By Ronilyn Rasmussen
In Mini-School Science class before holiday vacation, we prepared for the SAT and ACT tests. We had the opportunity to work on one of three areas: 1) an Apple program to practice problems like those on the tests; 2) to work out of science books for a general review of Science; 3) to take practice SAT and ACT tests to see how we would do and where we needed to improve. The students in the class had to do two or three different activities each day for credit in the class.
I asked 10 Mini-School students (not in the class) if they were thinking of taking the SAT and ACT tests. Three planned to and seven didn’t. Elliot Tan and Terry Vincent were two who actually took the ACT test. They took it in the Learning Center. I asked them the following questions about the tests: 1) Was taking a 3-week test-prep block useful? 2) What was it like taking the test in the Learning Center? 3) What would your recommendations be for students who are taking the test in the future?
Here are their answers to the questions I asked. They said that they would have been better prepared if they had more classes offered that prepared them for the SAT and ACT tests. Both of them felt that they did not have enough time in this block alone to become adequately prepared. They felt okay about English, but they felt they needed more preparation in the areas of math and science. They said it helped a lot taking the test in the Learning Center. It was a lot more relaxed and less stress was involved. They said if you are planning on taking the tests, to relax. If you don’t pass it the first time, you can always take it again. Don’t let it bother you. Study the areas of math and science. That will help you a lot.
I think if the block didn’t last for three weeks it would have been fine. It got a little long. Some of the things from the class helped a lot, but we need more.