STUDY YOUR PLAYBOOK
I am sitting in the kitchen trying to tune out the Bears vs. Lions game going on in the other room. (My husband is from Chicago and is a huge Bears fan.) Last week I wrote about football and how having a gameplan is key to testing success. Well, this week I am giving you your playbook. What play you choose is up to you, but the one play that THIS SAT/ACT COACH RECOMMENDS is planning on taking a test at least twice!
Game plans: Pick ONE and stick to the plan!
Plan #1:
You want to start studying now or have been studying since September, and you are thinking about taking both the SAT and ACT.
• October PSAT
• December ACT
Evaluate scores from both tests during holiday break and pick one test to pursue intensely in the winter/spring. (If this is your plan you must sign up for the December ACT by November 4th.) Sign up for the WilsonDailyPrep (www.wilsondailyprep.com) for a month to become familiar with the ACT. Or, participate in a FREE Graph It Forward Today ACT Study-a-thon. Go to www.graphitforwardtoday.org for details.
Plan #2:
Begin studying for the SAT now. Take the SAT twice and then think about taking the ACT in April and June if not happy with your SAT scores.
• October PSAT
• January SAT
• March SAT
• April ACT
• June ACT
Plan #3:
Begin studying now for the ACT. Take this test twice and then begin studying for the SAT in early March if not happy with your ACT scores.
• December ACT
• February ACT
• May SAT
• June SAT
Plan #4:
Begin studying in the new year (January 1st) after PSAT scores are released. Follow Plan #2 or #3 but move the dates to late spring/ early fall of senior year.
• February ACT
• April ACT
• June SAT
• October SAT
Or…
• March SAT
• May SAT
• June ACT
• September or October ACT
Plan #5:
The Ping Pong approach – I DO NOT RECOMMEND!
• December ACT
• January SAT
• February ACT
• March SAT
• April ACT
• May SAT
• June ACT
If taking SAT II’s please keep these subject tests in mind when creating a game plan. You can take up to two SAT II Subject Tests in one day, but you CAN NOT take a Subject Test the same day as the SAT I. Many students take SAT Subject Tests in either May or June (correspond with studying for AP exams).
Remember, the key to winning a game is to have a plan, show up for practice, and go in ready to dominate!
Weekly Word
Impasse (noun): A situation in which no progress is possible, esp. because of disagreement.
Foreman Irwin reported that the jury had reached an impasse and could deliberate no further.