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ACT Prep

Commencement 2017

My mother earned her college degree when she was about 40; she was the first woman to get a bachelor’s degree from Union College in New York.  Even at a young age I realized how important that moment was for all of us.

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2017-02-20T21:04:28-05:00

Bragging Rights

At Inspiring Test Preparation, we are pretty accustomed to our students improving 4 points on the ACT composite.  That’s our average gain.   But occasionally we get a student who does so outstandingly well, we can’t help telling the world.  Here’s the latest story.

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2017-01-24T03:24:56-05:00

September 2016 ACT Results

This summer Inspiring Test Preparation held three classes to help students get ready for the ACT.  In July we held a three-week class that covered both ACT and SAT, and in August students chose between a three-week class dedicated to the ACT and a six-week class to prepare for both tests.  Altogether 22 students participated in the classes and we have heard from ten class students so far.  We also provided one-on-one preparation for over twenty students but not all took the September ACT.

Of ten class students providing full scores, we saw an average gain of 3.7 points on the composite with a beginning average of 28 and an ending score of 31.7. (A four point gain in the composite is like a 140 point gain on the new SAT.)

Below is a breakdown of the data.(Updated 10/4/16)
ID CLASS DATE DIAGNOSTIC COMPOSITE BEFORE SEPTEMBER SCORES COMPOSITE SEPT CHANGE
1 ACT/SAT AUG 30E 29M 31RC 27S 29 36E 29M 33RC 30S 32 3
2 ACT AUG 25E 20M 28RC 25S 25 35E 24M 35RC 27S 30 5
3 ACT AUG 29E 25M 30RC 24S 27 35E 27M 33RC 27S 31 4
4 ACT AUG 25E 24M 24$C 30S 31 31E 35M 35RC 24S 34 3
5 ACT/SAT JUNE 28E 31M 30RC 29S 30 36E 34M 32RC 32S 34 4
6 ACT/SAT JULY 21E 32M 22RC 25S 25 30E 35M 24RC 33S 31 6
7 ACT/SAT AUG 26E 32M 30RC 25S 28 35E 34M 30RC 26S 31 3
8 ACT/SAT AUG 29E 29M 34RC 26S 30 36E 33M 35RC 34S 35 5
9 ACT/SAT AUG 23E 24M 27RC 29S 26 29E 27M 33RC 26S 29 3
10 ACT AUG 31E 24M 34RC 26S 29 34E 27M 31RC 27S 30 1
DIAGNOSTIC AVE 28 SEPTEMBER AVE 31.7 3.7 pt gain
RANGE 25-31 29-35 1-6 pts
2017-04-07T19:30:41-04:00

Allergies and Testing

Red eyes? Sneezing, coughing, ears itchiDandylion top - pollenng? Tired, can’t stay awake, ADD medication doesn’t help?

Fall allergy season is fast approaching in Washington Metro DC, just in time for the fall ACT, SAT, and PSAT. Nasty allergens will make my students and me miserable. September is typically ragweed season, bringing with it runny noses, itchy throats, and fatigue.  Typically people take medication that makes them drowsy or foggy headed; this is not a great recipe for test taking success.

With a week’s advance action, however, sufferers can relieve their symptoms without side effects; now is the time for allergy sufferers to prepare for the assault.

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2017-04-07T19:30:41-04:00