My Philosophy on Test Prep

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The SAT and ACT are just tests.  This score is one of several components of the college application. Preparing for these tests should not cost parents a fortune and should not make students feel anxious.  My goal is to help families move through this process without financial strain and without undue tension. I help students get the best score they are capable of so a number isn't a stumbling block to getting into their best-fit college. 

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How Does it Work?

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1. Contact me during junior year to set up a consultation so we can get to know each other and develop a plan for test prep.  Parent(s) and student should plan to attend.
    

2. Take the SAT spring of junior year (administered for free in Colorado schools now.)  You can do little or no prep for this initial test, unless you are particularly anxious about it.  If this is the case, familiarize yourself with the format and do some practice sections on your own.  See College Board for practice tests.
    

3. Take a practice ACT either at a testing center, with me, or on your own to help you decide which test is better for you.  See the ACT site for a practice test.
    

4. Determine which test you prefer and/or did better on, using this Concordance Table.
    

5. Sign up to take your first "for real" test spring of junior year, summer after junior year, or fall of senior year.  Click here for current test dates.  See more below about why I favor summer after junior year and NOT spring of junior year.  
    

6. Plan to take the test a second time a little later in the fall of senior year.  Don't worry, the fall test dates still give you time before college applications are due. (If you get your goal on the first try, then you're done!)

 

Why You Should Wait

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There is a lot of hype about taking these tests early, but in my 15 years of test preparation experience, I have seen again and again that students perform significantly better when they wait until fall of senior year to take the test.  See below for more about this.

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Dear Student:

 

• Junior year is a demanding time for you.  Your classes, grades, activities and sports should be your main focus, as these are essential to your acceptance to a college or university of your choice.  Students with high test scores but low grades in school may appear to be under-achievers.

• You will not have time to properly prepare for the test during junior year.  Time and again, juniors will try to convince me that they will have the time and energy to do the work, and time and again, it proves untrue.  It isn’t the student’s fault, but it is hard for he or she to anticipate how stressful spring of junior year will be.  When we try to work during this time, it usually ends up wasting the student’s time and the parents’ money, and it doesn’t yield good test results.

• During junior year, you will notice fellow students talking about how much test preparation they are doing and when they are taking the test, but this does not mean that it is the best course of action.  It is easy to get caught up in the hype and the pressure.  The fact is, taking the test in the fall of senior year provides plenty of time to get scores before applying to colleges.  There is a late summer or early fall date for both tests and then there is a second fall date for a second chance if needed.  Sometimes students are encouraged to apply early action because this will put them in a smaller pool and increase their chances of acceptance.  Although this can be true, if it means pushing a student to test before he or she is ready, then it defeats the purpose and only adds to the atmosphere of extreme tension that can surround the college admission process.

• Test prep is different than many other skills or content you are used to learning: longer preparation doesn’t necessarily yield better results.  It is different than studying for a big history or physics exam that would entail a great deal of memorizing.  There isn’t that much content to learn for these tests; it’s mostly strategy.  Therefore, a concentrated several weeks of prep leading up to the test is the most effective way to prepare.

• Brain development and the corresponding increase in maturity and motivation between junior and senior year are remarkable.  When you are a senior, you will truly understand that college is right around the corner.  You will have a much better idea of the schools to which you will apply and what you need to do to achieve your goal.

• Meeting with me does not automatically improve your test score.  It is through concerted effort and collaboration that scores improve.  This takes considerable maturity and motivation.  

• Over the summer before senior year and/or during the fall, you are more likely to be relaxed and rested.  You will have the time and energy to dedicate to test preparation.  You will have a better idea of where you want to apply and what scores you need.

• The bottom line: You can start early which most often wastes your time and your parents' money.  Or you can start when you are good and ready.  

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