10 Reasons to Build a Strong Foundation When Prepping for the SAT or ACT

One of the BIGGEST MISTAKES made by both students preparing for the SAT or ACT and tutors in developing study plans is overlooking the importance of developing a sturdy foundation.

What do I mean by "foundation"?
...Any content covered on the test, reviewed using materials that present the information in a coherent, clear, comprehensible way.

The foundation includes the basics. The rudimentary. The 101. 
The lessons you swear you learned five years ago... but can't quite articulate today. 

The exact definition of "integer" (non-decimal, non-fraction). 
The smallest and only even prime number (2).
The difference between factors and multiples. 
The uses of "who" versus "whom." 
The past perfect tense. Misplaced modifiers. Comma usage.

Many test-preppers and tutors want to jump right into the test. They believe that a student can take a test, review the wrong answers, and take another test. They are trying to save time by delving into the test, but this method is actually inefficient.

Every time I start with a new student, we start with the foundation. I have developed outlines covering 98% (conservatively) of topics that might arise on the English/Writing (ACT/SAT, respectively) and Math sections. The student and I review each of them top-to-bottom.

Why does my method work so much better?

1. The journey to score improvement starts before EVER taking a practice test. Without fail, you'll find at least a few sticky points that require clarification.
2. It provides you the opportunity to really understand the concepts without the pressure of time. I'm not suggesting you spend a day on each concept—hopefully you can already clearly define "integer" for me, and we hardly spent any time defining it (as a non-fraction, non-decimal). But, if you need to, you can take extra time to grasp a topic and use practice sections to apply what you've learned.
3. It doesn't take long to review content you already know. You will recognize that you already know something well enough to use it within a few minutes. It takes much longer to review topics over and over again because you didn't do the groundwork. Most of the time, it doesn't take long to iron out the wrinkles. And, especially with the most basic points, once it's done, it's done. 
4. It is proactive: Rather than waiting to be caught off guard, you set yourself up for success. The goal of testing is not to trick you, it is to assess your knowledge. Knowledge is acquired through study. Knowledge builds confidence. Confidence lowers anxiety. Lower anxiety leads to clearer thinking. Clear thinking allows you to apply your knowledge. What a lovely cycle.
5. The content flows like a story rather than incongruent, disjointed facts. By reviewing the fundamentals in a systematic manner in which one topic builds on the next, the various rules begin to reference each other. You make connections. Connections inform deeper learning. 
6. Having a strong foundation offers you a reference point for every test question you encounter. You can quickly connect back to the content of your study guide while taking the test. 
7. The hardest problems employ the most basic concepts. By having a strong grasp of the basics, you won't feel more capable with only the basic problems—you'll feel more capable throughout the test.
8. The reference materials continue to serve you. Not only can you use them to review concepts and quiz yourself when you have less than ten minutes to invest in prep...
9. By bringing the problems back to their context within what you learned, you can also use your study guide for a stronger review of wrong answers. When you answer a question incorrectly, identify what was being tested and review the concept in your study guide.
10. Concepts are more widely applicable than facts. Learning how to solve one problem teaches you how to solve that problem. Learning concepts teaches you how to solve many problems.

What it all comes down to is this:

Without a solid foundation, you'll have trouble building anything of value. {Tweet It}

For the record, I do recommend that students take a diagnostic test. Next week, I'll walk you through exactly how to handle that diagnostic. Trust me, you don't want to miss this. 

As always, I love to hear your comments below.
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