Standardized Testing Tips for Parents

From the PSAT to the ACT and the SAT, standardized tests can play a big role in your child's school life over the next couple of years. Parents of college-bound students often have a lot of questions about preparation for these exams: When should students take these tests? What's the point of the PSAT? Is there any way we can help them study for the SATs? What is the difference between the SATs and ACTs? Which is the best indicator of my child's intelligence?

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT) are not measures of intelligence at all. What they do measure is scholastic aptitude or the ability to learn well in a traditional school setting. In general, the ACT is more of an assessment of what a student has learned in their classes, while the SAT is more of an aptitude test.

Over the years, these test scores have proven to be good predictors of a student's potential for academic success. However, they are certainly not the only factor that colleges look at.

Test scores are generally considered on a sliding scale against the student's grade point average (GPA) and their other achievements. All colleges set their own admissions policies, so be sure your child finds out about the requirements for the schools they're interested in. Knowing the other requirements can help keep standardized tests in perspective.

Nonetheless, since SAT and ACT scores can provide a key to admission into the college of your teen's choice and access to thousands of scholarship dollars, they are a high-stakes endeavor for many families and the source of great anxiety for some.

If you're even more worried than your child, relax! In general, if your child is doing well in a challenging college preparatory high school program, has good test-taking skills and is not overly competitive or anxiety laden, there is no reason to worry that he or she will not score high enough to get into college.

There are also things that parents can do to help students feel more relaxed and prepared for their exams, and junior year is a good time to take some action. You can start by thinking about any enrichment needs your child may have. Is he struggling with math or a foreign language? Does she seem to have poor study skills or undue test anxiety?

Weekly sessions with a good tutor or a quality summer enrichment program at this stage can make a significant difference in both their cumulative high school GPAs as well as SAT scores. Consider your child's weaknesses when looking at programs and tutors.

Test prep programs such as testGEAR can help your student familiarize themselves with the material on standardized tests. Working through testGEAR can also boost your child's confidence and let them know which areas to focus on, based on the results of their self-assessments. Wachovia has helped made testGEAR available to all Florida residents, so this is a great way for your child to start their test preparation.

In the sophomore and junior year, most high schools provide students with the opportunity to take the Pre-Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) or other exams. Students benefit greatly from this experience. Some states select governor's scholars and award college scholarships and enrichment opportunities based on high PSAT scores. High scorers will also begin receiving college literature in the mail, shortly after the test scores become available.

Tests like the PSAT give students test-taking practice and a benchmark score to see where they stand. If your child doesn't do as well as you'd expected, don't panic! These scores are not necessarily predictors of how they will score on the upcoming standardized tests.

They do give parents a chance to discover if their child needs help in preparing for these crucial standardized college admission requirements. Parents can work with their children through test-preparation sites like testGEAR to focus on areas that need improvement.

Taking practice tests in a group setting can also help test anxiety. Parent involvement, support and encouragement are needed throughout this process.

Some colleges require SAT scores, while others require applicants to take the ACT. Some accept either. It's good to know which your teen's colleges of preference require.

Many people recommend that kids take both tests in their junior year, check out their scores, brush up on areas that could use improvement and take them at least one more time.

Taking both tests gives them practice, and if a student does significantly better on one than the other, she may consider that as a factor in selecting a college. Students can also take them over and over again and only the highest scores are usually considered. Most students are more relaxed and do better the second time around.

As a parent, you can help your child see standardized tests as an opportunity to prove themselves. Your encouragement can go a long way when it's time to write the tests!