News
Chat GPT
As technology evolves, it has become nearly impossible to discern artificial intelligence from authentic human work. This presents a particular problem for educators as students are more likely than ever to use technology in lieu of completing their own schoolwork. Chat GPT is an artificial intelligence program at the forefront of this issue. Educators are wary of this AI because it is available widely and has the ability to answer questions, write essays, and even code effectively.
However, while Chat GPT is often effective it is not foolproof. After testing its limits, Zurich-based data scientist Teresa Kubacka found that when presented with misinformation Chat GPT had no ability to determine inauthenticity. After asking the AI to write about a made-up phenomenon, Chat GPT went on to produce a work of equal nonsensical value, citing nonexistent sources and falsifying publications. This is yet another reason educators are trying to quell the spread of misinformation and safeguard students against academic dishonesty.
To disrupt the onslaught of AI-centered cheating, schools have taken measures to minimize student exposure to this technology. Recently, New York City schools have banned access to Chat GPT on all school-operated networks and computers. Seattle schools have also restricted access to Chat GPT as well as other websites used to forge classwork. In addition, many schools have also gone to lengths to invest in technology that is able to recognize AI-generated work. It is hoped that these changes will promote academic integrity by discouraging students from presenting AI-generated work as their own.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/technology/chatgpt-schools-teachers.html
https://www.npr.org/2022/12/19/1143912956/chatgpt-ai-chatbot-homework-academia
https://apnews.com/article/what-is-chat-gpt-ac4967a4fb41fda31c4d27f015e32660
What to Bring to the SAT
When you take the SAT, there are a few things you'll need to bring with you. See below for a list of what not to forget on your test day!
Printed Admissions Ticket
When you register to take the SAT, you will receive an admissions ticket for your specific testing location. You’ll need to bring a printed copy of this ticket with you to the testing center - before printing, double check to make sure the location hasn’t changed!
Photo ID
Accepted photo identification must be the original version of an ID issued by the government or by the school which you currently attend. The name on the ID must match the name on your registration.
Two No. 2 Pencils
It can’t hurt to have a spare - and make sure they have working erasers!
An Approved Calculator
You can use a calculator on the Math Test - Calculator section! Accepted calculators include all scientific calculators, most graphing calculators, and four-function calculators (although these are not recommended due to their simplicity). Note that you may not share calculators with others.
Face Covering
Make sure you check the masking requirements for your specific testing location, and bring along a face covering just in case.
A Watch
While not required, it can be helpful to bring a watch with you to the test, so that you can more effectively pace yourself. Smart watches will not be allowed - the simpler the better! Also, be sure to make sure your watch doesn’t have an alarm set.
Water Bottle and Snacks
For most students, there will be one 10-minute break and one 5-minute break during the test. You won’t be able to use your phones, but you will be able to take a drink and have a quick snack!
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
The SAT Changing to a Digital Format in 2024
To adjust to the changing landscape of standardized testing, in 2024 the College Board will be offering the SAT digitally to students in the United States. Covid-19 and other factors caused a decreased demand for SAT scores by colleges causing many high schools to forego in-school SAT testing. Because of this, students have less access to and incentive to take the SAT than ever before. To support students’ changing needs, College Board has adapted the SAT to an improved digital format. They believe this change will increase student interest and make the test more relevant to student needs.
According to Priscilla Rodriguez of College Board, “the digital SAT will be much easier to take, easier to give, and more relevant.” Rodriguez claims this testing format will benefit students as it is similar to the online tests they’ve seen in school. The digital SAT will be adaptive, meaning questions will vary based on student answers. The efficiency of adaptive testing means that students will spend around two hours taking the test digitally as opposed to three hours with the previous manual version. Other changes include shorter reading passages and access to calculators for the entirety of the math section.
To take the SAT digitally, students will meet at a testing location where the test can be monitored. Students may use their own computers. However, if a student does not have access to a computer, one will be provided to them for the duration of the test. Students will no longer need extraneous materials such as writing utensils and calculators. Therefore, lack of access to these materials will no longer be an issue. In addition, digital SAT scores will now be available just days after testing as opposed to several weeks with the hand-written version. The College Board believes these adjustments will benefit students by modernizing the standard SAT format.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Loss of Learning
Since 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a drastic decrease in academic achievement for students across the country. Both educationally and emotionally, over half of K-12 public school teachers admit that students have suffered greatly since the beginning of the pandemic. According to the Department of Education, only 26% of 8th graders are proficient in math compared to 34% proficiency of 8th graders in 2019. In addition, only 33% of fourth graders have achieved proficiency in math-- another dramatic decrease in performance. Experts in the education field believe that this is due to many factors that have resulted from the pandemic. Illness, isolation, remote learning, and anxiety are some of the leading issues students continue to face.
Among those affected, high-poverty areas have suffered the most in terms of educational decline. Sean Reardon, an education professor at Stanford states, “When you have a massive crisis, the worst effects end up being felt by the people with the least resources.” In some of the poorest communities such as that of Memphis, Tennessee, students lost over a year’s worth of progress in math and 70% of a year’s worth of progress in reading. Poverty and time spent learning remotely have proven to be two of the leading factors in students’ loss of learning.
To address these mounting issues, schools have put some strategies into effect. Many schools have added staff such as teacher’s aides to their classrooms, offered tutoring options, and created summer programs for student enrichment. Additionally, most schools have invested in technology in order to make remote learning as effective as possible. Nationally, school systems have spent over $190 million dollars in federal aid to promote academic recovery for students. Still, many educators feel these modifications are insufficient to meet the needs of struggling students, especially in economically disadvantaged school districts. Though adjustments have been made to minimize the effects of the pandemic, schools still struggle to fill positions and keep students engaged in the classroom.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Sources:
https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/education-leaders-advise-how-to-aid-pandemic-learning-loss-159290949539
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/30/learning-loss-from-virtual-school-due-to-covid-is-significant-.html
https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2022-10-28/massive-learning-setbacks-show-covids-sweeping-toll-on-kids#:~:text=The%20analysis%20found%20the%20average,double%20those%20amounts%2C%20or%20worse.
An Overview of the PSAT
The PSAT is a test taken in a student’s sophomore or junior year, and is typically seen as a trial run for the SAT. The sections are the same on the PSAT as the SAT: evidence-based reading, writing and language, math (no calculator), and math (calculator). Thus, a student’s score on the PSAT is a helpful indicator of where to best focus efforts when preparing for the SAT. Additionally, a PSAT score can give students an idea of how close they are to the average SAT score of their target colleges and universities.
While colleges do not take into account PSAT scores, it’s more than simply a practice test. It also serves as the qualifying test for National Merit Scholarships. Every year, around 50,000 students will qualify for recognition based on their PSAT scores - a distinction which can be included in a college application. Of these students, around 8000 finalists will win scholarship money to be used towards their higher education.
Overall, while students shouldn’t stress about the PSAT, it should be seen as a chance to practice standardized test-taking, a helpful tool to focus SAT prep, and a chance to apply for a National Merit Scholarship.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
SAT Deadlines and Potential Fees
The College Board sets several deadlines for each SAT testing date that parents should account for in their test preparations. The test dates below are the remaining dates for the 2022-23 school year, but more will be confirmed in the fall as well. There are usually seven or so test dates in every calendar year.
March 11th, 2023
Registration Deadline: February 10th, 2023
Change, Late Registration, and Cancellation Deadline: February 28th, 2023
May 6th, 2023
Registration Deadline: April 7th, 2023
Change, Late Registration, and Cancellation Deadline: April 25th, 2023
June 3rd, 2023
Registration Deadline: June 3rd, 2023
Change, Late Registration, and Cancellation Deadline: May 23rd, 2023
Registering for the SAT costs $60 per test. Note that any changes in registration will incur a $25 fee, and any late registrations incur a $30 fee. Canceling your registration will result in a $25 fee if you do so before the cancellation deadline, or a $35 fee if you do so after.
The College Board also provides some other testing-related services for additional fees, including providing four score reports free of charge if requested within 9 days of the test date ($12 for every report beyond that), rush report shipping ($31 plus the additional report fee), scores by phone ($15 per call), and hand scoring your test results ($55).
There is also a fee waiver program that students may apply for. If eligible, students can take 2 tests for free, and access most testing services at a significant discount. Change fees and rush score fees will still apply. You can check eligibility requirements here, but the primary requirement is falling under the federal poverty guidelines set by the USDA (based on the size of your household.
Nate Hall, Director of Technology & Tutoring Coordinator
nate@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
SAT & ACT Scores Promote Diversity In Universities
Over the last several years, many colleges and universities have chosen to forego SAT/ACT admissions requirements which were previously considered standard. Other schools made these requirements optional for prospective students. Largely due to the pandemic, this adjustment was made in an effort to promote student body diversity and equitable education conditions. However, new data from the University of California suggests that eradicating standardized tests as part of admissions criteria may not lead to a more diverse community of students.
In January 2020, UC released a report stating that mandating SAT and ACT results actually promotes diversity and protects against prejudice during the admissions process. The report claims “because each applicant’s test scores are viewed within the applicant’s local context, they offer a means for protecting the diversity of the applicant pool.” Test scores are weighed against location, socioeconomic status, and other exterior factors, leading to a more well-rounded understanding of each applicant. Because of this research, some schools are rethinking their admissions policy regarding standardized tests.
Among them, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has recently decided to re-institute its standardized test admissions requirement. Previously, MIT made test scores optional as part of their pandemic adaptations. Despite this, they have found that they will be able to foster a more diverse student body by once again requiring these tests and strategically reviewing them. Stu Schmill, the Dean of Admissions at MIT, has stated that not requiring test scores “tends to raise socio-economic barriers” since access to these tests is available in virtually all communities. Therefore, MIT is set to make the transition back to standardized test scores in the coming years.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/02/politics/sat-act-standardized-tests-what-matters/index.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mit-reinstates-sat-act-mandate-will-colleges-follow-rcna22093
The Writing & Language Section on the SAT
On the SAT, the Writing and Language section is designed to measure students’ ability to follow standard conventions of written English. In this section, students will be asked to edit or revise selected texts for increased correctness and conciseness. Students will have 35 minutes to answer 44 questions—this means they should spend an average of 48 seconds on each question.
There are typically four writing passages on the test that are approximately 400-450 words, each with around 11 accompanying questions. Punctuation questions test your ability to correctly use punctuation marks. Grammar questions involve understanding grammar conventions including subject-verb agreement, verb formation, and preposition usage. Other questions will test your ability to construct sentences correctly, select precise words and avoid redundancy, and strategize about the overall effectiveness and organization of your writing.
While the optional essay was discontinued by the College Board in 2021, this section will still test your understanding of how to successfully communicate using standard English conventions. To tackle these questions, make sure you read each option carefully and pinpoint what rule or skill is being tested. Additionally, it always helps to read as much as you can in the months before the test to help develop your intuition for correct, effective writing!
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
The Reading Section on the SAT
The reading section of the SAT is composed of 52 multiple-choice questions that students have 65 minutes to complete. Students may earn from 200 to 800 points for this section and the writing section combined. During the allotted time, students are asked to read five different passages and answer questions that correspond with each passage. On average, each passage consists of 500-750 words followed by ten questions. These passages are broken up into the following categories:
Fiction
Students will read one passage of fiction from a piece of literature that has been established in the modern canon. For these passages, students will be asked to analyze plot structure, recognize literary devices, and have a general knowledge of the characterization, themes, and tones expressed throughout the passage.
Historical/Global Studies
Students will read one passage relating to historical/global studies. These texts are made up of U.S. founding documents or pieces of literature from the larger global discussion. These passages often focus on topics of liberty, human rights, and social justice.
Economics, Psychology, or Social Science
Students will read one passage that pertains to either economics, psychology, or social science. These passages are often followed by graphs or tables which the reader must be able to interpret.
Science
Students will be asked to read and interpret two science passages. These are typically peer-reviewed studies from scientific journals or databases and often include tables and graphs. As these passages are usually full of complicated language, it is less important to understand every small piece of data and more important to have a complete picture of what the body of literature is saying as a whole.
It is important to note that the reading section of the SAT is composed of one set of “paired passages.” These are passages that relate to each other but offer different perspectives or varying evidence-based information. Questions relating to these passages will ask students to engage with each text individually as well as draw conclusions based on both pieces of information.
Altogether, the Reading section of the SAT is designed to test each student’s reading comprehension ability while allowing them to engage with different mediums of text in a variety of ways. Most commonly, students will be asked to engage critically with literature, draw rational conclusions based on inference, interpret scientific/historic data, and synthesize information between multiple passages. To have the best chance of success, it is important that students feel comfortable with the formatting and time restraints of the reading section before taking the test.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Sources:
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/official-sat-study-guide-about-reading-test.pdf
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/whats-on-the-test/reading/overview
The Math Sections on the SAT
The SAT Math sections consist of one 25-minute section with 20 questions, where no calculators are allowed, and one 55-minute section with 38 questions, where calculators are allowed. Around 20% of problems are gridded-response questions, and around 80% are multiple choice. Students can score anywhere from 200 to 800 points on the Math section (including both the No-Calculator and Calculator sections). In addition, all questions in the Calculator and No-Calculator sections stem from four categories created by the College Board: Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, Passport to Advanced Math, and Additional Topics in Math.
Heart of Algebra questions can involve anything concerning linear equations, or systems of linear equations. Students may be asked to create equations of their own to solve for a variable given a situation, or interpret the relationship between two linear equations.
Problem Solving and Data Analysis questions ask students to solve problems using ratios, proportions, percentages, probability and unit conversions. They also involve interpreting data (spread, averages, frequency), graphs (line of best fit, exponential/linear growth,), tables, and in some cases, linear or exponential equations in relation to their visual representations.
Passport to Advanced Math encompasses all questions involving quadratic equations. This can include simplifying or factoring, solving for roots/zeros, manipulating radicals, or interpreting graphs of quadratic equations. Students will also be asked to create equations, but they will be more complex and often quadratic in nature.
Additional Topics in Math contains a variety of topics that don’t quite fit into the other three categories. These topics include 2-D and 3-D geometry (trigonometric functions, congruence/similarity, the Pythagorean Theorem, degrees and radians, arc length, and circles) and complex/imaginary numbers.
Overall, the SAT Math section is testing for not just understanding of all the concepts above, but students’ ability to apply them to real world situations. Similar to fully learning a new language, the SAT Math sections demand math comprehension as well as “math fluency.”
Nate Hall, Tutoring Coordinator
nate@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266