ACT Prep: How Parents Can Help Their Senior High Schoolers Prep for the ACT and SAT
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College is an important phase in your teen’s life. Their performance as a college student can significantly influence their careers and success in the future. Better college performance can reap better career opportunities for your teen. And as a parent, you’d naturally want to prepare your high schoolers for college—and making sure that they earn good grades from their ACT and SAT is one way of doing it.
The ACT is an abbreviation for the American College Testing, while the SAT stands for Scholastic Assessment Test. These tests are given to incoming college students to assess their skills in writing, reasoning and math, and preparedness for college. Scores earned from these tests can also qualify a high schooler for scholarships and grants.
Here’s how you can help your senior high schoolers prepare for the ACT and SAT:
1. Discuss How Your High Schooler Will Prepare For The Tests
Taking the ACT or SAT can be overwhelming for your high schooler. Aside from the rationale behind these tests, the idea of going to college and socializing with new people can add pressure to your high schooler.
You can help your high schooler calm their nerves by discussing how the two of you can work together to prepare for these upcoming tests. It’ll be easier for your high schoolers to stay on track if they know that they are guided and assisted.
Sit down with your high schooler and discuss this matter. Your plans on preparing for the ACT or SAT can usually include the following:
● Decide if your high schooler will need expert help on the SAT or ACT. There are now prep materials and online courses made for the sole purpose of preparing students for college entrance exams.
● You can also avail of private tutoring plans for your high schooler. This learning platform can ensure one-on-one learning.
● For busy parents, come up with a schedule on how often your high schooler should take practice tests online. Since these practice tests should be timed and recorded, you should be present whenever your high schooler takes any.
2. Focus On Their Weaknesses
Before your high schooler will take the ACT test and SAT, it’s important to assess what their strengths and weaknesses are. Knowing this information early will allow you to invest in materials that are suited to improve your high schooler’s weak areas.
The scores earned from online practice tests can provide information on what sections of the test your high schooler needs help with. Never make your high schooler feel as if these weak areas can drag their overall score. Instead, come up with a concrete plan on how the two of you can work together to improve these weak areas.
As long as your high schooler isn’t pressed for time and is actually determined in improving, it won’t be long before these weak areas can become their strengths!
3. Provide Emotional Support
Teens go through a lot of things. Aside from preparing for their upcoming college entrance exams, they also have to think about the expectations of their peers and family from them, as well as their relationship with the opposite sex.
One of the most understated ways parents can help their high schoolers prepare for the ACT and SAT is to provide emotional support. With all of the stress piling up, your high schooler will usually need a person to talk to or a shoulder to cry on. Make sure that you’re always there for them once this need arises.
When you provide emotional support, your high schooler can unload any emotional baggage and quickly move forward in the preparation of their upcoming tests. Knowing that someone is always there for them will surely make them happier.
Your Role Counts
Your guidance as a parent can go a long way towards your high schooler’s preparation for their college entrance exams. For one, your support can ward off your high schooler’s stress, allowing them to focus better.
Preparing for college entrance exams can be challenging for your high schooler, and as a parent, you should strive to make this process fruitful and smooth for them.
