How to Prepare a Homeschooled Student for the SAT or ACT

The ACT is a subject knowledge test, while the SAT is a reasoning test that has students apply their knowledge. Students in schools may get classes or training on these exams. But how do you give your homeschool student a similar experience? You can prepare your homeschool student for the SAT and ACT by gearing their lessons to the exams and encouraging extracurricular study.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:
Developing Skills for the Exams

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    Use test prep questions. Incorporate test prep books and questions into daily lessons.[1] These fill curriculum requirements and prepare the student for the questions and skills on the ACT and SAT.[2]
    • Look for free questions or practice tests at the official ACT or SAT sites. Test prep bodies such as the Princeton Review also have sample questions.[3]
    • Check the College Board Organization's website for copies of past exams. These are the closest thing available to the actual tests, so they're the best way to get familiar with the make-up, types of questions, and format of the actual exam.[4]
    • You can also purchase SAT and ACT test prep books that come with full-length practice tests.
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    Take a course at a local college. Allow your student to enroll in a course at a local university. Entry-level math, science, and English classes can complement what they’re learning at home. They can also prepare your student to answer the questions asked on the SAT and ACT.[5]
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    Enroll in a test-prep course. Official testing and test prep bodies offer courses to prepare students for the ACT and SAT. These may be online or in a classroom and can range in price from free to $2,000. Have your student take an online exam to see if a section-specific class or general class can help them better succeed on the actual tests.[6]
    • Consider the student’s specific learning style when deciding on which course is best for them.
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    Hire a private tutor. Working with a private tutor can develop your homeschool student’s testing knowledge and skills. This is especially true for advanced math and science. Have the tutor work through test-specific questions or focus on developing more general skills that the SAT and ACT cover.[7]
    • You can find a private tutor through a local school, a tutoring center, or online through websites like Craigslist.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:
Gearing Lessons Towards the ACT and SAT

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    Tilt learning goals to the student’s needs. Once you have a sense of the student’s abilities, adjust their learning goals to areas that need work. This meets not only their curriculum goals, but also further develops their skills for the tests. Spend more time on subjects with weaker practice scores until the student takes the test or show signs of improvement.[8]
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    Improve math skills. Both the ACT and SAT test a student’s math skills. Your student will benefit from lessons that develop these, which may also help them in science. Helping them get a handle on Algebra 1 and 2, geometry, and trigonometry can provide a better base knowledge.[9]
    • Assess math skills by giving the student sample questions that you can get for free online.[10] Tailor math lessons to area of weakness.
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    Instruct your student in English. Both the ACT and SAT assess a student’s English language skills. Both tests have sections on reading comprehension and grammar, so you'll want to make sure your student is prepared in these areas.[11] Prepare your student for the English sections with the following:[12]
    • Reading higher level texts
    • Building vocabulary
    • Reviewing word etymology
    • Refreshing grammar
    • Taking practice tests to identify weak areas
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    Encourage reading. The SAT and ACT test reading comprehension, rhetorical skills, and language mechanics. Give your student challenging reading material, which develops reading and comprehension skills. Ask specific questions about grammar, to strengthen rhetorical and language mechanics skills.[13] Readings that can prepare your student include:
    • Magazines such as The Economist, The New Yorker, or Foreign Affairs
    • Newspapers such as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal
    • Classic literature including Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein, War of the Worlds, and The Tales of Edgar Allan Poe
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    Assign essays. The ACT and SAT have optional essay sections. These test comprehension, evaluation, and analytical skills. If your homeschool student plans to take this section, have them write essays about any reading they have done. Ask questions to guide the essays, which the ACT or SAT websites provide.[14] Identify areas that need work by evaluating the following:
    • Clarity
    • Analysis
    • Development of ideas
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    Work on the sciences. The ACT has one section on science. This section contains reading passages and 40 related questions. A student must answer these in 35 minutes.[15] These questions cover biology, physics, chemistry and Earth/ space sciences such as geology and meteorology.[16]
    • Figure out where the student needs work by looking at a practice exam.[17]
    • Have the student review data, make predictions and synthesize information. This helps them with the question format on the exam.[18]
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:
Encouraging Extracurricular Study for the SAT and ACT

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    Provide online tools. Both the SAT and ACT have sample questions from each testing area online.[19] Other study prep organizations also have questions online that your homeschool student can answer.[20]
    • Have your student track their progress by routinely answering the same or similar questions online.
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    Study with prep books. Purchase, borrow or rent test prep books. These can help your homeschool student anticipate the types of questions on each exam. If you can, get books published by the official designers of each test. Have your student study with prep books for a set time after school each day. This concentrated study can develop skills and provide valuable tips and information for the exams. [21]
    • Download prep books and study guides for free online when possible.[22]
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    Set up a homeschool student study group. There may be other homeschool students in your local area who also preparing for the SAT and ACT. Finding or setting up a local study group of homeschool students taking these exams may help your student further develop their skills. It may also boost their test scores and give them a chance to meet possible future friends.[23]
    • Use known networks of other homeschool students or organizations to help you find support groups. You can also advertise a prep group you’d like to start.
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    Take prep tests. Give your student a prep test. Not only can these help your student learn, but they can also identify areas for improvement. It can also improve test timing and pacing skills as well as their confidence.[24] The College Board and ACT offer free, full SAT and ACT practice tests.[25]
    • Time practice exams for the same allotted time as the actual test.[26]
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How do I find resources to study for the SAT and ACT?
    Ted Coopersmith, MBA
    Ted Coopersmith, MBA
    Academic Tutor
    Ted Coopersmith is an Academic Tutor for Manhattan Elite Prep, a test prep and academic tutoring company based in New York City. In addition to general academic advising, Ted has expertise in preparing for the ACT, SAT, SSAT, and ASVAB tests. He also has over 30 years of financial controller advising and consulting experience. He holds a BA from the City University of New York (CUNY) and an MBA from Pace University.
    Ted Coopersmith, MBA
    Ted Coopersmith, MBA
    Academic Tutor
    Expert Answer
    The College Board Organization publishes several of their past exams online, and I strongly urge students to take advantage of these resources. Prior exams are currently the closest thing available to the actual tests that the students will be taking, and they're the best tools for understanding the make-up, types of questions, and format of the actual exam.

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.varsitytutors.com/blog/how+can+homeschooled+students+prep+for+the+sat+act
  2. ↑ http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation.html
  3. ↑ https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sample-questions
  4. ↑ Ted Coopersmith, MBA. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
  5. ↑ https://www.responsiblehomeschooling.org/the-homeschool-math-gap/
  6. ↑ https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-admissions-playbook/2013/07/29/how-to-select-the-right-sat-act-prep-course
  7. ↑ https://www.responsiblehomeschooling.org/the-homeschool-math-gap/
  8. ↑ https://www.responsiblehomeschooling.org/the-homeschool-math-gap/
  9. ↑ https://www.hslda.org/highschool/Newsletters/2016/December.asp
  1. ↑ https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sample-questions/math
  2. ↑ https://www.princetonreview.com/college/sat-act
  3. ↑ http://inlikeme.com/six-ways-to-improve-sat-and-act-scores-reading-english-and-writing/
  4. ↑ http://inlikeme.com/six-ways-to-improve-sat-and-act-scores-reading-english-and-writing/
  5. ↑ http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/writing-sample-essays.html?page=0&chapter=0
  6. ↑ http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/science-practice-test-questions.html?page=0&chapter=0
  7. ↑ https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/act-science-tips-and-strategies
  8. ↑ http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/science-practice-test-questions.html?page=0&chapter=0
  9. ↑ https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/act-science-tips-and-strategies
  10. ↑ https://www.hslda.org/highschool/Newsletters/2016/December.asp
  11. ↑ https://www.powerscore.com/sat/help/own-study.cfm
  12. ↑ https://www.powerscore.com/sat/help/own-study.cfm
  13. ↑ http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation.html
  14. ↑ https://www.hslda.org/LandingPages/local-groups.asp
  15. ↑ http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation.html
  16. ↑ http://inlikeme.com/six-ways-to-improve-sat-and-act-scores-reading-english-and-writing/
  17. ↑ https://wisdomfrombooks.wordpress.com/how-to-pass-exams-7-useful-tips/

About This Article

Ted Coopersmith, MBA
Co-authored by:
Ted Coopersmith, MBA
Academic Tutor
This article was co-authored by Ted Coopersmith, MBA. Ted Coopersmith is an Academic Tutor for Manhattan Elite Prep, a test prep and academic tutoring company based in New York City. In addition to general academic advising, Ted has expertise in preparing for the ACT, SAT, SSAT, and ASVAB tests. He also has over 30 years of financial controller advising and consulting experience. He holds a BA from the City University of New York (CUNY) and an MBA from Pace University. This article has been viewed 3,122 times.
1 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: July 15, 2020
Views: 3,122
Categories: ACT PSAT and SAT Exams
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