Talk Descriptions
To download a copy of my Media Kit or learn about my Talk Descriptions, click here.
1. Discover how to use the major differences between the SAT & ACT to your advantage
Summary: Although standardized tests for college admission are expected to measure a student’s proficiency at basic courses in high school, SAT and ACT have significantly different characteristics.
Competition for admission to top colleges is fierce. Students need to improve their knowledge and skills to increase their chances of getting into colleges of choice. Standardized tests are an important piece of the admission puzzle and the key to potential merit based scholarships.
This presentation will help students and parents consider their options through understanding the structure of both tests and where they differ. Students have to decide which test is more likely to evidence their strengths, because they would want to send their best application package to colleges of their choice. Neither test is superior, but it is often the case that differences such as having a science section or testing for vocabulary or not, make one test better for a particular student than the other. Audience members will learn:
1.The 12 major differences between SAT and ACT, and why your student needs to understand it.
2. 22 important questions a student needs to answer before choosing between SAT and ACT.
3. How students can use the different characteristics of the tests to their advantage and ultimately save significant time and money.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. How to Maximize ROI on College Admissions Test Prep
Summary: Intensified competition requires a higher level of preparation for college admission tests. While the value of preparing for tests is usually accepted as critical for scoring higher, most families are not sure about the best choice for their student.
Each year, about 3 in 4 students plan to apply for financial aid. Getting an outstanding score on standardized tests is something that is still within students’ control that will improve their chances of receiving increasingly limited scholarships. The problem is that without any prep, it’s difficult for most students to score up their potential. And it’s equally difficult to “differentiate” themselves from more than 1.5 million students taking the test each year.
Fortunately, focused studying for any test can—and does—drive success. You’ll maximize your return on time and money invested by understanding all available test preparation options before choosing the one that best meets your student’s needs.
This presentation will help you determine exactly how – and if – various forms of test prep test prep should be a priority for you. Audience members will learn:
1. Online/offline free and low cost resources for test prep, where to find them and how to pick among numerous resources
2. Advantages and disadvantages of commonly applied strategies, such as self-study, group classes and one-on-one prep
3. Specific ways that any student can maximize his success by selecting the best method for his or her goals
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FEEDBACK
Ender Markal has presented at the Lowell PTSA General Meeting for two consecutive years and his presentation was always very well received. His presentation is geared towards both parents and students. It is extremely informative as he discusses the difference between ACT and SAT, what each of these tests entail, how often and when students typical take these tests.
Ender actually provides more global information in addition to ACT/SAT information that is very key for families to know about as they prepare for testing and the college process. The presentation is very thorough and it is non-commercial, i.e. Ender’s services are available to those who want to seek them, but he does not solicit or push his services during the presentation. Parents have always ranked his presentation as very high and a must repeat each year.
Debbie Gee Wong- Lowell PTSA President 2008-10