Standardized tests

6 Reasons and 1 Analogy Why Many CT Juniors Should Take TWO SATs in March

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Many states now require high school juniors to take either the SAT or ACT (see, for example, Education Week) for the states’ federal accountability, a fact that presents new strategic standardized testing options for college bound students. This year here in Connecticut, public school juniors will take an SAT (NOTE without the Essay, or even the option to pay for and add the Essay) on the state’s nickel on March 27 or April 4 (check with your school) with makeup dates on April 23 and 24.  For students applying to competitive colleges, the best strategy to maximize their scores and […]

Taking the ACT Next Weekend? 5 Tips for Cramming

 tagged ACT / standardized tests / test prep by

If you’re taking the ACT next weekend, 6/9 or 6/10, and haven’t been able to prepare as thoroughly as you’d like—hey, we understand, final papers, final exams, sports commitments, nice weather, yada yada yada—do not despair. Because there’s no vocabulary on the exam, you don’t need to spend nearly as much time studying as you might think. Except for slow test-takers, who may prefer the SAT because there’s significantly more time per question, the ACT is, in fact, a much more “beatable” exam than the SAT, especially when there’s only a week or two before game day. There are two […]

6 Reasons and 1 Analogy Why Most CT Juniors Applying to Competitive Colleges Should Take Two SATs in March

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Students/Parents to whom this post does NOT apply: Those in private schools, which do not administer the free SAT on March 21, this year’s date for the CT state public high school assessment test. (The CT Dept of Education replaced the old state assessment test with the redesigned SAT last year.) Those who know based on prior exam results that they will be sending ACT scores not SAT scores to colleges or applying only to test optional colleges. Those who already have an SAT score that is good enough to get into all the schools on their list (according to […]

Why CPE’s 4-in-1 Super-Value Math Class Is Right for YOU Right Now

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   For further details on the class, visit our 4-in-1 Super Value Math page Dr. Yo’s 4-in-1 Super-Value Math Class is one of those rare classes that makes excellent sense for the vast majority of high school students regardless of their achievement and regardless of the caliber schools they’re considering or hope to consider. The problem is, most students and parents either don’t know that it exists, or they don’t immediately see how it can prove so tremendously beneficial in their particular case. The purpose of this blog post is to redress those unfortuante circumtances. The concept underpinning the class is to offer high […]

2 Reasons Why CT Juniors Should Take 2 SATs in 4 Days

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Why did the CollegeBoard make their flagship exam, which was already too long to begin with, nearly an hour longer? They didn’t think very hard about it. They didn’t read any scholarly research on the subject. They value marathon runners over sprinters. They don’t care a whit about students. Don’t worry, this is NOT a rant, I just couldn’t resist. Truth be told, there is much about the redesigned SAT rolling out in March that appeals to my inner educator. But three hours and 50 minutes? Seriously? To be fair, it’s a mere three hours without the “optional” essay section, […]

Taking the ACT this weekend? 5 Tips for Cramming

 tagged ACT / standardized tests / test prep by

If you’re taking the ACT next weekend and haven’t been able to prepare as thoroughly as you’d like—hey, we understand, midterms, midyears, new semester starting, sports commitments, yada yada yada—do not despair. Because there’s no vocabulary on the exam, you don’t need to spend nearly as much time studying as you might think. The ACT is, in fact, a much more “beatable” test than the SAT, especially when time is short, and doubly especially compared to the redesigned SAT rolling out next month. There are two bodies of material you need to know: math (key topics in Algebra 1, Geometry, […]

The SAT and Snow Cancellations

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With the current weather forecast for snow this weekend in Connecticut, many parents and students have been asking about the SAT scheduled for this weekend, January 23/24. Do they actually cancel for snow? What happens then? Can they really do that after all work you invested gearing up for and scheduling around a really important day? Alas, the answers aren’t good new. Yes, they—the good folks at the College Board—can and do cancel for snow. And they will tell you, test center by test center, when and where your re-test will be (typically two weeks later). You have no vote and get […]

Dr. Yo’s Easier/Harder Guide to the NEW SAT for March 2016

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You’ve been hearing quite a bit about the substantially redesigned SAT rolling out this March (March 2 in WeHa public schools, to be specific, and March 5 nationwide). And I strongly suspect we’ll be hearing quite a bit more in the weeks to come. The bottom line is, despite the protestations of the College Board and Kahn Academy (which has had video help freely available for YEARS without any hoopla), the changes make tutors, classes, and other forms of extra help and preparation MORE, not less, important. Because the SAT hasn’t changed in a decade, everyone has some familiarity with […]

Shedding Light on the Dark Ages of Junior Year

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Back when I was in school, teachers sometimes liked to call the Middle Ages the Dark Ages.  Perhaps a misnomer, the term Dark Ages was meant to suggest that during the Middle Ages—the period in Western History between Antiquity (Greeks and Romans) and the Renaissance—nothing very interesting happened as far as historians were concerned.  Hence, it was dark. By analogy, the long period in the junior year sandwiched between Oct PSATs and winter/spring SATs/ACTs might well be called the Dark Ages of the Junior year. I see it happen to well-intentioned, high-achieving students every year: not a lot going on in terms […]

Guest Blog by Amanda Youmans, I Got the SAT Blues

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Why do I believe my standardized test scores are not a valid indication of my college readiness?      (A) I read Sian Beilock’s Choke and I lie on the spectrum between nervous test takers and those who suffer from full-blown test anxiety.      (B) I don’t think there exists a standardized test that reflects my passion for learning or intellectual interests or abilities.      (C) Bubble sheets are not well-suited to represent the breadth or depth of what I’ve learned in high school, in or out of the classrooms.      (D) All of the above. If […]

Why CPE’s 4-on-1 Super-Value Math Class (for SAT, New PSAT, New ACT, & Level 1 Subject Test) Is a Great Idea

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   For further details on the class, visit our 4-in-1 Super Value Math page Dr. Yo’s 4-in-1 Super-Value Math Class is one of those rare gems that makes excellent sense for the vast majority of high school students. The problem is, most students and parents either don’t know that it exists, or they don’t immediately see how it can prove so tremendously beneficial in their particular case. The purpose of this blog post is to redress that unfortunate situation. The concept underpinning the class is to offer high school students in grades 9-12 instruction and practice on the SPECIFIC BODY OF MATHEMATICAL […]

What is CollegePrepExpress?

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CollegePrepExpress, LLC, helps students get into their top choice colleges by focusing on the top three admissions criteria: grades, scores, and apps. That is, we help students earn the best grades they can in the most challenging courses available to them, achieve the highest scores on standardized tests—like the SAT, ACT, Subject Tests, TOEFL, and AP Exams—and prepare standout applications and admissions strategies to cast them in the best possible light before committee members. Like many other college prep companies, we do quite a bit of standardized test prep. But we are DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT from almost every other business in the industry in that we take […]

The College Admissions Process 101

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1. Get the best grades in the most advanced classes you can. The first thing college admissions officers look for in evaluating any application is your curriculum and grades. The most effective way to become an attractive candidate is to impress them with your coursework and GPA. If you need help raising your grade in any particular subject(s), our outstanding tutors can help.  2. Learn as much as you can about the application process by reading blogs and listening to podcasts. There are many pieces to the puzzle, and they cannot be figured out overnight. Carve out time to investigate all the elements […]

ACTs Less Than a Week Away? 5 Pro Tips to Raise Your Scores REALLY Fast

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Good time management on the ACT, even more than on the SAT, is crucial for getting high scores. And the cool thing is, relatively speaking, it doesn’t take long to master or to see its impact on your composite score. Is a few days enough time? Yup, if you’re dedicated. It’s basically a matter of knowing the format of each of the five tests really well. You don’t want to be the kid who, when the proctor says turn the page and begin, blurts out, “Hey! There’s Science on this test?!”   Those who become students of the exam–that is, […]