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

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.  Of the students who have achieved 400+ score increases (from PSAT to SAT comprehensive score), nearly all have begun their work at the beginning of junior year.

(In the following discussion we equate PSAT scores to SAT scores.  In order to do so, just add a “0″ to the end of the PSAT score.  So, a “62″ becomes a “620.”)

Here’s our prescription:  Begin SAT prep prior to the junior PSAT and then continue it prior to the January or March SAT.  Consider that people can achieve only what they think consider to be possible.  So, if your sophomore PSATs are in the mid-500’s, you might reasonably think you can raise each score to 600 and maybe even to 650.  But what if you need 700’s to have a chance at your first choice school?

You prep before the junior PSAT.  If by doing so you can raise each score to something like 630, all of a sudden 700 becomes visible in the distance.  Next, having experienced the pressure that comes with taking a timed test, you prep again and then sit for the January or March SAT.  If you post a typical “second” score increase, you may then be looking at scores in the 650-670 range.  Now, when you sit for the SAT in May, (a) you are a veteran of taking standardized tests; and (b) you have experienced a trend of rising scores, which makes a further rise more rather than less likely.

Don’t get me wrong.  This scenario is limited to those juniors who enjoy the challenge of learning new methods, expanding their vocabulary, and viewing math as an expression of logic rather than as a codex of rules.  But, if you think about it, anyone who is in the top quarter of his or her class probably is that sort of person.

For a fuller discussion about tests and timelines, please see our earlier post.

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.

Maine Prep offers small group courses to prep for the SAT in the following locations:

August courses in Kennebunkport, Brunswick (Tue/Fri), Brunswick (Mon/Thu), and Lewiston/Auburn

People ask:  Should I take both tests?  The SAT/ACT analogy I like is that of playing tennis on grass or hard court.  You are likely to fare better on one of the surfaces; however, it’s hard to predict which one.  So, I suggest that anyone who is looking to apply to competitive colleges and who have decided that scores matter sit for both tests. An interesting point:  Many colleges that require a test-taker to accompany his SAT score with two or more subject test scores do not require any subject test scores when one submits only an ACT score.  For our SAT students who would like to add the ACT, we recommend three or four private sessions to prep the differences between the tests.

Feel free to give us a call at 798-5690 for a no-obligation chat.

Here is a link to a list we updated in January 2010 (at least as up-to-date as any of the commercial books) that lists early admissions deadlines for many popular colleges along with SAT, ACT, and subject test requirements (if any).  Please note that the two right-hand columns are explained by footnotes (and that, for example, Brown does not require seven subject tests).

If a college applicant needs subject tests to complete his or her application, he or she should plan to take them in June of his or her junior year.  Here is the Amazon.com link to the Official subject test book, which I believe is vital to any test-taker’s preparation.

Any sophomore who plans to major in math or science should plan to sit for a science subject test immediately following his or her sophomore year science class.  (For example, most Brunswick High students take Biology in sophomore year and should consider taking that subject test in May or June of that year.)

If you do so, however, don’t go in cold, assuming that your school class has fully covered the range of questions on the test.  We have heard from current and former students that taking the test “cold” has sometimes resulted in disappointing scores; it turns out that there IS material on the test that is not taught in some high school science classes.  You can take the simple precaution of sitting for the practice test in The College Board’s Subject Test book linked above.

We provide one-on-one assistance for Math I and II, US history, literature, and some of the sciences.  Feel free to call us at 798-5690 for a no-obligation chat.

October 9  Regular  9/10; Late 9/24

November 6  Regular 10/8; Late 10/22

December 4  Regular 11/5; Late 11/19

January 22, 2011  Regular 12/23; Late 1/7

March 12  Regular 2/11; Late 2/25

May 7  Regular 4/8; Late 4/22

June 4  Regular 5/6; Late 5/20

For more information on dates, fees, and testing locations, visit The College Board’s registration page.