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Standardized Test Tutoring
For students who aspire to continue their education at a four year college or university, taking either the SAT or ACT is an important part of the college application process. Students can get a sense of their proficiency for the SAT by taking the PSAT (Practice SAT) during their sophomore and/or junior year of high school. These standardized tests are an important factor in the college application process because, as the name implies, they are “standardized” thereby giving the schools a uniform tool by which to measure students’ aptitude.
Synergy Academics in West Hills, CA has a highly effective tutoring program for the SAT and/or ACT that involves first determining which of the tests is the best match for your student, and then pairing the student with a professional tutor to prepare for the test determined most suitable for the student.
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Understanding the SAT and ACT
The official SAT and ACT exams are usually taken in the junior year of high school and often into the senior year in preparation for college applications. Proficiency on the SAT and/or ACT is an important part of the college admissions process. Here are some facts regarding each exam.
| SAT | ACT |
|---|---|
| Total score composed of one score for Math and one combined score for Reading and Writing | Total score composed of an average of all four sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science) |
| The Math section is broken up into two parts: one section with a calculator and one section without a calculator | The Math section allows a calculator for the whole section |
| Each section is worth 800 points | Each section is out of 36 points |
| Total SAT Score is out of 1,600 points | Total ACT Score is worth 36 points |
| Generally there is more time per question on the SAT compared to the ACT | Generally ACT questions are more straightforward, however time management is more challenging |
| Reading (65 minutes for 55 questions) | English (45 minutes for 75 questions) |
| English/Writing (35 minutes for 44 questions) | Math (60 minutes for 60 questions) |
| Math No Calculator (25 minutes for 20 questions) | Reading (35 minutes for 40 questions) |
| Math With Calculator (55 minutes for 38 questions) | Science (35 minutes for 40 questions) |
| Essay (50 minutes) | Essay (40 Minutes) |
Both the ACT and SAT have an optional essay section, however, depending on the list of colleges that you are applying to, to be a competitive candidate for admission, the essay should be viewed as MANDATORY! (Please keep in mind to register for the SAT or ACT WITH Essay.)
Depending on the schools that your student is applying to, they may or may not accept a “superscore,” which is when colleges use the student’s highest section scores across all the dates he/she took the SAT or ACT.
We Cover a Wide Range of Standardized Test Tutoring, Including:
SAT/ACT Assessment Diagnostic
Our SAT/ACT assessment is a detailed hybrid of both the current SAT and ACT exams. It will allow us to best determine the suitability of either exam based on the accuracy of your student’s performance as well as notable time constraints, if any.
Our Standardized Test Tutoring Process
Once the preferable test is determined, our goal is to optimize results through strategic methodology and practice with either our test prep packages or hourly sessions with a professional tutor. Synergy Academics provides one-on-one tutoring sessions (both in our office or online), a personalized schedule, and complimentary practice exams throughout the test prep to optimize your student’s competence, confidence, and ultimately, test scores!
We typically recommend one-on-one tutoring sessions once a week for two hours each time to focus on the tests’ respective subjects and strategies. In addition, the tutor will assign supplemental problems and passages for your student to practice throughout the week to enhance the understanding of the material. Synergy Academics will work with you to personalize the scheduling of sessions as well as the practice exams to accommodate varying schedules.
Standardized Test Tutoring - Where to Study?
We find that the best results for standardized test tutoring occur when students meet with their tutors at our West Hills state-of-the-art facility. Our facility is quiet and comfortable and allows for the student to work with the tutor uninterrupted by distractions that can sometimes occur at home. Students will work with tutors at individualized desks that are partitioned off from the other desks in order to provide privacy and optimal concentration.
Expert Standardized Test Tutoring and Prep
All tutors at Synergy Academics are either degreed professionals or highly screened educators. Our SAT/ACT tutors are specifically trained on how to instruct students in preparing for the SAT or ACT. They will give students tools that have proven to be successful in performing well on these challenging tests. It is not uncommon for many students, no matter their academic capabilities, to become overwhelmed by the standardized college entrance exams. However, equipped with the methodology taught by our tutors, your students will be more confident and score higher on the tests than they would if they tried to tackle this challenge on their own.
Tutoring for Other Standardized Testing
In addition to tutoring for SAT/ACT prep, we have tutors available to help with other standardized testing, school entrance exams, and placement exams. These include (but are not limited to): SSAT/ISEE (Lower/Middle/Upper levels), AP tests, CHSPE, CAHSEE (Math and English), and GRE.