Courses and locations to prepare for the October tests:

Summer courses (each of these courses ends before Labor Day):

Brunswick:  Tuesday and Friday evening course beginning July 27

Kennebunkport:  Monday and Thursday evening course beginning August 2 This course is full

Lewiston:  Sunday and Thursday evening course beginning August 1

Courses that end just before the October tests:

Bangor:  Sunday evening course beginning August 8

Brunswick:  Saturday mid-day course beginning August 7

Falmouth:  Tuesday evening course beginning August 17

Kennebunkport:  Monday and Thursday evening course beginning September 2

Cape Elizabeth:  Monday and Thursday evening course beginning September 2

We have just finished another stress-filled “testing season.”  Most people who will apply to colleges that require superior SAT or ACT scores also take AP classes, which means that the first two weeks of May are filled with tests.  This year, the Maine “mandatory” SAT was on May 1, right before the APs.  Next year, the SAT will fall on May 7, which may be between the two AP weeks.  That schedule isn’t out, but here is a link to the recent 2010 AP schedule.

For several years, we have advised families for whom scores are important that getting an early start can significantly increase the odds of large to radical score increases.   (more…)

We offer private tutoring and group classes for SAT and ACT.  In addition, we offer private tutoring for SAT subject tests, LSAT, SSAT, GRE, and GMAT.

Want to enroll for an upcoming course?  Click a location listed in the right-hand column of this page to open a new page on which you’ll find upcoming schedules.  At the end of each schedule is an enrollment form you can complete and mail in. Or just give us a call at 798-5690.

Private tutoring schedules are best set up by phone.   Just have your schedule nearby and give us a call.

If you prefer, you can now pay for Maine Prep courses and tutoring using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.

“Academic achievement is one thing but taking the SAT’s is quite another. My son expected to do fairly well on the tests but never imagined individual scores in the 700 range! Although he was reluctant at first to take an SAT prep course, his Maine Prep tutor, Kathryn Toppan, was an excellent teacher who knew exactly how to work with teenagers and quickly won him over. It didn’t take him long to realize the value of the test taking strategies being presented and how they would help him achieve his goals. He’s now enrolled in the Tisch School at NYU and is extremely happy! I’ll definitely be sending my next two sons to Maine Prep!” –Belinda Osier, Falmouth

“I meant to tell you this a while ago, but my SAT score went from a 1730 to a 1970 after taking [Susan Thombs's Kennebunkport] class.  Clearly, it was an extremely beneficial prep class and I want to say thank you again for all of your help!  I ended up receiving the Presidential Scholarship from Gettysburg College, a scholarship that is highly based on SAT scores.  This was all thanks to your help! ” –Katie Lang, Kennebunk

“With the help of Maine Prep my son achieved nearly perfect scores on his SATs. The very strategic approach Maine Prep utilizes is the critical difference. Instead of endlessly memorizing vocabulary words they teach kids how to ‘work’ the test. The approach is time efficient and effective. Instead of being psyched out and nervous about the test, the kids really understand the test and almost view it as a game to be mastered. My son would never have achieved these results without this incredibly helpful approach.”  Randi Bollenbach, Cape Elizabeth

For more kind words about our curriculum and teachers, please click here.

Summer SAT prep is an attractive alternative to trying to fit prep into a busy junior or senior year.   We offer SAT and ACT private tutoring from Bangor to Kennebunkport.

Maine Prep offers small group courses to prep for the SAT in the following locations: (more…)

The ACT is an alternative to the SAT; the next one will be offered on September 11.  Here is a link to the registration page on the ACT web site.

People ask:  Should I take both tests?   (more…)

Great news for anyone who needs to prep for the SAT and wants to do so in a beautiful camp setting on Panther Pond in Raymond, Maine.  Dugan Slovenski, our top teacher in Brunswick, her husband Peter, track coach at Bowdoin, and their three sons are hosting a summer camp that offers a range of activities, including SAT prep featuring the Maine Prep TEN FOR TEN® curriculum!  Here is a link to the Slovenski Camps web site.

The SAT Subject Tests are one-hour content-based tests that include subjects from Bio and Chem to US History, World History, Literature, Math and Higher-Level Math, and various languages.  One can sit for up to three subject tests on any test date except March, when subject tests are not offered.  Whether an applicant should take subject tests depends on where he or she intends to apply to college.  Some schools require subject tests and some don’t.   (more…)

Here are the upcoming SAT dates and registration deadlines:

October 9  Regular  9/10; Late 9/24

November 6  Regular 10/8; Late 10/22 (more…)

I’ve explained above how those who apply early have a better chance of acceptance.   Here is a New York Times article from this morning that shows that early applications are continuing to rise at many colleges.

Here is a recent article by the above-mentioned dean in which he affirms that students who apply early have a better chance of being accepted.