Reflections from the October 4th SAT

MJTP Families,

Another SAT is in the books!

My Personal Performance Grade

For me personally, this one wasn’t my best showing—and that’s actually a good reminder of just how much the little things matter on test day. My wife and I cheered on my students at our local high school football game last night, and we didn’t get in until later than planned. I didn’t sleep well, and I definitely didn’t wake up feeling rested. Combine that with the fact that I skipped my usual pre-test exercise—shame on me—and it really highlighted how important those details are.

Cognitively, I just wasn’t as sharp as I wanted to be, and it showed on a few questions toward the end of the second module, where I found myself racing the clock. It was definitely a different experience from August's and September’s tests.

Nothing Too Unusual

The test itself was very typical in structure and feel. That said, I did notice:

• A few transition questions that had slightly different formats than usual—something I’ll be adjusting for in our future tutoring sessions.
• A couple of familiar questions that looked like they came straight out of earlier tests, just slightly reworded.
• My second English module leaned a little heavy on Command of Evidence early on, but the same “PROVE-IT” patterns applied perfectly.

Overall, it was the same SAT we’ve been preparing for—same patterns, same logic, same traps, just different passages and slightly different linear formatting. The big takeaway is this: even when you know the playbook inside and out, you’ve got to show up rested, ready, and mentally sharp. This test demands focus and stamina, and it rewards those who come prepared in mind and body.

Looking Ahead – Get Outside!

I hope all of you had a strong showing today—whether on the English or Math side—and that you’re proud of the effort you put in. My wife and I just finished a late breakfast after I got home, and now we’re heading out to "feed our souls" with a little sunshine and nature.

Do the same! Enjoy your day, relax, and recharge. You’ve earned it. We’ll see results in a couple of Fridays, and then we’ll plan our next steps together.

Proud of you all,
Mr. John