Meet Faris
Meet Faris
We’re thrilled to introduce Faris, one of our 2023 Independent School Tuition Scholars! Faris increased his SSAT score by 30 percentile points, earning him a spot in the 59th percentile overall!
In school, Faris most enjoys math and Spanish. He’s been taking Spanish for 3 years already and is excited to continue learning the language at his new school. When he’s not studying or doing schoolwork, Faris enjoys lifting weights at the gym, playing with his dog, Rocky, and going to movies with his friends. Earlier this year, Faris challenged himself (and succeeded!) to learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube in approximately 90 seconds!
Preparation
Faris found the Test Innovators practice tests and exercises to be incredibly helpful when preparing for the SSAT. In fact, he made it his goal to complete as many practice tests as possible before exam day. The practice tests helped Faris feel comfortable with the structure and content of the exam. In addition to taking a lot of practice tests, Faris also targeted specific concepts. Practicing higher-level math concepts like slope, pi, and polynomials improved not only his test scores, it also improved his academic performance in school.
Advice for Students
When it comes to preparing for the SSAT, Faris advises fellow students to spend plenty of time studying vocabulary. He recommends that students aim to learn 10 new words a day, along with 6 synonyms for each word. Faris also suggests completing two practice exercises for each section of the test every day. If he were to take the exam again, Faris says he’d aim to complete every single practice exercise, as well as dedicate more time to learning new words.
Advice for Parents
Faris’s mother, Sophia, had some wisdom to share with other parents as well. “You have to be ahead of the game,” she says. Planning as far ahead as you and your student are able to will prevent you from feeling rushed as deadlines begin to approach. Additionally, Sophia recommends that parents make sure their child understands the importance of practice and hard work throughout the testing process.
New School
Faris is attending school at Meridian Academy. Because of his interest in robotics, engineering, and the medical field, Faris is very excited to explore Meridian’s STEM program. He is hoping to experiment with designing and assembling his own machines this year. We can’t wait to see what Faris does next!
Test Innovators is Here to Help
Test Innovators is dedicated to helping students get into their top-choice schools. We help students get ready for the SSAT and ISEE, so that they can do their best on test day. Our practice platform provides each student with a personalized experience, so that they can target the areas that need improvement and achieve their target scores.
Test Innovators also supports students and families with the other aspects of the admissions process to independent and private schools. Our Admissions Assist courses guide families through each step of the admissions process, from researching schools to navigating the waitlist and everything in between.
