180 point improvement without SAT prep!  How did that happen?

It happened with three weeks of  Inspiring’s ACT prep.

We had a surprise while recording scores for the combined  ACT/SAT class this week.  

We always start our test preparation with a diagnostic test.  For the current combined class, we administered the SAT diagnostic after we completed three weeks of ACT prep. Below we have listed the student’s rPSAT from last fall, followed by the rSAT taken yesterday.  The rSAT used was test #2 from the new College Board redesigned Official SAT Study Guide.  Remember new SAT scores are based on a total score of 1600.

  • Student #1 (new – no prep)  1370 rPSAT 1380 rSAT practice = 10 point increase 

But after three weeks of ACT prep

  • Student #2   1360 rPSAT 1380 rSAT practice = 20 point increase
  • Student #3   1350 rPSAT 1380 rSAT practice = 30 point increase
  • Student #4   1390 PSAT 1480 rSAT practice = 90 point increase
  • Student #5   1240 PSAT 1420 rSAT practice = 180 point increase
  • Student #6   1390 PSAT 1580 rSAT practice = 190 point increase

Last summer we presented a combined ACT/SAT class.  At the time it appeared that the prep for SAT and ACT were complementary, but some students didn’t like the alternation of the ACT instruction with the SAT instruction, which was how that class was organized.  Nevertheless, the students all improved their scores on both tests in practice.

This season we divided the six-week class into an ACT half (for the February test) followed by the SAT half which just started this past Sunday with an SAT diagnostic.  I’m excited that most of the students did remarkably better on their SAT, compared to their PSAT from last fall, because it supports my thesis that preparing for the ACT tests helps improve SAT performance.  This is noteworthy, since there are so few ETS generated SATs in the new format; it makes quality practice material problematic.

This small sample supports the premise that prepping for the ACT will also help performance on the SAT.  So, if you are a high scorer interested in taking a class that combines prep for both tests check out our summer schedule of classes.

Or try Inspiring’s prep for the April or June ACT test and take the SAT this spring (without prep)