Spring SAT & ACT Prep at The Stevenson School

Spring is here and so is the next six-week SAT & ACT test prep program by Brooke Higgins of CROSSWALK. Register today right here. 

Attend in person at the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach or via Skype.

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

• 3/21: SAT & ACT Test Overview and Top Concepts
• 3/28: Reading Strategies for Success
• 4/4: Math Strategies for Success
• 4/11: Writing Strategies for Success
• 4/25*: Science Strategies for Success
• 5/2: Essay Strategies for Success

*Note: no class 4/18 due to the holiday weekend. 

Drop in for the session you need and pay by the class or sign up for the whole program and save.

Sign up via the following form. 

BONUS: 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. 

It's February. Do You Know Where Your Test Prep Is?

February is a great month to address your ACT and SAT test prep calendar: it's the academic midpoint, there is (hopefully) a lull between final exams and the timing is right to plan the rest of the year. 

Consider how all students can use the month of February to take account of what they can do for test prep:

• Freshmen: It's really too early to even consider test prep during freshman year. Nevertheless, savvy student who understand the correlation between reading and higher test scores will use this month to make sure they are reading outside of school. Reading allows students to exercise their comprehension and grammar muscles, both directly and indirectly. All students should be reading 30 minutes a day outside of school. And it doesn't really matter what you read, as long as you read! Sure, The Wall Street Journal is better than US Weekly, but whatever you read, read lots! 
• Sophomores: If you took the PSAT in the fall, February is a good month to dig into your score to analyze strengths and weaknesses. Awareness of what went well and what needs work is a very concrete and useful goal. If your school did not offer a PSAT, you can use the month of February to familiarize yourself with both the SAT and ACT test options. Spend a little time researching the test sections, scoring, content and strategies. Nothing too much, just a little research. And be sure to read, then read some more! 
• Juniors: February is THE month for juniors. Find old PSAT scores to analyze. Research test dates. Map out a test prep approach. Once you pick the test date, back plan and put practice tests, study sessions or extra help on your calendar. Getting these things on the calendar is crucial! Don't procrastinate and don't stress. Preparation and practice go a long way. Remember: test taking is just like any skill. The more you practice, the better you will become. And also, don't forget to read outside of school! 
• Seniors: For you seniors out there, February is your month to encourage your friends to get started. You may want to make fun of them since you should be mostly done with your college application process, but avoid the sarcasm and help out a friend. Remind them that practice yields improved scores. 

As for the parents out there, February is a good time to check in with your student. See what questions they have and see what kind of plan works for them. And be sure to encourage the reading. (Here are three ways to encourage students to read.) 

If you need help with this, contact CROSSWALK. We offer private ACT and SAT tutoring along with group test prep classes in Pebble Beach, CA. Contact us today to learn more. 

The SAT and ACT Sandbox

In technology terms, the sandbox is a place to test out new stuff before it goes to market. It is a space, both physical and metaphorical, dedicated to experimentation. Build stuff in the sandbox, see if it works, and learn from trial and error. The sandbox might be messy but the learnings can be bankable.

In SAT and ACT terms, the sandbox is your test booklet. 

The test booklet is the place for annotations, calculations, connections, and experimentation. Get messy and learn before you have to submit an answer choice.

For example, reading passages should be annotated so students can connect deeper with the passage. On math problems, getting pencil to paper as soon as possible enables a quicker path to crafting equations and performing calculations. For both reading and math questions, students should underline or circle the main part of the question so they understand what is being asked.

English passages are also places to experiment with different structures. Try out the different answer choices to see which one works best.

Once the test booklet is marked up, students can fill in answer bubbles neatly and precisely.

Much like a sandbox, the test booklet may get messy but the process of trial and error yields more correct answers.

On the SAT and ACT, use the test booklet as your sandbox. Annotate, check, calculate, summarize, experiment and try out the possibilities. Using your test booklet as a sandbox will help you get to correct answers more effectively and efficiently.

To prepare for your next SAT or ACT, contact CROSSWALK to see how we can help.

Winter Test Prep Starting Soon: Register NOW!

Only days remain until 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! 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. 

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. 

The Source of SAT/ACT Stress and How to Overcome It

Stress is the enemy of test performance. Stressed students perform worse than unstressed students. Stressed brains do not learn as effectively as an unstressed brain. 

As an SAT and ACT prep tutor, my primary goal is to reduce as much stress as possible for my students. Stress reduction starts with stress recognition so my students and I often start our tutoring sessions with a discussion of stress and where it comes from. 

In unpacking the source of ACT and SAT stress, we identify typical culprits like peers, parents, expectations, and performance. While these stressors are indeed present, there is one aspect of the SAT and ACT that seems to cause the most stress: uncertainty. 

Uncertainty is a major stressor. When you don't know what is coming, anxiety sets in and panic can ensue. On a test, if anxiety is the predominant emotion, then logical problem solving and critical thinking skills are not able to function. 

Imagine trying to solve a Rubik's Cube while being attacked by a bear. The anxiety and panic in your flight or fight response would dominate your brain and you would have no brain power to logic your way through the Rubik's Cube. 

The good news is that overcoming the stress and anxiety of SAT and ACT uncertainty is actually quite simple. Since the test directions, format and content have not changed in several years--the last major change was on the SAT in 2016--a student can prepare for the unknown. 

Practice tests, test prep books and classes like CROSSWALK's upcoming Winter ACT and SAT Prep Series are all ways to reduce the uncertainty. 

When dealing with the uncertain, it helps to have a script or a plan to follow. By learning key test prep strategies, like when to spend time and when to save time, a student can enter the unknown of the SAT or ACT with a pretty good sense of what is coming. 

Stress is reduced when students know what is on the test and how to tackle each section. A Game Plan is the key to reducing any stress of the uncertain. 

Learn how to prepare your own Game Plan with CROSSWALK through private sessions or a group class. Contact CROSSWALK today to learn more.