Services Test preparation support

Introduction to ACT

The ACT is a globally administered college admissions test, which is accepted throughout universities and colleges in all 50 states of the USA. Additionally, the ACT is also taken by students in many other countries and is often accepted as an admissions standard in universities and colleges located outside of the USA. 2012 marked the first year when more students in the United States took the ACT than the SAT.

The ACT is a college readiness test that is designed to assess a student’s preparedness for collegiate academics. The ACT provides a balanced testing system in that it goes beyond Math and English by providing a Science section. Before taking either the SAT or the ACT, it is important to determine which exam is best suited for one’s academic goals and pursuits. Premier Prep’s™ experienced counselors can analyze a student’s profile and recommend the best test for a student.

What does the ACT test consist of?

The ACT is broken up into four main sections with a fifth section, which is optional. The four main sections include English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. The ACT also offers a Writing Test consisting of a timed essay; however, this section is optional. It is important to determine whether you should take the Writing Test or not prior to registering for the exam. The decision will vary for each individual and it is based on their academic and career goals.

Preparing for the ACT

Much like any other test, it is very important to prepare for the ACT. The ACT’s material is very representative of the material a student would learn through high school classes. As such, it is important to ensure proficiency in high school academics to give oneself a good chance at a great score on the ACT.

Premier Prep™ offers packaged programs as well as individualized one-on-one sessions for ACT preparation. Our tutors are highly experienced with the material and understand the scoring system to better help you achieve your scoring goals. Additionally, Premier Prep™ offers proctored tests that are held in select locations under real testing conditions to help students accustom themselves to real testing conditions. The ACT, much like the SAT, is a long test and it is important to get accustomed to the amount of time one needs to stay focused for. Lastly our tutors can help you develop strategies to maximize your score by understanding the scoring system.

Introduction to SAT

The SAT, prepared and administered by CollegeBoard, is designed to gauge the scholastic knowledge as well as college readiness of a student. The SAT is a globally accepted test with administration sites throughout the world. The SAT sets the standard for collegiate admissions throughout colleges in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and numerous European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern nations. The SAT can lead to numerous opportunities including financial aid and merit scholarships.

The first step to your college search and planning begins with taking the SAT or the ACT. The SAT or ACT can help determine which colleges suit you best by researching an average range of SAT or ACT scores generally accepted by various colleges. The SAT or ACT, however, are not sole determinants of college entrance. There are a number of other factors that play a role including a student’s grades and performance throughout high school, athletic achievements, extracurricular activities and contributions, etc. The best gauge for college admissions chances would be to analyze one’s academic performance through high school in combination with his/her SAT or ACT scores. Premier Prep™ provides all of our students with a free profile analysis and academic counseling.

What does the SAT test consist of?

The goal of the SAT is to test the knowledge acquired and skills learned in school. This is done through a timed test that is broken up into 10 different sections. These sections can be broken down into three main categories: Critical Reading, Writing, and Mathematics.

How to do well on the SAT?

There is no set formula for success on the SAT. It is important to understand that the SAT tests material that has been learned throughout high school and as such taking challenging classes and pushing oneself academically is the best formula to give yourself a good chance at the SAT. Pursuing personal interests such as reading books or writing outside of the classroom are likely going to further help one’s ability to score higher on the SAT.

Most importantly, it is extremely important to understand the importance of preparing for the SAT. The SAT is not the typical exam that students are accustomed to in a high school academic setting. The SAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes long with all 10 sections timed at a challenging pace. It is important to understand the scoring system of the SAT and get accustomed to the time limit as well as the mental fatigue associated with a test that is nearly four hours in length.

Premier Prep™ offers numerous comprehensive programs designed to assist students better prepare for the SAT and ACT exams. These programs include timed tests that are held under real test conditions. Additionally, many of our tutoring programs and packages include options for classroom sessions, one-on-one tutoring, and a combination of both. Premier Prep™ also provides all necessary exam preparation materials.

SAT II Subject Tests

SAT II subject tests are focused exams developed and administered by CollegeBoard. It is important to recognize the difference between SAT II subject tests and the SAT exam. The SAT II subject tests are one hour long exams, scored on an 800 point scale, and are offered in a multitude of subjects including, but not limited to, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, History, Language, etc. While the SAT II subject tests are not mandatory for students applying to colleges, they can be an excellent application booster. These subject tests can make a college applicant stand out from his/her peers.

When Should I take an SAT II Subject Test?

The answer to that question really depends and varies from student to student. One of the most important part of the SAT II subject tests is that parents and their children need to understand when is a good time to take these tests and when it is best to wait. Furthermore, because these tests are voluntary, it is important to determine which ones are most likely to be relevant to your career and academic goals.

The best time to take an SAT II subject test is when a student is taking an AP class in the same subject. Because the AP exam and the SAT II subject test share a similar level of material, a student taking AP Chemistry would find him/herself well prepared for the SAT II Chemistry Subject Test. This is not to say that students not taking an AP shouldn’t take subject tests; however, the aforementioned situation is merely one example of how to determine timing.

At Premier Prep™, our academic counselors focus on analyzing all these factors regarding a student’s current progress to develop an academic profile and determine if a student should be taking the SAT II subject test. Furthermore, Premier Prep™ offers focused prep programs for students aiming to take an SAT II subject test. Premier Prep™ offers both group sessions (groups of 4 or 10) as well as private sessions for preparation.