SAT, PSAT, and ACT prep
"I learned more from your classes than anywhere else -- not only about reading, math, and writing, but about life in general. I miss your class, despite the hour-long drive there."
-- a student who took my SAT/ACT prep courses
"It's not just my work that helped me improve, but also your help and encouragement. Without you, I don't think I could have done what I have done in the past three years. And it's not just SAT and ACT lessons that I gained from your classes. I will always remember your lessons about time management and study habits, and about just life in general -- those lessons were just as valuable."
-- a student who took my prep courses, starting the summer after 8th grade; she also remarked that the writing, grammar, vocabulary, and critical reading skills she learned here have helped her excel in her AP English class (as a junior)
"You have helped me grow profoundly as a student."
-- a sophomore who took my SAT/ACT prep courses
Students should start preparing for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT as early as possible, ideally freshman year. Waiting until junior year is a mistake. Why? Click here.
(Click here for information on test prep for high-school entrance exams, such as 7th-grade Iowa tests (or equivalent), ISAT, Chicago Public Schools selective-enrollment exam, ISEE, SSAT, and the Catholic-school entrance exam (HSPT).)
Although I teach test-taking strategies, my test-prep classes focus on substantive knowledge and skills -- grammar, writing, reading, vocabulary, and math. As a result, students consistently tell me that their performance in school improves along with their test scores.
[Scores to be updated.]
Spring 2008 ACT and SAT scores:
These strong scores are particularly impressive, given my open-admission policy (mixed-ability classes) and the small number of juniors in my class this year.
- SAT: 2,240 total (Critical Reading 730, Math 790, Writing 720)
- SAT: 2,130 total (Critical Reading 730, Math 720, Writing 680, Essay 9)
- SAT: 2,070 total (Critical Reading 730, Math 670, Writing 670, Essay 9)
- ACT: English 36 (perfect!), Reading 35, Math 36 (perfect!), Science 34 -- composite 35
- ACT: English 36 (perfect!), Reading 36 (perfect!), Math 35, Science 34, Essay 10 -- composite 35
- ACT: English 34, Reading 35, Math 34, Science 31, Essay 10 (out of 12) -- composite 34
- ACT: English 34, Reading 35, Math 32, Science 35, Essay 10 -- composite 34
- ACT: English 35, Math 32, Essay 9
- ACT: English 31, Reading 34, Math 34, Science 33, Essay 9 -- composite 33
- SAT: Math 710
And one of my 8th graders did an excellent job on her first SAT (May 2008)!
- Critical Reading 600, Math 580, Writing 620 (including 66 on multiple-choice grammar) (1800 total)
My students' February 2008 ACT scores:
- English 36 (perfect!), Reading 35, Math 33, Science 29, Essay 10 (out of 12) -- composite 33 (junior)
- English 33, Reading 33 (junior), Essay 9
My students' fall 2007 PSAT and PLAN scores:
- PSAT: 222 total (National Merit Semifinalist) -- 78 CR, 76 M, 68 W
- PSAT: 220 total -- 76 CR, 75 M, 69 W
- PSAT: 213 total (National Merit recognition) -- 65 CR, 68 M, 80 W (perfect score)
- PSAT: 203 total (97%, sophomore) -- 99% CR, 91% M, 99% W
- PLAN: 99% composite -- 99% English, 99% math, 99% reading, 96% science
- PLAN: 99% composite -- 99% English, 96% math, 99% reading, 99% science (sophomore)
- PLAN: 99% composite -- 92% English, 96% math, 99% reading, 99% science
My students' October 2007 SAT results:
- 2,240 total: 720 W, 780 M, 740 CR (junior)
- 2,230 total: 740 W, 750 M, 740 CR, including 10 on the essay (senior)
My students' June 2007 SAT results:
- 2,360 total: 790 W, 800 M, 770 CR (junior)
- 2,270 total: 730 W, 800 M, 740 CR (sophomore)
- 2,180 total: 720 W, 760 M, 700 CR, including 10 on the essay (sophomore)
- 2,160 total, including 740 CR and 9 on the essay (junior)
- 1,820 total, including 700 M and 8 on the essay (8th grader)
And a junior scored 2,330 total on the January 2007 SAT: 750 W, 800 M, 780 CR, and 11 on the essay.
My students' April 2007 ACT results:
- 35 composite: English 34, Math 36, Reading 35, Science 35 (junior)
- 34 composite: English 34, Math 34, Reading 35, Science 33, and essay 10 (sophomore)
- 32 composite, including Math 36, English 34, essay 9 (sophomore)
- An 8th grader scored 26 composite, including 28 on Reading
Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about my courses.
Note: Course dates and times below are tentative and subject to change.
2010-11 SAT, ACT, and PSAT course descriptions appear
here.