FAQs About Score Boosters
How to Improve Scores with ZAPS Score Boosters and Other Questions
Doorway to College’s ZAPS Score Boosters™ are targeted tools that help you improve your college entrance exam scores and build a stronger vocabulary. ZAPS Score Boosters include:
Online ZAPS College Vocabulary Challenge FAQs
Q. Where can I find the instructions for the ZAPS College Vocabulary Challenge?
Q. Which browsers work best with the online Vocabulary Challenge?
Q. How can I put an icon of the Vocabulary Challenge on my Android phone?
Q. How can I put an icon of the Vocabulary Challenge on my iPhone?
Q. Can I get a version of the Vocabulary Challenge that doesn’t require an Internet connection?
Q. Our family has two high school students. Can they share the ZAPS College Vocabulary Challenge?
Online ZAPS Test Prep FAQs
Q. What's the best way to use the online practice tests?
Q. Why does the scoring say “Estimated”? How accurate is the scoring?
Q. I bought the SAT Test Prep. Will it help me prepare for the PSAT, too?
Q. Is there an essay component to the ZAPS practice tests?
Back to other frequently asked questions
Online ZAPS College Vocabulary Challenge FAQs
Q. Where can I find the instructions for the ZAPS College Vocabulary Challenge?
A. When you are using the online College Vocabulary Challenge, simply click on the ZAPS logo in the upper-left corner at the top of the Challenge (in the dark blue bar). This will open a page that includes full instructions.
Q. Which browsers work best with the online ZAPSCollege Vocabulary Challenge?
A. The following browsers work best with the Vocabulary Challenge:
- Explorer 11
- Firefox
- Chrome
- Safari
- Android 2.3+
- iOS4+
Q. How can I put an icon of the College Vocabulary Challenge on my Android phone?
A. Follow the instructions below:
- Select the web icon from Applications.
- Select the ribbon with a star on it.
- Select star or “Add Bookmark.”
- Enter “ZAPS Vocab Challenge” in the title box.
- Enter https://apps.zaps.com/ in the URL box.
- Go back to the Home Screen.
- Long press the open space on your home screen where you would like the icon to be placed.
- Select “Shortcuts.”
- Select “Bookmark.”
- Select “ZAPS Vocab Challenge” bookmark.
- A ribbon with the star icon and ZAPS Vocab Challenge title will now be placed on your Home Screen.
Q. How can I put an icon of the College Vocabulary Challenge on my iPhone?
A. Follow the instructions below:
- Open the Vocabulary Challenge by accessing https://apps.zaps.com in Safari.
- At the bottom of the screen, tap the icon of the arrow shooting out of the rectangle. (This is the icon that allows you to forward a page to your mail, text, Twitter, Facebook, etc. )
- Tap the icon that says “Add to Home Screen.”
- Enter “ZAPS Vocab Challenge” in title box.
- Tap “Add” at the top of the screen.
- The app icon will now be placed on your Home Screen.
Q. Can I use the online version of the College Vocabulary Challenge on my smartphone? Tablet? Computer? Kindle? Nook?.
A. You can use this tool on any device that allows you to connect to your email. Just activate the link in your email, and open the URL there. You must have an Internet connection to use the web-based version of the College Vocabulary Challenge.
Q. Can I get a version of the College Vocabulary Challenge that doesn’t require an Internet connection?
A. No. The College Vocabulary Challenge is available only as an Internet-based application.
Q. Our family has two high school students. Can they share the ZAPS College Vocabulary Challenge?
A. While there's nothing preventing your students from working in the same College Vocabulary Challenge, we don't advise it. This tool is customized for each specific user, providing review on the words that are troublesome for that person - which may not be the same words that are a problem for another user. If two or more students share the same College Vocabulary Challenge, they won't each see the same words.
Q. How can I earn badges?
A. You'll earn badges on the College Vocabulary Challenge by providing correct responses to the questions. Look at the table below to see the badge names and the number of correct responses required for each. Note that we've used some pretty challenging vocabulary words as the names of the badges. Not sure what the badge names mean? Some words are pretty esoteric (another word to look up — enter "define esoteric" in your browser for a quick definition), but that's part of the fun! If you have suggestions for new badge names, let us know at support@doorwaytocollege.com.
| BADGE | CORRECT RESPONSES |
| Auspicious | 10 |
| Ascendant | 25 |
| Adept | 45 |
| Coruscant | 70 |
| Logomaniac | 100 |
| Logogue | 130 |
| Sesquipedalian | 160 |
| Grandiloquent | 200 |
| Magniloquent | 250 |
| Prestigious | 310 |
| Erudite | 380 |
| Luminous | 460 |
| Scintillating | 550 |
| Logophile | 640 |
| Penultimate | 740 |
| Zenith | 840 |
Online ZAPS Test Prep FAQs
Q. What's the best way to use the online practice tests?
A. For the most accurate estimate, first take the test timed to get your estimated subtest score for the ACT or the SAT, depending on which test you're using. Then go back and take the test untimed. Even if you initially answered the item correctly, study each answer choice to learn how editors offer predictable errors to students who don’t fully understand the subject matter. This is one of the most valuable means to study for the ACT, PSAT, or SAT.
Q. Why does the scoring say “Estimated”? How accurate is the scoring?
A. The ZAPS test editors carefully studied the ACT and SAT tests, and have closely approximated their directions, difficulty, item types, and content. These are not the official tests, however, and we can only give you an estimated score. There are factors that are different on this test: it is online, it doesn't have the same testing conditions, and it doesn't likely produce the same test anxiety as the actual testing situation. In addition, you may have previously viewed the answers to these questions by taking the test untimed.
Q. Weird things are happening when I try to use the test. It just isn't working right — or isn't working at all. What should I do?
A. Most likely, this is a browser issue. We suggest you try using a different browser to access the test. If you're using Internet Explorer 10, try Internet Explorer 11 or Firefox, for example. If you're having trouble in Chrome, try Safari or Firefox. If you are having a browser problem, please let us know which browser is having the problem by calling us at 877-927-8378. Or email us at support@doorwaytocollege.com. If you have any other issue, it's also very helpful if you can email us a screenshot. If you need help taking a screenshot, please call us.
Q. I bought the ZAPS SAT Practice Test. Will it help me prepare for the PSAT, too?
A. The ZAPS SAT Practice Test is excellent practice for both the PSAT and the SAT. The PSAT and SAT are nearly identical tests in form, content, difficulty, style, and question types. The primary difference is that the PSAT is shorter, with fewer sections. There are also fewer questions overall. The PSAT also does not include an essay. Scoring for the SAT and PSAT are similar; when you see your SAT score, drop a zero at the end and you'll have an estimated PSAT score. The reverse is also true.
Q. Is there an essay component to the online ZAPS practice tests?
A. No. There is not an essay component to either the ZAPS ACT Practice Test or the ZAPS SAT Practice Test because the essays can't be scored by computer. Instead, we recommend that you practice writing essays using the essay prompts in the ZAPPING the ACT or Inside the SAT study guide. The study guides also include a scoring rubric to help you evaluate the effectiveness of the practice essays.
Q. I have a question that's not listed here. Where can I get an answer?
A. Contact us at answers@doorwaytocollege.com. Or, call 877-927-8378 during business hours, from 7 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday. If you're calling after hours, or while we're on other calls, please leave a detailed message, and we'll get back to you no later than the next business day.