Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

SAT vs ACT: Which is Better?

A recent article in the New York Times lays out a great case of why more students are taking both the ACT and the SAT. Check it out here.

The SAT vs ACT debate is a frequent topic of conversation with my students and their families. Many families want to know: which test is better, the ACT or the SAT?

Nowadays, colleges will accept either score.

So the bottom line, I tell my students, is to figure out which test is better for that particular student. As the New York Times article describes, some students prefer the more straightforward and predictable layout of the ACT, while others like the gaming, scoring and shorter sections on the SAT.

Take both and see which one yields a better score. Once you figure that out, focus test prep for only one test. Assuming the college of choice will accept either score, a student would be wise to ignore one test and strictly focus on the preparation for the other. Guide books, private tutoring or other instruction can be an excellent way to boost test scores.

Also remember that some colleges don’t even look at test scores (click here for a list of schools that do not emphasize SAT or ACT scores in their admission process).

Maximize your test prep by focusing on one test. Contact CROSSWALK to learn more about our private tutoring, Boot Camps and academic tutoring on the Monterey Peninsula.

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

New SAT and ACT Boot Camp Dates Added!

Wait a second, do SAT or ACT Boot Camps really work?


Maybe this mother from Pebble Beach will convince you:

“After the CROSSWALK SAT Boot Camp, our son understood the ins and outs of SAT testing. He learned when to leave an answer blank, got a great picture of the entire scoring system, and practiced the techniques of eliminating wrong answers. His test scores improved immensely as did his confidence level. This is efficient learning at its best!”

OK, that is just one mom, but there are plenty of satisfied CROSSWALK clients that learn key strategies and test content for both the SAT and the ACT. 

The one-day SAT or ACT Boot Camp is not for every learner. In fact, don’t expect to know everything after just one boot camp. But you will have all the tools to get the job done. Students understand test content, prepare a personalized game plan to get the desired score and learn key activities to hone skills. 

Best of all, a ton of new Boot Camp dates have been added for fall 2013 and winter 2014. Check the calendar at CROSSWALK for details. 

CROSSWALK Educational Services offers private tutoring in all academic subjects, personalized SAT and ACT Prep as well as small group ACT/SAT Boot Camps. Contact us today to learn more. 
Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Superscoring the SAT and the ACT

Superscoring is the practice of taking the highest subscore from individual test sections to combine them into one superscore. A superscore would thus cherry pick the best subscores across multiple test dates in order to come up with one, more impressive superscore.
For example, let’s say you take the SAT in the spring and score a 610 on the Math, a 630 on Critical Reading and a 540 on Writing for a total composite score of 1780. In an attempt to improve your score, you decide to take the test again the fall. On your second sitting, you score a 570 on the Math, a 640 on the Critical Reading and a 570 on the Writing. Again, your composite score is a 1780. However, your superscore is actually an 1820. 
You see, some schools will take the 610 you scored in Math from the first test and add that to the best Critical Reading and the best Writing score regardless of test date. Thus, your superscore is more impressive than your composite score.
Same goes for the ACT. Some schools will select your best score in each section (Math, Reading, Science, Writing) and average those best scores all together for one ACT superscore. 
Now, the rub is that not all schools follow this method. Schools undoubtedly want applicants with the best scores, thus making acceptance more competitive. However, some schools have not adopted the superscore policy. 
For a list of schools and their superscore policy regarding the SAT, check out this list produced by the College Board. As for the ACT, this list is about as reliable as it gets. 
The moral of the story is to check the school(s) that are interesting to you. Find out their policy and you can adjust your test strategies as such. 
If you have any questions, contact CROSSWALK, the Monterey Peninusla’s local resource for test prep, private tutoring and ACT/SAT Boot Camps. 
Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Profitable Fundraising to Boost Test Scores

Here is a novel fundraising idea for local clubs and schools: a One-Day SAT or ACT Boot Camp hosted by CROSSWALK.


First, about the Boot Camps:

Over the last five years, the One-Day Boot Camp is CROSSWALK’s most popular offering. It’s quick, affordable and yields proven results.

Now, about the fundraising:

CROSSWALK will present a One-Day SAT or ACT Boot Camp for the high schoolers in your club. All students will receive a discounted price for the camp, and more importantly, your organization will receive 20% of all proceeds! And, the more students in your organization, the more funds your group will raise.

Further, since many clubs and schools have wacky schedules, I will work around your schedule. You pick the time that is best for you. You can even pick the place!

Best of all, your students would receive key test-taking tips to boost their test  scores.

It’s a no risk, high reward, win-win fundraising program. If you are interested in learning more, contact CROSSWALK.

CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula local’s resource for test prep, Boot Camps and other academic tutoring.

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

10 Things to Do to Prepare for the SAT and ACT

My thanks to all who attended the free “10 Things to Do this Summer to Prepare for the SAT and ACT” workshop last week. It was a great evening full of some very useful information. 

In case you missed it, I prepared a very brief (by very, I mean no more than five minutes!) overview of the workshop. Have a gander at the following video and feel free to contact me with any questions. 

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CROSSWALK is Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for test prep and academic tutoring. Boot Camps, Summer Camps and private tutoring are just a few of the test prep options offered. Subscribe to this blog right from CROSSWALK’s home page or contact CROSSWALK to learn more. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

FREE Workshop: "10 Things to Do This Summer to Prepare for the ACT & SAT"

Wondering how to prepare for the ACT and SAT this summer? Well, here is your first step!

Attend “10 Things to Do This Summer to Prepare for the ACT and SAT” for FREE! 

That’s right! This free workshop is for parents and students alike. You will discover excellent study tips, approaches to test preparation and more. Brooke Higgins, founder and lead Test Prep Instructor at CROSSWALK, will show you how to take full advantage of the summer months to maximize your success. All of this, for free! 

Here are the details:

When: June 6th from 6:00-7:30pm

Where: Classroom #MG100 on the campus of the Monterey Institute of International Studies. This classroom is located in the McGowan building on the corner of Franklin and Pacific in downtown Monterey. Park on the street or any MIIS-designated lot. 

How: spaces are limited so contact CROSSWALK today to reserve your spot. You can email, leave a message on the website or call 831-70-TUTOR today to request your spot. 

CROSSWALK is Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for academic tutoring and test prep. Since 2002, CROSSWALK has worked with local schools and college counselors alike. Make CROSSWALK your next step for test preparation and academic success.  

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

The Worst Month to Take the SAT or ACT

When is the best time to take the SAT or the ACT? Is there a month when the test is easier? Or–gasp–harder?

The truth of the matter is that test versions are not easier or harder by the month. In other words, there is neither a month for an easy test nor a month for a hard test. 

The SAT and the ACT are standardized tests that colleges use to compare results across a number of months. For example, the score Student A receives on the December test should be equitably compared with the score Student B receives on the June test. If there were a difference between test versions, then colleges would not be able to compare scores on tests taken in different months.

So don’t believe anyone that claims to know that a test in one month will be easier, or harder, than a test in another month. 

However, there is a worst month to take the test. 

The worst month to take the test is the month in which the student is too distracted to focus on testing and stress-free preparation. The worst month is the month in which school work, extracurricular activities and other commitments are so encompassing that there is no time to focus on getting the attitude ready for an aptitude test. 

For many students, the worst month to take the test is June. May and June can be so full of activities that stress levels run high. Consider what many students have on their plate as the school year ends: final exams, prom, performances, graduation-related activities, sports championships, summer job hunting, etc. With so much on one’s plate, how can someone get ready for the test?

The June test is not harder. But the months of May and June can be more stressful than other months which can make the June test more challenging. 

Take the SAT or ACT when there is the least amount of stress in your life. Since there is no month in which the test will be easier, pick a month when you are free of major distractions. 

Learn more about CROSSWALK’s SAT and ACT Boot Camp here. CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula’s resource for ACT and SAT prep and academic tutoring in all subjects. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

SAT Score: Begin With the End in Mind

The first step towards SAT success has very little to do with the test itself. Before you do anything, you need to decide what score you want on the SAT.

Wait a second: decide your score before the test? Don’t you want to perform as well as possible?

Yes, you want to do as well as you can. However, unless you need a 2400 to get into Harvard, you only need to achieve a score that gets you into the school(s) of your choice. In other words, your end is the SAT score that will give you the best chance to get accepted by your selected college(s).

Chances are that you have never considered this kind of approach with a normal school test. Usually you want to score as close to a 100% as possible.

Not so on the SAT. Students can both pursue and achieve ends that are far from perfect and still get into their schools of choice. Consider the following: according to UCLA’s website, the average SAT score for “admitted incoming freshmen” is “between 1760 and 2140.” If the SAT were scored on a 100% scale, that means some students are getting into UCLA with as low as a 73% on the SAT (1760/2400=.7333). Get a 73% on a school test and you barely pass with a C. Get a 73% on the SAT and you can get into UCLA.

Crazy, right? A C represents an average score in school but a good score on the SAT. And while you may never strive for a C in school, it could very well be a good goal on the SAT.

So let’s get back to your end and, much like Steven Covey’s Habits of Highly Successful People, you should begin with the end in mind.   

To begin with the end in mind, first figure out your end. Your end is the college you would like to attend. Pick three schools: a dream school that might be out of your reach, a realistic school that is possible and a back up in case things go sideways. Now, figure out what SAT score you need to get into the three schools.

This SAT score is your goal that will get you to your end. 

Now, when you prepare for and take the test, you don’t need to answer every question correctly. You simply need to create the right combination of correct answers, incorrect answers and omitted answers in order to achieve your goal score. Pretty simple, right? It all starts with the end in mind.

Learn more about the SAT and ACT with private tutoring, One-Day Boot Camps or Summer Camps from CROSSWALK right here on the Monterey Peninsula. Contact us to learn more. 
Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

SAT Truth: It’s a Reading Test

Let’s face it: the SAT is reading test. While there are three sections (Math, Writing and Critical Reading), the truth is that the SAT primarily assesses your ability to read. 


Remember, the SAT is designed to predict your college performance. Most college classes require lots of reading, hence the focus of reading on the SAT.

Consider the following: there are 170 total questions on the SAT (not including the Essay question) of which there are 67 Critical Reading questions, 54 Math questions and 49 Writing questions. So which section has the most questions? Critical Reading! 

But let’s dig deeper: of the 67 questions on Critical Reading, 48 of them are Passage-Based Reading questions. In other words, 48 point-scoring opportunities out of 170 total opportunities assess your reading comprehension. Put differently, almost 30% of the entire test assesses your ability to read a passage and comprehend it. 

But wait, there’s more. Even the Math and Writing questions require you to both read and comprehend. In fact, many students fail to correctly answer certain questions correctly simply because they do not read and comprehend the question. 

For example, try this problem:

If x + 1 = 3, what is 2x? 

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5
E) 6

This should be an easy problem for most students. Solving the equation for x gives you a result of 2. So A is the correct answer, right? Wrong! If you do not read the question entirely, you miss the fact that you need to find the answer to 2x, in other words, 4. Thus, C is the correct answer. 

So even SAT math problems require excellent reading comprehension. Same goes for the writing section. All told, the SAT is primarily a reading test. 
For this reason, the best way to improve your SAT score is to, you guessed it, READ! 

Learn more SAT and ACT tips from CROSSWALK, the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for private tutoring, SAT or ACT Boot Camps and other test preparation. 
Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

SAT Score: Context > Content

Read a chapter, memorize the terms and regurgitate them on a test. It’s content-based learning at its finest and it’s standard practice in most schools. 

Much of learning is based on acquiring and retaining new content. For some educators, content is king. Their goal is to stock a student’s brain with as much information as possible. 

While learning content is certainly a big part of education, it’s not the only part. Sometimes, context is more important than content. To truly learn, one must make connections across content to comprehend the context of a situation. 

It’s a skill that the College Board feels predicts college performance and that is why many SAT questions are based on context more than content. 

Take math questions, for instance. Rarely do you find a straightforward Algebra problem like “solve for x.” Instead, you have to “solve for x” in the context of a Geometry problem, or a word problem. 

On the reading section, vocabulary questions require more than rote definitions. You have to fill words in the blanks based on clues that the sentence provides. 

In other words, the context of a situation is more important than the content. If this were a math equation it would be: context > content. 

Score more on the SAT by understanding that context, and not content, is king on the SAT. 

Contact CROSSWALK to learn about SAT & ACT Boot Camps, private tutoring and other academic support.