SAT ACT Test Prep

If you are a Connecticut high school junior, your last chances to improve your test scores before the summer are in June. The SAT is offered on June 1.  The ACT is offered on June 8. A few words about each: Public school students in Connecticut took the mandated high school administered SAT in either […]

April SAT results are in and The Learning Consultants has its phone/e-mail immersed with pleas from parents. False hope for many was created by: (1) Khan Academy: the idea is great and it is free.  Now try watching one of the videos and see how long your attention lasts.  Then consider how long the attention […]

The fairest part of the process I usually keep quiet on the subject of standardized testing and whether it should be part of the admissions process.  Obviously, I have a self-serving bias. But my bias also stems from rational analysis. The SAT was created in order to make the college admissions process fairer.    Prior […]

A philosopher once noted that “he often fought reality and only lost 100% of the time.” So it is with many myths we tell our children.  Usually, the suggestions – “you can grow up to do anything you want” are well meaning and inspiration and if told to those under 10 do little harm.   But […]

“I’m sure he’ll get into UCONN.  He’s a lot smarter than me and I got in.” So said a well-meaning and modest Dad from Guilford about his son from Guilford High School.  His son did quite well in school.  His SATs – 1160 – were also solid.  I had to explain the new world of […]

Unrelated to the SATs-ACTs, high stakes tests – such as finals – become a bigger part of one’s academic career as students move into the latter stages of high school.  In college, mid-terms and finals – high stakes tests – become an even more significant part of successs. So when I hear students say “I’m […]

I have off the record conversations with several college admissions officials during the last few years.  The common consensus: “we can’t tell the difference in GPAs in any meaningful way.” Here’s a recent example, a local Shoreline, CT high school revealed eligibility for National Honor Society: anyone with a 90 average and above could apply.  […]

If you haven’t discovered already, colleges have outstanding marketing departments. In order to demonstrate selectiveness – an important factor for college rankings – colleges need to attract many applicants.  So, for example, has 1000 applicants for 500 spots, the college marketing department is tasked with increasing the number of applicants to 2000.  One way to do […]

Through my work, I have become a performance coach for all tests, not just the SAT and ACT but also for large tests in school and any test of consequence.  The one commonality across all performance: test takers do better after taking the test the first time.  Think about any performance and that’s the case […]