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The Case of the Missing PSAT

Posted by Kate Dalby

When I started coaching the SAT back in the mid 80s, I would often start my evaluation of a student with his or her PSAT booklet from the previous fall.

Usually the students would get the scores back before the winter break in December, and I would get a flurry of calls over the vacation asking for my help. At the same time the students received the scores, they received the very PSAT booklets they used during the testing session.

These tests were a goldmine of information. I could see if the student miss marked, if there were careless mistakes, if a problem was overworked, and I could deduce much about the test taker’s habits. It was a great jumping off point and gave me concrete information that helped me come up with a plan of action to prepare the student for the SAT. (more…)

Kate Dalby2016-10-15T18:56:59-04:00

Class of 2016 College Results
Class of 2016 College Results

College Applications, News, results

Class of 2016 College Results

(more…)

Kate Dalby2017-04-07T19:30:42-04:00

Does ACT prep help improve SAT scores?

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. (more…)

Kate Dalby2016-05-13T02:32:11-04:00

Online Results Are Equally Good!

Dear Mrs. Dalby–

Our son leaves for the college of his choice in six months. Your SAT-prep and general guidance on college admissions helped him make it to the Ivy League.

When I first called you in the spring of Coy’s sophomore year, we weren’t sure how SAT-prep with you might work out. You had come highly recommended, but we live a few hours’ drive away from the D.C. area. I was relieved that you agreed to take Coy as online student, even though you had only just started with that delivery method. (more…)

Kate Dalby2017-04-07T19:30:58-04:00

Class of 2019 TJ Results

Class of 2019 TJ Test Prep Results

Here are the 2nd cut results for Kate Dalby’s fall 2014 TJ prep classes.

This past fall 2014, Ms. Dalby taught four TJ admissions prep classes. Altogether 25 students prepared and sat for the TJHSST admissions test in early December. She had three students in the Tuesday evening class, six in the Saturday 11am class, eight in the 2pm class, and eight in the 5pm class. Twenty-four of the class students passed the first cut (one student did not respond to status requests).

Of those 24 students who made the first cut, 58% made the 2nd cut or were wait listed.

20 have reported their status. Of those 20,

11 were granted admission,
3 were wait listed (at least two were granted admissions in the summer), and
6 were turned down.

Below is a chart of beginning diagnostic test scores, and actual scores the day of the test (as reported by parent or student). I will also post any relevant comments from students about the course or the testing/admissions process.

DIAGNOSTIC TEST – accepted

ACTUAL TEST SCORES – accepted

47M44V

46M49V

39M 41V

37M46V

45M27V

43M45V

41M39V

43M49V

44M34V

44M38V

41M41V

46M47V

38M46V

46M48V

49M38V

49M48V

48M42V

50M47V

47M44V

48M49V

45M42V

AVERAGE Before = 83.3

AVERAGE After = 90.8

DIAGNOSTIC TEST -wait listed

ACTUAL -wait listed

31M30V

39M41V

40M45V

45M44V

44M44V

44M43V

AVERAGE Before = 78

AVERAGE After = 86.7

DIAGNOSTIC TEST – refused admission

ACTUAL – refused admission

40M24V

38M24V

28M29V

37M37V

43M41V

39M47V

41M44V

47M48V

31M33V

33M40V

AVERAGE Before = 70.8

AVERAGE After = 78

29M20V not included in statistics

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Here is one parent’s comment:

Did I tell you — when we saw

[ ]’s results, he said “I am glad I took that class!”?

And I appreciate the “gloves off” feedback that you all gave him on his practice Personal Statement and essays. I think he really needed to hear that some attention to capitalization and spelling do make a big difference in readability.

Kate Dalby2019-03-26T20:50:51-04:00