Test Prep Launch

Did you know you can increase your SAT score in just 2 minutes a day?

Millions of people use this 2-minute hack to get better every single day! This is all thanks to James Clear popularizing this idea.

Now you might be saying to yourself? There is no way you can get better at anything in just 2 minutes a day.

You're right...

2 minutes is not nearly enough time to get anything done.

But what the 2-minute rule does is it helps you overcome procrastination. The idea is this.

You can't consistently study if you have not established a habit. Once you develop the habit of studying, then you can put in the work to get better at the SAT or ACT.

If you are struggling to get yourself to study for the SAT or ACT, start with something that you can do in 2 minutes.

For the SAT or ACT that could be

"Attempt 1 single question"
"Read 1 passage from the test"
"Read 1 page from your book"
"Review 1 problem I previously missed"

Once you start doing this daily, then allow yourself to continue to study until you lose focus. Take a break. Start again later.

Over time you will see your studying time go from 2 minutes, all the way to 90 mins (max time I recommend in 1 session).

Here is why it works.

It reinforces your new identity. You are becoming the person who takes time each day to prepare for the SAT or ACT.

If you know someone who struggles with getting themselves to study, tell them about this 2-minute rule and see if they can start developing their new identity!

A student asked, "how fast can math be improved?"

The answer is...

It depends

- How long is he willing to study?
- How much will he review his missed questions?
- How consistent will he be over the next 2 months?

It can improve in one week if you are looking to just improve on one specific question type

Or...

It can improve in 2 months if you are not really putting in much work

There is no one size fits all answer but there is one MAIN takeaway I want you to have.

You can't improve at anything on the SAT if you are not consistently bridging your knowledge gaps.

Here is the approach I would take if you want to improve your math score FAST

1. Look at EVERY missed question on the math section of your practice exams.

2. For every problem, figure out why you missed it and what you need to learn to not miss it in the future (Bridging the knowledge gap).

3. After you have gone over every question (it should take longer than the practice exam itself) then take another practice exam.

4. Rinse and repeat

There is no magic bullet when it comes to preparing for the SAT or ACT but there is a system you can follow to achieve success.

This student struggled with her confidence when taking tests. She crushed the homework and rarely missed problems.

Put those same questions on the test and boom. Confidence was in the trash.

Hours of studying.

Hours of preparing.

Giving up her weeknights for test prep.

All of it seemed like a waste of time.

Was I failing her? I couldn't take the test for her. I couldn't find a solution to help bring up her confidence on TEST DAY.

Until...

I remembered a little trick I picked up in college. I call it the 1-2-3 method.

Here's how it works.

For every single question you attempt, give yourself a 1, 2, or 3.

A "1" means you were 100% confident in your answer AND got the question right

A "2" means you were NOT 100% confident in your answer (it doesn't matter if you got it right or wrong)

A "3" means you had no clue how to solve the problem.

This helped my student build real confidence in her homework problems. She finally had a system that made her commit to an answer. If she put a "1" next to a problem then she built CONFIDENCE in what she was doing. No more second-guessing.

No more being lukewarm about every single problem she did. She had to be honest with herself.

When she saw a 2 or 3, she knew what type of questions needed work. She could prioritize those problems and make the most of her time.

She could work on building the skills needed to have confidence in those types of questions. Turing a 3 into a 2 and a 2 into a 1 is the name of the game.

The moment she did this, magic happened.

Confidence went up and so did her ACT score.

She went from a 23 to a 30.

Not second-guessing every answer saved her so much mental energy and TIME.

Give the 1-2-3 system a shot and watch your confidence grow.

Unsure of how your teen should prepare for the SAT?

Here is a Comprehensive 2-month Study Plan!

As a parent, you want to help your teen do well, especially with something important like the SAT. But you don't remember much from high school, so it's hard to know how to help your teen study. You remember the stress. You remember the long study hours. You remember wanting to get the best score, but things have changed since then. This post will give you a clear, easy-to-follow 2-month study plan for your teen. It will guide them week by week to be ready and confident on test day. This plan isn't perfect or the only way to study for the SAT, but it's a good place to start. Remember, doing something is better than doing nothing at all.

Week 1
Math:
- Pre-requisites: Ensure your teen has a solid understanding of the basics (PEMDAS, Fractions, Negatives, etc.)
- How to Backsolve: Teach them the technique of backsolving, starting with answer choices to find the correct solution.
Reading and English:
- Rhetorical Synthesis Questions: Learn how to systematically solve these problems without using the notes.
- Transitions: Practice using and identifying correct transitional words and phrases to improve the flow of sentences and paragraphs.

Week 2
Math:
- Understanding and Translating Word Problems: Break down word problems into manageable steps to solve them more easily.
- System of Linear Equations: Practice solving systems of equations using various methods (substitution and elimination).
- Manipulating Math Equations: Work on simplifying and rearranging equations to solve for different variables.
Reading and English:
- Sentence Structure: Review the basics of sentence construction, including subject, predicate, and objects.
- Non-Essential Clauses: Identify and correctly punctuate non-essential information in sentences.
- Combining Sentences: Practice combining independent clauses and dependent clauses.

Week 3
Math:
- Functions: Understand the concept of functions and how to work with function notation.
- Exponents and Radicals: Simplify expressions involving exponents and radicals.
- Absolute Value: Solve equations and inequalities involving absolute values.
Reading and English:
- Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensure subjects and verbs agree in number and person.
- Verb Tenses: Maintain consistent verb tenses throughout sentences and passages.
- How to Approach Reading and English Questions: Develop strategies for tackling different types of questions effectively.

Week 4
Math:
- Quadratics: Solve quadratic equations using factoring, completing the square, and the quadratic formula.
- Parabolas: Understand the properties of parabolas and how to graph them.
- Polynomials: Work with polynomial expressions, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Reading and English:
- Comparisons: Make accurate and clear comparisons in sentences.
- Parallelism: Ensure parallel structure in lists and comparisons.
- Modifiers: Dangling and misplaced modifiers.

Week 5
Math:
- Percent and Percent Change: Calculate percentages and understand percentage change problems.
- Ratios and Proportions: Solve problems involving ratios, proportions, and similar figures.
- Mean/Median/Mode: Calculate and interpret mean, median, and mode in different questions.
Reading and English:
- Understanding the Main Idea: Focus on identifying the main idea and supporting details in passages.

Week 6
Math:
- Graphs and Tables: Interpret data from various types of graphs and tables.
- Angles and Triangles: Work on problems involving angles, triangles, and their properties.
Reading and English:
- Text Completion Strategy: Develop strategies for completing sentences and passages accurately.

Week 7
Math:
- Right Triangles: Understand the properties of right triangles and the Pythagorean theorem.
- Trigonometry: SOHCAHTOA
- Circles: Work with the properties of circles, including circumference and area calculations.
Reading and English:
- Strengthening and Weakening Arguments: Practice identifying and evaluating arguments within passages.

Week 8
Math:
- Area, Volume, and Surface Area: Calculate the area, volume, and surface area of various shapes.
Reading and English:
- Two Passage Strategies: Develop strategies for comparing information in paired passages.

Resources
Books:
- PrepPros: The Complete Guide To Digital SAT Math: The Best SAT Math Book For Students Seeking A Perfect Score
- Sixth Edition, The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar
- The Critical Reader, Fifth Edition: The Complete Guide to SAT Reading

Website
- www.collegeboard.com

Remember, consistent practice and a structured approach are key to success!

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