Because we provide each student with comprehensive and individualized instruction, we prefer to group students of different levels together. Over the years we have found that this reduces the self-consciousness of some students and the arrogance of others while stimulating natural, healthy competition. It also ensures that no assumptions are made about a student’s skill level and that all students can perform at their best of their ability. Moreover, we prefer to set up the teaching atmosphere in the same way as the testing atmosphere, in which students will not be sitting in skill level groups.

We create WhatsApp groups for each class, and both parents and students are welcome to join. We will post important announcements, links to resources, additional tips, and assignments on the group chat, so we highly recommend that you be a part of it. We also communicate individually with parents via email or phone as needed to assure that their student’s best interest is served.

Yes! Students (and adults) get bored if every assignment is a reading exercise, all classes are lectures, and every learning activity is the same. So, we regularly deliver information to our students in a “mix” that includes reading, lectures, discussions, and in-person consultations. We give immediate feedback to students on their performance on writing prompts and tests – this can occur in person or through email, phone calls, or WhatsApp messages.

All four-year universities accept both the SAT and the ACT. They are given a conversion table that allows them to compare applicant scores fairly. Nationwide, all institutions view PSAT National Merit scholar ratings as criteria for college acceptance and scholarship awards. Students cannot receive National Merit rankings without taking the PSAT and SAT. The SAT is unofficially “preferred” at schools in New York, Massachusetts, California, at Ivy Leagues, and at other high-caliber colleges. Meanwhile, the ACT is a required component of some states’ high school transcript records.

In short, we recommend that every student prepare for and take both the SAT/PSAT and the ACT. Here’s why:

• New Skill Set: By taking ACT and SAT prep courses, students naturally develop a combined skill set that maximizes potential scores on both tests. Studies, including one that followed a group of students through the preparation and 2014 testing process, indicate that of the students who took only the ACT prep course, 35% scored in the top 3%. On the other hand, of the students that took prep courses for both the SAT and ACT, 65% achieved scores in the top 3%. The students who took courses to prepare for both tests were the ones who achieved the highest scores.
• Scholarship Opportunities: The better test results achieved by taking both ACT and SAT prep courses increase scholarship opportunities (not just National Merit Scholarships!).

We keep our in-person classes at 12-15 students and our online classes at 8-10 students in order to give students the attention you are paying for and to assure them that they each get the opportunity to participate. We care about each student’s results —partly because their results are our reputation, and ultimately because our teaching hearts are rewarded when they succeed.

We use two workbooks—Book A and Book B—for every course. We cover a little material from both books during each class, and we assign some math, reading, and/or writing homework from the books OR a practice essay at the end of each session.* In the following class we review the previous session’s homework assignment before moving on to new material.

* Look below to learn more about our practice essay assignments.

We deliver our courses in two formats: instruction and testing. All instruction is done through live in-class discussions and explanations of questions from our provided workbooks. Testing is done via practice exams extracted from previously administered tests. Below is a brief overview of the three steps which our SAT and ACT prep courses follow:

• One Diagnostic Test: We use a diagnostic test as a tool to assess the student’s level of knowledge and test-taking abilities before our classes even begin. The diagnostic test score serves as a baseline measurement to analyze student progress through the course. That way, students can see how much they improved in just a matter of weeks!
• Learning and Instruction: We spend the bulk of our course teaching students material that will be tested on the ACT and SAT, providing them with test-taking strategies, and practicing with sections of real exams. We teach math in every session and rotate all other topics. We also give around one hour worth of homework each week.
• Practice, Practice, Practice: At the end of the ACT and SAT classes, students take practice tests each week so that they can compare their diagnostic test results to subsequent test scores and monitor their progress. The more times these tests are taken, the more comfortable students become with them and the better scores they achieve.

A lot! Classes are taught in a question and answer format and each student is called upon to participate. We are observant in class and watch as well as listen for indications that a student may be confused about or behind in a topic. In those cases, we initiate discussion and if needed, we offer to schedule a phone call outside of class to make a plan to help the student succeed. We also respond to student emails and text messages within 24 hours. After all, we want all of our students to shine!

Absolutely! We believe that all students should write the optional essay on both the ACT and the SAT. Thus, we teach students the tips and tricks needed to write the best essays possible. We frequently assign essays as homework and ask our students to send them to a renowned essay-grader, who provides students with scores and video feedback on where they can make changes. This way, students can fix their mistakes and track their improvement in their writing skills. As an added bonus, the writing skills that students learn in our classes also benefit them in English classes in school. It’s a win-win!

We highly recommend that students follow our comprehensive study plan, which includes everything from downloading SAT/ACT apps with daily practice questions to reading editorials to improve vocabulary and reading skills. Students will discover that doing these things regularly will benefit them immensely on test day.