Preparing for the SAT is a long term process. In most cases, the best program is to begin prep in the summer before junior year, and spend 10-12 weeks working with a tutor for 90 minutes a week. In between tutoring sessions, a student should be doing 3-4 hours of work on their own. This means about 40 or more hours of work to prepare for the test. It is important not to sugar coat this. But there is a silver lining to requiring all this work; if students put in the time, they will make significant improvements.
Students should also take several proctored tests. You cannot know how you’ll do on the real test without taking realistic practice tests, and the best way to prevent nerves on test day is to have practiced taking the test under realistic conditions.
Over 12 years of tutoring experience
Like the SAT, preparing for the ACT is a long term process. Generally, the best program is to begin prep in the summer before junior year, and spend 10-12 weeks working with a tutor for 90 minutes a week. In between tutoring sessions, a student should be doing 3-4 hours of work on their own. This means about 40 or more hours of work to prepare for the test. It is important not to sugar coat this. But there is a silver lining to requiring all this work; if students put in the time, they will make significant improvements.
Students should also take several proctored tests. You cannot know how you’ll do on the real test without taking realistic practice tests, and the best way to prevent nerves on test day is to have practiced taking the test under realistic conditions.
Over 12 years of tutoring experience
Preparing for the GRE takes time… Since people come to the GRE with all kinds of different backgrounds a best program is very hard to advise. I would split it into two groups; those who have come straight from college and have taken math recently, and those who are coming back to the GRE from working for a while. If you haven’t taken math in a while, you will want to start with the fundamentals. Working on algebra, geometry, and statistical fundamentals before you tackle the Quant questions will prevent a lot of frustration. If you feel like your quantitative fundamentals are solid, the official practice provided by ETS is the best way to prepare. Then I recommend 10-12 weeks working with a tutor for 90 minutes a week.
In between tutoring sessions, a student should be doing 3-4 hours of work on their own. This means about 40 or more hours of work to prepare for the test. It is important not to sugar coat this. But there is a silver lining to requiring all this work; if students put in the time, they will make significant improvements. Students should also take several proctored tests. You cannot know how you’ll do on the real test without taking realistic practice tests, and the best way to prevent nerves on test day is to have practiced taking the test under realistic conditions.
Over 10 years of tutoring experience
When you can show a student that, with dedication and planning, you can learn to answer questions and solve problems that you never you would be able to, it feels great. Many of them can take that experience and apply it to learning in general, making them better students wherever they go.
SD Higher Scores was founded in 2007 when Blake Jensen became frustrated with the way test prep was taught at the large companies he worked for. He wanted to help students with a more personable and personalized program that fit each student’s strengths and weaknesses. Since then, SD Higher Scores has served hundreds of students from Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, Del Norte, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Solana Beach, and 4S Ranch, as well as online through Skype.