Students are gearing up for the shift in testing, assisted by extra study sessions and practice tests. photo by Javontae Jourdain
TJ’s junior class prepares to take the SAT due to a district change in standardized testing.
With the first semester coming to an end and SAT testing around the corner, students are trying to find the best way to stay on top of their school work while studying for the test. Whether it’s keeping steady study habits or attending the free tutoring sessions at TJ on Saturdays, many students are finding a routine that works for them. All juniors are encouraged to come to the SAT Saturday study sessions, which include a mock SAT exam to help students practice for the test.
The main reasons the SAT is now mandatory is because many students do not take college entrance exams as they are too expensive, and the district received extra funding for the test. The SAT tests more on knowledge while the ACT is more focused on facts and memorization. This has allowed students and educators to learn the new testing type, as this is the first year the SAT was mandatory for TJ. Now, the teachers are trying to get used to the new format and understand everything needed to teach their students what they need to know to ace the test. This test consists of three sections: math, reading, and writing. Each section is scored on a 200-800 point scale. Attending the SAT study sessions on Saturdays, working hard in school, and using Khan Academy (an online study website), are all good study strategies to balance studying for the SAT with school assignments. Students and teachers are learning to adapt to the test, but Principal Mike Christoff believes that the TJ community will be able to pass this test with flying colors. “The students and teachers at TJ are smart and we will adapt to the change,” said Christoff. “The SAT is much more language based and our school is better at that part of the curriculum which will help us out a lot, so it will be interesting to see what the change will be between the SAT and the ACT.” Many students have taken the opportunity of the Saturday study sessions and recommend taking the mock SAT tests to any student who is looking for a way to study for the SATs. Junior Chloe Bartels was one of the seven students that attended that mock test. “Taking the mock SAT was a really good idea and I’m glad that I went, and I recommend it to anyone that is thinking about taking it,” said Bartels. They offer the PSAT during your sophomore year and then also throughout your junior year leading up to the test in the spring.
The registration for the four free Saturday study sessions at TJ is posted outside of science teacher Corielyn Bromley’s room. Sessions will be from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturdays as well as from 3-4 p.m. on Thursdays. Students can register to take the official SAT test on collegeboard.com. The test will take place in April at no cost to students. Students have to have enough credits to be counted as a junior in high school by January 6 in order to take the test. There will be a second testing day for students who feel they didn’t do the best on their first one, but students will be charged 20 dollars to take a second test. The change between the ACT and the SAT is challenging, but with the students and the teachers working hard, the test will hopefully be a breeze. The whole TJ community is working together to get prepared for the change in testing and hopefully Spartans will do even better on the SAT.
