WCPSS Students Have Tool to Prepare for SAT
A study tool is available to Wake County Public School System students preparing to take the SAT.
The school system has contracted to offer students the College Board SAT Readiness Program, an online service that will help them better prepare for the test.
"Students will find this online service provides insights that will help them better prepare for questions and feel more comfortable in taking the SAT," said Athena Kellogg, WCPSS Senior Administrator for high school math. "The SAT Readiness Program explains the answers to questions in the math section that now includes concepts from Algebra II, as well as evaluates student writing for the essay and writing section."
The SAT contains three sections: math, critical reading and writing. Students can score up to 800 on each section, or up to 2400. The writing section includes an essay and multiple-choice questions on writing.
The College Board SAT Readiness Program includes an online essay-scoring feature designed specifically by the test maker. There are sample writing questions, as well as hundreds of traditional test questions and answer explanations that build student confidence and allow teachers and administrators to identify remediation opportunities.
Training and access to the online program began last year for school staff so they could best determine ways to use the new tool - for individual and class instruction. The online program can be used as part of a school's existing SAT preparation classes, imbedded in core course instruction, or as a resource for independent study.
Kellogg says the online service provides complete explanations for all answers, including why some answers were wrong; full explanations of answers for additional higher level math practice SAT questions; and an entire SAT essay scoring guide, plus actual sample essay papers at every score point for the practice essay.
The online service will tell students how their scores compare with those of other sophomores and juniors, including a question-by-question breakdown. It will help students identify strengths and weaknesses, providing tips on how to improve specific skills.
Kellogg says students can take steps that will better prepare them for the test. She encourages students to take the SAT prep class at their school their sophomore or junior year and to use the College Board SAT Readiness Program. WCPSS teachers are determining how to best adopt this resource to help their students.
Kellogg says students should read and write as much as possible, both in and outside of school. They should familiarize themselves with the SAT so they know what to expect on test day. They should familiarize themselves with the different types of questions on the SAT, the directions for each type of question, and how the test is scored.
"Students can really help themselves by taking the most challenging courses possible," said Kellogg. "They should take four years of math during their high school tenure. I definitely recommend completing Algebra II prior to taking the SAT."
The College Board recognizes Algebra II as the primary indicator of student success on the SAT.
For additional information about the College board SAT Readiness program, visit the SAT resource center.