Fall Updates: SAT Prep and More
We've been hard at work brewing up some exciting new features at Knoword, and we're thrilled to share them with you. From revamped SAT prep tools to more relevant pack suggestions, there's a lot to explore. Let's dive into the details!
Improved SAT prep packs
The SAT is a big deal when it comes to college admissions, and getting the right prep makes all the difference. Our SAT prep pack has been a Knoword staple since 2017—it's actually our second most popular original pack! But with nearly 500 words of all difficulty levels, it was a bit overwhelming.
So, we split it up into eight bite-sized volumes. Each one has about 60 words, making it easier to focus and practice. Volume 1 starts with some common terms you might recognize, and each subsequent volume gets progressively more challenging. This way, students can tackle SAT prep one manageable pack at a time, mastering each set before moving on to the next.
More relevant pack suggestions
We also revamped the suggested packs that show up after you finish a game. In the past, we'd select a handful of packs at random, but that meant we could never guarantee that the packs would be on topic or something the player would be interested to try.
Now, our suggestions are way more relevant. If you just finished a pack that belongs to a collection, we'll show you other packs from that collection. If it has a category, you'll see more from that category. And if it has neither a collection nor a category, we'll pull some curated packs from our new packs page. No more dead ends, just smooth sailing to your next game.
New progress bar for assignments
We received feedback that students sometimes felt assignments were long and hard to stay motivated, especially without a clear sense of progress. To address this, we've introduced a progress bar feature. This bar appears at the top of the screen during assignment games, giving students a clear visual of how close they are to finishing. When they hover over the bar, it also shows the number of words they've answered and how many are remaining.
We've already received great feedback on the feature. Here's what one of our users, a homeschool teacher, has to say:
My daughter says it is so much more encouraging to get through it. Especially for packs that are more difficult. I tested it myself too and I agree!
The progress bar is disabled by default, but you can select the Enable progress bar option in your assignment settings to turn it on. It's a simple way to help keep students focused and motivated.
So there you have it—three big updates designed to enhance Knoword for both teachers and students. Whether your students are building their SAT vocabulary with our new SAT Prep collection, discovering more relevant suggestions post-game, or staying on track with the progress bar, we hope these features make learning even more engaging and effective.
Have a fang-tastic fall, and keep leveling up your vocab! 🧛