AP Exam is approaching. What is different this time? Has the pandemic affected how the exams will be conducted? Here is a quick read that will answer all your questions and will update you about the AP exams 2024.

Students Won’t be Choosing the AP Exam Dates

This year, students won’t be able to choose the AP exam date. Rather, the AP coordinators in the schools will be able to choose the dates from the 3 available options. This process will start in early March.

AP 2024 Exams Will be Full Length

AP exams 2024 will be full-length both in offline and online formats. This means they will cover the full curriculum and most exams will be 2-3 hours long.

Digital Exams – Who Can Appear?

This year, digital exams will be conducted for students whose school building is closed because of the pandemic or the student cannot visit the school for health reasons. Your school will authorize you to take the exam at home or school.

Students will be able to appear for digital exams using their laptops, desktops, or Chromebooks. Since the exams consist of free responses, they cannot be attempted on smartphones.

Certain exams can only be taken digitally such as Chinese and Japanese and other exams can only be taken offline (other language exams). Students will have to check out The College Board website for all the details.

Digital Exams will be conducted at the Same Time Across the Globe

Digital exams will start at the set time across the world. Students won’t be able to control the timings. So, international students may have to attempt the test at unusual hours.

Students won’t be able to Re-attempt Questions

Furthermore, the app does not allow moving back and forth between questions, meaning, students won’t be able to move back to a question they did not answer or would like to change the answer.

Students will have to Choose One

Students will be able to take a test online or offline. Both formats cannot be attempted.

Questions for Online Exams will be Slightly Different

Online and offline formats of AP exams will be slightly different. For example, in the case of an online exam, students will be asked to answer questions according to a graph rather than drawing a graph.

Digital Exams will Need some Preparations

In terms of studies, the preparation will be the same. However, to attempt the AP exams online, students will have to undertake some simple setups on their laptops/desktops. These will be related to software downloads and security protocols. The College Board will be using plagiarism software to ensure students are not cheating along with must-haves like a camera and a photo ID. The College Board will share the details with the schools shortly and the students will be updated in time for the exam.

Deadlines have Been Extended

The College Board has extended the deadline for a certain course. If you need to submit a portfolio for an art exam or principal for your computer exams, you must check out the new deadline which has been pushed to May 20^th, 2024, 11:59 PM.

No Cancellation Fees This Year

The College Board has waived the cancellation fees for all AP exams. If you have registered for an exam but you are not sure if you are ready this year, you do not have to pay the fees. You can simply withdraw from the exam and attempt it next year.

Digital Exam Practice Platform will be Launched in April

Since 2021 is the first year when students are going to attempt AP exams online, The College Board has decided to launch a practice platform in April, so that students can get used to how everything is going to look and work on the exam day.

So, yes. The pandemic has changed the AP Exam 2024. Students are requested to stay abreast with the latest information. We will also be updating this page as we get more information. While you keep an eye on the information, do not forget to prepare for the exams, since the exams are going to be full curriculum and future depends on it, like every other year.

The College Board has released a detailed guide for this year’s AP exams. It covers information about exam timing, rules for taking digital exams at home, specific rules for schools, special accommodations, and more such information.

If you are going to take your AP exams at home, here are some key points that need to be noted down.

1. Full-Length Exams

This year, the AP exams are going to be full-length exams with multiple-choice questions and free-response sections. Students won’t be able to submit any handwritten documents. For security reasons, students won’t be allowed to revisit a skipped question.

2. Start Time

The start time for online AP exams has been set to 12 P.M EDT and 4 P.M EDT. The second part of the exams will automatically start after the completion of the first part. The offline exams will be administered according to local time.

3. Devices

The College Board has reiterated that students cannot take AP exams on smartphones. The exams can only be taken on Computers and Laptops and they too require to meet certain criteria (prescribed software, inbuilt camera/webcam, etc.). Further details will be announced on the 8^th of April.

4. Internet Connectivity

Students are required to have good internet connectivity to take the AP exams. However, the AP Exam application will accommodate slight fluctuations and downtimes.

5. Practice

The College Board will be launching a practice digital testing application on the 8^th of April. This will be available to students and educators to help them prepare for the actual exams.

6. Unique Question Format

This year, the questions will have a unique format so that students cannot look for the answers online, in the course books, or other study materials. 2024 AP exams are not open book.

The College Board has stated that all of these updates are almost final but they might be changed in the coming month. The final guidelines will be released on the 8^th of April, 2024. Keep checking this space for more updates.

The ACT test is the key to your favorite college in the US. This test is so crucial that you cannot put off its preparation till the last minute.

You must start the prep as soon as you register for the test and follow a hectic but well-designed timetable till the exam date. You cannot take the ACT Test with just last-minute tricks. But yes, there are some things that you can do to ensure you perform well on D-day.

This blog will guide how some Last Minute ACT Tips can help you in exams or will help you anxiety-free during exams. Let’s dive into details on ACT last-minute tips: 

Here are some of the top last-minute ACT Test Tips from our Experts

1. Find your Weak Points and Work on Them

With just a few days left to go, you must focus on your weak points. You must have already found them in all your prep, but if you missed them somehow, now is the time to put the spotlight on the topics that you are not good at. You won’t be able to cover and learn much but you can surely pick up important tricks related to your weak topics. Visit them one by one, list down the tricks, and practice them.

2. Practice the Strengths

Your strengths are what will put you at the top. So, when you sit down to work on your weaknesses, make time for your strengths also. Do not ignore this last-minute ACT prep tip so that you do not forget your strengths and are able to use them to the best of your abilities on the ACT test day.

3. Focus on Improving Your Speed

Competitive exams test your skills along with your speed. It is not enough to know everything if you cannot solve all the questions in time. Speed is crucial for top ACT scores and ironically it comes only with practice. So, we are back to square one, meaning points 1 and 2, and practice both your strengths and weaknesses.

4. Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Sleep is as important as revision. Your mind needs that break to process all the information and store them in the right places so that you can retrieve all of it efficiently during the ACT test. Last-minute studying for the ACT or in fact any competitive test is stressful and a good night’s sleep is a must. Get into bed early after a hearty meal and simply snooze. Set an early morning alarm to revisit important ACT hints and tricks.

5. Keep Extra Time for Everything

On the exam day, keep extra time for everything, right from, getting out of bed in the morning to checking your answers to the test. Plan your time with the help of alarms and reminders to be more efficient. Every time you hear your alarm, move out of bed or to the next section (whatever is up next).

6. Sort Questions According to Difficulty

One of the very productive ACT cheats is to sort questions according to difficulty, right at the beginning of the test. This one step helps you tackle the easy, sure-shot ones before the tricky ones that may confuse you and eat up a huge chunk of your time. Remember to start with the easy ones and move towards the most difficult ones.

7. Check your Answers

This last-minute ACT test prep tip is a no-brainer. You must check your answers before your finish the test. Revisit all the sections and check your answers. This step is important to avoid silly mistakes.

8. Write Precise Answers

For the writing section, the best ACT test prep tip is to write precise answers. Avoid fillers in your essays and give to-the-point answers. Stick to the word limit while using simple, easy-to-understand words and phrases. Fancy is not the keyword for acing ACT.

9. Cancel your Scores if you are not Happy

You can cancel your ACT scores if you believe there is some issue. It might be a tough decision for you, therefore, take advice from your ACT tutor and your parents before you make a decision. Please remember that you can re-take the ACT test, so, do not have to compromise your scores. You can better them and aim for the best colleges in the country.

10. Retake the Test if Needed

You can take the ACT a total of 12 times. And the results are valid for 5 years from the test date. So, do you want to sit with a bad score? That won’t be a good idea. As already mentioned in the previous point, if you don’t like what you see, you can cancel your scores and retake the test on the next convenient test date. ACT is about college and your future, so the better the score better will be your future prospects.  

Last-Minute ACT Tips are Hectic but Crucial

Last-minute tips for ACT are crucial to finish off the prep. While they may not be enough to get top scores, they can definitely boost the scores because, with them, you will have smart tricks up your sleeves.

Register today for ACT Test Prep at eTutorWorld, to prepare for the test with expert tutors and learn all the tips and tricks needed to get into your favorite college.

The PSAT Test is used to determine eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which awards scholarships to high-achieving students. One of the most common questions that students have about the PSAT is, “What is a Good PSAT score?” Generally, a PSAT Score of above 1070 is considered to be a Good Score as it places you in the top 75th percentile. Other factors also matter while mapping the Good PSAT Score such as cutoff score, grade level, etc.

PSAT or Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test is the test you take before the SAT. In a lot of ways, this test can help you prepare for your college admissions. It is administered by College Board and is also commonly known as the Preliminary SAT. Other than preparing the students for SAT, this test also paves the way for scholarships through National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSC).

What is PSAT Test?

PSAT is a multiple-choice test for students in grades 8-10. This test has 4 sections modeled on SAT but it does not have the optional essay section. If you are thinking SAT has 3 sections, not 4, you are right. The PSAT also has 3 main sections but its math section is divided into two parts, so officially it has four sections but if you count the subjects, they are only 3. The sections are:

• Reading
• Writing and Languages
• Math – with calculator
• Math – without a calculator

PSAT Levels

The PSAT has 3 levels according to grades. Let’s find out more about them.

1. PSAT 8/9

This level is for students in grades 8 and 9. The curriculum is set according to their level of learning and with the aim to prepare them for upcoming standardized tests. PSAT 8/9 has 3 sections Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. Test duration for this level is 2 hours 25 minutes. It is conducted all through the autumn and spring sessions.

2. PSAT 10

As the name suggests, PSAT 10 is for students in grade 10. It is given to students in the spring of their sophomore year. This level covers Reading, Writing, Language, and Math and is quite similar to the third level, NMSQT/PSAT. However, this level does not qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship.

3. NMSQT/PSAT

This is the topmost level that is taken before taking the SAT. It has the same format as the PSAT10 but this test’s scores are considered for the National Merit Scholarship and help students in their college admissions. Also, the number of questions in each section of NMSQT/PSAT is more as compared to the PSAT10. Therefore, the evaluation scores are also higher.

Ground Rules for PSAT Scoring

1. Every section is scored between 8-38 marks.
2. Evidence-based reading and writing section and math section are scored between 160-760.
3. The overall PSAT score ranges between 320-1520.
4. The final score is calculated by adding two area scores together.

Sub-Scores and Cross-Tests

The PSAT test scores include the sub-scores and the scores for cross-tests. The sub-scores are obtained by dividing the main sections into sub-sections. For example, the Math section is divided into sub-topics like Heart of Algebra and Problem Solving and Data Analysis.

Similarly, the Reading and Writing sections are divided into sub-topics like Words in Context and Expression of Ideas. All these sub-topics are scored between 1-15.

Cross-test scores come from the tests in subjects like social studies and science. Cross-test scores go from 8 to 38 and they also have sub-scores. All of these are vital for a good PSAT score.

What Constitutes the PSAT Good Score?

So, to answer the question in the title, a good PSAT score is anywhere between 500-550 in the subjects and a total between 950-1000. This score puts you ahead of the 50% of students taking PSAT. But 50^th percentile may not be the best number for scholarships and associated competitive programs. To stay way ahead of others and to realistically benefit from the PSAT test, you must get scores that fall in the category of Best and Competitive Scores.

PSAT Tutoring can help. Have you considered it already? Head to eTutorWorld’s PSAT page to find expert help on the subject. eTutorWorld offers excellent one-on-one tutoring and curated worksheets for the test. Register today to get the top scores in PSAT and to gear up for SAT.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Approaching the end of high school? That means you are ready for a standardized test to prep for college. Your choices? You can prepare for SAT or ACT or both. SAT stands for Scholastic Assessment Test and is one of the most popular standardized tests taken by college-bound students across the globe.

Then there is ACT which stands for American College Testing. It is another popular standardized test that can get you a seat in your preferred American college.

ACT or SAT?

ACT and SAT are both important tests in their leagues. There is nothing like one being better than another. You can go for one of them or both based on your chosen college’s admission requirements. Taking both will only increase your options, as you will be able to apply to a greater number of colleges (that accept only one of the scores). So, you can take both sat tutoring online and act online tutoring simultaneously and get ready for college.

Tips to Prepare for SAT and ACT

Prepare your Mind

Any competitive test requires a competitive mindset. You need to put in extra hours, efforts, and unwavering commitment to the cause. So, right when you register for the test/s, commit all your time and energy to them.

Start by preparing a calendar that divides your time into schoolwork and standardized test prep slots. Stick where you can see at all times. This timetable will set your mood and pace for the coming days.

Align your Resources

You might already have some resources on SAT and ACT. Dig for them. The next step is to ask the seniors for resources. They may not hand over their books and other study materials to you but will be happy to direct you in the right direction.

You can also talk to your teachers or online ACT tutors to help you with the study material and worksheets. They can provide you with the latest and most accurate study materials.

Practice Till the End

There is no magic wand that can get you top scores in SAT and ACT. You have to put in the hard and practice till the very last minute. Both SAT and ACT are timed exams, so when you sit down to practice, you have to prep for accuracy and timing. You cannot afford to give only the right answers. The SAT and ACT practice will also familiarize you with the format of the test.

Invest in Section-wise Strategies

Every section in these tests requires a different strategy. While the English section calls for all your focus in reading the passages, the math section will require you to write down the numbers precisely and calculate quickly. From Day 1,  work on individual strategies and improve and optimize as you go.

SAT Tutoring Online

Enroll in an SAT Tutoring Online program. Why? Because you need professional guidance to ace this highly competitive test. Every year, thousands of students prep and take SAT. To beat them, you definitely need skills but you also need to learn vital tricks that can substantially boost your scores. Your SAT tutor online will let you in on some amazing secrets to score well in all the sections.

ACT Online Tutoring

ACT online tutoring is a dedicated tutoring plan for the test. It covers all the sections of the test and prepares you through real-like practice tests. Online ACT Tutors can help you prep by optimizing your time and giving you a chance to learn at your convenience. Your ACT Math online tutor will make sure that you know all the shortcuts related to the complicated topics and the English tutor will transform you into an expert.

Hard work is the key to success in academics. Some strategic planning combined with hard work can help you achieve all your goals in life. Prepare for ACT and SAT with expert and experienced tutors at eTutorWorld. Register with us today, to start your prep and get instant access to top-quality resources and worksheets.

More often than not, parents and teachers are on the lookout for learning problems so that they can be remedied at the earliest. But in their quest to do so they often miss out on identifying giftedness. A brilliant mind just like a struggling mind needs to be identified in the early years so that it is molded appropriately and guided in the right direction as early as possible.

According to NAGC – National Association of Gifted Children, ‘almost 6-10% of students are gifted and could benefit from additional support at school’. In numbers, this percentage amount to 3-5 million children in grades K-12. Now, that’s a staggering number of children who could do with special instructions.

Hiding in Plain Sight

Sometimes, learning problems are exactly what parents and teachers need to focus on to identify giftedness. Some children indeed fail to showcase their giftedness positively and tend to behave in a disruptive manner to get attention or express themselves.

It is also important to remember that disruptiveness is not the only sign of giftedness. Some gifted children may also be quiet and do everything in their power to stay hidden in the shadows. Therefore, it is the impetus of parents and teachers to keep a hawk-eye on their wards and identify giftedness early on in academic life.

Problems that May Be Giftedness in Disguise

Here are some signs that may be hiding giftedness in plain sight.

1. Getting bored of classroom activities.
2. Getting annoyed with instructions.
3. Avoiding classes or zoning out between discussions.
4. Not doing homework and avoiding classroom activities.
5. Throwing tantrums or sensitive behavior.
6. Failing to fit in the classroom or make friends.

All of these signs look like a troubled child, but these are also signs of a gifted mind which may be finding it difficult to adjust in a setup that may not serve their IQ and learning requirements. Children who show any, few, or all of these signs should be put through further investigation in the form of rigorous testing or professional evaluation. And once found to be gifted should be immediately directed to a gifted program that suits their temperament.

Advantages of Gifted Education

Gifted education comes with tremendous advantages and that is why it is important to identify giftedness as early as possible. Here are the most important advantages/benefits of gifted programs.

1. Tailored Instructions

Gifted programs offer tailored instructions that can engage higher IQ levels. These instructions precisely match the learning requirements of gifted minds and keep them interested in academics. With customized lessons, gifted students absorb more knowledge and learn faster.

2. Interesting Curriculum

Gifted programs also have a tailored curriculum that serves the higher learning requirements. They are mostly above-grade and effectively engage brilliant children who generally end up wanting more from the age-specific, traditional curriculum.

3. Productivity

A gifted program provides the right incentives and direction to gifted children. It keeps them interested and engaged in academics while improving their productivity at school. As the children grow older, they find themselves focused on their careers with a desire to constantly learn and excel.

4. Self Esteem

When children receive the right kind of attention they thrive and do better in academics. Their performance automatically boosts their self-esteem and results in confident individuals who are successful in both professional and personal lives.

5. Good Grades

This is a very obvious and important outcome of gifted programs. Children who find themselves in the desired setup, study well and get good grades.  

Some More Signs of Giftedness

Here are some more common signs of giftedness that will help you identify them very early in your ward. If you are a teacher, you might also receive formal training in identifying and guiding gifted children. Parents can however run with these signs and get in touch with experts for further resolution.

1. Unusual alertness from a very young age
2. Extraordinary memory
3. Fast/Rapid Learning Capabilities
4. Large Vocabulary with Understanding of Complex Sentences
5. High level of Curiosity and Sensitivity about the Surroundings

Tests for Identifying Gifted Children

Two of the most common tests used to identify gifted children are CogAT and SCAT. They are conducted across the US to assess and identify children for various gifted programs at the school and district levels. CogAT is conducted for children in K through 12 while SCAT is for students in grades 2-8. Both of them are not IQ tests. Some other formal assessments (IQ Tests) that are conducted to identify gifted students are Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children, Stanford-Binet Fourth Edition, and Stanford-Binet: Form L-M.

SCAT is a standardized assessment that open the doors to gifted programs at Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (JHCTY). If you think your child is gifted and will do better with specialized instructions, you should encourage your child to take the test and become a part of some of the most coveted gifted programs of the country.

Preparing for SCAT

SCAT is a multiple-choice, times that test language and mathematical skills through its verbal section and quantitative section. Both the sections have 55 multiple choice questions and students get 22 minutes per section. Too many questions to be solved in 22 minutes? Don’t worry, it’s doable but yes, SCAT definitely needs some disciplined preparation.

Here are some important tips that result in high scores in SCAT. These tips work for all levels and some of them come straight from the JHCTY.

1. Start Early and Put in Consistent Work

SCAT is a standardized test that needs preparation. Especially because it has a huge curriculum divided into verbal and quantitative batteries. The best approach to do well in SCAT is to start prepping for it as soon as the decision to take the exam is taken. Students should avoid last-minute prep and spread the prep across several months to put in consistent practice and yield good results.

2. Read a Lot and Read Everything

The verbal section in SCAT tests the English skills through different types of questions. For good performance in this section, students need a lot of reading hours under their belt. They should read books, newspapers, magazines and more. And it is important to read material on different subjects. Students must be aware the usage of words and other writing etiquette from different industries and verticals.

3. Learn Time Management

SCAT is a timed test, therefore students have to learn time management, so that they can attempt maximum number of answers in the given time. This tip is very important for younger kids, who do not have a decent understanding of time and may end up spending a lot of time on one question and missing out on other questions that they could have answered correctly. Time management can be best learned with practice. Students must take practice tests/mock tests to improve and optimize their timing.

4. Put in Truck Loads of Practice

As already discussed, practice is imminent to getting high scores in SCAT. It improves time management skills tremendously and also improves students’ chances of answering the questions correctly. A lot of practice makes students familiar with different types of questions and gives them the ability to quickly solve a question and find the right answer easily. So, practice should begin from day 1 of prep and the progress should be monitored closely to identify weak areas and put in extra efforts.

5. Professional Help

Preparing alone for a standardized test can get daunting given its huge curriculum and sophisticated exam format. Professional help in the form online tutoring can provide students with the right amount of guidance and support needed to ace the test. eTutorWorld offers online tutoring for all levels of SCAT. It has a team of expert tutors who cover the whole curriculum through online, one to one sessions.

And that’s not it, every tutoring session is followed up with a personalized worksheet for practice. Tutors also offer help with the worksheets and clear doubts as and when they arise.

Quick Tips for SCAT Prep

• SCAT does not have negative marking. So, students must attempt all the questions.
• Students should always start with solving the questions they are sure about. Because even though there is no negative marking in SCAT, there is a time limit.
• Questions can be solved faster, if the child is familiar with the type of the question. Therefore, it is important to build a perception through sample test papers.
• Practice is the key to ace SCAT. It improves both the speed and perception. Parents must encourage children to start early and practice a lot.
• Vocabulary is crucial for SCAT. Parents and students must give importance to synonyms, antonyms and idioms.

Conclusion

Preparing and acing SCAT requires a clear understanding of the format of the test, time management and practice. All these 3 factors are tightly connected with each other. That is if you practice a lot, you will automatically improve your understanding of the test format and the timing of individual segments. Similarly, if you work hard on your timing, you will automatically practice more and understand the nuances of different question types.

So, run with these three points and make sure that your practice resources are of good quality. That’s it, you are all set for top score in SCAT.