Flickr user US Department of Education
Your student may have their ACT and SAT coming up and are busy studying every evening for this big exam! Even though they’re at their desk reading away or taking practice tests, there are plenty of things you can do as a parent to help them. Here are a few things you can do to assist your children when it comes to their ACT or SAT:
Don’t Add onto the Stress
Sometimes, without meaning to, parents can add onto their student’s stress, especially when it comes to the ACT and SAT. First, it’s important to remember that this exam isn’t the end all for college applications. Even if they don’t do as well as they would like, there are plenty of other factors that matter for their future. They can always take it again too!
If you have older children or know neighbors’ children who have already taken the test, you probably also want to avoid parroting their scores. You really don’t want to compare one child to another. They will preform differently on the test and may have completely different strengths and weaknesses. You don’t want to put the bar so high that they feel discouraged, stressed, or worn out.
Offer to Help
Some students do well on their own, but you child may benefit from your offer to help. They may appreciate your assistance in creating a study guide and schedule or getting the needed materials too study. If you’re not sure what they may need, ask! They might have a pretty good idea of what they need to get the score they want.
You can also offer to give them a ride to and from the exam. Don’t let them worry about finding a ride or driving there themselves. A drive from you can give them the time to go over some last minute notes or to relax just before the long ACT or SAT.
Consider Multiple Tests
If their score wasn’t as good as they wanted, your student may want to retake the test. Even if their score was good, this may still be the case! They might want to aim for something higher. Other children even want to take both the ACT and SAT to see which plays to their strengths. So keep in mind that they may need your assistance or your car a few times, not just the one.
If they’re discouraged by their first score, encourage them to take it a second time or to take the other exam. Offer to help again if they need it. Your assistance may make the difference on the second go around.
The SAT and ACT season is a very stressful time for students. Remember that these exams, although important, are not life and death. They can always take it again and you can always be there to help them score better on the next date. Encouragement and an offer to assist can always be a huge boon to your student’s efforts!
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