SAT® and ACT® Prep
An important fact to remember about preparation for these exams is that they aren’t aligned with curriculum in the way many expect. It’s essential to understand the construction of the exams. Learning this, combined with a thorough study of the fundamentals of Math and Standard Written English, will help students to achieve the target score.
Helpful Links
The Exams
ACT®-SAT® Concordance Developed jointly by the College Board® and ACT®, this document provides guidance on the equivalent scores between the two exams.
The ACT® Exam This exam, once dominant mainly between the Rockies and the Mississippi River, is now accepted by virtually all schools. Each student should consider whether this exam or the SAT® provides a greater advantage in the admissions process. Through the use of advanced analytical tools, I can help you with that decision.
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The SAT® This page on the massive College Board® site is the starting point for those interested in taking the SAT®. Once you've created an account, it provides tools for registering for the exam and viewing your score report.
Test-Optional Schools This list is maintained by FairTest. By its nature, this page will not be up-to-the-minute, so if you don't see a school here, it's worth it to follow up directly with that institution.
Digital SAT® Frequently Asked Questions The SAT® is now delivered digitally worldwide. The page linked here provides fundamental information about the changes. This is the fifth version of the exam since we began working with students. Long Island Test Prep is well-prepped to help your student excel.
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Bluebook App The College Board® has made created and distributed only four official practice tests. They are available exclusively via their app. This page provides the links to the appropriate app stores to download and install.
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Desmos The Desmos calculator is built into the experience for the PSAT® and the Digital SAT®. Students who learn how to use this fluidly will have a significant advantage on test day.
Essay Scoring Rubrics
The list of schools that still require the Writing section of the ACT® is quite literally in single-digits. However, if you need to write the essay, you want to be well-prepared. Reading the rubric will allow you to know what the readers hope to see.
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The SAT® no longer includes an essay option for Saturday and Sunday administrations. If you are taking SAT® School Day, you can expand the rubric by clicking "see more" after landing on the College Board® page linked above.
Make Sure That Your Calculator Is Permitted!
Although the Desmos calculator is embedded in the interface and is a superior tool, if a student wishes to bring a physical calculator to the exam, this document contains the official guidelines.
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Scoring for College Board® "Official" Book Exams
In typically unhelpful fashion, the College Board® has removed the guide for scoring the exams from the "official" book. To ensure they were even less helpful, they numbered the practice exams and placed them in the book in the following order. The information is tucked away in a hard-to-find corner of their mammoth site. Despite the College Board's® best efforts to complicate matters, I hope these links prove helpful.
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Again, the scoring guides are listed below in the order they appear in the official study guide.