OLSAT® Non-Verbal Questions

/

Do you want to discover the kinds of questions types on the OLSAT® nonverbal section, and what skills are measured by these questions? Would you like some test prep strategies on how to prepare for specific OLSAT nonverbal questions and access some sample questions to help your child get ready for test day? In this article, we provide you with the answers to these common questions, as well as offer additional helpful information on the OLSAT non-verbal section.

Read More

Columbia Secondary School Admissions: How To Get Into CSS

/

Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science, and Engineering (commonly known as “CSS”) opened in 2007 and is a top sixth through twelfth grade school run as a partnership between the Department of Education and Columbia University. CSS focuses on math, science, and engineering, with around 700-800 students in the full school. Read on for more information on the school, admissions, and whether Columbia Secondary School Admissions is the right school to choose. 

Read More

NYSED Regents: Everything You Need to Know

/

Teenagers in New York City high schools may need to take five or more of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Regents Exams in order to graduate with a Regents diploma, but it can be tough to know which schools require the exams, which tests to take, and when students take the exams during their high school career. Every school is a little different, so it’s important to check with the high school counselors and get your school’s exact schedule, but you should be prepared for five exams or more taken over the four years of high school. 

Read More

Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT): All You Need To Know

/

Are you looking for information on the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT®)? You’ve come to the right place. This article covers everything you need to know about the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, including the test’s uses, history, format, and content. We also provide tips on how to interpret OLSAT test scores and compare the OLSAT® with other ability, aptitude and IQ tests. Lastly we have a section providing test prep tips for students preparing for the OLSAT®.

Read More

Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) | All You Need To Know!

/

The Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT®) is a nonverbal measure of general ability in students between four and 18. The questions on the NNAT® consist of geometric figures, shapes, and symbols and a child must use visual reasoning and logical thinking to decipher the answers.  

The second edition of the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test – the NNAT®2 - is currently used as a ‘**gifted and talented test**’ to identify children from diverse linguistic and cultural populations for accelerated programs across the USA, including the **NYC Gifted and Talented program**, and gifted programs in Texas and Virgina Beach.

Read More

OLSAT Test Prep Tips | OLSAT Test Prep 5th Grade

/

The OLSAT Level E does not just test your child’s knowledge and skills in specific verbal and non-verbal areas, but also her test-taking skills.  If your child knows the material on which she will be tested, it will improve her chances of succeeding. But is does not guarantee that she will do her best on the exam. Read on to discover what you can do to help your child best prepare for the OLSAT Level E test.

Read More

TACHS Exam for Catholic Schools in NYC: What You Need to Know

/

Find our all you need to know about the TACHS Exam for Catholic Schools in NYC. 

The Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools (TACHS) is the entry exam for Catholic high schools that New York City children need to take. In other parts of the country, students sometimes take the Cooperative Admissions Exam (COOP) or the High School Placement Test (HSPT), but the TACHS is standard for New York City. It is administered in the fall to current 8th grade students, who need the scores to begin a Catholic high school in 9th grade. 

Read More

NYT Article: How Tests Make Us Smarter

/

Last summer, the New York Times published an opinion piece about the purpose of testing in schools and how examinations actually help people learn. After this school year’s debates over Common Core standards and testing in New York and across the country, it’s worth revisiting some of the reasons why schools include testing in the learning process.

Read More

What Happens in an Alumni Interview?

/

At this point during the year, students applying to colleges might have to do a few alumni interviews. These can be stressful, especially when students are trying to balance schoolwork, applications, and extracurricular activities all at one. Thankfully, alumni interviews only count for a tiny portion of a college application. 

Read More

Midyear Check-In for High School Juniors

/

Junior year is halfway over, but there’s still a lot that students need to do as they prep for senior year and the college application process. There are decisions to be made about high school classes and AP (Advanced Placement) courses, as well as the AP exams themselves in May. Students might want to take the SAT and ACT during junior year or some SAT II subject exams, so they can see what areas they need to strengthen. Brainstorming ideas for college essays and asking teachers for recommendation letters are also essential. Finally, there are college visits to do and college lists that students need to make.

 

Read More

Improving Math Scores With Online Tutoring

/

Plenty of kids struggle with math, and this can be frustrating because each year of math classes builds on the year before. Falling behind during one challenging year can mean students stay behind in their later classes. Ideally, students would always have access to a tutor in order to work through homework problems, review tough concepts from class, and prepare for tests, but this isn’t practical for most people. Many families have turned to online tutoring solutions for extra help at a more affordable cost, with the added flexibility of access around the clock, by either scheduling an hour of tutoring on specific days, or using one-off sessions in order to master a concept before exams.

Read More

SAT Accommodations for Dyslexia

/

Standardized tests can be rough for students with learning disabilities, and the thought of rushing through reading comprehension questions based on long passages can be stressful for anyone with dyslexia. For teens who apply to colleges that require SAT scores, there are testing accommodations available for students who qualify, and these accommodations can make the test-taking process a little bit easier. Additionally, teens may want to apply to a few test-optional schools, such as the ones listed on Fairtest.org, so they don’t feel as pressured about their exam scores.

Read More

ISEE Testing Accommodations |How Do I Get Accommodations for the ISEE?

/

If your student plans to attend an independent or private school, particularly for middle or high school, he or she will need to score well on the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam). This exam is offered nearly every month at participating schools in the city, and students can retake it as many times as they want at six-month intervals. The increased flexibility of the ISEE exams (as compared to the five test dates for the SAT, for example) means that students who want to take the ISEE exam early in the year as practice, and then improve their problem areas later in the year have the freedom to do so.

Read More

ELA and Math Exams in NYC | Everything You Need to Know

/

All third through eighth grade students in New York City have to take annual math and English Language Arts (ELA) exams in order to fulfill New York State’s test requirements. This rule applies to students in public, private, independent, and charter schools, as well as students who are homeschooled. For some students, these exams are also the first step toward applying for a selective middle school, while other students just need to do well in order to achieve a good grade in that year's math and ELA classes. Sometimes these tests can be confusing, especially because strong scores can be required by middle schools or junior high schools during the admissions process.

Read More