The Waiting is the Hardest Part!

Welcome back!?

So…how did the test go this weekend? I hope some of my tips helped even a little bit, and that Saturday was the LAST time you or your child will EVER need standardized test-taking advice.

I really do.?

However, statistically speaking, it’s more likely that it wasn’t the last time you’re taking the test (unless you’re a senior!). What should you do now??

Tom Petty Never Lied!

The waiting is in fact the hardest part, but you've got bigger fish to fry. Scores will be published within 2 to 4 weeks, and I’m sure you’ve got a TON of school-related stuff to occupy your time between now and then. From a test prep standpoint, though, you should be proactive with your next steps, starting with a realistic assessment of your performance on Saturday that goes well beyond any sense of what score you think you got.?

Did you ever feel like you were lost? Or that you had to take a guess between two (or three) equally plausible options? Did you ever run short on time??

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, chances are really good that you need to refine your prep process for the next test.?For some people that might mean starting to prepare for your next test a few weeks earlier. For some, that might mean more focused practice on your weaknesses, rather than just burning through test after test, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with a high score.

As a recent article suggests, it’s not just ANY practice that makes someone better. Intentional practice must be met with immediate feedback and shaped by expert guidance. Not everyone is in a position to be guided by an expert, but if you can, I would highly recommend even a few lessons with an experienced test prep provider.?

Is it necessary? Not absolutely. But assume for a second that you wanted to get into better cardio shape but the longest distance you had ever run was a 5K. Would you rather train for a marathon with other people who had only run short distances, or with an experienced runner who had run the race you are planning to run several times??

To The Adults…

I want to focus for a moment on the adults supporting the kids who just took the test. I have helped kids to improve their outlook and performance on these standardized tests for a little while. Part of that guidance involves taking the tests on a fairly regular basis.?

As someone who has taken tests both as a prospective college student back when many of you did, and more recently as a test prep tutor honing his practice, I can say definitively that things are much different now. In some respects, the test itself is much easier. There is much less explicit vocab-related content, and none of those dreaded analogies that drove us all mad.?

CAT:CANARY :: WINDSHIELD:

a) bug

b) wind

c) car

d) actual shield

Remember those? I just made that one up off the top of my head, so there's not really an answer. Basically what we all felt when we did them in real time.

And, relatively speaking, it is much easier to get a perfect score on the test now than it was back then.

With that said, today’s college admissions landscape is far more daunting than it ever has been. More kids are applying for college now, which means it’s more difficult to stand out in a crowd of impressive applicants.?

Standardized test scores are only a small part of the bigger picture. Help your sophomore or junior see the bigger picture. High school is about starting the process of figuring out who you are and how you can contribute to whatever community you identify with - while getting pretty good grades at the same time. It’s a difficult dance, especially when you (as a teenager) don’t know which shoes fit you, much less how the steps go.?

A Word of Encouragement

Back to the students to close things out here.

Put the test prep on the back burner for a little bit. Focus on developing into a whole person. Now is a perfect time to try things well out of your comfort zone - not just as “resume stuffers” but in a genuine quest to know for sure what works for you and what doesn’t.?

For example, try out for the school play! You probably won’t get cast in the lead role, because you’re competing against other kids who have much more experience than you have. But whatever role you get - on or off stage - you’ll be doing something worthwhile. Maybe you will find out that you’re not a theater person after all.?

Also, your community (however you define that word) needs you! Don’t just assume that someone else will do it. I mean, you’re right. At some point someone will step in and fill that need, because it needs to be filled. But you might be missing your calling by remaining too narrowly inside your comfort zone.?

A former student of mine started their 9th grade year with a commitment to standing up in front of the entire student body at least once a week and reading one of their original poems. Eventually they got more comfortable with public speaking AND became a good enough writer to want to make that a career! Win-win. But there’s no way that student would be as far along today as they are without having made that commitment to stretch themselves and share their creations with the wider community.?

Find something like that and do it!?

Thanks for reading. More tips to come!?