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How much will I improve?

The eternal question. On average, my students improve more than the 10-12% improvements that the big companies report. That said, these numbers don't indicate how much one individual student will improve. Individual improvement is a direct reflection of how much energy and enthusiasm a student puts into preparation.

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What do you think of the new SAT?

Frankly, it's not so different from the old SAT. The analogies are gone, as are quantitative comparison math questions, a few math topics have been added, and the old SAT II: Writing test has been tacked on.

To me, the most significant difference is the length of the test, which went from 3 hours to 3 hours and 45 minutes. That might not sound like a massive increase, but if you sat down and took the test, you'd agree with me at about the 2.5 hour mark. It's exhausting. Students have to be prepared for that, and have techniques to solve the problems once their mental energies are wearing down.

Personally, I love the essay. Sure, it's a flawed test; who among us ever has to write something -- anything -- in just 25 minutes. Still, it's a solid indicator of what a student has to say about themselves and the world. Plus, it gives me a chance to teach writing, and I love that.

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Do you offer score guarantees?

In a word, no. Although the "score guarantee" has been a successful marketing tool for the big guys, it's not really much of a guarantee. Look closely at the fine print, and you'll see what you get if your student doesn't go up 150 points: more classroom prep sessions! Which is, of course, exactly what a student wants after they've had a disappointing SAT.

What I guarantee is this: I will give my students all of the energy and SAT expertise that I have so that when they walk into that test room they will have the confidence in their strategies and abilities to do the best they absolutely can on the SAT.

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What about the ACT?

I often hear the adage (or perhaps, the old wives tale) that a student who does poorly on the SAT will do well on the ACT. The relationship is a little more complicated than that.

The ACT is a much more straightforward test. It also asks a lot more questions. If you can believe, it is actually longer than the SAT.

I offer ACT prep, but because the ACT is so straightforward, preparation for it is primarily about practice and not so much about strategy. My suggestion: if you're thinking about taking the ACT, go out and buy "The Real ACT Prep Guide." Take a practice test. If you're more comfortable with the ACT than the SAT, sign up and take a crack at it.

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How many times should I take the SAT?

2-3 times. No college will look askance at a student who takes the test three times or fewer. Ideally, you'll take it once in the spring, take the Subject tests in either May or June, then take the SAT again in October.