Students who start early (summer or fall of junior year for SAT and ACT) tend to have better scores and a less stressful experience.
However, the most important factor to consider is WHEN YOU HAVE TIME to focus adequately! It's a good idea to map out a rough timeline for when you can tackle various elements of college applications (major tests, personal essays, etc.) along with your other commitments (sports and other extra-curriculars, finals, etc.) It might feel overwhelming at first, but making a plan will really keep your stress level down later!
We consider 12 lessons (18 hours) to be thorough preparation. Additionally, both SAT and ACT students should complete up to two hours of homework between lessons, as well as 2 full-length practice tests.
Test prep may feel overwhelming, given the academic and exracurricular demands made on college-bound students. Compared to G.P.A., however, it offers major impact with minimal effort! Consider that most students spend about 1,000 hours in class each year (never mind homework), and G.P.A. is traditionally valued at around 50% of a college application. Compare that to a thorough SAT or ACT program, which is under 50 hours yet typically merits about 30% of the application.
Obviously, "good" is subjective. For most students, the best approach is to research typical scores at the colleges they are interested in.
Because each program is unique to the student, it’s difficult to generalize about score increases. For a typical “full program” with us, you can expect score increases of:
· at least 200 points on the SAT
· at least 5 points on the ACT
Shorter programs can bring substantial gains, but generally work better for students who only need prep on a specific subject.
Although we emphasize multiple practice tests, there is no way to replicate the momentousness of taking an official test. Test scores always go up with prep, but there are factors that can prevent them rising as much as students hope, from nerves to plain old luck. Students should remember, however, that regular practice is essential to improve; students who take the test again without continuing practice generally do not see significant results.
See also "superscoring" below.
Superscoring pertains to scores from multiple test dates; different colleges have different policies about accepting scores. Some schools, such as the UC campuses, simply use your best overall score. Others, however, will take your best score in each subject regardless of test date, which is often called "superscoring."
To see the College Board's list of colleges and their score policies, click here.
At 2 1/2 hours, the PSAT is shorter than the SAT, and does not include an essay. Colleges do NOT see PSAT scores.
Students with learning disabilities may qualify to test with special accommodations and/or extended time limits. The documentation process can be lengthy, and often requires students to demonstrate other accommodations up a year before the test date.
If you are considering applying for extended time or other test accommodations, we strongly recommend beginning the process NOW.
For information about accommodations on the SAT, PSAT, and SAT Subject Tests, click here. You may also want to look at the page for students, which is here.
For information about accommodations on the ACT, click here.
Although there is no official conversion between the SAT and the ACT, this chart can give an estimate.
Subject Tests are 60 minutes long; students may take up to three on one test date. You can find a complete list of subjects offered here.
Not all schools require scores from the SAT II, so check with the institutions you are interested in. (Note: the UC system no longer requires Subject Tests from everyone; the updated policy is here.)
Because Subject Tests are aligned with coursework, the best time to take them is generally in May or June while the material is fresh. You should choose subjects you excel in, because these tests are very difficult! You might want to ask your teacher's opinion. We also recommend researching the average scores at your high school as well as at the colleges you'll apply to, since some instructors tend to "teach to the test" more than others, and certain Subject Tests are considered especially difficult. And finally, bear in mind that it's much harder to get a top score on a test if all the students taking it are experts like you!