How much tutoring is recommended for standardized tests?
Specifically, how much tutoring per week is necessary for standardized testing?
How many times should I plan on taking an official standardized test?
How can I get accommodations like extended time testing?
How do I know which test I am better suited for?
Questions about a specific standardized test? Click here.
How much tutoring is recommended for standardized tests?
Some students prepare just weeks before the test date while others may have been preparing for over a year or longer prior to taking a standardized test. 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 standardized tests are not IQ tests, but are instead tests that cover concepts that students have been working on throughout their academic careers. You are told by the test makers that you can’t change your score significantly but that is patently false. Our students improve dramatically. For example, stanine scores on the ISEE go from 3’s to 7’s or higher; ACT scores increase by 5 to 10 composite points, some even higher; SAT scores improve 150 to 300 points, some even higher. Score increases on standardized tests can completely change the tier of schools a student targets for admission. Higher scores can even lead to scholarships from many universities.
Specifically, how much tutoring per week is necessary for standardized testing?
For standardized tests, we typically meet for a double session, 1 hour and 45 minutes long, once a week. The first session of the meeting is used to go over homework and the remaining time of the 2nd session is used to cover new material. If the student is not available for a double session, then we can break it up into two single sessions per week, each session lasting 50 minutes.
How many times should I plan on taking an official standardized test?
We recommend taking the standardized test 2 to 3 times, depending on your score goals and timeline. You should always plan to take the official test at least twice, and allow yourself enough time between test dates to improve your score.
Some colleges even SuperScore tests like the SAT and ACT, which means that rather than taking the best score in one sitting, they will take the top section scores from multiple test dates and combine them into one SuperScore. Which educational institutions SuperScore can change from year to year so you will need to verify if a particular school does SuperScore by contacting the school’s admissions office or by searching online through the school’s website.
How can I get accommodations like extended time testing?
In order to get extended time testing, the student needs to have a doctor’s report that documents a learning disability, and the school board along with the testing organization must approve the request. If the student does not have a history of accommodations, there is a lower likelihood of receiving accommodations. For more information, see the relevant FAQs for that test.
How do I know which test I am better suited for?
It really depends on the student. For example, for college admissions, the ACT is a more time-limited test, but the questions are more straightforward and you can take a paper version instead of the digital screen version; the SAT is not as strict in terms of time, but the questions are generally more involved. Some students are significantly better suited for one test over the other so it’s important to pick the right test for you. We recommend that students take an initial practice test of each type at our office. We will then compare their performance between the different 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.