FAQs

Although colleges will consider other factors, the majority of admission decisions start with only two criteria: your SAT or ACT score, and your GPA.  Aside from being a requirement for college admission, the SAT/ACT can help you in these important ways.

• Many scholarships require a minimum SAT or ACT score.
• The SAT or ACT is an excellent way to set yourself apart from other college applicants. In other words, having a high score gets you noticed.

SAT – Register by logging on to www.collegeboard.com.

ACT – Register by logging on to www.actstudent.org.

If you are taking the SAT for the first time, you should consider signing up for the test that is held in October or May because those test dates offer the College Board Question and Answer Service (QAS). Subscribing to QAS can give you valuable insights as to which types of questions resulted in the most mistakes when you took the test. Consult your school’s guidance counselor about when you should take the SAT during your high school years (junior, senior, etc.). Your counselor knows your needs and your school’s program, and he or she can provide the best advice.

If you are taking the ACT for the first time, you should consider signing up for the test that is held in April or June because the test dates offer the test information release (TIR). Subscribing to the TIR can give you valuable insights as to which types of questions resulted in the most mistakes when you took the test, and this can be a great help to you and your tutor. Consult your school’s guidance counselor about when you should take the ACT during your high school years (junior, senior, etc.). Your counselor knows your needs and your school’s program, and he or she can provide the best advice.

No more than three – four times. Try to show improvement with each successive test. Talk to your counselor about the policies of the specific schools of interest to you.

The best way to contact these services is through their websites:

SAT:  collegeboard
ACT:  actstudent

Quick reference numbers:

SAT:                      (212)-713-8000
ACT Registration:   (319)-337-1270
ACT Scores:            (319)-337-1313

SAT/ACT scores are usually available online about 3 weeks after your test date and about 4 weeks by mail. You can view them in your web account at either the SAT or ACT website. You can also receive scores by phone for a small fee. The number to call for the SAT is 866-765-7346, and 319-337-1313 for the ACT.

The SAT & ACT are very different. Schools rely on conversion tables so that they can compare students objectively. The chart linked HERE will give you a good idea of how the SAT & ACT scores match up. This chart is not “official,” yet it can be found on numerous test prep websites.

You may choose the colleges that you wish to receive your scores when you register for the SAT or ACT. Four colleges are included with your registration (i.e. the mailing fee is free), if you specify them by your test day. You may also select additional colleges online for an extra fee. However, while it is tempting to take advantage of the free mailings, rather than pay later, we recommend NOT sending any scores until you see them. You should only have the scores sent to you and your high school. Later, when you have all of your scores, you can release just the ones you want sent.

Your high school counselor may also send the test scores for you. Please check with the College Guidance office at your school.

We are unaware of any colleges now that do not accept either score, but you should always check with your counselor if you have a question about a particular college. If the college you are interested will accept either, then send the better of your scores!

Generally, they really mean either. However, check with your counselor for information about specific schools. College admissions offices actually keep track of students who called for any reason.

Usually colleges can only see the scores that you want them to see.  There is a growing trend called “super scoring” which is selecting the best section scores from different tests.  There are some colleges, however, that will want to see specific scores and others still that would like to see all of your scores.  It is highly recommended that you check the college’s website or call them to understand their stance on the situation.

The differences between the ACT and the PLAN are the length, and the inclusion of a student questionnaire. In fact, PLAN questions are taken from old ACTs. Therefore, all of the techniques that apply to the ACT apply to the PLAN.

There are two differences between the SAT and PSAT: while both tests cover the same content, the PSAT does so with fewer questions and is two hours long, offering no essay.  The SAT is three hours long without the optional essay and four hours long including the optional essay.

This question is impossible to answer accurately, of course, because results hinge on the performance of the most unpredictable animal ever created – the teenager. Additionally, we will initially know very little about a child either as a student or as a test-taker.

Successful tutoring is simply NOT predictable.  It almost entirely depends on how much time and effort a student puts into SAT/ACT Prep.

Still, here is what our experience has taught us:

Assuming the Academy student completely buys into the tutoring – takes a minimum of 10 sessions (fewer often are dictated by available time, etc., but are simply not as effective as more sessions will be), does the homework diligently and sticks carefully to the allotted time permitted per section, pays careful attention in the tutoring sessions, and then also is well-rested and feeling healthy the day of the actual test – we expect these results:

If an ACT diagnostic composite score with us is:
Around 21 (national average)  – Average improvement  5-6 points or more
Mid to high 20’s – Average improvement into the low 30’s
Low 30’s – Average improvement 2-3 points

If an SAT diagnostic score with us is:
In the 500s per section – Average improvement 50-100 point range per section
In the 600s per section  – Average improvement 50-75 point range per section
In the 700s per section  – Average improvement 25 points

Of course, in the real world, every student is different and results differ tremendously.