For GRE / GMAT / LSAT / MCAT questions, click here
How much tutoring is recommended for standardized tests like the PSAT, SAT, and ACT?
Specifically, how much tutoring per week is necessary for standardized testing?
How many times do I need to take the SAT/ACT?
How do I get extended time testing?
Should I take the ACT or the SAT?
How much tutoring is recommended for standardized tests like the PSAT, SAT, and ACT?
Some students practice for years prior to taking the SAT or ACT, and others practice just weeks before. The amount of tutoring needed is relative to the student’s score goals and how much work the student is willing to do on his or her own. We recommend at minimum beginning 3-4 months prior to the test date, and we strongly urge students to take six to eight practice tests at our office before their official test. It is important to note that the SAT and the ACT are not IQ tests, but are instead tests that cover concepts that students have been working on throughout their academic careers.
Our students’ scores have increased by as much as 300+ points on the SAT and 10+ composite points on the ACT. Score increases on standardized tests can completely change the tier of schools a student can apply to, and high scores can lead to scholarships from many universities.
Specifically, how much tutoring per week is necessary for standardized testing?
For the ACT and SAT, we recommend a double session, 1 hour and 45 minutes long, once a week. If the student is not available for a block of time of that length, we can break it up into two single sessions per week, each of which is 50 minutes long.
How many times do I need to take the SAT/ACT?
You may take the SAT or ACT as many times as you like and send the best score to colleges. We recommend taking either test twice during a student’s junior year and once, if needed, at the beginning of their senior year. Some colleges even superscore the tests.This means that they take the best scores from each section of the test, even if those top scores come from different test dates, and combine them into one superscore. You will need to individually contact the colleges’ admission offices to see if they offer this option. It is more common for colleges to superscore the SAT. Very few colleges superscore the ACT.
How do I get extended time testing?
In order to get extended time testing, the student needs to have doctor’s records that document a learning disability, and the school board must approve the request. If the student does not have a history of accommodations, there is a lower likelihood of receiving accommodations such as extended time, especially for the ACT. For more information, see the relevant FAQs for the PSAT, SAT, or ACT.
Should I take the ACT or the SAT?
It depends on the student. The ACT is a more time-limited test, but the questions are more straightforward. The SAT is not as strict in terms of time, but the questions are generally more involved. Some students are better suited for one test over the other. We recommend that students take 2 initial practice tests, a SAT and an ACT, at our office. We will then compare their performance between the two tests and make a recommendation on which test will show students in the best light, based on their scores, time usage, and most importantly, an analysis of what they missed and how much work it may take to improve.