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THE PRACTICE TEST PACKAGE
The Practice Test Package consists of three separate appointments. In the first 1½ -hour appointment, we establish starting scores, and goals. We review the Fine Print of changing appointments. We then teach quizmanship. We offer information and suggestions on every aspect of mastering the examination; when and how many times to take it; and how to get real tests back for later diagnostic post-mortems. We explain directions; how to improve speed and accuracy; how many questions to try (and what to abandon); where, when, and how to guess; how to strip a reading passage and categories of mathematics problems.. We also point out common errors, traps, tricks, and forced carelessness.
We then complete one entire section of each kind of problem to illustrate clearly how new knowledge and insights are applied to each category of problems. We also provide extensive vocabulary materials including a master list of the 360 most frequently appearing vocabulary words (with meanings) and a separate list of most frequently appearing prefix, suffix, and foreign language roots (with meanings and words most frequently appearing containing a particular root or base.) For homework a student applies what we have taught to a full length real past PSAT, SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, or SAT Subject Test, and builds assigned vocabulary daily from flash cards. . Several days or weeks later, when a student has completed the assigned homework the student returns for a one-on-one 1 hour review of performance. An instructor not only explains errors and leaves correct written solutions for missed questions, but teaches strategy. The test and all notes become the student’s property to carry home and further study. The student then completes another full length real test for homework and returns for an additional 1 hour follow up appointment. At this time the instructor reviews and catorgizes the errors, and makes recommendations for an independent study program to strengthen the students weakness. The Practice Test is designed to familiarize a student with timing, directions, level of difficulty, pacing, and material. For the PSAT and SAT, it is often used by seventh and eigth grade Duke University and Johns Hopkins students and freshman and sophomores for whom a full course might be premature. For the SAT Subject Tests, the results tell a student exactly where one stands and why. They also help a student decide whether to take a particular test; and if so, how to further review for it. |
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