Throughout the country, there has been a lot of handwringing over the new Common Core Mathematics Standards. In particular, there’s concern over whether introducing new ways to solve problems makes math unnecessarily difficult. A recent article in The Atlantic explained the new requirements and why they might be encumbering students. The authors write, “The Common Core […]
Throughout the country, there has been a lot of handwringing over the new Common Core Mathematics Standards. In particular, there’s concern over whether introducing new ways to solve problems makes math unnecessarily difficult. A recent article in The Atlantic explained the new requirements and why they might be encumbering students. The authors write, “The Common Core math standards…take understanding to a whole new level. ‘Students who lack understanding of a topic may rely on procedures too heavily,’ states the Common Core website. ‘But what does mathematical understanding look like?’ And how can teachers assess it? One way is to ask the student to justify, in a way that is appropriate to the student’s mathematical maturity, why a particular mathematical statement is true, or where a mathematical rule comes from. The underlying assumption here is that if a student understands something, he or she can explain it—and that deficient explanation signals deficient understanding. But this raises yet another question: What constitutes a satisfactory explanation?”
In New York State, more than 200,000 students opted out of the Common Core exams. At the high school level, Common Core standards have been introduced into the English and Math Regents exams. In 2014, the New York State Education Department began offering a Common Core Algebra I Regents exam. This year it introduced the Common Core geometry, Algebra II and English Language Arts exams. On the math Regents tests, schools have seen a drop in students’ test scores because of the new standards. And high school students can not opt out of the Regents exams because they’re required for graduation.
Some students will be taking or retaking the Algebra I Regents exam on January 28, 2016 (you can find the complete 2016 January Regents Exam Schedule here). While the NYS website offers some Algebra I practice exams, students may need a bit more Regents prep to get through the exam.
In response to the increasing demand for January Regents prep courses, Long Island Regents Prep has decided to offer an Algebra I Regents Review class on Sunday, January 17, at Farmingdale State College. Come join us! You can register now online by visiting www.liregentsprep.com.
Right now, many high school juniors are deciding whether to take the current SAT exam, which has only two remaining administrations, in December and January, or to wait for the New SAT to debut in March 2016. The current SAT, with its focus on critical reading, writing, and mathematics is familiar to most students. There […]
Right now, many high school juniors are deciding whether to take the current SAT exam, which has only two remaining administrations, in December and January, or to wait for the New SAT to debut in March 2016. The current SAT, with its focus on critical reading, writing, and mathematics is familiar to most students. There are countless review resources, including practice questions, review books, SAT prep classes, and online materials.
The New SAT, however, is largely a question mark. Despite the publication of review materials designed for the New SAT, students won’t have a full autopsy report until after the first group of students conquers the exam next March. According to the College Board, which publishes the SATs, changes in the New SAT include the following:
All-new essay — and it’s optional
No penalty for guessing
No vocab that you’ll never use again
4 parts: Reading, Writing and Language, Math, and the optional SAT Essay
400–1600 score scale
3 hours and 50 minutes with the SAT Essay — or 3 hours without it
4 answer choices for each question
A recent article in Forbescautioned students against taking the New SAT because there are so few practice questions, the score reports won’t be available until May 2016, and the exam is similar to the ACT. Students, however, should decide for themselves which SAT to take.
Test-prep guru Gary Gruber has developed a diagnostic tool to help students figure out which SAT test is best for them. According to Business Insider, “Gruber contends that he knows which exam students should take to ensure they get the highest possible score…. Gruber went on to explain that students who were more inquisitive and could pick up on nuances in questions will do better on the old version of the SAT. The new SAT and the ACT — the other major standardized test students take — are very similar in terms of content and questions, according to Gruber.” Students can access this free SAT Diagnostic Exams here, or scroll down to the bottom of this post to take the Gruber Math and Verbal tests.
Long Island Regents Prep is busily preparing its New SAT review materials in anticipation of the March 2016 changes. In the meantime, though, students can register for our January 17 SAT Crash Course in preparation for the final administration of the current SAT exam. Students should sign up early for our Long Island SAT review classes at Farmingdale State College.
Long Island SAT Review Classes at Farmingdale State College
