Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

How to Achieve More ACT and SAT Success

The ACT and the SAT are basically a numbers game. Scaled scores, raw scores, percentiles, number of correct answers to achieve your goal score, total questions, total minutes per section, points per minute, etc. It’s all about the numbers. 


But there is one number that is guaranteed to get your more successes on the SAT and ACT. 

Failures.

Yes, failures. The more failures you achieve, the more successes you build. 

It’s the most basic numbers game of all and it is one salespeople know too well. If you want more sales, then go out and seek more rejection. Each rejection can teach you how to sell more and along the way some of those rejections will become successes.

Same with the ACT and SAT. The more times you fail at a particular question type or section, the more you will succeed. You can learn from your failures and along the way you will figure out how to  achieve more success. 

It’s not rocket science, it is just time on task. Put in the time, try problem after problem, dissect your score reports and learn how to get better. 

As Napoleon Hill once said, “Patience, persistence and preparation make an unbeatable combination for success.”  

I love students who come to me to say “I bombed that test.” The failure they see in their mind is a step closer to success in my mind. 

Learn from your failures with CROSSWALK, the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for SAT, ACT,  PSAT, SSAT and academic subjects. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Winter 2018 Test Prep Series

Kick off 2018 with a focused and individualized SAT and ACT test prep program by Brooke Higgins of CROSSWALK.


Starting Tuesday, January 9, CROSSWALK is hosting a six-week winter ACT and SAT test prep series.

Attend in person at the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach or via Skype.

All sessions meet on Tuesday evenings from 6-7:30pm. Here is the schedule:

  • 1/9: SAT and ACT Test Overview and General Strategies
  • 1/16: Reading Strategies for Success
  • 1/23: Math Strategies for Success
  • 1/30: Writing Strategies for Success
  • 2/6: Science Strategies for Success
  • 2/13: Essay Strategies for Success
Drop in for the session you need and pay by the class or sign up for the whole program and save.

Sign up via the following form.

Questions? Or need further information? Contact CROSSWALK here.

CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT prep and academic tutoring. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

How to Perfectly Practice for the SAT and ACT

Like any skill, test-taking requires time to develop.

If you want to learn to play the guitar, take the time to practice and get better. If you want to speak Chinese, take the time to practice and get better. If you want to do improve your SAT or ACT score, take the time to get better.

But time isn’t the sole driver of success. The time you spend on your practice must be quality time.

You could go the gym to practice basketball for two hours but if the only thing you do in those two hours is shoot half-court shots then your practice was meaningless.

As Vince Lombardi famously stated, “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.”

So how do you perfectly practice for the SAT and ACT? What is the best way to get some quality practice for your next test?

Consider these practice techniques that will force you to practice perfectly:

  • Remove All Distractions: Many students like to study with the tv on, some music in the background and/or their cell phone close by. Since you can’t watch tv,  listen to music or use a cell phone on test day, practice what it feels like to be in a testing environment and remove all of those distractions. By recreating the testing environment, you will practice perfectly the test day experience. 
  • Practice Against the Clock: Some students get lackadaisical with their test prep by not timing their practice. Since the test is timed, be sure to practice against the clock. If I give a student a practice set for homework, my first question is always, “How was your time management?” If they respond, “um, I forgot to time myself,” then their practice was likely meaningless. 
  • Know Your Tools: Aside from the math toolbox, students don’t have much in the way of tools on test day. A pencil, calculator, test booklet and answer sheet are about it. Nevertheless, practice using these tools during your test prep. For example, don’t use your cell phone calculator for your practice sessions as cell phone calculators are not approved on test day. Practice with an approved calculator to get familiar with it. You should also practice annotating reading passages and crunching numbers in your test booklet. Even practicing how to bubble in your answers on the answer sheet, especially or SAT Math grid-ins, can be useful. 
  • Set a Routine: A routine can create confidence and comfort on test day. I once met a student that, in anticipation of test day, took four practice tests on four consecutive Saturdays leading up to the test. On the fifth Saturday, the day of the test, everything was routine for the student. Setting aside four Saturday mornings in a row may not be possible for everyone but setting a routine should be. 
Yes, it takes time to get better at any skill. There are no quick fixes. 

But take maximum advantage of your practice time by practicing perfectly. 

For more tips on preparing for the SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT or other academic subjects, contact CROSSWALK today. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Is the SAT Dying a Slow Death?

The validity and efficacy of standardized testing remains a highly debatable topic. 


On one hand, highly competitive universities continue to use standardized test scores to sift through thousands of applications received annually. For these schools, an objective and standardized assessment can prove to be an efficient way to determine whether or not a student has the potential to succeed in college.

On the other hand, many schools realize that standardized tests create unnecessary stress for students and results are often biased against certain groups. These schools are moving away from using test scores as a means to weigh an applicant’s potential for college success. 

And according to FairTest, the number of schools moving away from using test scores in their process of admission is growing. 

FairTest states that, since the SAT launched its revised version of the test in March 2016, more than 100 colleges and universities have dropped SAT and ACT requirements. Now, there are almost 1,000 colleges and universities that “do not use the SAT or ACT to admit substantial number of bachelor-degree applicants.” 

The good news is that with so many schools eliminating the need for SAT and ACT, there are now more reasons to not stress about SAT and ACT performance. The bad news is that there are still thousands of other schools that continue to use test performance in their admission evaluations. 

The SAT may be dying slowly but cynics note that the College Board is a big business with stakeholders and investors who will fight for its relevance, survival and, most importantly, profitability. 

My work as an SAT and ACT tutor is safe for now because I will continue to remind students that they need not stress about test performance. Stress is the enemy of test performance and with almost 1,000 schools not using SAT or ACT performance in their admission decisions, there should be no reason to stress on test day. 

To prepare for the SSAT, PSAT, ACT or SAT stress-free, contact CROSSWALK today. 


Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Accused of Cheating on the ACT?

A student of mine called me in a panic over the summer. “I’ve been accused of cheating on the ACT! What can I do?” 

Wait a second, I thought to myself. This is not a student who would cheat. 


I’ve heard of cheaters who fake their identification so that someone else can take the test for them. Or students who peek over the shoulder of another student during the test. And even the rumors that international students somehow gain access to the test version before the test. 

None of these scenarios seemed to apply to my student. 

Here was a student with a 19 on her ACT before she and I started to work together. Over the course of five sessions in a little under two months, we worked on her timing and her strategic approach to the test. She made marked improvement and she set a goal to score in the mid-20s. 

Her results came back and we were both extremely pleased: she scored a 29! A 10-point increase in two months surprised both of us. But based on our work together, we knew she would improve. 

I’ve come to find out that a major increase in such a short time frame triggers a flag within the ACT Inc’s scoring system. These kind of things usually don’t happen so the ACT reacts and accuses the student of cheating. 

The good news is that this story has a happy ending. I prepared a letter for my student so she could petition the accusation. We presented evidence of our work and how her increase was due to hard work, not cheating. The college that ultimately offered her admission did not put any stock into the accusation and she was admitted without any issue. 

Have you been accused of cheating on the ACT? Know anyone that has? In my 15+ years of test prep, this has never happened to me so I want to learn more. Feel free to post your comments here if you have any input. 

If you want to improve your score, and potentially be accused of cheating, contact CROSSWALK. We specialize in test prep for SAT, ACT, SSAT, PSAT and more. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Most Important Rate Problem for SAT and ACT

Rate problems are common on the SAT or ACT. Calculate the rate of a train traveling x miles in y hours, for example. Or how many hours will it take to mow the lawn if 8 people can mow the lawn in 6 hours but 3 people take the day off? 


While knowing how to solve these rate problems will help, there is one rate problem that is by far the most important: how many points can you score per minute? 

Points per minute is the most important rate to consider when taking the SAT and/or ACT. The name of the game is scoring points, i.e. getting correct answers, but the game is only played when you factor in the timing. 

A question I often ask students after a practice set: do you have more test at the end of the time or do you have more time at the end of the test?

Answers to this question represent an opportunity for a student. The student that has more test at the end of time needs to find ways to move faster through questions and to get to more point scoring opportunities. The student that has more time at the end of the test can learn to slow down and use extra time to double check answers. 

It is all about how many points you can score per minute of the test. 

Another consideration when looking at points per minute: should you read the directions for each section on test day? By reading the directions on test day, minutes move but points do not. Instead, read the directions before the test (don’t worry, they won’t change) and get right into scoring points on test day. 

Since most questions allow about a minute per question (give or take depending on the section and not accounting for any testing accommodations), an ideal rate could be 1 point per minute. ACT Math, for example, is 60 questions in 60 minutes. At a 1 point per minute rate, you could achieve a perfect score. 

While perfection may be rare, a good goal can be to maximize your points per minute. It’s not just points, its points per minute. It takes a bit of a mindset shift to look at the SAT and ACT as a points per minute rate problem but this is the most important rate problem on the test. 

For SAT, ACT, SSAT, PSAT and academic support, contact CROSSWALK. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

The First Step in SAT and ACT Prep

Preparing for the ACT and/or SAT can feel like a journey of a thousand miles. And a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, right?

The good news is that the first step in SAT and ACT prep is the easiest step of all.


The first step is to assess where you are presently. Like the doctor who runs a diagnostic test to see what ails or does not ail a patient, a student should do a practice test to see what strengths and weaknesses s/he has. 

An official SAT or ACT test may be the most informative way to do this. Register and take an official SAT or ACT and request a detailed score report. This detailed score report will highlight what a student does well and what s/he should work on for the next iteration. 

Even an unofficial practice test can be a valuable experience. Download a practice test from the ACT or SAT websites and be sure to download the scoring documents as well. After taking the test, score and analyze the test to identify areas of strength and weakness. 

To make your first step on the test prep journey even easier, CROSSWALK will do a FREE score analysis for you. Send CROSSWALK your detailed score report or a practice test score sheet and we will give you 3-5 tips and strategies to work on for next time. For free! 

Contact CROSSWALK today for more details and do let us know how we can help in your test prep journey. 


Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Perfect Test Scores Never Enough

Your test score is only one piece of the college admission pie. 

My students know this the first day we start sessions. And I repeat this mantra over and over. 

The first reason I share this statement with students is to reduce any stress and anxiety they have about the SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT or other standardized test. 

Since stress is the enemy of test performance, it is important for students to understand that their test score does not determine everything about the potential for college acceptance. 

The second reason I share this with my students is so that they start to build out the rest of the pie. Admission decisions are based on test scores, GPA, essays, letters of reference, interviews, portfolios and more. Since test scores are only one piece of this, I encourage my students to work on the other pie pieces in conjunction with test scores. 

A college counselor friend of mine likes to tell the story of a student who did not have the test scores for UC Berkeley, or so he thought. He helped his client apply to UC Merced in addition to UC Berkeley so that we would have a viable back up option. His test scores indicated that acceptance to UC Merced was highly probable. Turns out the student did not get accepted to UC Merced but got accepted by UC Berkeley. Something happened along the way that had nothing to do with test scores. 

Another story worth noting happened recently at Harvard. The school rescinded the admission of ten students after the school learned the students had posted obscene messages on Facebook. These students undoubtedly had excellent test scores but test scores were not enough.  

Test scores can matter but a perfect score is not enough. Be sure you work on all aspects of your application, not just the measurable ones. 

For more test prep advice, contact CROSSWALK today. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Los Recursos en Español Para el SAT y ACT

A pesar de que los exámenes estandarizados del ACT y SAT están en Inglés, existen algunos recursos útiles en Español.

Primero, el College Board (la organización que produce el SAT) ofrece un sitio de web con información en Español. El sitio, accesible aquí, contiene vínculos para aprender más del examen y más del proceso de admisión universitaria.

Con respeto al ACT, su información está disponible en un guía en Español aquí. ACT, Inc. (los que producen el ACT) incluye un examen de práctica y varios consejos para los estudiantes en su guía. 

Ambos recursos presentan información útil para los dos exámenes. 

Igual, existe mucha más información en Inglés que el Español. Obviamente, los que producen esos exámenes estandarizados piensan que el hecho de que los exámenes están en Inglés significa que solo necesitan producir muchos recursos en Inglés. Lamentablemente, los hispanohablantes tienen una desventaja cuando tiene que ver con la preparación para un examen de SAT o ACT.

En este momento, CROSSWALK está trabajando en un recurso para el SAT y ACT que está en Español. No será un guía sino un libro que dará consejos útiles y pasos recomendados para lograr el puntaje más alto. 

Mientras tanto, contacte CROSSWALK hoy día para aprender como podemos ayudarle en su proceso de preparación para el SAT o ACT. Nosotros hablamos Español y queremos apoyarle.

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Conquer SAT & ACT Math with Math Toolbox (Part 6)

This is the sixth part in a series of how to conquer SAT and ACT Math by utilizing a Math Toolbox. For the complete list of the tools in the Math Toolbox and Part 1, visit here. 

Plug & chug is the final tool in your Math Toolbox. This tool will help you with nasty algebra problems that contain multiple variables or complicated equations with variables. 

The basic idea with plug & chug is to make the problem more manageable by replacing variables with easy numbers. For example, a good problem to use the plug & chug tool would look like this: 

“What is the product of the complex numbers (4z+3) and (-4z+3)?”

At first glance, you need to use the FOIL (first, outer, inner, last) method to multiply the two sets of parentheses. However, instead of charting out all of the FOIL steps and potentially miscalculating something, why not plug in a number for z and chug away? If you pretend z is 2, then the first set of parentheses yields 11 and the second yields -5, or solution of -55. Much easier to solve, right?


Try a couple of numbers for the variables, like 1, 0 or -1, just in case. 

You should then check the answers for one of the numbers you found. If the variable z is in the answer choices, then plug and chug the number into the variables on the answer choices as well so that the answers choices do not contain variables. 

The plug & chug tool can make complicated algebra quite simple. It may not work for all problems, but it will work on some. 

This last point is a good way to close out this series on the math toolbox by reminding you that not all tools will work for every problem. Your job, now that you have a full toolbox, is to figure out which tool works best on the problem at hand. Your pencil, calculator, mental math, translator, back door and plug & chug tools can all be useful ways to solve SAT and ACT problems quickly and accurately. 

For more test prep advice, contact CROSSWALK, the Monterey Peninsula’s resource for test prep for the SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT and more.