Our SAT and ACT Prep activities are currently on hold until they are start being administered again.
SAT/ACT Prep Courses
Our current course is on-going on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00pm to 8:00pm and on scheduled Saturdays or Sundays (individual schedules). We are happy to discuss private tutoring options if these group class days and times don't work.
If you prefer, we have private tutoring available for the SAT general and subject exams and the ACT.
Register for this upcoming class.
Don't forget to sign up for the SAT test through the College Board and the ACT through ACT Registration before the priority deadline.
Course price
Course Description
The SAT and ACT Prep Course at the Santa Cruz Learning Center includes at least 16 hours of instruction. Because the English portions of the exam differ greatly from the math (and science) portion(s), the course is taught by two different instructors.
Practice Exams
There will be at least two practice exams scheduled during each course designed to simulate the real thing. We will correct the exams in class and review the strengths and weaknesses with each student. We will decide on which weekends per session based on the schedules of those who have signed up. If weekends are completely unavailable to you then we can schedule the practice tests as needed during the week.
Intensive Practice
Our students get the most out of this class when they continue to practice on their own. It is hard for everyone to find time to practice at home so we individually schedule supervised practice time at the center. Students will be asked to come to the learning center and practice an additional 1-3 hours per week to practice the two weeks prior to their exam day.
Test Anxiety
We will teach specific strategies to work with multiple choice exams and the 30-second meditation to deal with test anxiety. Because our class sizes are relatively small (2-6 students), we have the time to highlight the strengths of each individual student, thus increasing confidence in their best subjects.
Curriculum
Our course curriculum consists of lecture, group work and homework. In general, we work with students on strategy AND content. THESE TESTS ARE A TRIP! Some may say the tests are simply about scholastic aptitude, but we believe they are more than that. Some students need specific help in one area over the other. We highlight these needs early-on in the course. We will go through strategies for completing the essay on-time and with the most points. You will learn how to "grade" an essay so that you can actively find ways to increase your score. Since some students are moving along to Precalculus, Statistics and Calculus next year, we realize that it has been a long time since you may have seen geometry, arithmetic and algebra. We go over these content skills while helping you learn the best approach for your test-taking style. We will show you when and when not to use a calculator and other strategies to save time and achieve the best possible score.
SAT or ACT???
Many clients ask us which test they should take, ACT or SAT? We suggest you take a full-length practice test for each. When you take the practice tests, make sure to proctor each exam as if it were the real deal. We are happy to do that here at SCLC. Don't hesitate to communicate with us regarding your preference. If you do it at home, use a timer and set aside an entire 4-hour block so you can include breaks and transitional time.
*Signing up for the exam: Once enrolled in the course it is very important that you register for the exam. The only place to register for the SAT is at the college board website the deadlines to register are pretty strict and, depending on the date of the exam, test sites can fill up. For ACT, go to the ACT Registration site. If you have learning differences and plan to request additional time for the exam, contact your school counselor to help you do this. Note that this request can take multiple months so be sure to plan ahead.