Students in grades 3 to 8 attending New Jersey public schools must take the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK). The test measures achievement in Language Arts Literacy and Mathematics. Language Arts Literacy measures reading and writing levels. The reading cluster targets skills such as recognizing the central theme and supporting details, retelling and paraphrasing, critiquing text, forming judgments, and drawing conclusions. The writing cluster targets essay composition in response to persuasive and speculative prompts. The Mathematics test measures knowledge and skills in numerical operations, geometry and measurement, patterns and algebra, data analysis and probability, and problem solving.

Scores are reported on a scale of 100 to 300. Students must score at least 200 to be considered “proficient” and 250 or above to be “advanced proficient”. In 2008, The State Board of Education established higher levels of expectations for student achievement on the NJASK. Students have to earn at least 50% of the possible points on the test in order to be deemed “proficient” in Language Arts Literacy and Mathematics. Schools utilize the results of NJASK to make important educational decisions, which involve ability-based grouping, eligibility for gifted programs, as well as placement in remedial ones.

At Somerset Learning Center , NJASK tutoring involves familiarizing students with the format of NJASK, and teaching them how to approach objective questions and how to maximize performance on open-ended questions requiring written responses and essays. Teachers help students to review NJASK content, and to improve any weaknesses in the required skills and knowledge. Students practice taking sample NJASK tests under timed conditions to gain experience and confidence. Such preparation helps students improve their skills, reduce test anxiety, and gain stamina for these important tests. The improvement in scores is usually very impressive!

SAT & ACT PREPARATION

The SAT Reasoning Test was introduced in 1901 and is an important element for students in the college admissions process. According to the test makers, the SAT measures critical thinking skills that are needed for academic success in college by assessing how well test takers analyze and solve problems. The SAT is known to use tricky phrasing, and at about four hours long, it emphasizes mental endurance.

The SAT is offered seven times a year, and consists of three major sections as described below. Each section receives a scaled score of 200-800, for a maximum possible score of 2,400.

The American College Testing (ACT) Program was introduced in 1959 as a competitor to the SAT. According to the test makers, the ACT measures high school students’ general education development and their capability to complete college-level work. Offered four to six times a year, the ACT has recently become formally recognized by all four-year colleges. The SAT remains a more popular test on the East and West Coasts, whereas the ACT is more popular in the Midwest and Southern regions. While a student may take both the SAT and ACT, it is not required. Taking both tests, may, however improve the chances of college placement and scholarships because a student may score better on one test than the other.

• ACT English – students revise and edit writing pieces using the rules of standard written English.
• ACT Mathematics – students show ability in all topics of high school math: pre-algebra, algebra, plane and coordinate geometry, and trigonometry.
• ACT Reading – students are evaluated on ability to read and comprehend passages.
• ACT Science – students interpret and analyze data, understand the significance of experiments, and compare the views of scientists.
• ACT Writing (Optional) - students write an essay on a topic about a social issue applicable to high school students.

At Somerset Learning Center, students are presented with the skills, strategies, and practice necessary for success on the SAT and/or the ACT. Excellent, experienced teachers provide individualized instruction to students utilizing the most effective and comprehensive materials. The small group environment is encouraging and supportive and students are enabled to ask questions and to perform their best.

Throughout SAT/ACT tutoring, students are taught strategies to approach each test as a whole and to tackle specific types of questions. Individual student needs are determined from our skills assessment. Teachers then work with students to correct deficiencies and to further develop the necessary underlying skills – including reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, writing, and math. Students practice taking actual SAT/ACT sections, under timed conditions, to improve their time management and to build stamina and concentration. Relevant homework is assigned throughout the SAT/ACT tutoring program.

Students with a wide range of ability levels benefit from our programs - from the special needs to those capable of exceptional performance. Since our SAT/ACT tutoring programs are individually designed for each student, there could be equal focus on individual test sections, or more concentration on specific parts. This flexibility helps students with specific needs to achieve their goals. It is preferable that students have several months to prepare for the SAT/ACT; however, we also offer more intensive and rapid instruction if the test date is imminent.

For students trying to qualify for the National Merit Scholarships or just getting an earlier start with test preparation, we design PSAT (preliminary SAT) and PLAN (preliminary ACT) preparation programs.

PREPARATION for
SSAT... ISEE... COOP... HSPT

The SSAT, ISEE, COOP and HSPT are all standardized assessments used as part of the decision making process for acceptance into private high schools. Each test is administered in two or three levels based on grade level. Although each test differs in its design, individual sections, and scoring; each one covers the important areas of vocabulary, reading comprehension, and mathematics.

At the Somerset Learning Center, teachers introduce students to the format of their specific test, show them appropriate test taking strategies, and reinforce the necessary content and skills. The students learn to approach their specific standardized test with confidence and optimism!

Other assessments for which Somerset Learning Center offers individual preparation programs include:

If a student needs to take an assessment or standardized test not listed on this page, we can usually still help! Using a description of test content and our assessment of the student’s academic skills, we can set up an appropriate test preparation program. Our teachers provide individual instruction to fill in a student’s learning gaps and teach test taking strategies needed for the test.