Test Optional = More Exclusive

You likely heard the news: Harvard's acceptance rate for the class of 2026 reached an all time low of 3.2%. 

Let that number sink in: 3.2%.

Over 61,000 applicants for 1,954 spots. 

Harvard also saw an increase in applications by 7% largely due to their test optional policy. 

But Harvard isn't the only one. Many top schools, since adopting a test optional policy, continue to see increases in applications. And as applications increase, acceptance rates go down.

What gives? Isn't test optional supposed to be a good thing? Isn't it supposed to reduce the stress around admissions? 

I guess not. Just look at the numbers. Getting into top schools is now harder, less predictable and more stressful. 

Simply put, that sucks. 

So do we go back to test requirements? MIT just announced that it will require test scores for the 2023-24 application cycle and beyond. But UCs and CSUs are test blind. 

Can the pendulum swing both ways? 

What this means in the short run is that students should work towards taking an SAT or ACT, then submit the score if it is in the range of accepted students for the schools they want. In the long run, the future is less clear. It looks like some schools will be in one of three buckets: test required, test optional or test blind. 

Perhaps students building their "balanced" college lists of GPA and affordability should also include a balance of testing requirements. 

Maximize Test Prep This Vacation (with Minimal Work)

Attention Juniors: I know you are stressed from the last several months of school. You are ready for a break. And the last thing you want to do is study over Christmas vacation. 

But if want to open up opportunities for college admissions and merit-based aid, you may want to spend a little time preparing for the SAT or ACT. Just a little. 

So while you get lost of rest and relaxation this vacation, try this simple eight-day plan that only takes about eight hours in total in order to maximize your test prep over Christmas break with minimal work: 

Day 1: Find your goal score. Look up 3-4 schools you are interested in and find out their testing policies and, assuming they are test-optional or require a test, what SAT or ACT score you need. Determining this score is the first step in understanding what you need to do. Estimated time: 15-20 minutes. 

Day 2: Take a practice test. Download a practice SAT or ACT directly from the respective websites and print it out. In one sitting, to take the entire test cover to cover per the exact instructions and timing. Estimated time: 3 hours. 

Day 3: Score the test. Using the instructions from the test websites, score your test. Calculate your scaled score according to the instructions and compare it to your goal score from the Day 1 activity. Figure out the incremental number of correct answers you need to achieve your goal score for your next test sitting. Estimated time: 1 hour. 

Day 4: Identify your weaknesses. Review the practice test and document each question you missed and why you missed it. Review your results and see if there are any themes. Try and uncover your weaknesses, like vocabulary-in-context questions in reading or word problems in math. Estimated time: 1 hour. 

Days 5-7: Attack weaknesses. Research how to get better at your weaknesses. Find a vocabulary list to study. Look up math content on Khan Academy. Practice reading passages. Get better at those things that are weakest. Estimated time: 30 minutes/day or 1.5 hours in total. 

Day 8: Register for the real test. Check your calendar and find the test day most convenient, as in the least stressful time, for your to take the test. Estimated time: 30 minutes. 

If you follow this eight-day plan, you will be armed with the data from a practice test, a goal score and an idea of things you can work on. Ultimately, this plan will maximize your test preparation over Christmas break with minimal work. 

It's not a complicated plan and if you do all of the steps, your total time investment would be roughly eight hours. Not bad, right? I know you can carve out just eight hours in a two-week vacation. It will be worth it. 

And if you want, sign up for CROSSWALK's Winter Test Prep series starting in February. If you execute this vacation plan AND take CROSSWALK's six-week course, you will be on your way to maximizing your test score to increase your chances for college admission and merit-based aid.     

The Hardest Part of the SAT and ACT

On the SAT & ACT, what is the hardest section? 

Are historical passages or science-based passages more difficult? 

Are word problems or data interpretation problems more challenging? 

Truth be told: It depends. 

Determining the difficulty level of particular questions or sections on the SAT and the ACT all depends on the student. Some students find the Reading section the easiest while others think it is Math. Science passages, for some students, are easier than history passages. And some students hate word problems and would rather graph parabolas. 

However, none of these questions really get at what makes the SAT and ACT hard. 

You see, the hardest part of the SAT and the ACT is the length of the tests. Both tests are three-hour mental marathons that require tremendous focus, rapt attention and intellectual endurance. 

What makes these tests hard is that students need the mental stamina to critically think, problem solve and navigate the hours upon hours that is the testing experience. 

If you are gearing up for the SAT or ACT, make sure to work on your mental stamina. Take regular full-length practice tests so that you can practice sustaining your intellectual energy for the entire test. Work on building up your stamina and keeping focused for all three hours. 

It's not a content thing; it's a stamina thing. Those with the mental fortitude to sustain their intellectual focus for the whole time will be the ones who achieve their goal scores.

3 Games to Identify Correct Reading Comprehension Answers

Reading comprehension is the one section of the SAT and ACT that has changed the least. Read a passage, answer questions and demonstrate that you can understand the details of the information presented. It's a skill that is useful for any reading, and most importantly on standardized tests. 

Despite the long history of this component of the SAT and ACT, many students still struggle with it. In my experiences as a test prep tutor, I have seen hundreds of students fail to pinpoint the precise detail in a passage that matches to the correct answer.  

Which is why I teach my students these three simple games they can play when attacking the answer choices: 

1) Flipping Game: Usually, a student tries to find a correct answer by matching the words from the answer choice to the words in a passage. However, in the Flipping Game, students are taught to flip this script and do the reverse. In other words, instead of initially going to the passage to match the words in the answer, students focus on the words in the answer choice first and mentally craft some text that could match that answer. Once the potential text is crafted, then the student attacks the passage to see if that is indeed what is written. 

For example, let's consider a question like, "What it the primary purpose of the first paragraph?" with an answer choice like, "To list the characteristics of the main character." In the Flipping Game, I would have students forget the passage for a moment and instead consider the answer choice and craft a "list" of "characteristics" in their heads. Armed with a "list", students then go back to the passage to see if the list they crafted matches the list in the passage find. If they find a similar list, then this is a possible answer choice. If not, eliminate it. 

2) Isolation Game: Whenever answer choices have multiple parts, students can play the Isolation Game. This game is all about attacking only one part of the answer. When you attack just one part of the answer at a time, you can eliminate wrong answers more quickly and get to your correct answer more accurately. 

For example, consider a question like, "Over the course of the passage, the main focus shifts from a ...." On these questions, every answer will have two parts: a summary of the first part of the passage then a summary of the second part. And each answer choice is separated by a "to" like "...general discussion of the narrator's personality to a story about how that personality changed." In this situation, I teach students to avoid worrying about the whole answer and isolate just one part of the answer. By focusing on only one part of the answer,  wrong answers can be identified faster which makes finding the right answer easier.  

3) One Word Game: Similar to the Isolation Game, the One Word Game is about attacking pieces of the answer. However, in this game, the strategy is to focus on one individual words. The meaning of each individual word is massively important. Students can eliminate wrong answers simply by identifying one or two words in an answer choice that do not match the passage. 

For example, let's imagine there is a paired passage in which the task is to read two shorter passages and compare and contrast them. A typical question for this task will be, "The authors of both passages would most likely agree with which of the following statements?" Play the One Word Game by looking at each individual word in an answer choice. And if the answer choice is, "History has proven to be very accurate", then every word must be what the authors would agree on. The word "very" in this answer choices presents a question: do both authors agree that it is "very" accurate? If yes, then this is a possible correct answer. If not, then eliminate. The devil is in the details on this as each singular word is meaningful. 

In sum, these three methods are not so much games as they are approaches to answer choices. Play one or all three depending on your questions and answer choices and you can get closer to the correct answer much faster. 

Finally, a shout out to York School and their Summer Bridge program for motivating me to write these games down for the CROSSWALK blog. We are in the middle of a great three-week  test prep program and I am thankful for those students who inspired me to document what we worked on in class. 

If you need test prep help or tutoring for academic subjects, either in person or online, contact CROSSWALK today. 

Unintended Consequences of UCs Dropping SAT & ACT?

Hallelujah. Finally some clarity in the state of California: The University of California system recently announced that the SAT and ACT will no longer be a factor in admissions decisions. 

And this isn't even a test optional thing. This is a no test thing. 

While the decision may just be a way to settle a lawsuit, it represents a major shift to the entire college admissions process. 

Followers of this blog know that CROSSWALK has long understood the inequities of the SAT and ACT. Though our specialty is test preparation, we know that these tests favor the wealthier and more educated segments of the population. Simply put, it has not been a fair way to assess student potential. 

So California, it's time to celebrate.

Or is it? Might this decision actually hurt California? What will be the unintended consequences? 

To assess the possible downsides of this move, I raise the following three questions: 

1) Will removing tests make it harder for California's high school students to get into top state colleges? 

Since UCs decided to go test optional last year, there was a major increase in applications (take UCLA, for example). As a result, admissions rates went way down. Now that UCs will go test blind next year, won't applications increase more? And admission rates decrease more? Add in the fact that UCs love to accept full pay, out-of-state applicants and the unintended consequence may be that our California high schoolers may have less of a chance to get into top UCs. 

2) Won't this decision actually make California high schoolers less competitive for out-of-state colleges?  

As long as the SAT and ACT are not required for UC admission, fewer high schools in California will offer test prep or support for SAT and ACT. Since states like Georgia and potentially Florida maintain their SAT and ACT admission requirements, this would mean that Californians will have to work harder to find test prep resources if they want to apply to schools in those states. 

3) Will this make college more accessible for all? 

The cynic in me says that even as test scores are removed, the privileged pockets of our society will still figure out ways to gain access to selective colleges. The inequities in our higher education system are enormous. So if the objective of removing the tests is to level the playing field, won't the rich just find another strategy to deploy? GPAs may become the new test score (the rich can afford tutors). Essays are certain to have heavier weight (the rich can afford essay editors). Demonstrated interest could be a more significant measurement (the rich can afford visits and trips). 

Ultimately, I applaud California's decision. It is certainly a move in the right direction to make college access more equitable, even if it is in response to a lawsuit. 

But I also wonder about the unintended consequences. I don't propose we return to the rampant use of test scores but I fear that this move will ultimately represent very little change overall. 

Why Take the SAT/ACT If It's Optional?

Thanks to organizations like The National Center for Fair and Open Testing and folks like John Boeckenstedt, the test-optional movement in college admissions was growing long before the pandemic. 

And now that schools were forced to go test-optional due to the pandemic, this movement is here to stay. 

So if taking the SAT or ACT is optional, why do it? Applying to college is already overwhelming and stressful. Why add any more to your plate, especially since the SAT and ACT are mental marathons? 

Consider these three highly compelling reasons to still take the SAT or ACT: 

1) Test scores can influence admissions to selective schools: Even though we are not quite at the end of this current admissions cycle, early data shows that test scores are impacting college admissions to selective schools. 

2) Good test scores can mean more merit-based financial aid: Historically, a good test score meant more merit-based financial aid and there is no reason to suggest that the future will be any different. A college counselor colleague of mine reminds me that "Every 100-point increase on the SAT can mean $10,000 more in aid." This may be a slight oversimplification since the amount of aid obviously depends on both the student's profile and the school under consideration. Nevertheless, the math doesn't lie: higher test scores means more merit-based aid opportunities. 

3) Submission is optional, but you can still take the tests: For schools that remain test-optional, the option is for the student to submit a score. In other words, a student can still take the test and then, depending on the results, opt to submit a score. So you may as well take the test to see if the score is competitive. If the score is competitive, then be sure to submit. And if not, then simply don't. 

In all, the test-optional movement benefits both students and colleges. Students can now take the test stress-free but they should still take the test. Even post-pandemic, more admissions offers and more financial aid will go to students with higher test scores. 

So exercise your option! You have nothing to lose. 

And if you need help preparing for test day and exploring all options, contact CROSSWALK, the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for academic tutoring and test prep. 

SAT Essay is Eliminated

Big news from the College Board: the SAT (Optional) Essay will be eliminated after the June 2021 test. 

And the College Board will no longer offer SAT Subject Tests effective immediately (though international students can still take them in May and June of 2021 but not beyond). 

The writing was on the wall for the SAT Subject Tests. Over the past several years, fewer colleges required these tests. And some estimated that only about 10% of all test takers also took SAT Subject Tests. 

However, the elimination of the essay on the SAT is a major shift. Not since the current SAT format was launched in 2016 has the College Board made such a bold change to the testing experience. 

For students, this is huge. There will no longer be any need to prepare for the essay. This will save students time, money and energy in test preparation. 

As for the College Board, the assumption is that the cost of administering the essays did not yield the benefit. Consider that the College Board had to hire and train hundreds of essay readers. With revenue down because of COVID-19, it is safe to say that this is a likely a cost-cutting measure. 

Besides, as much as the SAT Essay scoring system was standardized, scores were assigned by different individuals thus making any true standardization virtually impossible. 

So win, win for all. Right? It would sure seem so. 

Yet maybe the losers in this are the students who wanted an opportunity of an essay or a subject test to demonstrate proficiency. Or maybe colleges, like those who used test scores to supplement other rigorous academic assessment, will need to find some other metrics. 

The question now is: what will the ACT do? Drop the essay too? Or will with the ACT Essay (also optional) serve as a unique point of differentiation between two very similar tests? 

Follow news about the SAT and ACT by connecting with CROSSWALK, the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for test prep and academic tutoring. 

10 Keys to SAT & ACT Success

For many years, I have presented my "10 Keys to SAT & ACT Success" to all of my test prep students. Whether I work one-on-one or in a group setting, I typically start my work by laying out these keys because they set the foundation for the mindset, the strategies and the approach needed to achieve maximum success on test day. 

Yet, after all this time helping students understand the keys to test prep success, these nuggets have only been accessible to those students who work with me personally. 

Why shouldn't all learners be able to understand these keys? And isn't now, in the midst of a pandemic, the best time to provide access to crucial resources? 

So without further ado, drum roll please, CROSSWALK is proud to announce the production of 10 separate YouTube videos all dedicated to my 10 Keys to SAT & ACT Success. 

Check out the first batch of videos here. 

Now, you might be asking, why do this work now when the future of the SAT and ACT is in doubt? 

Good question, but my take on this is twofold: 

1) While the short term future of these tests is in question, I feel that in the long term these tests will likely remain a part of both admissions, and more importantly, scholarship or financial aid. 

2) The keys communicated on these videos may be targeted to test prep, but in reality they are simply essential learning techniques for anyone embarking on learning a new skill. 

So subscribe to the CROSSWALK YouTube channel for unlimited access to the 10 Keys to SAT and ACT success that my students have enjoyed for almost two decades. 

And please share these videos, comment on them or otherwise let me know if they are helpful for your learning process. 

CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula's resource for academic tutoring, test prep and lifelong learning. Contact us today to take the next step towards your learning goals. 

Summer ACT & SAT Test Prep Program

CROSSWALK is proud to announce a new Summer Test Prep Program starting June 8. This program is perfectly timed for students gearing up for the SAT or ACT in the fall of 2020. 

Students will meet Monday nights online for twelve weeks and dive into all aspects of the SAT and the ACT. From strategy to score analysis, this course will provide direct instruction on how to maximize test scores in order to achieve greater college admission opportunities. 

By signing up for this program, students will receive:

• Twelve weekly online classes from 6-7:30pm
• Step-by-step strategies for each test section
• Two personalized full-length test score analyses 
• One private tutoring session with Instructor and Test Expert Brooke Higgins
• Access to class videos, handouts and practice tests
• Unlimited SAT or ACT essay grading 

To keep the instruction personalized and individualized, there will be a maximum number of students allowed. So reserve your spot today. 

Change is in the air for all testing formats as universities are adjusting admission requirements. This program will prepare students for these changes, help them understand why test scores still matter and guide them towards their goal score. 

Sign up right here or contact CROSSWALK with questions. This sign up form also includes pricing information. Please note that financial aid is available for those students who qualify. 

Take advantage of your summer by learning how to get the SAT or ACT score you need to get into the school of your choice. This program is your ticket to mastering the SAT & ACT so that you can get admitted to the college of your dreams.

Questions or need more information? Contact CROSSWALK today. Call 831-70-TUTOR, email mail@crosswalkeducation.com or find us on Instagram and Facebook. 

Since 2003, CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for test prep and tutoring. 

ACT Changes: What to Expect

Changes abound during the pandemic for both the SAT and the ACT. The last post was about how to handle SAT June cancellation. This post is about what to expect with the ACT changes. 

First and foremost, the ACT is giving all indications that the June 13 test is still scheduled as planned. This may surprise many since most sites that host the test (i.e. schools) are not opened yet. Nevertheless, ACT, Inc is staying the course and is still accepting registrations for the June test. 

Secondly, the ACT is making a bold move by rolling out an online testing version for the fall of 2020. This online test version was initially going to be available only at approved testing centers but the ACT just announced that an at-home version should be ready in late fall or early winter. The online format could be a major game changer as it will allow scores to be available in as few as two days. 

Third, and perhaps the biggest news about the new ACT format for 2020 is Section Retesting. With Section Retesting, students can retake individual test sections as many times as they need. This is an amazing development for students applying to colleges that superscore. By the fall of 2020, students will be able to sign up for just a section of the test, prepare exclusively for that section and strategize to book the best composite score possible.  

With online testing and Section Retesting, the ACT appears to be making a strategic play to differentiate itself from the SAT. Even with many colleges and universities making the SAT and ACT scores optional for current juniors, the ACT is putting its best foot forward to ensure its relevance for the future of college admission. 

And a final note regarding test optional schools: test optional is not the same as test blind. Colleges will still consider test scores even if they are not required. In fact, test scores may be more important than before. With many high schools freezing Spring term grades or going pass/fail due to the stay-at-home order, GPAs may be a less reliable measurement for colleges. Test scores, as a result, might be the only standardized and measurable data point for colleges to consider. 

So embrace the changes! Change in this case is good as it reduces a lot of the stress around the ACT. Faster results with section retesting are positive changes to help you book your best score possible. 

If you need help booking your best SAT or ACT score, contact CROSSWALK today. CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for test prep, tutoring and academic support. 

June SAT Cancelled: How to Adjust

Because of COVID-19, the College Board recently announced the cancellation of the June test. 

Many colleges are responding to this pandemic by adjusting their admission requirements. Submitting a test score, for many schools, is not a requirement for current juniors. 

So what does that mean for your test preparation plan? Should you just abandon ship altogether? 

Here are five adjustments you can make with these new changes:

1) Stay the Course

Let's face it: with fewer tests scores and weird spring GPAs for many high schools (pass/fail anyone?), colleges will be struggling to find meaningful and measurable data to compare applicants in 2021. Test optional does not mean test blind. So, stay the course, get a good ACT or SAT score on the books, and improve your chances of admission. 

2) Reduce the Stress 

A stress brained does not perform as well as an unstressed brain. So don't stress about the test cancellation. Instead, consider this an opportunity to spend more time getting comfortable with the testing format, the questions, the time allowed and the overall experience. With more experience comes more comfort and less stress. 

3) Register Early

As of today, the ACT test in June is still open for registration. But this is the only test available over the next several months. This means many will rush to register for the fall tests. So register early to avoid the mad dash. 

4) Take More Full-Length Practice Tests

Now that you have more time to prepare for test day, use the time to take more full-length practice tests. In all honesty, the hardest part of my job as a test prep instructor is to have students develop the stamina needed to sit for three or four hours and take a test. With the extra time you have until the fall test dates, schedule full-length practice tests every several weeks. Practice sitting and focusing for long blocks of time so that your brain can remain fresh and focused for the whole time. 

5) Read

Reading is the path to better scores. After all, this is a reading test. For those of you saying, "well, it's a math test too," then I would like to remind you that the math section is mostly reading. Word problems, the ways the questions are worded and answer choices are all set up as reading challenges. You may need math to get the solution, but you need to read to understand the question first. So really, the ACT and SAT are simply reading tests. And to get better at a reading test, read more! 

All in all, despite these new changes to test dates and potentially test formats (the ACT says they will have an online test ready for fall/winter), the message is to stay the course, reduce your stress, register early, take practice tests and read. 

If you need help with any of these, contact CROSSWALK today. CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for test prep and academic tutoring. 

SAT & ACT Not Required for UCs: What That Means for You

Big news: in response to COVID-19, the University of California system just announced adjusted admission requirements for 2021 applicants. Most notably, the SAT and ACT are not required. 

This presents a major opportunity for many families. This decision will reduce the stress around college admissions for many. 

Nevertheless, this doesn't mean the SAT and ACT are going away. First, this is a temporary decision just for 2021 applicants. 

Second, students who still choose to take these tests this summer and fall, assuming that is even possible, may have an opportunity to differentiate themselves from other applicants. After all, with the adjusted admission requirements, colleges will likely want to know how a student spent their time during the stay-at-home order. Students who perform well on the SAT or ACT can show colleges that they spent their time studying, learning and preparing. Evidence of motivation and productivity might be the path towards more admission opportunities in 2021. 

Furthermore, since the test is optional, there is no stress in taking it! As CROSSWALK students know, stress is the enemy of test performance. So remove the stress, and see your score go up!  

With this new landscape, how is CROSSWALK responding? With FREE test prep and a new (free) podcast! 

Here are the details: 

1) Free Test Prep: 

CROSSWALK continues to offer its six-week test prep program on Monday nights from 6-7:30. It's online. And it's free. Contact Brooke Higgins directly for sign up information at mail@crosswalkeducation.com. 

2) Free Podcast (English and Spanish available!) 

CROSSWALK and InspirED have taken their partnership to the next level with the "Plan for College Admission" podcast. Find us wherever you get your podcasts or right here. These are crazy times but Brooke and Marisela offer the latest news and changes so you stay informed, prepared and inspired. 

Y para los hispanohablantes, el podcast está disponible en español también. Busca el "Plan para Admisión Universitaria" en tu lugar favorito para podcasts o aquí. 

Stay connected with CROSSWALK on Facebook, Instagram and on the web. CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for test prep. 

Spring ACT & SAT Prep: Going Online

Good and not surprising news: the Spring ACT & SAT Prep Series, starting Monday, March 16th at 7pm, will be conducted online. 

Instead of meeting at the Stevenson School, you can log in from the comfort of your home.

It is not too late to sign up. Sign up here.

This six-session program runs on Monday nights from 7-8:30pm starting March 16th and wrapping up April 27th (note: due to the long weekend at the Stevenson School, there is no class April 20th). 

Conducted by CROSSWALK founder and lead test prep instructor Brooke Higgins, this program is a highly efficient and effective way to get ready for test day. High school juniors and sophomores learn the ins and outs of both tests and how to achieve their goal score. Students walk away with an individualized game plan and a detailed study plan to maximize success. 

Each week of the program targets a different component of the tests. Students have the option to attend the class(es) they need or they can sign up for the whole program. 

CROSSWALK Test Prep & Tutoring is the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for academic tutoring and test prep for the SAT®, ACT®, SSAT®, PSAT® and more. 

Spring Test Prep at the Stevenson School

Spring is here and that means CROSSWALK's spring test prep series is about to bloom.

Reserve your spot today for the Spring SAT® and ACT® Prep Workshop Series at the Stevenson School. 

The six-session program runs on Monday nights from 7-8:30pm starting March 16th and wrapping up April 27th (note: due to the long weekend at the Stevenson School, there is no class April 20th). 

Conducted by CROSSWALK founder and lead test prep instructor Brooke Higgins, this program is a highly efficient and effective way to get ready for test day. High school juniors and sophomores learn the ins and outs of both tests and how to achieve their goal score. Students walk away with an individualized game plan and a detailed study plan to maximize success. 

Each week of the program targets a different component of the tests. Students have the option to attend the class(es) they need or they can sign up for the whole program. 

Stevenson students get a special price and financial aid is available to all who qualify. For more information and to sign up for the Stevenson program, click right here. 

CROSSWALK Test Prep & Tutoring is the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for academic tutoring and test prep for the SAT®, ACT®, SSAT®, PSAT® and more. 

The Sunset of the ACT® and SAT®?

The writing may be on the wall for the ACT® and SAT®. It seems the University of California system is considering dropping ACT® and SAT® scores in its process of admission.

This is big news. 

Or is it just the same old story?

Forgive my cynicism but I've heard the talk now for some time. For years, The National Center for Fair and Open Testing has led the charge to remove standardized tests from the college admission process. It has cited various studies that show how the ACT® and SAT® are only marginally effective in predicting student performance in college. 

So why are these tests still a big part of college admission process for many universities? 

Because—arguably—large, competitive and selective universities need a standardized measurement to identify those students more qualified to succeed at large, competitive and selective universities.

Some universities are considering the Smarter Balanced test as an alternative. Perhaps this test will offer a better assessment or maybe it will just be more of the same: those with access to test resources will perform better than those without. 

The cynic in me says the sunset of the ACT® and SAT® is still far off in the distance. Too much is at stake for everyone involved, most notably the companies behind the tests. The College Board (SAT®) generates about $1B annually, about half of which comes from the SAT®. ACT, Inc. (ACT®) generates about $350M annually. With so much money at stake, odds are these two organizations will fight to hold onto their tests as they have for years. 

But if the UCs indeed drop ACT® and SAT® scores in the admission process, perhaps the National Center for Fair and Open Testing will have pushed the entire U.S. university system to a tipping point. Maybe the end is near for the ACT® and SAT® and the future is the Smarter Balanced test. 

In which case, CROSSWALK will start working on how to prepare students for the Smarter Balanced test in an effort to do our part to help students achieve their academic goals. 

In the mean time, feel free to contact CROSSWALK for your ACT® and SAT® preparation and other academic tutoring. CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for test prep and academic tutoring. 

SAT® & ACT® Test Day Horror Stories

With Halloween around the corner, I figured it was a good time to remind students of the horrors that can come with SAT® and ACT® test day.

The following stories are true. Only the names have been changed. 

They are not meant to scare students or create more test anxiety. On the contrary, these stories provide real life examples of what can happen on test day so students are prepared to face the tricks and treats that may come their way. 

Miniature Desks:

Grace is a dancer. Standing at 6'0", Grace is long and elegant. When she arrived at the elementary school that served as the test site for the ACT®, she found herself in a 3rd Grade classroom with, you guessed it, desks designed for smaller people. Needless to say, she was pinched into a tiny desk, and after just two hours of the test, she started getting back cramps.

The Waiting Game:

Due to overbooking a site, students had to wait two or three hours to start their test. As some students started their tests, many students waited outside for hours just to start. The last group of students didn't start their test until 10:30, nearly three hours after they originally arrived.

Power Washing:

Ivan settled into his SAT® ready to rock and roll. The proctor started the test and he got to work. Not fifteen minutes into the test, a loud whirring noise echoed throughout the room. As it would turn out, the school was power-washing the building next door. Every fifteen minutes, the machine whirred, sprayed and then stopped. Then it fired up again, whirred, sprayed and stopped. This went on for the entirety of the test.

Exchange Student Drama:

Danielle was hosting an exchange student from Germany who arrived the day before the test. When Danielle woke up, she told her exchange student that she had to take a test and she would be back in the afternoon. The exchange student was eager to explore her new home, so the exchange student asked if she could tag along. Danielle didn't feel that it was safe for the exchange student to be all alone in a new place so Danielle asked the exchange student to stay behind. The exchange student pressed, "Can I come?" Danielle responded, "I don't think it is a good idea." The exchange student got aggressive, "You have to let me go." Danielle dug in, "No, I will be back soon." Needless to say, Danielle had to ditch the student in a mad huff and scramble out of the house. She arrived to the test center late, frazzled and stressed out.

All of these stories come from directly from the experiences of former CROSSWALK students. Even though they are real, don't let these stories scare you. Just be sure you are ready and prepared for test day. Tricks and treats are part of test day so make sure your mindset is ready for everything.

And if things are totally wacky, don't forget that there are ways to appeal a test score.

If you want to make sure that your test day is not scary, contact CROSSWALK today.

CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula's local tutoring and test prep service with private tutoring, boot camps, small groups and school workshops for SAT®, ACT®, PSAT®, SSAT® and more. We also offer academic tutoring for all subjects. Contact us today.

Summer Test Prep Options 2019

And just like that, it is summer. Good vibrations are here! 

And so is a summer full of test prep options at CROSSWALK. After all, summer is the best time to work on your testing game. With no academic commitments, summer is the time to commit to test prep. 

Here is a partial list of the summer test prep options at CROSSWALK:

• SAT® & ACT® Summer Test Prep Series at the Stevenson School starts 6/25. Sign up and get more information right here. 
• SAT® Workshop Series with Upward Bound at CSUMB. Contact Upward Bound for more information. 
• Summer SSAT® Test Prep at the Stevenson Summer Camp. Contact Stevenson Summer Camp for more information. 
• SAT® Boot Camp with CAL-SOAP at Gilroy High School. Contact CAL-SOAP for more information. 

CROSSWALK also offers face-to-face or Skype tutoring for those seeking a more personalized approach.

Summer is here and so are the test prep options. Contact CROSSWALK to learn what the best plan is for you! 

Since 2003, CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula's local solution for standardized tests like the SAT®, ACT®, SSAT® or PSAT®. CROSSWALK also offers academic tutoring in a variety of subjects. Learn more here. 

How Rare is a Perfect ACT® Score?

Perfection on the ACT® is rare. So rare that only 0.2% of all test takers achieve a perfect score. 

Over the past year, roughly 1,900,000 students took the ACT®. Of those students, only 3,741 students achieved a perfect score. 

And one of the students was a CROSSWALK student! 

We at CROSSWALK are humbled to be a part of a perfect score. And truth be told, the student did not set out to achieve a perfect score.

This student had already experienced success on the PSAT so a good score was the goal. After a handful of private sessions at CROSSWALK, the student then took one of our popular small group six-week classes. 

The student then followed a consistent study schedule. Note: the schedule was not rigorous or stressful, just a consistent routine. Then, the student took the test. 

When scores came out, the student was overjoyed to receive the letter shown here. 

Amazing! 

We at CROSSWALK can take little credit in this perfect score. It was truly the student who put in the work. 

Nevertheless, we are proud to play a small role in this amazing and rare accomplishment. 

If you wish to learn how to achieve your goal score, contact CROSSWALK today. 

Winter 2019 Test Prep Series: Only Four Spots Left!

Four spots remain for CROSSWALK's Winter Test Prep Series. Hosted by Brooke Higgins, this six-week course is a great way to kick off 2019 with focused and individualized SAT and ACT test prep. 

Sign up today! Only four spots remain! You can attend in person at the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach or via Skype.

All sessions meet on Tuesday evenings from 6-8pm. Here is the schedule:

• 1/8: SAT and ACT Test Overview and General Strategies
• 1/15: Reading Strategies for Success
• 1/23: Math Strategies for Success
• 1/29: Writing Strategies for Success
• 2/5: Science Strategies for Success
• 2/12: Essay Strategies for Success

Sign up or get more information via the following form. 

And don't forget, new this year: Students who sign up for the entire six-week program receive a FREE one-on-one coaching session. 

Questions? Or need further information? Contact CROSSWALK here.

CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT prep and academic tutoring. 

SAT & ACT: It's Not the Content, It's the Process

Most tests in school are content-based: vocabulary memorization, chapter reviews, math problem sets, comprehensive exams, etc. 

After years of content-based tests, students learn how to memorize facts and regurgitate them on an exam. Students develop keen ways of cramming content the night before in order to succeed on a test. 

Content learning is a useful skill in school, for now. Education is undergoing a massive shift as content is simply a search engine or finger swipe away. Students in the future will likely not have to memorize as much. Instead, they will be faced with the process of learning. 

One such learning process is how to succeed on the SAT or ACT. 

On the surface, the SAT and ACT tests look like content-based tests. But dig deeper and find that both tests assess a student's ability to process more than a student's ability to memorize. 

For example, the reading tested on the test is about comprehension, not knowledge. Test makers select reading passages that will challenge students to process how a writer uses evidence, states an argument, persuades an audience or tells a story. A student cannot memorize the passage the night before. 

Even math, though seemingly content-based, assesses the process of getting through a litany of different math problems in a defined set of time. Memorizing math content might help here, but it is more about the process of navigating algebra, geometry, word problems, trigonometry and more. Math is a mash up of content which means the process is more important. 

So if the SAT and ACT are more process-based than content-based, how do you perform better? 

Simply embrace the process.

Understand that test success is a journey. It is not something you can cram for the night before. Prepare your game plan, practice and make test prep part of your normal routine. 

Consider a group class like CROSSWALK's upcoming Winter Test Prep Series. 

Above all, approach the SAT and ACT with the process in mind. These are not tests based on strict content memorization. These are tests that take trial and error. 

Start your process today by contacting CROSSWALK, the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for test prep and academic tutoring.