Denison Algebra and the ACT/SAT

Do Denison Algebra courses cover the math needed for the ACT/SAT?

The short answer is YES, absolutely!

When I wrote my courses, I knew just from experience that they covered the needed algebra and
geometry for the ACT/SAT (I’ve been in math education for 25 years). However, I recently decided to
dig into the world of the ACT/SAT just to make sure that what I taught in my courses truly lined up
with what math skills are being tested on those exams (since the tests undergo changes over time).
I read several prep books (from top publishers), and took many practice ACT and SAT exams,
charting and categorizing each question. I found that most math questions (85-95%) on the tests
required skills directly taught in Denison Algebra courses. The remaining questions required skills
learned before pre-algebra (basic arithmetic questions, simple pattern recognition, basic word
problems that do not require algebra, etc.). And then, to cap it all off, I personally took the ACT
when my daughter signed up to take it (yes...I was more than twice the age of everyone else there,
including the proctor of the exam). Every topic on the exam I took is covered in Denison Algebra
courses (I’m talking about just the math portion of the test of course...not the English, reading, or
grammar sections). So, I can say with 100% certainty that YES, students who have taken standard
pre-algebra, algebra 1, geometry, and algebra 2 through Denison Algebra will have been directly
taught all the math skills needed for the math portion of the ACT and SAT exams.

So, is a student “prepared” for the ACT/SAT after taking Denison Algebra courses?

Now, just because a student learns the math skills and topics needed for the ACT/SAT through their
math course does not mean that they are fully “prepared” to take the tests. No math curriculum can
fully “prepare” a student for the ACT/SAT. Math curriculums are not designed to help students pass
specific tests or learn testing “hacks”. Rather, they are concerned with giving students solid
foundations in math concepts and skills that are needed to be successful in the next levels of study,
as well as in developing true and deep understanding of those math concepts. In order for students
to be successful on the ACT/SAT, they must also learn specific test-taking strategies, shortcuts, tips, techniques, and “hacks” specific to the test they are taking, as well as develop good test-
taking strategies. These must be pursued outside of the regular math course they are taking. A student’s success depends partly on their math course (and the effort they put into the course) and
partly on how much effort they want to put into additional preparation.

How to prepare for the ACT/SAT:

Success on the ACT/SAT comes down to preparation, and lots of it. It takes a lot of hard work to truly prepare for and do well on the ACT/SAT. The good news is that a student can absolutely reach their target score if they are willing to work hard enough preparing for standardized exams. As I researched the ACT/SAT, I identified four skills needed for students to be as prepared as
possible:

1. Knowledge of math concepts and skills
2. Reading comprehension (the ACT/SAT are very wordy tests)
3. Techniques for working under difficult time constraints (students have very little time to
   spend on each question)
4. General test-taking skills specific to the test being taken
   • Being familiar with the layout of the test
   • Learning testing “hacks,” such as how to use multiple choice answers to your
     advantage
   • Knowing how you personally respond to test-taking stress, and developing
     personal strategies to minimize the stress
   • Practicing being able to recall any math skill learned in the last 10-12 years
   • Practicing putting together math skills in unusual and unfamiliar (and sometimes
     non-sensical) ways, which is testing for logic abilities

To develop all four of these skills, a student first needs to make sure they are applying themselves in their math courses, realizing that they need to learn (and retain) the math concepts to the best of
their ability, as opposed to just “getting through” the math course with as little effort as possible. A
student can pass a math course by just sliding through doing the minimum, but that will come back
to bite them when prepping for the ACT/SAT.

Skills 2-4 above will need to be developed outside of the student’s math course by using prep
material specific to the test being taken. The primary way to prep is to take lots of practice tests,
going over missed problems and picking up new skills along the way (preferably with the help of a
parent, sibling, teacher, or tutor). Students also would greatly benefit from a prep class or working
through a prep book.

Students also need to plan on taking the actual ACT/SAT multiple times. The first time a student
takes the exam can be used as just a “fly-by”, giving a student a feel for what the test experience is
like. The results of that test can then be used as a guide to highlight areas for improvement. Then
the student can spend time preparing and take the exam again. This process can be repeated as
many times as needed to achieve the target score. Keep in mind, colleges only take the highest
score, so a student can take it as many times as they like.

But does my student have to take the ACT/SAT?

A student can absolutely go to college (and be very successful in college) without taking the
ACT/SAT. The ACT/SAT is not a test of intelligence or ability. While it does measure those things to
some degree, it does not determine if a student is “smart” or not. It does not determine whether a
student will be successful in college. It is really a test to determine how serious a student is about
preparing, and how serious they are about wanting to achieve certain goals.

Most (if not all) community colleges and lots of 4-year institutions have amazing programs where
they will work with students to get them up and running at the college level without having to take
the ACT/SAT. So, if you have a college-bound student who would be miserable prepping and taking
the ACT/SAT, then you may want to consider bypassing the ACT/SAT and look into the other routes
that colleges offer.

Happy homeschooling!

- David