Rasulov Jamshidbek

Is ACT easier than TOEFL? 🧐😅

What contributes to a good score? Let's make a pyramid!

1. Foundation

Level of Influence: 7/10
The foundational knowledge before starting the SAT prep is critical as, without the proper 1st and 2nd floors, you can not build the 3rd, 4th, or higher floors of a building. Factually speaking, a student with IELTS 8.0 will have a higher chance of a good score than a student with IELTS 7.5. However, this is true only for the initial start! A lesson would be to have a proper knowledge of grammar and English comprehension before the start of SAT prep. If you don't have it, don't rush and waste your time with the SAT; rather, go and build better English knowledge.

2. Work (Preparation)

Level of Influence: 9/10
Literally the most important part of the SAT prep. Sometimes, a student with an IELTS 7.5 will exceed the student with 8.0 at the end score, and most of the time it is because the former put more effort during the preparation process. These kinds of students do not stop with group tasks: they always strive for more tasks, more explanations, more plans, and more of everything. One case I saw with my students was that ‘they' had IELTS 8, but usually put a limit on themselves (they did well, but never went beyond the general line even though I always told them that they could do more). A lesson would be that hard work/obsession will outcompete. Some people say there are always the smart guys who are "the chosen ones," but I personally don't believe that. You work and make yourself "the chosen one."

3. Mind (Critical Thinking)

Level of Influence: Would be wrong to compare, but important!
Nature already decided where you were born and how you were raised. Exactly this affects the way you think. Sometimes, I have students with a very good foundation and very hard working, but their results on paper never go up. Sometimes, I see cases when 2 people with equal foundation and work ethics have different results; the difference is not vast, however, as the Mind section in a way influences less than the 1st and 2nd sections. It is, of course, wrong to think of mind as a natural inheritance and think of yourself as stupid/smart. All people who do have good critical thinking shape their thinking every day through the activities they do, the people they talk to, the ideas they discuss, the media they consume, and the difficulties they overcome. Every good mind still works on itself every day. Thus, a lesson would be any 'not good' mind can be improved.

4. Luck

Level of Influence: 3/10
Even though very small, luck deserves its own place here. Sometimes, 1 try is not enough because simply bad luck may interfere with you achieving your full potential, so it is worth trying again. Granted, luck's role is very small, and it can't ruin everything fully (a student who usually scores 700+ will never get 590 on the exam; it might be slightly lower but not drastically). A lesson would be to get prepared for the worst but keep in mind that luck played a little role and a second chance may be worth it.

PS. Some of the lessons are applicable to not only SAT. Think of your own pyramid. Where are you missing? Fix it.

@Rasulov_Jamshidbek

SATashkent Challenge 2025 ❤️‍🔥

PS. Public Schools are on the podium for now.)