New Digital PSAT and SAT

The digital adaptive PSAT and SAT explained in a whiteboard video by Nick Standlea, CEO of Test Prep Gurus, and renowned expert on college admissions testing expert.

The new digital test contains major changes from the paper-based SAT, and it is important to understand how it works in order to prepare for the test.

Structure: There are two sections -- Reading and Writing, and Math. Each section is made up of two modules. In the first module, students will answer a mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. Based on their performance in the first module, students will be given either easier or harder questions in the second module. This process continues until the test is complete.

The new exams are adaptive because they adjust the difficulty of the questions based on a student's performance. This means that students who do well on the first module will be given harder questions in the second module, and students who do not do as well will be given easier questions. This helps to ensure that all students are challenged, regardless of their skill level.

The new digital tests are also shorter than the paper-based PSAT and SAT. The total test time for the PSAT and SAT is now 2 hours, 14 minutes, which is roughly 45 minutes shorter than the paper-based SAT.

Here are some additional tips for preparing for the digital SAT:

Take practice tests.

The best way to prepare for the digital SAT is to take practice tests. This will help you to get familiar with the format of the test and the types of questions that are asked.

Become Familiar with the Format.

The digital SAT is a computer-based test, so it is important to learn how to use the digital interface. This includes things like how to navigate the test, how to type your answers, and how to use the embedded calculator.

Manage your time wisely.

The digital SAT is a shorter test than the paper-based SAT, so it is important to manage your time wisely. Be sure to pace yourself and to answer all of the questions.

Stay calm and focused.

The digital SAT can be a challenging test, but it is important to stay calm and focused. If you start to feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you can do it.

We hope this video has been helpful. Good luck on your PSAT and SAT!

Do ACT & SAT Scores Help in College Admissions? What the data tells us will suprise you.

PSAT Scoreback Webinar for Irvine Unified School District (Test Prep Gurus)

College admissions testing expert, Nick Standlea, CEO of Test Prep Gurus, discusses PSAT, SAT, and ACT scores, and how to plan ahead for college. 

Specific issues include:

• Updates on PSAT, SAT, and ACT testing for 9th, 10th and 11th grades,

• Updates on how colleges will use the ACT and SAT in the future,

• What students and parents need to do today to be ready to apply to college in the future,

• The Digital SAT

• How to position your student for success when they apply to colleges,

• Changes to UC, Cal State, and admission requirements at other colleges,

• What “Test Optional” really means

Nick Standlea, Test Prep Gurus, CEO

www.prepgurus.com

After earning a perfect score on the SAT, Nick founded Test Prep Gurus with the mission of using standardized tests to teach broader life skills for college and beyond. Over the last ten years, Test Prep Gurus has helped thousands of students to improve their scores by hundreds of points, without sacrificing their sanity. Today the firm is a thought-leader in SAT and ACT preparation and works with students across America and around the world.

Are you worried about admission to USC?

I recently sat down with one of our parents who was extremely anxious over her son's prospects of being admitted to the University of Southern California.

Despite his excellent profile -- he had strong grades (4.1 at a great high school) and had posted an outstanding ACT score (top 5% of the country) -- her perception was that this wouldn't be nearly enough.

She wanted to add as many AP courses as possible to her son's upcoming Senior year.

The parent went so far as to quote a number of admissions statistics that she had gleaned from the internet, including the following:

1. USC’s acceptance rate last year was below 12%.

2. Three out of four students who were admitted to USC last year scored 30 or higher on the ACT, and one out of four scored a 35 or 36 (out of 36).

3. 25% of students who were admitted to USC last year scored 1350 or higher on the SAT, and 75% scored 1530 or higher (out of 1600).

4. The unweighted average GPA of an admitted student was 3.91.

5. Every year USC receives more than 69,000 applications for fewer than 8,500 spots.

These were facts. They were true. But...

...the critical piece of the puzzle that she was missing was that a student's statistics (GPA, AP courses, SAT/ACT scores) are far from the only factors that are considered in an admissions decision at a selective college.

USC practices holistic admissions -- in short, this means they look at a lot more than just the numbers. In fact, at the majority of selective colleges, it is safe to say that while grades and SAT/ACT scores are obviously quite important, they are far from being the ONLY important factors.

It often works as follows: once a student is in the competitive range of standardized test scores and GPA at a given school (for instance, 50% of USC admits score between 30-34 on the ACT), the actual decision is often made based on qualitative measures. These qualitative measures include essays, outside interests, the student's ability to express a unique point of view, the possession of a unique skill set, or perhaps a track record of intellectual curiosity in an area of study that fits with the school's offerings.

Naturally, we all want the best for our children. But what the student in this particular story needed to give him the best possible opportunity to gain entrance to one of his top choice schools wasn't necessarily to add more AP classes to his schedule (he had already taken plenty in areas of study that he truly enjoyed).

Instead, he needed to take the necessary time to focus his energy on the process of writing unique personal statements, asking the right people for letters of recommendation, and crafting interesting applications.

I share this story because I know that many parents experience similar levels of anxiety over their child's prospects of gaining admission to a top college.

However, it's important to remember that the reality is that selective colleges aren't often wowed by students who only have high GPAs/standardized test scores -- what they are looking for are interesting students.

To sum up--

Do SAT/ACT scores and grades matter? Of course they do.

Are they the only measures that matter? Not by a long shot.

What always matters? Being an interesting individual.

So while the scaffolding of an excellent college application requires a solid foundation (GPA, SAT or ACT scores, AP classes, etc.), what really sets top-tier students apart from their peers is a dedication to offering something original and honing their own unique sense of self.

It's harder than ever for students to stand out when they apply to college. Strong ACT or SAT scores will make them leap out from the pack. Test Prep Gurus teaches students how to raise ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.  

The path to your dream college starts with 3 easy steps:

1) Complete free mock ACT and SAT exams.

2) Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

3) Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

Why Should Students Be Encouraged to Set Goals for the Future?

SMART goal setting is the process of identifying future objectives that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. It has been shown to result in increased focus, motivation, accountability, performance, personal development, and a sense of accomplishment.

There are several studies that demonstrate the importance of goal setting. One of the most well-known is a study by Edwin A. Locke and Gary P. Latham, two leading researchers in the field of goal setting and motivation. Their study, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, found that individuals who set specific, difficult goals for themselves performed better than those who set easy or no goals at all. They also found that people who received feedback on their progress toward their goals performed better than those who did not receive feedback.

However, it's important to keep in mind that goal setting alone is not enough, and that it must be combined with other strategies such as planning, commitment, and persistence to achieve success.

Test preparation ties in well with SMART goal setting —

Specific: When we work with students, we help them to focus on specific goals for the future to increase their motivation. We start with questions such as:

“Who do you want to be in the future and what type of work sounds interesting?” and “What are some things you would like to accomplish in the future?”

From there, we backtrack to “What colleges might help propel you toward becoming that person and doing those things?”

Then we move on to “What grades and scores will you need to be competitive at those colleges?”

By setting specific, personal goals, students know why their putting the work into a test prep program and are all the more successful for it.

Measurable: For all the drawbacks of standardized exams, one of the upsides is that they are inherently measurable. When students put in the work with seasoned test prep professionals, their scores are going to go up — and best of all, they can see their objective improvement in real-time with each practice exam they take. In test prep, success builds on success, creating a virtuous cycle for the future.

Attainable: One of the keys to earning huge improvements on the ACT or SAT, is to set small goals within the larger goals. It can be daunting to set a goal to improve 5 composite points on the ACT (equal to +200 points on the SAT). A more effective approach might be to aim to improve by one composite point every time you take a monthly mock exam. Every time you improve, even by a single point, celebrate the victory! After five months of small victories, you’ll hit your larger goal of a five-point improvement (+200 on the SAT).

Relevant: Once you have an idea of colleges you might want to attend, and what scores will be required to be competitive, the test process becomes obviously relevant to achieving your goals for the future. Suddenly, ACT or SAT prep doesn’t feel like extra homework, it feels like actively working to achieve your dreams.

Time-bound: It’s important to create your test prep programs with specific official exams in mind. When a student knows what they’re working for, how to achieve it, and when it has to be done, there is often no holding them back.

If you’re interested in learning more about creating a 1-on-1 test prep plan with one of our Directors, contact us below.

College Admission Secrets -- Interview with former Dean of Admissions at Harvey Mudd College

We have exciting news! 

Our CEO, Nick Standlea, recently sat down for a conversation with a legend in the world of college admissions. 

Deren Finks is the former Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Harvey Mudd College (one of the five Claremont Colleges).

In the interview Nick picks Deren's brain on a variety of topics, including:

• How to craft a personal statement that will catch the attention of selective colleges

• The role of standardized test scores in the new landscape of test-optional colleges

• How families can maximize their financial aid in scholarships and grants

We hope you enjoy the interview!

Topics Covered:

0:00 Introduction of Deren Finks, former Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Harvey Mudd College (one of the five Claremont Colleges)

2:02 What excites you about being a college counselor?

4:25 Tell me about a student that surprised you...

10:42 The #1 mistake kids make applying to college

15:53 How does college admissions work?

26:48 How do the personal statement, letters of rec, grades, scores, activities, etc., come together to create a narrative about a student?

32:05 How to ask for letters of recommendation?

40:26 How is the admissions process different at a large public university such as UCLA?

41:40 How are ACT and SAT scores used in college admissions today?

47:47 How has college admissions changed in the past 10 or 20 years?

54:04 Financial Aid and the cost of college today

Perfect ACT Score, Mira Costa High School Junior, R.A. !!!

Congratulations to to Mira Costa Junior, R.A., who worked with us this Summer and earned a perfect 36 on the July ACT!

“She worked very hard, which is always the key ingredient. In the last lesson, I couldn’t find a math question that she wasn’t able to solve, so I knew a perfect score was possible. I’m so excited that she executed under pressure. Way to go!”

• R.A.’s Math and Science Instructor

“She trusted the techniques and spent the necessary time to make them second nature. There is nothing more satisfying to me as a teacher to see a student reach their potential!”

• R.A.’s Verbal Instructor

Click below to learn more about preparing your son or daughter for the ACT or SAT

Insider Tips for ISEE Testing

You have questions, we have answers…

Can it be helpful for students to take the ISEE test more than once? 

Yes! We recommend students take the ISEE twice. They should prep for the first test, then continue prep until the second test.

Taking the ISEE twice has several advantages. Students often feel less anxious the second time they take the exam, which in itself can improve their performance. Taking the exam a second time also affords the student the opportunity to review the results of the first test with their instructors. Lesson plans can then be customized based on the results of the first official exam to maximize gains on the second exam.

When can you test and how many times?

Students may register to take the ISEE up to three times in a 12-month admission cycle, once in each of three testing seasons.

The three testing seasons are:

• Fall (August-November),

• Winter (December-March),

• Spring/Summer (April-July)

*This means your student can test once in October or November, and then again in December or January.

How will schools see my scores?

Families will automatically receive their student's score report and are not required to indicate a school recipient of the scores when the student tests. We recommend students DO NOT automatically share their scores with any schools before reviewing them in the context of the specific independent schools to which they will be applying.

In short, wait to see the scores before sending them to schools. 

Please note that score reports do not indicate how many times your student has taken the ISEE. 

Can I send a partial score report?

It is important to note that only a complete score report can be sent to a school; this means families cannot select only portions of a report (such as just the Math or just the Verbal) to share, nor can they select one section of scores from one ISEE test and another section of scores from a different ISEE test. 

However, if you choose to send multiple score reports, most schools will view all scores sent to them and use the highest score from each section; if your child performed better on Math on one test but Verbal on the other, they will use the highest score from each test. Note that specific scoring policies are up to specific schools to decide and vary from one institution to another.

ISEE Prep

We focus on content, time-management, and test-taking strategies to maximize your child's score. All teaching is customized to meet your student's specific needs.

If needed, Test Prep Gurus has instructors who have experience working with students with learning differences and special needs. 

Registration:

If you are registering for the ISEE, use this ISEE Test Date Finder to find dates and locations. 

If you are registering for the SSAT, register here.

*Remember, your child can take the ISEE and SSAT tests multiple times to achieve the best results!

Our teachers book up early every season, so contact us now to determine the best teacher-student fit for your child and get started.

Video: Position Your Student for Success: ACT, SAT, and College Admissions

Do you want to know how to position your student to get into their dream colleges?

Some stats you may find surprising:

• More than 90% of colleges still accept the ACT and SAT

• Students are admitted to USC 40% more often when they submit an ACT or SAT score, and nearly twice as often at Notre Dame.

• ACT and SAT scores can be the key to winning scholarships of $100,000 or more

The way colleges use the ACT and SAT has changed. Get the inside track from Test Prep Gurus' CEO Nick Standlea on how to position your son or daughter to reach their goals for the future.

Specific issues include:

The new role of ACT and SAT in college admissions

• What colleges really mean by "test-optional," "test-blind," and "test-preferred"

• How to determine if you need to test or not

• The role of ACT and SAT scores in scholarships and merit-aid

• The advantage of Early Action applications

• What is superscoring and how students can use it

• Changes to the admissions policies at the UCs and Cal States

• Grade-by-grade "next steps" to prepare for the future

Nick has presented on college admissions for more than 17 years. His webinars regularly draw thousands of views with an average 4.9 out of 5 stars!

Click below to schedule a live talk at your school, NCL chapter, or organization

Free Webinar -- Position Your Student for Success: ACT, SAT, and College Admissions

Do you want to know how to position your student to get into their dream colleges?

Some stats you may find surprising:

• More than 90% of colleges still accept the ACT and SAT

• Students are admitted to USC 40% more often when they submit an ACT or SAT score, and nearly twice as often at Notre Dame.

• ACT and SAT scores can be the key to winning scholarships of $100,000 or more

The way colleges use the ACT and SAT has changed. Contrary to the portrayal in the media, the hard data shows that standardized tests are still the best way to leap out from the pack when you apply to colleges. Don't miss your chance to learn how to turn standardized testing into your secret advantage!

Get the inside track from Test Prep Gurus' CEO Nick Standlea on how to position your son or daughter to reach their goals for the future.

Specific issues will include:

• The new role of ACT and SAT testing in college admissions

• What "test-optional," "test-blind," and "test-preferred," really mean

• Do you need to test or can you go test-optional?

• How to win scholarships and merit-aid

• The advantage of Early Action applications

• Superscoring the ACT and SAT

• Changes to the admissions policies at UCs and Cal States

• What parents need to do today to prepare their children for applying to college in the future

• How to determine what scores you need based on your goals for college

• How to create a test prep plan, and more...

Nick has presented on college admissions for more than 17 years. His webinars regularly draw thousands of views with an average 4.9 out of 5 stars!

UCI denied 80% of California applicants vs just 26% of out-of-state applicants

Did you know that in 2021, California students were 3.67 times less likely to be admitted to UC Irvine than out-of-state students?

Put another way, UCI denied 80% of California applicants vs just 26% of out-of-state applicants.

The trend is similar with all of the competitive UC campuses, with the exception of UC Berkeley.

See the chart below--

In light of this trend, it is in every California student's best interest to keep their options for college open and consider colleges outside the UCs.

How does a student stand out from the pack when applying to selective colleges outside the UC system?

ACT and SAT scores.

In the pie-chart below you can see that the percentage of four-year colleges that are "test-blind" is very small (mostly, it's the UCs and Cal States). While the vast majority of other colleges are "test-optional," meaning that they will accept an ACT or SAT.

ACT/SAT Required: 5.8%

Test-Blind (Do not consider ACT/SAT scores): 8.4%

Test-Optional (ACT/SAT scores can boost a student’s application): 85.9%

(These numbers are subject to change in the future. The above graph was created in April 2022.)

Now, the big question? Do ACT and SAT scores help students gain admission to selective colleges?

The chart below tells a story. The grey bars are the admit rates for students applying without an ACT/SAT score, while the red bars are for students applying with a score. As you can see, the red bars are much higher.

A few highlights:

Notre Dame: Students were nearly twice as likely to be accepted to Notre Dame with an ACT or SAT score.

USC: Students with an ACT or SAT score were accepted 30% more often.

Boston: Students without scores had an admission rate of 14%. Students with scores had an admission rate of 25%.

Conclusion:

If you're going to apply to colleges outside of the UCs, there is a simple 3-step plan to help you reach your goals for the future:

1) Prepare for the ACT or SAT

2) Raise Your Scores

3) Stand Out from the Pack

How Many Colleges Accept ACT and SAT? (Probably More Than You Think)

The vast majority of colleges are test-optional. This means that they consider ACT and SAT scores if students include them in their applications.

ACT/SAT Required: 5.8%

Test-Blind (Do not consider ACT/SAT scores): 8.4%

Test-Optional (ACT/SAT scores can boost a student’s application): 85.9%

(These numbers are subject to change in the future. The above graph was created in April 2022.)

If most colleges accept ACT and SAT scores, it begs the question… does it help to submit scores?

The latest data from selective colleges that publicize their admission stats strongly suggest that scores make a big difference.

As seen above:

Notre Dame: Students were nearly twice as likely to be accepted to Notre Dame with an ACT or SAT score.

USC: Students with an ACT or SAT score were accepted 30% more often.

Boston: Students without scores had an admission rate of 14%. Students with scores had an admission rate of 25%.

Why do colleges still prefer to use an ACT or SAT score if it’s available to them? The dean of admissions from Yale put it very succinctly:

“Test scores are the single most effective factor in predicting a student’s first-year and four-year grade point average.”

It should also be noted that ACT and SAT scores are still strongly linked to scholarships. This past year, we had two students that applied to TCU with very similar credentials. The big difference was that one submitted an ACT score of 31, while the other did not submit a score.

Both students were admitted to TCU, excellent news!

However, the student with the test score received $144,000 in scholarship money that won’t have to be paid back. The student without a test score will have to pay for her full education out-of-pocket and through loans.

Conclusion:

Preparing for an ACT or SAT is one of the best investments a family can make in their student’s future.

Start preparing today with a free mock exam.

MIT will once again require applicants to take the SAT or ACT

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced it will once again require applicants to take the SAT or ACT, reversing a Covid-era policy that made the standardized tests optional and rejecting the idea that the tests hurt diversity.

“Our research shows standardized tests help us better assess the academic preparedness of all applicants, and also help us identify socioeconomically disadvantaged students who lack access to advanced coursework or other enrichment opportunities that would otherwise demonstrate their readiness for MIT,” Dean of Admissions Stu Schmill wrote in a blog post Monday. “We believe a requirement is more equitable and transparent than a test-optional policy.”

“Our research has shown that, in most cases, we cannot reliably predict students will do well at MIT unless we consider standardized test results alongside grades, coursework, and other factors. These findings are statistically robust and stable over time, and hold when you control for socioeconomic factors and look across demographic groups. And the math component of the testing turns out to be most important.”

— Stuart Schmill, dean of admissions and student financial services at MIT

*For the full article from MIT: https://news.mit.edu/2022/stuart-schmill-sat-act-requirement-0328

For more information on how to prepare for the SAT or ACT and build skills for high school, college, and beyond contact us:

Does it help to submit an ACT or SAT score? What the data tells us

View fullsize

Are students more likely to gain admission to selective colleges if they submit ACT/SAT scores?

This is a burning question for many families today.

The table above depicts the difference in admission percentages at a variety of selective colleges over the last two admission cycles between students who did not submit ACT/SAT scores and those that did submit ACT/SAT scores.

• Grey Bars: Admission percentages for students who did not submit ACT or SAT scores.

• Red Bars: Admission percentages for students who did submit ACT or SAT scores.

The above data strongly indicates that when applying to selective colleges, it is to students’ advantage to earn strong scores on standardized exams.

Highlights:

Notre Dame: Students were nearly twice as likely to be accepted to Notre Dame with an ACT or SAT score.

USC: Students with an ACT or SAT score were accepted 30% more often.

Boston: Students without scores had an admission rate of 14%. Students with scores had an admission rate of 25%.

““Test scores are the single most effective factor in predicting a student’s first-year and four-year grade point average.””

— Jeremiah Quinlan, dean of undergraduate admissions and financial aid at Yale

But don’t take our word for it, colleges are expressing their preferences publicly:

“Scores help differentiate amongst applicants with similarly high grades, and also help students who do not have equitable access to high-level courses demonstrate college readiness.” - MIT

“While high school grades are a strong predictor for academic success in college, the combination of grades and standardized test scores has been shown to strengthen that prediction…we still find value in scores if you choose to send them.” - Northwestern

Test scores do add information that admissions officers find useful in assessing a student's preparation, and how a student compares to the applicant pool as a whole. There were certainly some students where we wish we'd had scores and we didn't.” - Duke

Contact us to learn more about preparing your student to reach his or her scoring potential on the ACT or SAT.

55% of High School Students Graduate with "A" Average

A new study shows that the share of students graduating high school with an A average has grown from 39% in 1998 to 55% in 2021.

This is shocking. How can an A represent excellence when more than half of high school students earn an “A” average?

It’s a problem for college admissions too. Now that an A average is normal, it makes it very difficult for selective colleges to differentiate between students when choosing who to admit and who to deny.

Are standardized tests perfect? Certainly, they are not. Yet despite their imperfections, they are an antidote to rampant grade inflation. Merit-based testing makes the process of competitive college admissions more fair, transparent, and accountable.

This is the reason that merit-based standardized tests remain a critical piece of the college admissions process and will do so into the future.

Start preparing for your standardized tests with a free mock exam.

OCSA PSAT Scoreback Night

The value of struggle and failure when it comes to improving students’ standardized test scores.

I’ve been thinking about lately about the value of struggle and failure when it comes to improving students’ standardized test scores.

Contrary to what many assume, oftentimes the more students struggle to master new information, the better they are able to understand and apply it later.

In a paper published in the Journal of the Learning Sciences, Manu Kapur applied the principle of productive failure to mathematical problem-solving.

With one group of students, the teacher provided strong “scaffolding” — instructional support — and feedback. With the teacher’s help, these pupils were able to find the answers to their set of problems. Meanwhile, a second group was directed to solve the same problems by collaborating with one another, absent any prompts from their instructor. These students weren’t able to complete the problems correctly. But in the course of trying to do so, they generated a lot of ideas about the nature of the problems and about what potential solutions would look like. And when the two groups were tested on what they’d learned, the second group “significantly outperformed” the first.

The apparent struggles of the floundering group have what Kapur calls a “hidden efficacy”: they lead people to understand the deep structure of problems, not simply their correct solutions. When these students encounter a new problem of the same type on a test, they’re able to transfer the knowledge they’ve gathered more effectively than those who were the passive recipients of someone else’s expertise.

Kapur argues we need to “design for productive failure” by building it into the learning process.

In the process of his work he has identified three conditions that promote a beneficial struggle:

1. Choose problems that “challenge but do not frustrate.

2. Allow students to explain and elaborate on what they’re doing.

3. Compare and contrast both good and “better” solutions to the problems.

It’s a simple but powerful idea – students need to struggle (and fail!) to learn new material. In fact, I would argue that struggling with a challenging ACT or SAT problem is learning.

This is why at Test Prep Gurus, we encourage our students to do the following:

·        Struggle with problems that don’t come easily to them.

·        Explain and elaborate on what they’re doing when they struggle.

·        Struggle with their homework problems before they bring them to us for help.

The last one is key because students must struggle with their homework problems to succeed. It’s not simply a matter of doing the assigned problems and looking up the answers. They need to identify the problems in their homework they missed (or guessed on) and retry them without a time constraint. If they still can’t answer those problems, they should look up the answer, and retry them again. Only if they still can’t answer the problems should they bring them to their instructor for help.

Remember, a struggle doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, it’s often one of the keys to making a big leap forward.

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 easy steps:

1) Complete free mock ACT and SAT exams.*

(Learn where your student is scoring today and whether their current scores will help or hold back their applications to their first-choice colleges.)

2) Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

(ACT and SAT scores must be understood in their proper context, taking into account the specific tests, when they were taken, and how they stack up against your student’s goals for college.)

3) Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

(We work with students of all levels. Whether you’re shooting for a perfect score, simply want to be more comfortable with standardized exams, or anywhere in between, Test Prep Gurus is here to help you reach your goals.)

ACT and SAT scores will be more important than ever at Harvard

I hope you are enjoying the holidays! 

Have you heard the news that Harvard "dropped" the ACT and SAT?

It's not true. 

Media outlets are incentivized to get clicks, so they print misleading headlines like "Harvard drops SAT!"  Even though they know this isn't true. The first line of those articles reveals what Harvard is really doing -- they aren't changing anything. 

Here is the truth--

Harvard will remain test-optional until 2026. That means that ACT and SAT scores will very much help your application if you have them. 

Think of "test-optional" in the same way that taking AP classes or earning straight A's is optional -- they technically are not required, but they sure do help your applications! 

How do we know this? Because in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, 72% of students admitted to Harvard submitted ACT or SAT scores. 

In short, strong ACT and SAT scores helped students to stand out from the pack.

It is the same situation at the vast majority of selective colleges. 

This is where the opportunity lies for families who understand how admissions really works in a test-optional world. 

The reason ACT and SAT scores are more helpful than ever in the test-optional climate is that many students assume that test-optional means they don't need to prep for the ACT and SAT, or even take them at all. 

I get it. We've all been through a lot the past eighteen months and the last thing most students want to do is to prep for standardized tests. 

But if you want to maximize your chances of admission to selective colleges, you should opt-in to taking the ACT and SAT to show them that you meet their academic standards. 

The situation is extra confusing in California where the UC system has said they that they will no longer consider ACT and SAT scores due to a rash of discrimination lawsuits. 

Remember that the UC system is among a small minority of colleges that have made that choice. In fact, the Cal State system recently indicated that they will consider ACT and SAT scores when students submit them beginning next Fall.*

It's a lot to keep track of! But again, think of this lack of clarity as your opportunity. 

When many students are confused about testing, the students that pursue their goals for college with intent and the best information will enjoy an advantage. 

Bottom line: Current 11th and 10th graders who want to leap out from the pack when they apply to college should prep for the ACT and SAT. 

Test Prep Gurus offers two options to help students prepare for the ACT and the SAT

Great value! 

(Virtual Classroom)

Enjoy live classes to boost your ACT and SAT scores based on our unique Test Prep Gurus curriculum.  

Maximize your scores! 

(In-Person or Virtual)

Enjoy a customized curriculum and schedule designed around your specific needs to super-charge your scores.  

Test Prep Gurus offers two options to help students prepare for the ACT and the SAT

Test Prep Gurus offers two options to help students prepare for the ACT and the SAT

Great value! 

(Virtual Classroom)

Enjoy live classes to boost your ACT and SAT scores based on our unique Test Prep Gurus curriculum.  

Maximize your scores! 

(In-Person or Virtual)

Enjoy a customized curriculum and schedule designed around your specific needs to super-charge your scores.  

Georgia’s Public Universities Will Reinstate ACT / SAT Requirement and other Developments in College Admission Testing

1) The University of Georgia Will Require ACT and SAT scores in 2022 and Beyond:

The tests were dropped during the pandemic's height, but students applying for admission for the spring of 2022 and beyond will be required to submit ACT or SAT scores. Full Article in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

2) Yale’s Data Shows Predictive Power of the ACT and SAT:

In a recent episode of the This American Life podcast, Jeremiah Quinlan, the head of Undergraduate Admissions at Yale, spoke about ACT and SAT scores at Yale:

 “It’s useful to have something that’s consistent among applicants, even when we’re aware of how limited and imperfect that metric can be, AKA the SAT or the ACT. It could be especially valuable since our internal research– we look at these things regularly– show that the tests are predictive of Yale performance above and beyond high school GPA.” 

3) Taking the ACT and SAT significantly helps a student’s chances of admission when applying to selective colleges:

Jeff Selingo, education reporter and author of Who Gets In and Why, shared some insights from his discussions with deans of admission on how test scores affect admission:

• Colgate: 68% of admitted students submitted an ACT or SAT score.

• Georgia Tech: 69% of admitted students submitted an ACT or SAT score.

• Emory: 66% of admitted students submitted an ACT or SAT score.

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 easy steps:

1) Complete free mock ACT and SAT exams.

(Learn where your student is scoring today and whether their current scores will help or hold back their applications to their first-choice colleges.)

2) Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

(ACT and SAT scores must be understood in their proper context, taking into account the specific tests, when they were taken, and how they stack up against your student’s goals for college.)

3) Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

(We work with students of all levels. Whether you’re shooting for a perfect score, simply want to be more comfortable with standardized exams, or anywhere in between, Test Prep Gurus is here to help you reach your goals.)