Unlocking Test Success: Focus on Core Skills

Last updated: August 3, 2025

As a parent of a child with education, you understand the unique challenges that come with preparing for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. The speaker believes in your power to make a significant difference in your child’s education by focusing on the underlying skills of reading, writing, and math, rather than just test-taking strategies. You’ll discover a dual approach to time management that can help your child increase their speed and efficiency while learning to prioritize questions effectively. By seeking out test prep providers who adhere to professional ethics, such as those affiliated with the NTPA, you can ensure your child receives reliable and effective tutoring services.

Focus on Core Skills for Test Success
One key insight shared involves the importance of focusing on underlying skills for test preparation. For better performance on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, parents should prioritize improving their child’s reading, writing, and math skills. As the transcript states, “If you want to do really well and improve in a significant way on these tests, improving your underlying reading, writing, and math skills is the way to go… But really, if you want to make genuine improvement, it’s about the skills.” This approach emphasizes the development of core competencies over mere test-taking strategies. For parents, this means that investing time and resources in strengthening these fundamental skills will lead to more substantial and lasting improvements in their child’s educational outcomes.

For parents: Start early conversations about test prep and college planning to set clear expectations and reduce stress for your child with learning challenges. Tweet Now Follow Learning Success

Dual Approach to Time Management in Testing
One key insight shared involves a dual approach to time management in testing for children with Education. This strategy emphasizes the importance of increasing speed and efficiency while also learning to prioritize questions effectively. According to the transcript, students should focus on building underlying proficiencies to complete more tasks within the given time, which is referred to as Plan A. Simultaneously, Plan B involves running out of time on less critical questions, ensuring that students can quickly identify and bypass questions that are not worth their initial time investment. For parents of children with Education, this means fostering both speed and strategic thinking to help their children maximize their test scores, even when time is limited.

Author Quote "

If you want to do really well and improve in a significant way on these tests, improving your underlying reading, writing, and math skills is the way to go.

“Choosing Ethical Test Prep Providers”
One key insight shared involves the importance of professional ethics in test preparation for children with Education. The National Test Prep Association (NTPA) enforces a strong code of ethics among its members, ensuring that tutors adhere to high standards of professionalism. According to the transcript, NTPA tutors invest time and money in ongoing professional development, which enhances the quality and reliability of their tutoring services. Parents seeking test prep providers for their children should look for those affiliated with the NTPA, as this affiliation signifies a commitment to ethical practices and continuous improvement. This means that children with Education can benefit from more effective and trustworthy test preparation, ultimately supporting their academic success.

Key Takeaways:

Early Planning and Communication: It's beneficial for parents to start discussing test preparation and college planning with professionals as early as 9th grade. This early engagement helps set realistic expectations and timelines, reducing stress and ensuring that the student's learning challenges are addressed appropriately throughout their high school years.

Focus on Underlying Skills: When preparing for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, it's crucial to focus on improving the student's underlying reading, writing, and math skills rather than just learning test-taking strategies. For students with learning challenges, this approach can lead to more significant and sustainable improvements in test performance.

Understanding Accommodations: Parents should ensure that their child's accommodations, such as extended time, are in place for standardized tests. It's important to follow up with school counselors to confirm that these accommodations are approved and implemented, as they can significantly impact the student's testing experience and performance.

Implementing Effective Home Education Strategies
For parents of children with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, implementing effective education strategies at home can make a significant difference. Encourage your child to use multisensory learning techniques, such as combining visual aids with verbal explanations when studying new material. For example, if they’re learning about the water cycle, have them draw diagrams while explaining each step out loud. Additionally, setting up a consistent study schedule can help, like dedicating specific times each day for homework and review. It’s also beneficial to break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable chunks to prevent overwhelm. By incorporating these strategies into daily life, parents can support their child’s educational journey and help them build confidence in their abilities.

Author Quote "

When we talk about timing issues on the tests, I always approach it from two standpoints at the same time. Plan A is to get faster and more efficient, build your underlying proficiencies so that you can do more in the time that you have. Plan B though is to run out of time for the right things.

“Embracing Specialized Education for Long-Term Success”
For parents of children with learning disabilities, such as Dysgraphia, embracing specialized education approaches can lead to significant long-term benefits and positive outcomes. By focusing on tailored learning strategies, children can experience improved academic performance and increased confidence in their abilities. These methods not only help in overcoming immediate educational challenges but also equip students with essential skills for future success in college and beyond. Parents should remain encouraged and set realistic expectations, understanding that progress may be gradual but is often steady and rewarding. Seeing their child grow and thrive through these educational approaches can be a fulfilling journey for the whole family.

Discover how the Brain Bloom System can help your child enhance their reading, writing, and math skills, crucial for success on standardized tests. Visit https://learningsuccess.ai/brain-bloom/ to learn more and support your child’s educational journey.