Today in AVID 10 at Palos Verdes High School, Rob and SP introduced our first lesson for the Critical Reading section of the SAT. Training for the SAT can be very difficult, and for many students, the vocabulary component of the Critical Reading section can be extremely daunting.

In an effort to keep things simple, but at the same time teach students a new and complex concept, Rob decided to start the SAT tutoring with the “plus-minus-neutral” approach, a strategy that can help students eliminate incorrect answer choices by assigning a value or feeling of worth to the blank space, as well as each of the answer choices.

Students then practiced eliminating wrong answer choices and making educated guesses about which vocabulary words would and would not work in each sentence. The process was rigorous and slightly painful, but I think we all walked away from the experience with a new tool in our quiver of SAT strategies.

Here is an example of a question students will see on the Critical Reading section of the SAT. You will probably understand why training is the only way to attack a test that contains hundreds of problems like this:

1. Today Wegener’s theory is ____ ; however, he died an outsider treated with ____ by the scientific establishment.

A. unsupported – approval
B. dismissed – contempt
C. accepted – approbation
D. unchallenged – disdain
E. unrivaled – reverence

Please let Study Hut know if you need any tutoring or training for the SAT, specifically the Critical Reading section. We have excellent SAT tutors who earned great scores, went to top universities, and follow our streamlined approach to no-nonsense SAT training.

For high school juniors and seniors (sometimes sophomores and younger) they will most likely be taking one or both of the standardized tests, the SAT or the ACT. But how is a confused high school student supposed to decide which one of these tests will work bests for him or her. Each test offers different benefits and pitfalls for each to decide which is better.

Normally the ACT questions tend to be more straightforward than those on the SAT. The ACT has a science connection and often tests more advanced math topics going up to trigonometry whereas the SAT only goes up to 2nd year of algebra. The SAT focuses much more on vocabulary and requires a written essay, whereas the ACT’s essay portion of the exam is optional and the score is not included in your composite score. The ACT also includes a science portion of the exam and the SAT does not have any science, only math, reading and writing. One final difference between the ACT and SAT is how the exams are broken up. The SAT is broken up to many more small sections, 10 to be exact and the ACT is only split into the four main sections math, science, english and reading.

Each test has it’s own distinct advantages and disadvantages for each individual student and the students must figure out which tests will be best for them. Sometimes it’s easy to decide which test to take, if the student completely hates science and wants nothing to do with it then the SAT is the choice and if the student is adverse to doing anything more than bubbling in scantrons then the ACT is the better choice. However if the student does not fall into one of these categories, the best way to determine which test is right for the individual is to actually take each one of the tests. Be it taking each individual test for real and getting your scores for both, or coming into the Study Hut and using any one of number of practice ACT and SAT test resources, as well as our fantastic tutors. The only way to truly find out what works for the student is to try out each test and see how you do.

Getting into colleges and universities is becoming more and more difficult nowadays. The mean accepted GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and the number of extra-curriculars expected are becoming more difficult every year. Although all these elements are critical in one’s application, another important but often forgotten aspect is the personal statement. Not only can the Study Hut help you with your GPA and standardized test scores, but we’re also prepared to help you write the best possible personal statement you can. We tutors have been in your shoes before, we’ve all gone to college, and some are also in the process of applying to graduate schools. Needless to say, we’ve all written personal statements in one form or another, and know what colleges and universities are looking for in their candidates.

However, coming to the Study Hut for help on your personal statement does not mean we are going to write it for you. Rather, we are going to guide you as to the rules and tactics of writing a good personal statement, and give you the tools to make the perfect personal statement for yourself. A good personal statement has multiple aspects to it. It is both professionally written, but also genuine and personable. You are telling the admissions committee what makes you YOU, and why they should want YOU to study at and represent their institution in the future. All this may seem like a tall order for a one or two page statement about yourself, but with the right guidance, it’s very possible to do. So feel free to stop by the Hut at any step in your process, from planning your essay, to a final review before you submit it.