Is your child going off to college in the coming months? If yes, then you, as a parent, might be worried about how to help them prepare for this huge academic challenge.
In the United States, students who’ll be entering college are required to take a standardized test called the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) for admission. In fact, taking and passing such a test is your child’s ticket toward entering college life. Unfortunately, SAT preparation can be tedious for your child, which is why you’re undoubtedly thinking about how you can assist them throughout the process.
Read on to learn how you can help your child do well on the SAT.
Understand The SAT Yourself
Understanding the SAT yourself can be a great way to help your child with this academic endeavor. In short, you must know how this test works for college admissions. Although you’ve probably taken the test during your teenage years, you must still get familiar with the test today as some of its contents may have changed significantly.
For instance, you can use the Internet to find relevant information about the current SAT format and scoring system. There are many websites that provide necessary information about the test itself, so utilize those facts in helping your child get ready for the SAT. Remember, your understanding of the test will allow you to give valuable study advice to your upcoming college student.
Look For Effective Study Tools
Typically, the study preparation required to do well on the SAT depends on the student. However, as a parent, you can help your child prepare for the test by finding some valuable study tools they can use. Aside from the test preparation books, you can also use a variety of focused prep courses to supplement your child’s studying. These courses can provide an innovative approach to learning the core tests concepts.
With several options to choose from, finding online study prep courses that are worthwhile can be overwhelming. For that reason, it’s best to shop around for options and get to know these courses before making a choice.
Be A Study Partner And Help Your Child With The Review
Primarily, your child should be the one doing the bulk of studying, but it doesn’t mean you can’t help them do well on the SAT. As a parent, what you can do is to become a study partner to help them with the review. Take note that the review process is essential to determine whether your child has genuinely internalized their learnings.
To get started, make sure you’re available to become a study partner. Spend some of your time to assist your child with the review. For example, you can ask them to take a quiz or solve a math problem. You can also consider teaching them about the best strategies for answering reading and comprehension skills. By doing all of these to help your child study, they’ll be more than ready to excel on the SAT.
Provide Moral And Emotional Support
You can help your child do well on the SAT by providing them moral and emotional support. The overwhelming process of taking the test can affect them emotionally. For that reason, be sure you’ll be there when they need you.
Sometimes, asking them how they’re doing or listening to what they have to say about the exam can go a long way to reduce the pressure. Your child will be much happier to know you’re there to offer emotional and moral support for their academic endeavors.
Keep Track Of A Study Schedule
Again, preparing for the SAT takes a lot of time and energy. Thus, your child needs to keep a study schedule to avoid getting lost in the middle of the preparation. But with all the things that they’re doing, keeping up with their study schedule may be challenging for them.
Due to this difficulty, it’s a good idea to monitor your child’s schedule yourself. You can make the exam preparation much easier and smoother if they have someone to remind them about their study plans. For instance, you can also help them plan a schedule for the actual test day to make sure they arrive at the testing center on time.
Conclusion
The SAT plays a vital role in college admissions. It’s an excellent way to determine whether your child is prepared to face college life. Therefore, if you want to show colleges that your child is ready, help them pass the test by following the tips mentioned above.
