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How to prepare for Explore, (first S.T.)


Runningmom80
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I think I've decided to sign DS (soon to be 9) up for Explore through Duke in Jan.  He's never taken a standardized test before.  I'm not even sure if he'll have the stamina for this, but being in a testing state, I figure it's time to start getting his feet wet.

 

Anyways, how do I prepare the kid? just use the practice test?

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It's hard to find a practice test for EXPLORE. When DD did it the first time, I had her do a practice ACT w/o writing. but with 30 minute time limits, so she got used to the timing and bubbling, warning her that it was a lot harder than the real test. It seems to have worked-she came out bouncing and happy :). The booklet they send when you register is, according to DD, like the easier questions on the test, not the hard ones.

 

We didn't prepare content at all for the EXPLORE.

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I would suggest going over basic test taking strategies and procedures. When dd took the Explore, one student didn't know about bubbling circles and a few other aspects of test taking. I cannot imagine the stress she felt as the proctor kept stopping and correcting her. I am almost certain it affected her score.  :sad:

 

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I would suggest going over basic test taking strategies and procedures. When dd took the Explore, one student didn't know about bubbling circles and a few other aspects of test taking. I cannot imagine the stress she felt as the proctor kept stopping and correcting her. I am almost certain it affected her score.  :sad:

 

Oh gosh, yes, this is what I'd like to avoid!

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This may sound silly, but maybe even discuss where to place things.  When dd was younger she set several extra pencils on her desk. She then knocked them all off during the test.  :blushing:   Now she only places one or two extra on her desk. She has others in her bag in case she needs them for some reason. 

 

Executive Functioning is not his strong suit, so this does not sound silly at all! Thank you!

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Also, you may need to prepare him for the test site. DD took the EXPLORE as a very young 8 yr old, and the high school setting was overwhelming to her. She also ended up taking the test sitting on a high school history book because she was too short for the high school sized desk to work well for her. I hadn't thought about the school itself being an intimidating factor. Fortunately, a couple of 5th grade girls adopted her and made sure she got through the breaks Ok. (gotta love motherly 10-11 yr olds:) ). I had been so focused on the test book, bubble sheet, the calculator, and so on, I hadn't thought about a high school having multiple activities on a Saturday, so the talent search kids weren't the only ones there, or about big desks.

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I'm looking into DS10 taking the Explore this year, but am having some issues with my search.  I'd prefer to not go through the Talent Search route, simply because I'd rather wait for the results and then go through the process of having him admitted into programs.

 

Did anyone else see that the Explore is no longer available for purchase, but is now the ACT Aspire?  http://www.act.org/products/k-12-act-explore/

 

I never took the ACT in HS, and actually didn't know anyone who did - we all took the SAT.  I feel woefully unprepared when looking into things like this.

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You can't register for thr EXPLORE except through Talent Search. Belin Blank doesn't require paying a separate registration fee, so I'd suggest going through them, and then use the score for other programs if they look good. The talent search programs are still using the EXPLORE this year (and CTY is not accepting the new SAT, either).

 

SAT and ACT are different-not only can you register outside of talent search, you have to register for the test, and can then just have it coded to be sent to talent search if you're a participant (and they provide an extra letter that takes the place of the photo ID, but I'm sending DD with a photo ID regardless).

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