STANDARDIZED TEST PREP & ACADEMIC SUPPORT
SAT/ACT SUCCESS
Days
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Mondays, Wednesdays
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Time
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5:00pm - 6:00pm
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Location
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Via Zoom
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Audience
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9th-12th Grade Students
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Instructor
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Jake Gallardo, Northwestern University
A customized SAT plan preparing students for success
We work with the student to put together a schedule that prepares her or him for the day of the exam. We take a holistic approach to test preparation, teaching fundamentals and techniques that give students the knowledge to succeed. In addition, we understand the stress that comes with standardized testing. We address that anxiety and offer strategies that provide confidence and assurance.
MATH FUNDAMENTALS
1. Understand how to approach the entire mathematics section of the SAT, step by step.
2. Learn strong test-taking strategies to ensure that students have the mental dexterity to overcome testing stress and overwhelming (at-first-glance) questions. Our students don't give up. They have a bag of strategies from which to pull.
3. Identify students' "problem areas" and develop curriculum targeting essential concepts specific to the SAT rather than a wide-breadth approach to all of high school mathematics.
4. Continually reinforce good habits. Test centers wear students down through repetition, which only creates bad habits.
WRITING
1. Learn the essential rules that appear in the EVERY SAT Writing section. Students make dramatic improvements in this section once they learn the rules. FACTS.
2. Grammar and effective language use, focusing on grammar, usage, and punctuation. Our students get so proficient, they can teach it to others.
3. Reading in context. Building on the skills learned in Critical Reading, students learn how to effectively approach the most common question on the Writing section.
4. For those preparing for the shrinking list of schools that require or recommend the SAT Essay, we will prepare them for a high score.
What we cover in our course
CRITICAL READING
1. Unlearn the lazy reading techniques encouraged by traditional "English" courses that focus on plot.
2. Learn to focus on subject matter and tone - the heart of the SAT Critical Reading section.
3. Learn to focus on analyzing and identifying the meaning, structure, and purpose of text passages.
4. Learn how to approach each type of passage, from the narrative, to the science to the comparing passages. Each has its own pattern and requires specific techniques.
TEST-TAKING TECHNIQUES
1. We are not huge fans of standardized testing, but until it's gone for good, we will work with students to overcome their fear and instill confidence
2. Analyze the challenges unique to each student so that we can customize techniques that work best for each student.
3. Encourage students with kindness while also teaching them what they need to know.
4. Free class the evening before each test date so we can review strategies for success and to calm any nerves and boost confidence.
What is the format of the SAT?
The SAT is 3 hours long with an optional 50-minute essay section. The test format is as follows:
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Reading Test: 65 minutes to answer 52 multiple-choice questions based on four passages and one passage pair
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Writing & Language Test: 35 minutes to answer 44 multiple-choice questions based on four passages
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Math Test: 25 minutes to answer 20 questions without a calculator, 55 minutes to answer 38 questions with a calculator
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Essay (Optional): 50 minutes to read a passage and write 1 essay on how the passage author supports his or her argument
The SAT is scored out of 1600. Your total score is a combination of your section scores for the Reading/Writing and Mathematics sections. Each section is scored out of 800. The optional essay is scored by two graders each grading on a scale of 1-4 points for reading, analysis, and writing.
Start practicing for the SAT today. If you are in need of tutoring or guidance, we'd be happy to help.
Taking a full-length SAT practice test is one of the best ways to simulate test day. Provided here are official CollegeBoard practice tests to download for free, online. Created by the makers of the SAT, each practice test has the same types of questions you'll see on test day. Six of the practice tests have even previously been given as actual SAT exams.
What is the format of the ACT?
The ACT® contains multiple-choice tests in four areas: English, mathematics, reading and science. ACT's writing test is optional and will not affect your composite score. The test format is as follows:
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English Test: 45 minutes to answer 75 multiple-choice questions based on five essays, or passages
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Math Test: 60 minutes to answer 60 questions with a calculator
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Reading Test: 40 minutes to answer 35 multiple-choice questions from three long prose passage and two shorter prose passages
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Science Test: 40 minutes to answer 35 multiple-choice questions based on several authentic scientific scenarios
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Writing (Optional): 40 minutes to read a passage and write 1 essay to develop your own perspective on an issue that you analyze
​The number of correct answers converts to a score that ranges from 1 to 36 for each of the four tests—and your composite score is the average of those.