but check out our other posts from this series to better understand score choice and rescheduling test dates. Canceling Scores & Utilizing Score Choice: Part 2 – How Do I Use Score Choice to Show … Continue reading
Healthy Brain Food for Test Day
It’s testing season! Whether or not it’s the SAT, the ACT, AP Exams, and/or even your final exams, it is important to make sure you have a healthy test-taking diet to fully get your mind prepared for what lies ahead. Here are a few suggestions as to what you should include in your meals so that you can boost brain function for test day. PROTEIN This includes eggs, ham, sausage, bacon, salmon. They contain the brain-healthy nutrient choline which boosts brain cell function, which in turn boosts brain productivity as well as memory. FRUITS Berries are considered … Continue reading
Posted in Advice, Advice for Freshmen, Advice for Juniors, Advice for Seniors, Advice for Sophomores, Standardized Tests
Tagged brain boosters, brain food, brain-healthy nutrient, fruit brain food, Healthy Brain Food for Test Day, healthy food for your brain, healthy test taking diet, nuts and seeds brain food, protein brain food, vegetables brain food, whole grains brain food
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A Chat with a Perfect Scorer
In January 2012 Joan Zhang bubbled her way to SAT perfection. This is no small feat, as each year less than .02% of high school students earn a perfect 2400. I had the pleasure of talking with Joan about her success and her preparation with Test Masters. Through our chat, I discovered something unexpected – she is just like any other high school student. That’s right, Joan isn’t a hybrid teenage robot who magically computes every correct answer on the SAT. Many people put perfect scorers on an idealistic pedestal laced with stereotypes – Perfect scorers know what they are … Continue reading
Ask Test Masters: 6th Grade Prep?
You ask and we answer! Do you have question about college admissions, applications, entrance exams, or anything pertaining to college preparation? Drop us a line at Ask Test Masters, and we will answer your question in an upcoming post! Question: “Was wondering if I need to be worrying about this yet… my daughter is in 6th grade. Any key items I should be on the look-out for in Jr. High? (hoping not)” – P. Answer: The “right” time to begin preparing for tests like the PSAT, SAT, and ACT varies from student to student based on individual score goals. Some … Continue reading
What is National Merit Commended Scholar 2011?
So you take the PSAT and then what happens? What’s all the big fuss? Earning a National Merit Scholarship that’s what! Let us explain. If you are a Junior in high school, you are eligible to qualify for National Merit Scholarships by receiving a high score on the PSAT which is taken in October. Your PSAT results are mailed by December. Now, in order to qualify as a Junior, first, you need to be a U.S. citizen. Second, you need a high selectivity index score that lies within the 99th percentile range. Being awarded as a National Merit Scholar can … Continue reading
Ask Test Masters: Score Choice
You ask and we answer! Do you have question about college admissions, applications, entrance exams, or anything pertaining to college preparation? Drop us a line at Ask Test Masters, and we will answer your question in an upcoming post! Question: “Is it true that when you send in your SAT scores you can pick the best section score from any of the tests you have taken, and make like… one big…good test score?” – S. Answer: Great question! The answer is no, you cannot create a “superscore” – or one big, good test score. Using College Board’s Score Choice, you … Continue reading
Posted in Ask Test Masters, Standardized Tests
Tagged ask test masters, SAT, score choice, score reports, sending scores, superscore
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What PSAT Scores Make the Cut for National Merit?
Now that PSAT scores have been received, the question that most people want answered revolves around the cutoff scores for National Merit Semifinalist standing. In other words: What is the minimum score that will qualify me to be a National Merit Semifinalist? This is certainly an immensely significant cutoff, mainly due to the benefits and scholarships that come with being a National Merit Scholar. As mentioned before here, the 16,000 National Merit Semifinalists from the class of 2013 will be notified sometime in August/September. As you eagerly await this announcement, here is some context for determining how close your score … Continue reading
SAT or ACT? Which Exam Do You Take?
Having trouble deciding over taking the SAT or the ACT? Not even sure what the difference is? We’re here to point you in the right direction by providing facts about both exams. GENERAL INFO The SAT is divided into ten sections which include: 3 Critical Reading, 3 Math, 3 Writing, and 1 experimental section which is not scored. Each section is scored from 200-800 points. There is one required essay which is scored on a 0-12 scale. Actual testing time without any breaks is 3 hours and 45 minutes. A perfect score on the SAT is a 2400. The ACT … Continue reading
Posted in Advice, Standardized Tests
Tagged ACT, Critical Reading, essay, Guessing Penalty, Math, SAT, Science, vocab
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What is the 2011 PSAT cutoff Score for National Merit Scholarships?
A Timetable for Receiving October 2011 PSAT Scores You took the PSAT in October and have probably received your scores back by now. Hopefully, the burning questions in your mind at present are centered around the National Merit Scholarship competition: How well did I do? What is the PSAT cut-off score for National Merit Scholars this year? When will I know what the PSAT cutoff is? The answers to these questions, fortunately, are simple enough, although many require patience. As a start, here is a link to the PSAT Test Dates and Deadlines on the College Board website: http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/psat/deadlines Here … Continue reading
You Got Your PSAT Scores Back – Now What?
Now that PSAT scores are out, some of you might be wondering, “What was the point?” Colleges aren’t going to see your PSAT scores, so why did you even take it at all? Well the PSAT is actually a pretty important test for several reasons. Now that you have your scores back, there are several things you should be doing. 1. Look Into the National Merit Scholarship The PSAT is the qualification exam for the National Merit Scholarship — it’s a pretty big deal, so if you don’t know what it is, find out! At this point, there isn’t much … Continue reading
