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| − | Registration deadlines for the SAT this spring: | + | Registration deadlines for the [[SAT]] this spring: |
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| | {|class="wikitable" | | {|class="wikitable" |
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| | |} | | |} |
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| − | Cost is only $45, and you can register online. Fee waivers are available for homeschoolers if they qualify and have some type of counselor send the form in.
| + | The cost is only $45, and you can register online. Fee waivers are available for homeschoolers if they qualify and have some type of counselor send the form in. |
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| − | One good strategy is to take the test in March (sign up by Feb. 10th), and then take it again in June. | + | Beginning March 2009, students have the option of "score choice," which enables them to pick and choose which SAT scores to send to which colleges. Under this system, students are better off taking the SAT I as many times as possible. You can simply pick your highest scores and only send those to your colleges. Score choice does not allow students to pick and choose within sections or components of the SAT I (e.g., pick the math score from one test sitting by the critical reading score from another). But most colleges will pick and choose for you. Be sure to select score choice when dealing with the College Board to ensure your best scores are the ones sent to the colleges. |
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| | + | One good strategy is to take the test in March (sign up by Feb. 10th) or May (sign up by Mar. 31st), and then take it again in June. |
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| | Let's focus now specific types of questions that are asked. | | Let's focus now specific types of questions that are asked. |
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| | == Sentence Completion Questions == | | == Sentence Completion Questions == |
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| − | 18 out of 67 questions -- more than 25% -- of the "critical reading" section ask students to "complete the sentence" by filling in one or two missing words. | + | 18 out of 67 questions—more than 25% -- of the "critical reading" section ask students to "complete the sentence" by filling in one or two missing words. |
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| | Strive to answer at least 16 out of these 18 correctly. All 18 can be figured out with logic and cleverness. When there are two blanks, both words have to fit well and that makes it easier to disqualify the wrong answers. When it is only one blank then the question can be more difficult because you have less to work with, but those can be figured out ... even when you do not know the meaning of some of the words. | | Strive to answer at least 16 out of these 18 correctly. All 18 can be figured out with logic and cleverness. When there are two blanks, both words have to fit well and that makes it easier to disqualify the wrong answers. When it is only one blank then the question can be more difficult because you have less to work with, but those can be figured out ... even when you do not know the meaning of some of the words. |
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| | *awkward pairs can typically be eliminated | | *awkward pairs can typically be eliminated |
| | *the context should guide you to the first word, and the context should give you clues as to what the second word should be in relation to the first | | *the context should guide you to the first word, and the context should give you clues as to what the second word should be in relation to the first |
| | + | *look for clues in roots when you do not know what a word means |
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| | <understanding point of sentence before trying to fill in blanks> | | <understanding point of sentence before trying to fill in blanks> |
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| | *lassitude (LA-suh-tude): fatigue, listlessness | | *lassitude (LA-suh-tude): fatigue, listlessness |
| | *raconteur (RA-kon-tur): someone who is a good storyteller | | *raconteur (RA-kon-tur): someone who is a good storyteller |
| | + | *evanescent (ev-uh-NESS-unt): something that tends to vanish as vapor does; passing out of sight |
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| | + | To remember a word, it helps to use it in a sentence. The more uses you can find for it, the more likely you will be able to recall its meaning and obtain the maximum value for the word. Let's try some sentences for the above: |
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| | + | "He had great potential as student, but his lassitude kept him from being a hard worker." |
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| | + | "The best raconteur among modern presidents was Ronald Reagan, because he would tell a story that kept the listener's attention and made an important political point." |
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| | + | "Unlike paintings, music is an evanescent form of art." |
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| | == Focus on Writing Section == | | == Focus on Writing Section == |
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| | *cramming | | *cramming |
| | *scheduling test-taking too late | | *scheduling test-taking too late |
| − | *not managing time | + | *not managing time (running out of time has a devastating effect on scores; don't waste too much time on any question) |
| | *under-emphasizing, then over-emphasizing significance of test | | *under-emphasizing, then over-emphasizing significance of test |
| − | | + | *being derailed by the experimental section, which does not count towards your score anyway (each SAT exam has an experimental section that is bizarre and a waste, and doesn't count) |
| − | == Bias on the Exam ==
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| | == Homework Assignment == | | == Homework Assignment == |
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| | <read lecture> | | <read lecture> |
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| − | <fill-in-the-blank questions, or write a second essay if you lack internet access> | + | <take the online fill-in-the-blank questions, or write a second essay if you lack internet access> |
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| | <correct-a-sentence questions> | | <correct-a-sentence questions> |
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| | + | [[Category:Writing course]] |