SAT and PSAT are changing beginning Fall 2015

The College Board for SAT exams is making some changes to their design and scoring of this College Board exam. You can read more at:

 https://www.collegeboard.org/delivering-opportunity/sat/redesign.

Here is a summary from one educational company for the upcoming changes with my comments in parentheses:

Scoring and Format

• The test will revert to the 1600-point standard, primarily comprised of a Math and a newly-combined Reading/Writing section.
• The SAT will eliminate the ¼-point penalty for wrong answers.(HURRAH!)
• The essay will now be optional.(HURRAH!)
• The primary test will be about 3 hours; the essay will be 50 minutes.
• The test will be offered in print and digital forms. (HURRAH!)

Math

• Some Math sections will prohibit the use of a calculator to better test students' math literacy and number sense. (So you do have to know your multiplication tables!)
• More math questions will be based on real-world scenarios, applying mathematical logic to situations in the sciences and social sciences. (Applied Math-- so no more shying away from word problems!)
• More advanced math concepts will be introduced, likely including algebra II and trigonometry (although these topics have yet to be confirmed).

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

• Critical Reading and Writing sections will be combined into one score.
• Sentence Completion questions will be eliminated, as the test will focus on more "real-world" vocabulary, rather than typical, unfamiliar, "SAT words." Students will be asked to decode the meaning of these words based on the context in which they are presented.
• Some Reading questions will ask students to cite the passage in support of previous answers.
• One passage in every new SAT will be what the College Board describes as a "Founding Document" (such as the Declaration of Independence) or related, important historical texts (such as Lincoln's Gettysburg Address or Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech).(HURRAH!)

The Essay

• The essay will no longer be free-response only. Rather, students will be required to analyze a given text in terms of the passage's use of evidence, reasoning, and stylistic elements. Students will be expected to refer to the passage to support their claims.
• The essay score will not factor into students' Reading/Writing scores. Instead, schools will see it as a separate score.

Khan Academy Partnership

• Khan Academy is non-profit organization that specializes in providing free online educational programs. Now the College Board has selected them as an official test-prep partner. Khan Academy will offer free SAT study materials, and Academics Upward is excited about grouping its features with existing comprehensive suite of SAT study services to help clients use these new resources effectively.

Call me if you need to do an SAT Prep this Spring!

Dr. Linda Greer

864-278-2018 or Mobile at 864-310-0805 (New)

Christmas Coaching for Enrichment: All Ages

Want to get a jump start on a college course for Spring Term? Need a little review in a subject area before beginning the new semester? Want to brush up on your writing skills and grammar before taking an AP English course? Call #AcademicsUpwardTutoring at 864-278-2018 or email me at drgreer@charter.net or DrLBGreer@gmail.com and get your appointment for a special Holiday Rate: $250.00 for 2 weeks and four 2-hour sessions on Tuesday/Thursday or Monday/Friday.

I will be available over the Christmas break to help students of all ages, so take advantage of a great low rate for honing your skills or just to stay "fresh" on the subjects you have a little trouble remembering between semesters. I have a really comfortable home office and, of course, three totally spoiled doggies who stay in the kitchen at all times. There is always wireless Internet if you are taking an online course and need help, too!

For those taking the #SAT, #ACT, or #GRE in January, start getting the coaching you need at 20% off the regular rate if you sign up before December 31, 2013! This is the best price you will ever see in the Upstate for individual coaching for college board exams.

Have the Merriest and Brightest Christmas and remember to create "a Bethlehem" in your heart for Jesus this year. Think through the challenges of 2013, think of your blessings, and think about what God has taught you these past 12 months to guide you in your walk of faith.

Hugs and Mugs of Hot Chocolate to All,
Dr. Linda B. Greer

Some Info on Interpreting SAT Scores

The following is compliments of Megan Dorsey, whose posts I follow:

Example from a concerned parent: Can you tell me what Ryan’s score is based on the following:

• Reading 560
• Math       710
• Writing    660
• (Mulitple Choice 67)
• (Essay 8)

I’ve been told you don’t count writing, I’m confused.

I received this email last week and realized how confusing #SATscoreReports can be.  It is not as simple as looking at one score and comparing it to the national average or the average scores at a particular college.  Let’s take a look at what SAT scores mean.

Average SAT Scores

It helps to know that each portion of the SAT is designed to yield a bell curve distribution of grades with a majority of students in the middle and few on the highest and lowest ends. Most students will score between 400 and 600 per section and the national average is right around 500.
So all of Ryan’s scores are above the national average.  But he probably wants to compare his results to the average scores at the colleges on his list.  If Ryan is interested in attending Wake Forest University, he would find the middle half of accepted students scored between 620 and 700 in SAT reading and 630 and 710 in math.  So his math score is close to the top 25% of admitted students and his reading score is below what 75% of admitted students scored.  These results alone don’t tell us if Ryan will or won’t be admitted to Wake Forest.  But they do provide some important information and hopefully some motivation for Ryan to study more vocabulary and work to improve his reading scores.

SAT Writing (And All the Sub-Scores)

Writing was added to the SAT in March of 2005.  Some colleges use writing for admissions; others don’t.  Some schools use the writing score itself and others will look at the actual essay from the SAT.  I wish I could offer a solid guideline to follow for whether SAT writing “counts”, but you will have to research this on a school by school and program by program basis.
So what about the three different writing scores? What do those mean?  The “official” score is the one between 200 and 800, in Ryan’s case a 660.  The other scores are sub-scores indicating performance on the multiple choice and essay components.  I can honestly say I don’t know any college or scholarship program that utilizes sub-scores.
Here’s how writing sub-scores can help.  A multiple choice of 67 is generally equal to a 670.  In Ryan’s case his actual writing score was a 660, meaning he was very close to his multiple-choice scores, so his essay didn’t change his results.  Someone with a multiple choice score of a 67 and an overall score of 590 would have an essay score that lowered his overall results.  I use sub-scores to see if there is a particular aspect of the writing section a student needs to develop.

1600 or 2400 Scale

Many colleges and scholarship programs still use the old 1600 point scale where only SAT reading and math count.  (1600 is a perfect score of 800 on both.)  Other schools are using all three sections where the maximum score is 2400. Ryan has a 1270 out of 1600 and a 1930 out of 2400.
You need to know how scores are calculated for each application you intend to submit.  If the scholarship program asks for students to have a minimum of 1300 on the SAT, you can assume it is on the 1600 scale because the national average would be 1500 out of 2400 and a scholarship program wouldn’t set a standard below the average.  In Ryan’s case, he is close to the 1300 requirement with a 1270, but still needs 30 more points.  (More motivation to study and retake the test.)

Using the SAT Score Report

The scores provided by the College Board should be seen as a breakdown of all the components you need.  The challenge is determining what pieces you need to add together for each college, scholarship, honors program, and special opportunity to which your student may apply.  If after doing a little reading and research, you still can’t understand what scores a particular institution will use, feel free to pick up the phone and ask.
~~~~~~
Hope this helps some of my blog followers and any juniors and seniors getting your scores and wondering, "Am I getting in to the college of my choice with these scores?"

Your Fave Christian Tutor in the Upstate of SC,
Dr. Linda B. Greer

Grades Are Coming! Are You Ready for a Tutor Yet?

I have made some updates to my tutoring room and I think you will like what you see. I am also running a 20% discount coupon (via smart phones) on Google's Business Places/Academics Upward Tutoring for High School contracts. I am also changing my High School Contracts to options of 6 weeks, 8 weeks, or 10 weeks and doing away with the 12 week option.

Here's my office:

We have great tools and a  comfy place to have our private tutoring in my home office. I have lots of manipulatives for younger learners, a lap top with Windows 8 for easy searching, and prizes for all my clients! I can't believe I have been in business for over 25 years and have helped thousands of clients. 

The 20% discount will be applied to any new High School Tutoring Contract and the new contract options will start regularly at $500.00 and go up to $580.00. That means discounts will be $100.00 up to $116.00 and will run until November 9. Hurry and get your slot for help in Math, Science, or Statistics by emailing me very soon at: lbgtutor@yahoo.com so I can put you or your student on the schedule. 

Also, anyone who needs a coach for SAT and ACT, contact me 6 weeks before your exam date to get my prime Saturday 9 to Noon slot for 4 weeks leading up to the weekend of your college board exam. I have a 10% discount through Oct. 31 for prepaid exam preps redeemable through March 1, 2014!

I can never stress the importance of getting a tutor at the first sign of distress in a course. The longer you wait, the more time it takes to recover and get those grades up to a satisfactory level, y'all! I make it fun to learn with snacks and breaks to pet my 3 loving dogs. There are prizes you can earn, too. Here's a picture of some of them and my geometry tools in the background.

Cool prizes for great clients!

Here's to a good finish this Fall 2013 term! Go Clemson this weekend against Florida State, too! 

Your fave Christian Tutor,

Dr. Linda B. Greer

864-278-2018 (H-O)

864-542-7622 (C)

A New School Year: A Chance for One Free Hour of Tutoring

For all my past clients and all the future ones to come, I hope you have a great academic year in 2013-2014! The summer has been busy for me with clients needing enrichment in Mathematics, Math Praxis Test preparation, and English writing skills. I am ready to help all you people taking Elementary Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Pre-calculus, Calculus, Statistics, Chemistry, Physical Science, and Elementary/Middle School Reading and English.

GoUpstate.com is running a banner ad for Academics Upward Tutoring this weekend, so please click, send a message to my email at drgreer@charter.net or lbgtutor@yahoo.com and let me know you saw it! First person to send an email gets one free hour of tutoring!

Seniors, please remember your SAT and ACT exams are given in Spartanburg until the last test dates in December this year (http://www.testdatescentral.com/ )and afterwards the college board exams will be given in Greenville, SC. Taking it on Saturday in Greenville means getting up 45 minutes earlier and driving to your destination. Make sure you allow extra time for finding your location and the correct door to enter at the school.

I am running a special through Groupon Coupon for reduced fees for Standardized Test Preparations for SAT, ACT, and GED. Please be sure to print and bring your coupon to your first appointment since I will have to log in the coupon number. I hope all you High School Seniors and Juniors will take advantage of this good coupon rate! 

I also have other discounts for female single parent families and multi-subject contracts as well. I look forward to working with all ages in most subjects this year. God is good to bring me so many willing students who want to do better.

Summer 2013 Academic Enrichment

Yes, it's almost summer and time for a break in the school year routine, but not a break in the learning process! Summer is one of the best times to get that extra help in a specific subject area to be ready for the next school year.

For example, let's say you took Algebra I this year and next year you are taking Algebra II. Now, if you scored a year grade of "C" for Algebra I, then I would say you are a prime candidate for some pumping it up to get ready for this Fall's Algebra II.

Or--maybe you aspire to be a writer and you want someone to give you some topics to write on or writing prompts to test your imagination and creativity. Yes, Academics Upward Tutoring can do that as well!

This summer's special is compact and less expensive than any of my school year contracts. I am practically giving away my services at 2 weeks with 8 hours of contact in 2-hours sessions (2 each week) for $250.00. The spots are filling up fast to work around your summer camp, mission trip, beach time, and vacation plans. Call soon to get the two consecutive weeks in your summer schedule: 864-278-2018 or email me at drgreer@charter.net for your summer enrichment contract.

Your local private tutor,
Dr. Linda B. Greer

Pro-Life Love Discount

Since Roe vs. Wade, genocide in the USA has been legalized  "unto the least of these, my brethren". In order to make a statement against "pro-choice" and "whose choice" and "whoever gets hurt, I'm not responsible", I declare all of February Pro-Life Love Discount Month and I am offering 20% off all one-subject tutoring contracts for K through college in Math, Science, Statistics, or Language/Reading/Spelling, etc.

Please take advantage of these low prices in remembrance of God's high principles for protecting and loving the weak and the pre-born. Hats off to all moms who chose to give birth, to give children up for adoption, or who used common sense in not becoming mommies when they wished not to be so.

Bring your beloved children to me for tutoring during the month of love, and you'll receive the same great quality care and tutoring I provide year-around!

Blessings to you!
Dr. Linda B. Greer
864-278-2018
drgreer@charter.net