ACT Prep Class
+ Optional 1:1 tutoring
Our next class will prep students for the
April 13th, 2024 ACT TEST
This class starts March 11th, 2024
Welcome to our hybrid ACT Prep Class—the versatile class that allows you to take the class by itself, or to add optional one-on-one tutoring for additional review and practice. This class is designed to benefit students ranging from those who have never taken the ACT before to those who already have prior scores and and want to raise them.
How to decide?
Students first get help to set a goal score, which determines what areas on the test they need to focus on. The ACT tests don’t require perfection for a student to earn a high score. For example, on the last released ACT test, students can still score a perfect 36 by missing 3 questions in English, 2 in math, 1 in reading, and 2 in science. So— even with 8 incorrect answers students can still score a perfect 36.
Not every ACT test is as generous, but students must understand that the ACT is NOT scored like the tests they are used to taking in class, where every wrong answer absolutely lowers their grade. An A+ on the ACT could translate to an equivalent of a C, or even lower, on a classroom test. Once students recognize this, their anxiety-level drops immediately.
To raise ACT scores, all students must focus on four areas:
- Develop efficient pacing strategies—timing is everything on this test! Seconds count.
- Understand how the content of each subject test is based on the subject material students have learned in their classes. The test covers English grammar, punctuation, and rhetoric; the math test includes algebra, geometry, statistics and pre-calc/trig; the reading test requires fast processing of multiple styles of text which include first person narratives, historical documents, or summaries of scientific research; and finally, the science test requires a fundamental understanding of earth, natural, and physical science; biology, chemistry, physics & astronomy, as well as a general understanding of scientific research methodology. It’s NOT an easy test! But it is absolutely TEACHABLE! Effective preparation makes the difference.
- Identify and avoid traps that can derail students on every test. The traps are crafty and well constructed, but once students recognize them, they are no longer fooled by them.
- Apply what they learn by reviewing subject content and practicing a minimum of two full-length, authentic ACT tests.
So how can you decide between taking just the class or adding additional tutoring?
The 20-hour ACT Prep Class alone
Who enrolls?
Everyone. This foundational class covers content, some subject review, and test taking traps to avoid.
Who benefits?
- All students, no matter whether they have taken the ACT before or whether this will be their first go.
- Super Scoring has changed the whole dynamic of preparing for the ACT. The Super Score automatically calculates the highest ACT subject score from every test a student has taken to compute the final score.
- It no longer makes sense to just take the test once to “see how I do.” Every ACT test is now important.
- The class alone is most effective for
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- First-time test takers so they are not blindsided by this difficult and tricky test. Students will learn the essentials for taking the test with confidence and skill: setting goal score, learning pacing strategies, reviewing relevant subject content, and essential test taking strategies.
- Students who need help programming their calculator to receive maximum benefit from it during the test. Students will download all the programs they need to take the math test confidently.
- Students who benefit from strategies for using a watch efficiently to time their progress on all ACT tests. Timing is everything on this high-paced test.
- Students who have a strong academic background in math, English, and science .
- Students who are comfortable asking questions in a class setting. Students will only make progress if they understand WHY they missed questions.
Optional 6 hours of ACT one-on-one tutoring (more hours can be added if needed) for students to reach or exceed their established goal score.
The tutoring hours are individualized for each student. Students typically receive 3 hours of tutoring for English/Reading and 3 hours for Math/Science. Some choose to distribute the tutoring hours in different combinations. Each student can discuss how they want to structure their instruction with their assigned E/R & M/S tutor.
One-on-one additional tutoring based on goal scores
Goal Score 18-21 (76CPRE)
Setting a goal score: The number of correct answers needed varies by test
- English, out of 75: 39-47
- Math, out of 40: 25-30
- Reading, out of 35: 19-23
- Science, out of 35: 18-22
What are the benefits of individualized tutoring for student in the 18-21 goal range?
What issues do students in this goal range typically face?
1. Not understanding content of the tests: the tutoring sessions review and reinforce the key concepts in each subject area.
2. Afraid/embarrassed to ask questions in class. Students are willing to ask them in private sessions. This is KEY to success.
3. Struggling to learn some concepts. Additional practice worksheets will be used to reinforce concepts.
4. Having no clue how to pace and thus not finishing the tests. The key is to know how to move through the entire test, knowing which questions are key for them and which should be guessed on. Pacing strategies will be reinforced and practiced during tutoring.
5. Not knowing how to differentiate among questions and thus spending too long on those students are clueless about. During tutoring, students learn which questions they must answer to reach their goal score as well as which ones they should simply guess on.
Similarly, students need to understand which questions on each test are most relevant for them. This means, for example, that on the reading test, students will learn how to preview the test and focus their attention on only two passages. Students will learn a guessing strategy to apply on the remaining passages that will guarantee them 2 or 3 correct answers, which will be the same or more than what they would earn rushing through these texts. Each test on the ACT has specific strategies for achieving a goal score, and they require practice. The tutoring allows additional time for essential practice.
Goal Score 21-27 (76CPRE)
The number of correct answers needed varies by test : ACT 76CPRE.
- English, out of 75: 50-60
- Math, out of 60: 32-43
- Reading, out of 35: 25-30
- Science, out of 35: 24-30
What are the benefits of individualized tutoring for student in this goal range?
What issues do students in this goal range face?
1. Many students are still not sure about the content of the test. The tutoring now moves students to higher level questions while still reviewing and reinforce the key concepts. Students cover higher level content in tutoring that is not covered in class.
2. Still afraid/embarrassed to ask questions or not have time to get all questions answered in class. The one-on-one setting enhances the students’ comfort level while giving them the time to get everything they question answered. Understanding WHY incorrect answers are wrong is the KEY to success.
3. Lacking efficient pacing strategies. Students in this score range often still lack the confidence to pace their progress in a way that allows them to work through the entire test. Or, conversely, some just gallop through the test without differentiating among questions. The key for students is to learn how to move through the entire test mindfully, knowing which questions are key for them and which are OK to guess on. Pacing strategies will be reinforced and practiced during tutoring. Seconds matter and should not be squandered.
4. Recognizing how to focus appropriately on each subject test. For example, on the English test, students will learn how to guess on the longest rhetoric questions; on the math to focus on 30 questions and learn how to use effective estimation strategies and how to program their calculators for maximum efficiency; on the reading test to preview test and work on three of the four passages, guessing on the last on; and on the science test to strategize the order of the passages and learn to focus on questions before looking at the texts.
5. Receiving additional practice by completing another full-length ACT practice test.
Goal Score 28-36 (76CPRE)
The number of correct answers needed varies by test : ACT 76CPRE.
English, out of 75: 61-72 (65 for a 31)
Math, out of 60: 45 – 58 (49-50 for a 31)
Reading, out of 35: 31-39 (33 for a 31 )
Science, out of 35: 31-38 (34 for a 32 no 31 on this test)
What are the benefits of individualized tutoring for students in this goal range?
What issues do students in this goal range face?
1. The review of the ACT content is now fine-tuned for the highest scorers. There are predictable questions that students even in this high score range—including in their 30s—still miss regularly.
2. The highest-level content and questions for the ACT are identified and reviewed. The pace of the review is fast and focused.
Pacing becomes key—seconds matter, especially for students aiming for the mid and high 30s, and students practice timing strategies during tutoring sessions. Pacing strategies for this group differ from those for lower scorer because this group of students typically works too quickly, thus making careless errors. Many students finish the test well before the time is up, which gives them time to go back and second guess their answers. This is a very ill-advised strategy—students too often over think answers and thus end up missing points they should have earned.
The most successful pacing strategies for high scorers, therefore, is for them to learn how long they have per question on each test and then practice staying within that time frame. Students who still finish early are encouraged to close the test and are warned to only change an answer if they are absolutely sure they made an err
4. The overall focus of tutoring in this high score range is for students to complete as many ACT practice tests and review the answers that students miss. The number of tests that are completed vary. Students are encouraged to take practice tests on their own time, track their time, and then use the tutoring sessions to go over any answers that are still missed. The number of tests student have taken and reviewed has range from 2 – 6. In our last Fundamental Class, class student who completed six practice tests in English and Reading earned a 36 on each. Practice makes perfect!
This class with optional tutoring has something for everybody!
Come join us and watch your ACT score rise.
ACT Prep Class dates for the April 13th, 2024 ACT test
| DATE | TIME |
|---|---|
| Week 1: 3/11, 3/13 Week 2: 3/25, 3/27 Week 3: 4/1, 4/3 Complete "Mock" Practice ACT Test Saturday, 4/6 Week 4: 4/8, 4/10 (Optional) Mock Test Review(s): 4/9 and 4/11 | All sessions will be from 5 - 7 p.m. Central Time at the Buttonwood Business Center Mock Test: 8 AM to 12 PM at Buttonwood 1:1 sessions will be arranged individually |
Cost
$575.00
Optional 6 hour tutoring
$450.00
($600 value)