Revised SAT test focuses on reading, writing

By: AGNES DIGGS - Staff Writer | Saturday, October 9, 2004 3:53 PM PDT ∞

In the Math section of the new SAT Reasoning Test, an easy question might look something like this:

Which of the following is divisible by 3 and by 5 but is not divisible by 10?

(A) 30 (B) 35 (C) 40 (D) 45 (E) 60

Or you might find your language skills tested by this one, a multiple choice fill-in:

His conduct at the state dinner was a cavalcade of blunders, one _____ following another until the evening ended.

(A) query (B) gibe (C) gaffe (D) tryst (E) tribute

The class of 2006 will be the first to face the challenge of the new Scholastic Aptitude Tests. Changes in content will be implemented in March 2005. The changes were made, officials said, to bring the test more in line with high school coursework and to make it a better measure of the skill requirements for success in college. Two-thirds of the three-part test will focus on reading comprehension and writing ability.

Looking for answers

Hundreds of local students recently attended the 27th annual North County Conference College Night at Carlsbad High School where representatives from more than 150 colleges, trade schools and military organizations stood ready to extol the virtues of their respective institutions. Among them were several established college preparatory companies offering ---- for a price ---- to ease the passage through the testing process. The fact is, there was test anxiety among students even before the changes were announced.

Yasmin Lucky, 17, toured the conference tables with her mom, Mary Hibbert, an administrative assistant who attended MiraCosta College and Cal State San Marcos. Yasmin's dad, Bradley, is in the U.S. Marine Corps, stationed at Miramar. Yasmin, who volunteers with the Rescue House at Petco in Encinitas because she loves animals, wants a career in veterinary science, she said. The Carlsbad High School senior's short list of colleges includes UC Davis, Bethune Cookman College in Florida and Marymount College in New York.

Yasmin, facing the SATs with some trepidation, said she felt the classes she has taken in high school have left her not quite ready to meet the big challenge.

"They prepare you to be in college ---- but they don't prepare you to test for college," she said.

She has taken the Preliminary SATs and the ACT, a curriculum-based college admission and placement test. She hopes that experience will enhance her SAT scores. Yasmin has also taken advantage of the Internet to do a bit of preparation online, she said.

What advice would she give first-timers?

"I would say, try to remember everything you learn, and make sure you know the (Latin and Greek) origins of the words so at least you can reason out an answer," she said. "And for math? You might want to go over the formulas. Try to do as much preparation as you can. Get an SAT book, or do it online to see if that can help you. Or subscribe to the question of the day at College Board online."

Preparation and practice

For some students, the mere prospect of taking these tests is enough to freak them out, and there is plenty of proof that even for young people, something new isn't always something to look forward to.

Osiris Jimenez, 17, also perused the conference tables with her friend, Marlen Baca, 17. The two Vista teens attend Rancho Buena Vista High School, and while Osiris has chosen a business major, both were picking up "tons of brochures," and were still not sure which schools they would choose.

About the SATs?

"I heard it's really, really, really hard," Osiris said. "I got some books to prepare. I'm trying to study (them) after I finish my homework. I'll take the test in November."

Marlen is taking the test in December. "I'm taking some practices at school," she said. "I feel like I'm not really prepared for them (the SATs)."

Many students said they sought out professional organizations that promise to improve test scores. Several books have been published that purport to do the same. Many of those options are expensive.

One cost-free and relatively easy option is going to the source ---- the College Board, which has a Web site loaded with information for students, teachers and parents. The College Board rules the SATs, and the site offers practice questions and even an official online practice test that students can take to familiarize themselves with the types of questions they can expect when taking the timed exam.

Sorting it out

Meanwhile, here are some hints on what to expect from the new SAT test:

The section formerly known as "Verbal" will now be called "Critical Reading." The section containing analogies ---- comparisons between two sets of things ---- will be eliminated, and short reading-comprehension passages will be added. Math questions will expand to include advanced algebra concepts. The newest thing will be the writing section, which will include multiple-choice questions on grammar and an essay.

Previously timed at three hours, the test time will increase by 35 minutes. Of the 60 minutes allowed for the writing section, 25 will be alloted to the dreaded student-written essay.

Writing the essay should not cause brain freeze. Students will be asked to use reason and evidence to support a point of view. It will be considered a draft, so grammar, spelling and punctuation need not be perfect. Handwriting doesn't officially count, but legible writing will help the readers to get the point.

Each essay will be scored on a scale of one to six ---- one being "fundamentally lacking" and "severely flawed" in a number of areas, according to information from the College Board. A score of six means "outstanding ... clear and consistent," although it may have minor errors. Criteria will include writing competence and overall quality. Each essay will be graded by two readers ---- experienced high school and college teachers trained for the purpose and using a College Board scoring guide ----who won't know the student's identity or each other's ratings.

Students can score up to 800 points in each section, with a maximum total score of 2400 for the three parts.

Food for thought

While the question floats around of whether it's best to take the old test or the new, both the College Board and the Princeton Review, a test preparation and college admission services company, recommend that students wait for spring and take the new test.

While some colleges haven't ruled on which test they will require, the University of California system has opted to accept only results from the new SAT.

Obviously, this is not a test a student can cram for. With the heavy emphasis on reading skills, the first and best advice is to read materials of all kinds, including fiction and nonfiction books, magazines and newspapers. Sharpen math skills, and do extra problems. Students who find themselves floundering should hook up with a tutor.

So, the keys to SAT success are read, read, read and practice, practice, practice. The College Board Web site can help. Visit the Web site at www.collegeboard.com. SATÆ and College BoardÆ are registered trademarks of the College Board, which administers the tests.

By the way, the math and language questions at the top of this story were reprinted by permission of the College Entrance Examination Board, the copyright owner. Their answers are D and C, respectively.

Founded in 1900, the College Board is a not-for-profit membership association composed of 4,500 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. Each year, it serves more than 3 million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools and 3,500 colleges, according to information from their Web site.

Sources: Information from the College Board and from Internet Web sites.

Looking for help with SAT preparation?

Visit these Web sites:

Pace yourself, answer the questions you're sure of, then go back to the others if time permits.

Books that might prove helpful:

"Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT" (2005-2006 Edition) by Larry Berger, Michael Colton et al. (Workman Publishing Company, Inc., New York, $10.95) The book's Web site is www.upyourscore.com.

Webster's Dictionary

Also of interest:

"Test of Time: A Novel Approach to the SAT and ACT," by Charles Harrington Elster (Harcourt, $14). The book blends more than 2,000 essential test words into a novel.

Contact staff writer Agnes Diggs at (760) 740-3511 or adiggs@nctimes.com.

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