|
1. How does Catalyst differ from other test prep firms?
2. How much can my son or daughter reasonably expect to improve?
3. What is a typical Catalyst lesson like?
4. How far in advance should I begin prepping for the SAT or ACT?
5. What are the SAT Subject Tests and how many do I need to take?
6. What about PSAT Prep?
7. How do the SAT and ACT exams compare?
8. What’s considered a good score on the New SAT?
9. Is there anything I can do outside tutoring to boost my chances of success?
10. How much weight do college admissions officers give the SAT or ACT?
11. Is there a limit to the number of times I can take the SAT or ACT?
12. Some companies offer guarantees. Do you?
13. Does Catalyst work with students with ADHD or learning differences?
1. How does Catalyst differ from other test prep firms?
Unparalled Expertise
Catalyst is uniquely poised to help students succeed because its instructors take the actual SAT multiple times per year to gain a greater understanding of the test. Other companies practice guesswork, showing students strategies they think will improve scores. Catalyst nurtures insight by providing access to resources no other company can match: a manual written by a teach with numerous 2400’s on the SAT, dozens of essays that have earned perfect scores, and hundreds of math, reading and writing questions that have appeared on the SAT as recently as last month.
Tutor Incentives
Every company claims to have the most qualified tutors, but one indisputable fact remains: Catalyst pays its tutors more than every other test prep firm in Southern California. Paying more gives Catalyst two advantages: the freedom to be twice as selective when hiring potential tutors, and the ability to motivate the exceptional young men and women with whom we work.
Flexibility
Catalyst’s commitment to flexibility extends to the options we offer families. Catalyst students can choose to Prep Individually, Prep With A Friend, or Prep With Two Friends. Catalyst’s popular Prep With A Friend programs give students the opportunity to pursue private in-home tutoring at the same cost as a course in an overcrowded classroom.
2. How much can my son or daughter reasonably expect to improve?
Catalyst students who have taken the SAT or PSAT before generally increase 250 points with the help of one of our tutors. Of course, not everyone increases 250 points. Many Catalyst students have increased 500 points, too! Students who have taken the ACT or PLAN test can expect to increase 3-6 points with the benefit of tutoring. If you would like to read about students who have greatly enhanced their scores with the help of Catalyst, please visit our testimonials.
In the interest of honesty, families should know there is no tutor – and no tutoring company – capable of replacing sheer determination. Year in and year out, the students who perform the best on the SAT and ACT are the ones who put forth the most effort.
3. What is a typical Catalyst lesson like?
While our customized approach to prep ensures each Catalyst lesson is different, several organizational similarities exist. After arriving at a student’s home, Catalyst tutors review the previous lesson’s homework, addressing any mistakes that recur. Following the review, tutors introduce new material by illustrating examples from actual tests and patiently explaining how to tackle them. Never is any new material introduced before a tutor feels certain the student has mastered every concept preceding it.
During the final part of the lesson, Catalyst tutors review concepts introduced during the hour-and-a-half, highlighting any areas the student finds challenging. Because we believe in keeping parents up-to-date through every stage of the prep process, Catalyst tutors always reserve a few minutes at the end of each lesson to inform parents of their son’s or daughter’s progress.
4. How far in advance should I begin prepping for the SAT or ACT?
While it is no longer unusual to begin studying for the SAT or ACT as early as one’s freshman year, high school students generally begin prepping the fall of junior year. Catalyst recommends allocating 3-4 months of time prior to the test date to fully master every aspect of the test. If you would like to learn how we can design an SAT or ACT program to suit your specific needs and schedule, please contact us.
5. What are the SAT Subject Tests and how many do I need to take?
The SAT Subject Tests are one-hour exams designed to evaluate students’ knowledge in a particular academic area, such as chemistry or Spanish. SAT Subject Tests are scored on an 800-point scale and can be taken several times per year. Many selective universities, such as Stanford and UCLA, require two or three SAT Subject tests, which students typically take toward the end of junior year. Catalyst has a conprehensive course for many of the SAT Subject Tests and can be of assistance to students who are unsure of which ones to take.
[back to top]
6. What about PSAT Prep?
The PSAT is a preliminary SAT taken by high school sophomores and juniors to predict how they might do on the SAT without formal preparation.
There are two principal distinctions between the PSAT and SAT: duration and difficulty. At 2 hours and 10 minutes, the PSAT is just over half the length of the SAT, which runs 3 hours and 45 minutes. With fewer advanced math problems and no essay, the PSAT is also considered slighly easier.
Unlike the SAT, the PSAT is only offered once per year, in mid-October. For students who wish to walk into the PSAT with confidence, Catalyst recommends an 8 lesson program – 2 lessons each in math, reading, and writing, followed by 2 full-length practice exams.
There are students for whom we advocate a full study program of 12-15 lessons. If a student, along with his or her parents and guidance counselor, feels capable of competing for a National Merit Scholarship, Catalyst recommends no less than full preparation. If you would like more information on the PSAT or the National Merit Scholarship competition, please contact us.
7. How do the SAT and ACT exams compare?
Catalyst has a comprehensive ACT program designed to introduce students to every aspect of the ACT and lead them through all materials and strategies needed to succeed.
The SAT evaluates students’ proficiency in three areas: Critical Reading, Writing and Mathematics. The ACT measures students in four areas: Reading, Writing, Math, and Science. The SAT’s essay is mandatory; the ACT’s is optional, though most colleges wish to see the essay component if a student elects to take the ACT. The SAT and ACT are roughly the same duration (four hours), but the SAT is composed of 10 short sections alternating between math, reading and writing, whereas the ACT has four long sections always in the same order: writing, math, reading and science.
Unlike the SAT, which infamously penalizes students for guessing incorrectly, the ACT doesn’t deduct points for wrong answers. Virtually every university in the United States accepts either the SAT or ACT, with no stated preference for either exam.
If you would like more information on the ACT or a practice test, please contact us.
[back to top]
8. What’s considered a good score on the New SAT?
One of the most frequent questions we’re asked is, “What’s a good score?” Without sounding evasive, it’s hard to pinpoint a good score because each student we help has different goals and priorities. Some of our students would be ecstatic with a 1950 on the new SAT; others would be dejected for days.
Because each student is unique, Catalyst abides by one simple index to measure achievement: What was a student’s score before he or she started our program, and by how much did he or she improve upon completion?
To better enable parents and students to compare what various scores on the new 2400 point SAT correspond to on the old 1600 point SAT, Catalyst has prepared the following key.
New Score Old Score
2400 1600
2250 1500
2100 1400
1950 1300
1800 1200
1650 1100
1500 1000
9. Is there anything I can do outside tutoring to boost my chances of success?
Absolutely. Studying for the SAT or ACT should by no means be limited to the few hours of lessons each week.
The most effective way to raise one’s score on the verbal portions of the SAT and ACT is to read as often as possible. Newspapers, stories, essays and plays all provide valuable opportunities for students looking to hone their reading comprehension and grammar skills.
For students seeking help on the SAT or ACT essay, Catalyst recommends reading the editorial sections of venerable newspapers, such as The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Pay close attention not only to the points the authors make, but to the manner in which they convey their opinions. Students should write down any unfamiliar vocabulary words and prepare a set of flashcards with definitions on back.
To boost students’ odds of success on the SAT and ACT math sections, Catalyst advocates reviewing geometry and algebra tests from freshman and sophomore year in high school. Many students are surprised to discover just how many SAT math questions test concepts encountered early in high school.
10. How much weight do college admissions officers give the SAT or ACT?
There is no doubt standardized test scores are one of the principal means by which colleges judge applicants. SAT and ACT scores serve two indispensable purposes. The test is used, first, as an index of achievement in math, reading, and writing, and second, as a way to measure the relative difficulty of a student’s high school. For example, if a student ranks near the middle of his or her class but has well-above-average SAT or ACT scores, admissions officers will likely conclude the student attends a challenging high school. Students with lower scores but high grades may be perceived as attending less rigorous schools, where high grades are given out indiscriminately.
11. Is there a limit to the number of times I can take the SAT or ACT?
Despite countless myths to the contrary, there is no official limit to the number of times students can take the SAT or ACT. Having said that, there is absolutely no reason a student should take the test over and over again if no improvement is shown. Furthermore, many college guidance counselors have prudently suggested that taking the SAT and/or ACT repeatedly looks excessive, perhaps even obsessive, to admissions officers. Therefore, Catalyst urges students to avoid such situations by preparing to do well the very first time they take the exam. The vast majority of Catalyst students reach or surpass their target score within two tests.
12. Some companies offer guarantees. Do you?
Catalyst doesn’t offer guarantees because we refuse to mislead students and parents. Many of our tutors taught for other prep firms prior to joining Catalyst and can tell you firsthand that alleged “guarantees” are never given away. Examine a guarantee’s fine print carefully and ask the company a simple question: Is the promised improvement based on my students actual SAT score – and actual score only – or do company diagnostics count as well? If you hear squirming on the other end of the phone, or someone frantically whispering “Code Red! Code Red!”, you’ve most likely found the answer.
13. Does Catalyst work with students with ADHD or learning differences?
Absolutely. Catalyst believes every student deserves a chance to optimize his or her SAT or ACT score. From the moment a parent or student calls us, everything is kept strictly confidential, from academic information to any relevant learning differences that may impact testing.
[back to top]
|
