WELCOME TO SAT 101 !
Why are we here?
Not the ages-old existential question…
Why are we here?
0 You want to paint the best self-portrait
0 Doane Stuart wants you to get an edge
0 The test is here to give you a fair assessment
Grades alone aren’t fair:
0 Different curriculums
0 Percentage of APs, etc.
0 Biased teachers
0 May like or not like you
0 Uneven weighting
0 Not every school does it the same
0 Special Circumstances
0 Poor attendance due to illness, home schooled
What will colleges look at?
0 College Readiness & Course Placement
0 1/6 of your application
0 with GPA, essay, letters of recommendation, extracurricular
activities, and challenge of course load
0 Carries same weight as GPA but easier to fix quickly
0 Your Report
0 Superscore (more on that in a bit), Percentile, & Essay Score
How these things combined show your potential at the next level
Expectations
From Prowess
0 Expert advice
0 Great material
0 Dynamic lessons
0 Individual attention
even in a group
setting
0 A commitment to
helping you succeed
From you
0 Commitment & trust
0 Come prepared & on
time
0 Do the work
0 Seek help if you need
it
0 Have fun
constructively
Expectations
From Prowess
0 Expert advice
0 Great material
0 Dynamic lessons
0 Individual attention
even in a group
setting
0 A commitment to
helping you succeed
0 99th%, 12 years, M.A.
English pursuing M.S. in
Education
0 Tests made by the makers
0 12 lessons, POD, group
exercises, games
0 Personalized assessments
0 518.364.7908 – call or text
any time
Expectations
0 Want it. Be open to new ways.
0 Always bring your text,
calculator, notebook, & pencil.
We only have about 45 minutes.
0 Homework after each session.
Problem sets in class. Tests on
weekends.
0 Safe env’t. same Qs show up on
test day.
0 Don’t hate it. Don’t be a
distraction.
From you
0 Commitment & trust
0 Come prepared & on
time
0 Do the work
0 Seek help if you need
it
0 Have fun
constructively
Your tools for this course:
0 The Course Text
0 “The Official SAT Study Guide (for March 2016 & later)”
0 Handouts
0 Real Full-length Practice Tests
0 Held at our offices on the weekends. MUST bring your book.
0 Score Reports
0 Personalized assessment tools
0 The Spring 6-session Course
0 Review, make-up, or a new perspective
0 The website: www.prowesstestprep.com
0 Student materials, password = ‘prowess-sat’
0 “Course at Doane Stuart”
0 Copies of lessons (PPT), handouts (if lost or didn’t get one), homework assignments &
answer keys
0 Additional downloadable materials
What to do if you miss a class?
Several Options…
0 1. Get the notes from a fellow student…
0 2. If you know you can’t make your test date, specifically, but can
make the other one the next day, ask Ms. Bracken if you can
come to the other one. You must have permission for this.
0 3. Find the notes on the website and attempt to complete the
homework using just these (note: you will still be responsible for
doing all the work assigned that class)…
0 4. Make up that session in the spring at our Corporate Woods 6session NEW SAT course.
Is there a grade for the course?
Yes…
0 Your homework assignments = 50%
0 0, .5, or 1
0 Your class participation = 10%
0 0 or 1 (must contribute or else 0)
0 Your attendance = 15%
0 1% each class and test, make-ups count
0 Your practice test scores (based on a function) = 25%
0 Final grades submitted to Ms. Bracken but will not be part of
GPA; they will, however, be used for our guarantee.
We are ready to begin…but first
A game!
MYTH OR FACT?
0 The SAT stands for Scholastic Achievement
Test.
MYTH !
0 It doesn’t stand for Stress and Anxiety Test
either. It doesn’t stand for anything.
MYTH OR FACT?
0 Having a strong vocab is important for
achieving the maximum score on this test.
MYTH !
0 The SAT is not a vocab test. Esoteric words
don’t show up.
MYTH OR FACT?
0 It is crucial to know your way around a
calculator for the math section of this test.
MYTH !
0 You are not allowed to use a calculator for
1/3 of the math portion. You won’t need
one for the other 2/3.
MYTH OR FACT?
0 The SAT is put together by a bunch of
castle-dwelling ogres who prey on the
dreams of the college hopeful.
MYTH !
0 But not that far off…ETS does live in a
castle-like compound in Princeton N.J.
Despite what you may hear, CB actually
wants to see you succeed.
MYTH OR FACT?
0 If you are not a good test taker, it will be
very hard to do well on this test.
FACT !
0 At least we think so…which is why we are
going to teach you to how to be good.
The 6-Tiered Approach to
achieving success on the SAT:
0 1 – get to know the test
0 2 – learn B.T.S. (basic test-taking strategy)
0 3 – learn format-specific methodology
0 4 – learn the content
0 5 – learn advanced strategy
0 6 – gain consistency through practice