Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Conquer SAT & ACT Math with Math Toolbox (Part 5)

This is the fifth 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. 


Now that your toolbox is filling up with tools to conquer SAT and ACT math like your pencil, calculator, mental math and the translator, one of the remaining tools may be the most valuable: the back door. 

The back door, or back-solving, means you start with the answer choices at the outset of the problem. Instead of solving an equation to find an answer, plug the answer choices into the equation to find which one solves it. 

Think of it this way: for all multiple choice questions, the test writers give you the correct answer. Yes, there are three or four other answers also presented, but the correct answer is staring at you in the face. 

So take advantage of that information! Use the back door: insert one of the answer choices into the problem and find your solution through back-solving. 

One major key with the back door tool: start with the answer choice in the middle. Answer choices are typically ordered from least to greatest or greatest to least, so start with one of the numbers in the middle. That way, if you find you need a number that is larger, you can eliminate all answers that don’t work without having to solve the problem four or five times. 

The back door can also be used to help set up your problem. For instance, on a word problem, a quick peek at the answers can help you frame your equation. 

The back door is a simple yet supremely effective way to get to the right answer. Since the answers are given to you, start with the answers and work backwards to find which one is best. While this tool will not help you with the grid-ins on the SAT, it will help on all multiple choice problems in the ACT and SAT. 

For more tools and resources on conquering the SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT and more, contact CROSSWALK today. 
Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Conquer SAT & ACT Math with Math Toolbox (Part 4)

This is the fourth 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. 

Your pencil, calculator and mental math tools will help solve math problems on the SAT and ACT more quickly and accurately. But there are more tools to add to your toolbox. 

This post is dedicated to the translation tool. 


Your translation tool will help you work through word problems and other math problems that contain a bit of reading. 

Truth be told, these types of questions are more reading problems than math problems. If the test writers were to provide the equation along with the word problem, the work would be easy. Since the equation is not provided, the challenge with these types of problems is sifting through the words to come up with the equation. 

Thus, your translation tool will come in handy. 

The translation tool is the tool that helps you convert words or written expressions into mathematical expressions. For example, if the problem says “the total” or “increased by”,  then this would likely be an addition problem. If there is an expression like “amount per serving” the “per” means division (amount divided by servings). Words like “was” or “yields” means equals. 

Many reputable SAT or ACT guide books include a table of the mathematical operations that correspond to specific words. If you struggle with word problems, it may be a good idea to spend some time learning how to translate certain words into mathematical expressions. 

For further assistance, contact CROSSWALK. Our tutors work in SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT and other areas to help students feel more confident and comfortable. 


Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Conquer SAT & ACT Math with Math Toolbox (Part 2)

This is the second 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. 

Along with your pencil, the calculator is a pretty obvious resource for the test. You can use a calculator on the entire ACT math portion. The SAT and PSAT only allow calculators on one of the two math sections (no calculator on the SSAT by the way).


Nevertheless, a calculator can actually hinder your performance on the test if you don’t use it wisely. A calculator can cause you to spend lots of extra time. Many students feel the need to use the calculator for every calculation. The test is designed such that, if you need to use a calculator for every problem, you might not be able to finish the test in time. 

Also, a calculator does not allow you to visually track all of your calculations. If you do all calculations on the calculator and you don’t jot down any notes in your test booklet, it can be challenging to check your work and confirm the correct answer. 

So how do you effectively use a calculator as a part of your Math Toolbox? 

First of all, be sure you do all of your practice and studying with the same calculator you use on test day. Many students use their cell phone calculators when they practice for the test for reasons of convenience. Since cell phones are not allowed into the test, students have to learn the keys and format of a new calculator on test day. Major time waster! 

Secondly, learn to leverage your mental math skills instead of taking out a calculator for every calculation. Next blog post will detail the power of mental math, but for now, just be sure you understand that there are many calculations you can do in your head that are faster than plugging and plotting on a calculator. 

Finally, a calculator should not replace note taking. Getting pencil to paper and making a mess of your test booklet is the path to determining and confirming the correct answer. 

In all, your calculator should ultimately help you with both speed and accuracy on math problems on the SAT, ACT and PSAT. Use it wisely, and it can be one of the most productive tools in your Math Toolbox. 

For more test taking tips and tools, contact CROSSWALK today. 













Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Mastery Learning vs Test Scores

If you haven’t seen Sal Khan’s Ted Talk on Mastery Learning, take just ten minutes and view it here: 



Cool stuff that is not so revolutionary. And easily implemented in a lot of classrooms. 

Learning should be about the foundation and building skills to add to the foundation. Not test scores, but benchmarks that allow a student to demonstrate comfort and confidence with the material to then add more. 

Much of what CROSSWALK does is score driven since we focus on ACT, SAT, PSAT, SSAT and standardized test results. 

Despite this focus on test scores, the common denominator for score improvement is building out the foundation of the basic reading and math skills. 

Test taking is a skill, like playing an instrument or picking up a new sport. Time on task drives improvement. And the more complete your foundation, the faster your path towards mastery. 

Learn more by contacting CROSSWALK today. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Upcoming Boot Camp (PSAT, ACT, SAT)

Exciting news: I will be hosting a Test Prep Boot Camp on the campus of the York School on October 9th from 9am-3pm. 

While this

Boot Camp is offered to York students, the event represents a great crash course in how to get ready for the PSAT with some SAT and ACT testing topics covered. 

So if you have a small group of students that could use a PSAT, SAT or ACT prep course, consider a CROSSWALK Test Prep Boot Camp for your students. I have conducted similar workshops for years and would be happy to work with you to set one up for your school, team, club or circle of friends.

One-day Boot Camps are a great introduction to test content and strategies. Most students will need more practice than what we do in a Boot Camp so we conclude each Boot Camp by preparing individualized study plans for each student. 

Feel free to contact me about setting a Boot Camp. 

CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula’s test prep and academic tutoring go-to resource. Learn more by visiting www.crosswalkeducation.com. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

850+ Reasons to NOT Stress About ACT & SAT

My students know my mantra, “stress is the enemy of test performance.” In a given class, I might repeat this phrase five or ten times.

Science proves that an unstressed brain learns more efficiently than a stressed brain. Science also proves that stress fosters anxiety which leads to poor test performance. 

While a little stress can keep students focused and on task, too much stress will push test scores down. The SAT and the ACT are not content-driven tests that reward cramming and all-night study sessions. 


As such, the recommended approach to SAT and ACT prep is to avoid stress. If you remove stress from the process, you can practice problem sets with your best problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. 

But if you are not convinced with my one reason to avoid stress, here are 850 additional reasons to avoid stress. 

This link will take you to a list of over 850 school that do not use ACT or SAT scores to admit a substantial number of students. The list is produced by FairTest, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing. 

In other words, there are over 850 schools that will ignore your test scores and instead focus on your GPA, your letters of recommendation, your essays and the many other elements in your application package to consider your admission. 

More importantly, there are many excellent schools on this list. Perhaps some schools are unfamiliar to you but all of these schools offer tremendous educational opportunities. Chances are, there is a school on this list that can offer exactly what you are seeking in a college experience.

So avoid stress in your ACT and SAT preparation. Find the motivation to keep working at it if you want your score to improve, but don’t forget that are many schools that will consider the other elements your bring to the table before considering your test score. 

For more stress-free test preparation, contact CROSSWALK. The Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for SAT/ACT/PSAT/SSAT prep, CROSSWALK offers face-to-face tutoring and Skype tutoring for standardized tests and academic subjects. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

ACT vs SAT: Testing Wars Heat Up, Part II

Just when you thought the dust settled between the College Board, makers of the SAT, and ACT, Inc., makers of the ACT, the rivalry started a new chapter.

This time, the battle lines are drawn around access to free test preparation materials. But the good news is that the winners of this battle are the students. Truly. 

For a long time, free ACT resources were available at www.actstudent.org while SAT resources were rarely free. That changed when the SAT partnered with the Khan Academy. With the unveiling of the new SAT format in March 2016, the College Board also launched a partnership with Khan Academy to make SAT prep resources available to all, free of charge. 

In an apparent reaction to the SAT/Khan alliance, ACT, Inc. has countered with its own alliance with Kaplan Test Prep. This partnership will provide live on-line instruction, real-time interaction with teachers and access to recorded sessions. 

Low-income students that register with ACT, Inc. with a fee waiver will not be charged to use the new Kaplan resources. Other students will find the cost of this platform very reasonable. 

Kudos for the makers of the ACT for providing more availability to instructional materials. Further reason why you don’t necessarily need to hire a tutor to help you navigate the process.

Nevertheless, if you could benefit from some experienced guidance through SAT and ACT preparation with a CROSSWALK tutor, don’t hesitate to contact us here. CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for test prep, boot camps and academic instruction. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

SAT vs ACT: An Excellent Pictograph Comparison

Thanks to the folks at Applerouth for an awesome SAT vs ACT Pictograph (you will need to fill out a form to gain access to the resource). 

No joke, Applerouth’s comparison might be the best way to look at the two different tests. 

While there is no mention of the difference between the two essay formats, Applerouth’s pictograph is a great way to compare the two different assessments. 

Some key points:

  • There is much more Geometry on the ACT compared to the SAT
  • The SAT tests vocabulary-in-context questions more than the ACT
  • Both tests tackle the grammar and the structure questions in the Writing/English multiple choice sections
When comparing the two tests, students are recommended to do the following:
  • Take practice tests for both the SAT and ACT: Ideally a student can take both tests in an official setting, but students can conduct their own practice test by using a test from a study guide. Be sure to use an official study guide from the makers of the tests so that the test is as realistic as possible. For the SAT, be sure to use one from the most recent study guide book since the format has changed.
  • Compare scores and experiences from both tests: After the practice tests, score the tests and compare the practice test score to the goal score. The goal score is the score a student needs to get into the school of his or her choice. In addition to comparing the scores, also compare the experience of the practice test. Was one test easier? Did one take more time? 
  • Decide: Based on the scores and experiences, focus test prep on one of the tests. You may want to be sure that the colleges will accept either the SAT or the ACT, but most do. Assuming a student can do either the SAT or the ACT, test prep should focus on one test only.
  • Take it Again: After some dedicated prep, take the test again officially. On average, a student will increase their score from the first official sitting to the second. Some students event see a bump on the third sitting. Regardless, be sure to plan to take it again to see those scores increase.
If you need any advice or guidance on SAT vs ACT, be sure to contact CROSSWALK. CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for test prep, tutoring and academic support. 
Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

How to Tackle Math Anxiety

True story: I used to be bad at math. 

I always remember being bad at math. During my elementary years, my mother used to torture me over the summers with math workbooks and extra work. It was never fun and I dreaded it. 

Math became a chore and I avoided it at all costs. 


In fact, even into college, I feared math. Through a little-known loophole that likely doesn’t exist anymore, I was able to graduate with extra Fine Arts classes instead of Math classes. 

Nothing changed for me until I shifted my mindset about math and my own learning. 

Lucky for me, I had no choice but to shift my mindset when I headed to graduate school. In pursuing my MBA, I took several Math classes that forced me to embrace math. Simultaneously, I launched CROSSWALK as a means to support myself through graduate school and found myself teaching test prep and math skills. 

In both cases, I was lucky enough to be in situations in which I was able to see math strategies, short cuts and connections that I never saw before. All of a sudden, I started to feel good about math. 

Maybe my brain was just ready for math. Or maybe I finally understood that math was not my problem, rather my anxiety about math was. 

Once I put the anxiety behind me, I found math to be a joy. Confidence erased anxiety. 

Now, when my students tell me, “I’m bad at math,” I get to tell them my story. 

I tell them that the reason they are bad at math is that they have anxiety over it. For most students, anxiety is the heart of the issue, not ability. The key becomes how to tackle the anxiety. 

So how do you tackle the anxiety? Two ways: early and often. 

First, start early with fun ways to do math. Lucky for kiddos nowadays, there are many fun games and apps that can help. No more boring workbooks that my mom used to force on me. Bedtime Math is one such resource. Typically geared towards early learners, Bedtime Math can be fun for all ages. I even like to do some of the problems! Apps like Bedtime Math have proven to reduce anxiety around math. Start kiddos on these types of activities early and confidence can build. 

Second, make math a routine part of everyday activities. Repetition goes a long way in learning. Look for opportunities to frequently insert math-related topics into your everyday routine. Even just counting or pattern-recognition activities on the way to school can be fun. Or incorporate some math questions into your cooking, gardening, chores, etc. Count calories, chart times of television shows or otherwise take the normal, everyday activities and turn them into math questions. 

As you build confidence through fun math activities early and often, anxiety will melt away. It took me several decades to defrost my own math anxiety. If you can tackle your own anxiety soon, it won’t take you that long.

For more learning ideas and ways to prepare for the ACT, SAT, SSAT, PSAT or other standardized tests, contact CROSSWALK. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

ACT vs SAT: Testing Wars Heat Up

The college admissions testing war is heating up. 

The College Board recently launched the new SAT which included pretty significant changes to the test format. Gone is the funky scoring system in which the raw score is calculated by the formula of one point for a correct answer, -0.25 points for an incorrect answer and no points added or subtracted for an omitted answer. Also gone are the Sentence Completion questions that were fill-in-the-blanks to test vocabulary. 


Truth be told, the new SAT seems to be a bit more like the current ACT. Perhaps over the years, the College Board saw many students migrate to the ACT so they felt a rebranded test would lure students back to the SAT. 

But the College Board is not the only one engaging in some friendly competition. 

In an effort to capture some of the practice test market, the makers of the ACT have recently launched the PreACT. The PreACT is designed for high school sophomores to gauge potential ACT scores and prepare students for the ACT in the future. 

The College Board, and its PSAT, have dominated the practice test market for years. Typically administered by schools for sophomores and juniors, the PSAT is a practice SAT. Most schools use the PSAT to get their students ready for the SAT. 

Now that the makers of the ACT have the PreACT, they too seem positioned to target schools and enter the practice test market. 

What does this mean for students? Not much, really. Perhaps some friendly competition between test makers will drive prices down. But in all reality, the strategy does not change: take both tests, find out which one you like better, focus on preparing for one of them and book the best score possible. 

For more test prep news, advice and tips, subscribe to this blog at www.crosswalkeduction.com. CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula’s go-to resource for test prep and academic tutoring. Contact CROSSWALK here.