SAT prep

For the past couple of weeks I started for studying for the SAT again considering the fact that I did really badly on my first SAT. Recently I got a math tutor to help me with the SAT math section and also to help me with AP Calculus AB. I have actually had this tutor before starting in the summer of eighth grade all the way through spring term of sophomore year, however, COVID hit and we stopped the tutoring due to family members being high risk. We started again to do it over zoom this Monday and we went over SAT math problems for U World. After going over the problems with her for some reason I started feeling more calm and when I am doing my 1 hour 30 minutes of prep everyday I am doing a lot better on the math section. I feel like I am making really good progress on my SAT prep and hopefully I will do a lot better in the March SAT. 

SAT Prep

This year I am a junior, this means that I have to take a standardized test this means it is either the ACT or the SAT. I chose to take the SAT which doesn't make sense because I just found out the SAT has harder questions with more time, while the ACT actually has more questions but they are more straightforward plus it has a science section. But it is to late for me to switch out so I will be taking the SAT. I already took the one in December but I did not do well at all, so I signed up for the March SAT again and hopefully I do a lot better. Over the break I started prepping again, I started using U World which is like Khan Academy but in my opinion they have better explanations and make more sense to me. However, for U World you do have to pay so that's one aspect that khan academy is better. But I have done problems for 1 hour and 30 minutes every day so hopefully all of this practice helps me to score well!

ACT prep workshop

 Hi, so last night I had an ACT prep free workshop off of zoom. I personally thought it was actually really helpful because we went over some questions and there were just small tips. During the workshop, I also took different types of notes. Some tips were like "note the differences in the answer choices", "if an answer is even a partially incorrect, it is a wrong answer, eliminate it", or "read the labels on the axes, key, and units of measurement carefully". I feel like going over the problems with a teacher there is very helpful because they can guide you and give you tips that can overall improve your entire score. 

ACT prep

 Hi, so tonight I have an ACT prep workshop from the University of Utah and it's free. I don't know how it's going to go since it's my first time doing it. All I know is that it will be held over zoom and we had to print out this packet with practice problems and tips. I already looked over it and did the practice questions, so when the actual zoom meeting is held I can just check my answers. That's all for today's blog since there isn't much to blog about but for tomorrow's blog I will explain and describe what the workshop was like. 

First SAT practice test

Yesterday I took my first SAT practice test. I took it from the College Board 2020 book, the test was the one called #10. I actually did fairly well on it, especially since it was my first try. I ended up getting a 1380/1600 on it. That means that I am in the 94th percentile nationally, which is actually pretty good.

My experience was, the SAT was actually pretty easy it looks complicated when you first look at it, however, they are just simple skills you learned in elementary school that look complicated. For example, the math section is simple math that looks complicated, you just have to understand what the question is asking. I did fairly well on the evidence-based reading questions, however, I didn't do as well on the math section, so what I have to mainly focus on is my math section.

My Progress with the SAT!

In my last blog, I talked about my more elaborate plan for the SAT!

Here is the link! https://addylinsworld.blogspot.com/2019/11/my-more-elaborate-plan-for-sat.html

Anyways, this blog will be about the progress I have made so far on the SAT. So far, what I have done is I have read two chapters of "The Princeton Review, Cracking the SAT 2020 Edition". Every time at the end of the chapter, a summary is given on the topics from the lesson. 

One thing that I am doing to help me remember all this stuff is making one notecard for every chapter I have read.

I feel that this book gives many excellent strategies to help you crack the SAT. You can check out the book or buy the book to see!

Thanks for reading my blog! Sorry, it's a little short this post was just for me to report back on what I have gotten done so far!

My more elaborate plan for the SAT

This blog will be a more elaborate plan for the SAT!

I will be using "The Princeton Review, Cracking the SAT 2020 Edition", you can get this book or any SAT book at the library or your local bookstore!

So here's my plan!

1 - I need to look over the format, requirements, and content of the SAT

• I plan on starting this by Nov. 30, 2019
• Figuring out what the sections are 
• What is the content in each section 

2 - Figure out where I am with the test 

• Actually taking the test
• I plan on starting this on Dec. 10, 2019 

3 - Start improving things that I didn't do well on the practice test 

• This means going over the subjects 
• Doing more practice problems in those sections 
• Going over it and understanding it 
• I plan on starting this on Dec. 20, 2019

So that's my plan leave comments if you think I should add more onto my plan! 

(This is still only a basic plan) 

PSAT's format.

Sorry I haven't blogged all week I have been busy with school and high school soccer. But I took the PSAT on Wednesday. This blog will be about how the PSAT 2019 was formatted and the sections on the PSAT.

The PSAT is a standardized test that is timed; in total, the PSAT is 2 hours and 45 minutes long. On the PSAT, there are different sections with different amounts of time given. For example, the reading section is 60 minutes and has 47 questions. The writing section is 35 minutes and has 44 questions. And finally, the math section is 70 minutes long and has 48 questions.

The reading section is where you read different stories or passages given to you. Then you go on to answer multiple-choice questions regarding the passages given to you. Generally, it was straightforward, you just had to read the stories carefully, but even if you didn't, you could go back to the passage to find your answer. And I thought the majority of the stories were fascinating.

The writing section wasn't actually like writing an essay. It was more of grammar and common sense, so if you know basic grammar, you will most likely be fine. One thing that might help is expanding your vocabulary. Because in the writing section, there is a lot of big words.

The math section is split into two parts, the first section is no calculator, but in the second section, you can use your calculator. A tip from me would be to go over your algebra one material and know the basic stuff that you don't think you will need to know. For example, the median and range or constants, but the first section wasn't hard at all, and if you know basic math, you will be fine. But the second part is a little harder than the first section. But in the second section, you can use your calculator, which is very helpful.

Some tips that I want to share is pick a letter of the day. This means that if you don't know the answer to one of the questions, bubble the letter you chose for the day. For example, I chose C as my letter of the day. Another tip would be don't be nervous if you are bubbling a letter multiple times in a row relax and check your work if it is then move on.

Thanks for reading my blog!

What are Merit Scholarships?

In my last blog, I talked about what the PSAT is (the link to my previous blog post about PSAT's is down below), but I also mentioned Merit Scholarships. So in your head, you might be thinking. What is the Merit Scholarship? Merit Scholarships are scholarships that are awarded to you through academic athletic or artistic.

This blog will be about the Merit Scholarship regarding the PSAT. Getting a Merit Scholarship is no easy task. 50,000 students out of 1.4 million junior qualify for recognition based on their PSAT scores, around 34,000 students receive letters of commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. 

To be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship, you must take the PSAT/NMSQT in October of your junior year. If you complete your four years of high school, you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. But it would help if you also got a top score on the PSAT. 

Saying if you want the Merit Scholarship, you would have to do exceptionally well on the PSAT. 

In conclusion, I hope this helped a little if it didn't, you can also do some research on your own then comment on my blog so I can add it to my blog! Thanks for reading!

link to PSAT blog: https://addylinsworld.blogspot.com/2019/10/what-is-psat.html

*You can only apply for a National Merit Scholarship in your junior year (11th grade). 

Here is a pretty picture of nature to help you relax from all your stresses!

What is the PSAT?

In high school, you have to take specific standardized tests for colleges to see. This blog post will be focusing on the PSAT.

One question that is frequently asked is What is the PSAT? To answer your question, the PSAT does not count toward your college applications, but it is a standardized test that you can submit for a merit scholarship.

What is the Merit Scholarship? The Merit Scholarship is a scholarship offered to 10th and 11th graders. Schools provide the PSAT to both 10th and 11th graders. In most schools, you take the PSAT in the fall.

When you take the PSAT in 10th grade, it is like a practice PSAT colleges will never see your 10th-grade PSAT score, it is mostly for your benefit to know what is on the PSAT, and it helps you gain experience about it. But one bad thing about the PSAT in 10th grade is you can't apply for a merit scholarship yet. You have to be in 11th grade to be able to apply for the merit scholarship.

This brings me to when you take the PSAT in 11th grade. When you take the PSAT in 11th grade, you can apply for the Merit Scholarship. Some ways that you could prepare for the PSAT is going to your local library or bookstore, and you could grab PSAT prep books. One reason I decided to blog about the PSAT is because I have to take it next Wednesday, but good news I'm only in 10th grade, so it's not as stressful. But I hope this helped! And leave comments, so I know people are reading my blog!!


Here is a pretty picture to help you relax from all your stresses!