Potential Magazine summer 2013 | Page 8

wise words life skills tips & advice life skills trends test prep resources scholarships GET READY parent to parent Access free online ACT prep www.ac at tstud ent.org /testpre p test prep Summer is a time for students to let loose and have some fun, but for those in high school, it shouldn’t be all play. Spending a little time on testing skills could pay off big when it’s their turn to take the ACT and SAT. Rebecca Bloodworth, Program Manager at Auburn University Montgomery’s Division of Continuing Education, shared her thoughts. Why take a test-prep course? Test prep courses build confidence, speed and teach content. If students feel confident and understand the content they are being tested on, they are more likely to achieve a higher test score.  Why take test-prep courses in the summer? Summer is a good time since students are not juggling schoolwork and other school-year activities in addition to preparing for the ACT or SAT test.  
 Advice on finding the right course. Research local options. Ask your teen’s high school guidance counselor which test prep courses he/she recommends in your area.  Compare the prices, class sizes and quality of each school when making a decision. Small class sizes are usually a better way to ensure that there is ample time to ask questions and interact with the instructor. Talk with students who’ve taken different test prep courses in your area and ask for their opinions on each course. Be sure to ask them if their scores went up as a result of taking the course. The hard work will go a long way. Encourage your teen to take ACT prep courses very seriously. They should attend each class, do their homework, take all of the assigned practice tests and work hard to improve their scores so that the course is worthwhile. 8 www.potentialmagazine.com Also Check out AUM’s test-prep offerings this summer at http://ce.aum.edu/youth-programs the tr uth: A few points can make a difference There is conflicting evidence on exactly how much a test-pre course can increase your teen’s score, but in some cases, even a few points can affect their admission to the college of their choice. ACT/SAT tests are used for: College admissions - Having good grades, strong extracurricular involvement and good test scores are important for admissions and especially for “early admission” decisions. Those that get admitted early have first “dibbs” on on-campus assignments. First-year coursework - College readiness is determined by these test scores. In 2011, 28 percent of Alabama students were required to take remedial classes in college. Remedial classes do not earn you college credit, but they still cost you tuition. Scholarships - High ACT and SAT scores help your teen qualify for many merit scholarships that will save money and reduce possible student loan debt.