“He was so thrilled that all his hard work paid off, and it was thanks to your encouragement that he gave it just one more shot!”

-Parent, Class of 2017

 Frequently Asked Questions:

Which is the best test for my student? The answer is always: “it depends!”  Typically, strong readers find success on the ACT and strong math students prefer the SAT, but that is not a hard and fast rule by any means.  The tests have many similarities despite their differences, and preparing for one easily begets preparing for the other.

I have heard that colleges aren’t even looking at SAT/ACT scores for admissions. Do I have to take them? While it is true that some schools are making the switch to “test-optional” for their admissions process, either temporarily or permanently, it is not true that you don’t need to take these tests at all. It is extremely unlikely that every school on your list will be test-optional during your application season, and it’s even more unlikely that your application wouldn’t benefit from including a test score. Scholarships thresholds will still exist, and frankly, unless your GPA, resume, and admissions essays are all simply outstanding, you’d probably benefit from sharing your test scores, even if you think you could have done better with more time. I do think colleges will be kinder in their decisions in the coming year, so don’t stress–just do your best!

When should my student test? The shortest answer to this question is “whatever works best for your schedule”–when you’ll actually have time to prepare and most importantly the ability to get a good night’s sleep for several days before the test!  The longer answer has to do with math class.  Check out the Suggested Testing Timeline for my take.

How many times can my student take the test? As many times as you need to get the score you want.  I definitely recommend planning for 2-3 times.  Improvement between tests of 2-4 points is attainable, and continued improvement means that you can keep doing better, so why not keep going?!

Should my student take a real test without any prep and see how it goes? Sure!  You can definitely learn a lot from a cold attempt at either test. There are so many unknowns on test day, so having some experience there can definitely ease test day nerves when making a “real” attempt.  Additionally, coming to me with a previous testing experience can help students make the most of their time and also allow them to take advantage of the feedback I can provide on their existing score report.