SAT SCORES ARE IN!

Most students have now received their SAT scores.  Several have not, and my guess is that the delay of their scores involves their essays.  When evaluating the essays, I believe that two independent people evaluate the essays according to the established rubric.  If the two scores have a descrepancy, then the essay is sent to a third evaluator.

Receiving assessment scores like the SAT can be nerve-wracking.  Was my score good?  Did I do as well as my friends?  Is the score good enough to get accepted to a college I just visited and liked?  Will the score earn me a scholarship?  These are all questions running through the mind of students as they view their scores.

An important aspect of the scores is to avoid panic.  This one score is but one snapshot of a student's skills, so temperance is needed.  It's not the end of the world if a student's score came in lower than expected; it's not time to run bragging down the school hallway if a student's score came in higher than expected.

Here are some things to remember...

• Does the score seem to fit with the post-secondary path under consideration?  For example, if the student is considering a community college after high school, how does the score fit?  If the student is enrolling in the military, and apprenticeship, a trade school, etc., an SAT score may not be as significant as other post-secondary paths.
• Students can repeat an SAT or ACT.  Perhaps the student wasn't feeling well, or perhaps this was the first time the student had experienced anything like this.  There are situations where taking the test again can be helpful.
• Is there a particular low area in the scores that could be improved and affect the overall composite score?  Is there a way to use an online resource, a tutor, or some other resource to "beef-up" some skills that appeared to be weak from the results.
• "Readers" have an advantage on these tests.  Students that don't read much on their own for pleasure typically don't score as well as students who are avid readers.  My experience has been that "readers" just perform better because of the large amount of reading involved on the assessment.

Now that students have their scores, it's time to sit down as a family unit and have a discussion about "future".  What does this one snapshot say and not say?  What is the student considering after high school?  What does this score say about potential academic scholarship possibilities, so what might be an anticipated financial aid package?  What does the score say about potential college/university choices?

Let the score be a conversation starter with your student.  Then contact your high school's guidance department with additional questions you may have.

JBiz