Most juniors take Algebra II/Trigonometry for their mathematics sequence. Students who are on this track will not have adequate mathematics skills until the April test cycle. However, if a student has completed this course prior to junior year, then tests may be taken sooner. For these juniors, they MAY be prepared to take the December test; most, however, will be wise to delay until February. Sports commitments are certainly a consideration for a test date: fall sports are so rigorous that the December date will come before students are fully practiced. Spring sports are filled with weather woes which interrupt tutoring schedules so often students are better prepared if they begin to study prior to the winter sports season. This is worthy of a conversation between parent and student.

While both tests are nationally presented, the SAT significantly focuses on evaluating how much a student has learned; the ACT is more of a predictor of how well a student will perform in college. The excellent reading and writing student will be comfortable with the SAT; the ACT has more math and science. Both tests will directly reflect a student�..s familiarity with vocabulary: there is a definite correlation to the amount of reading a student has done that cannot be �..learned�.� during a 12 week tutorial. The writing portion is the only subjective score. Midwest schools request the ACT and all Illinois high schools administer the Prairie State Achievement Exam, which IS the ACT, so it behooves all students to prepare for this test.

Homework and practice both provide opportunites for students. Practice and review enhance the ability to apply knowledge. Research indicates students need to *practice a skill 24 times to reach 80% proficiency*, with the first four practices yielding the greatest effect. Further, imprinting must be done within an hour or 10% of material is lost; after 24 hours without imprinting, 90% of newly learned skills will be forgotten.

Many accomplished students do not perform well on standardized tests. Their outstanding scholastic skills cause them difficulty: there is no time to command material. In this program, students learn and practice how to do the one thing necessary to get a higher score: find the big picture, infer concepts, and apply details to answer the question correctly. These new skills will stand students in good stead while still in high school and for college in the future.

My program is unique: individual focus is the key to success for most students. Learning styles vary greatly; rate of learning varies as well. Because repetition is emphasized, many strategies will become ingrained. Understanding the commitments these students have, during the school year I am available seven days a week. Two weeks prior to the April national test, students can participate in a three hour (excluding math) group practice test. This testing environment is essential to duplicate an atmosphere of anxiety and pressure.

It is in the interest of the student to attend the hour-long lessons for twelve weeks. Makeup sessions are EXTREMELY difficult to schedule; make every effort to honor your appointed time. Some students will enter the program having taken the test previously and can accelerate the lessons because of their familiarity with testing procedures.

Students will be required to match tutoring hours with homework. I expect each student to invest in the time it takes to practice. I will work very hard with each student to achieve the best possible score, but I cannot want a high score more than a student does. Former students can vouch that practice, done both in tutorials and in private, is vital to a successful testing experience. The frequency of practice is a sure confidence builder.

The PLAN score a student received as a sophomore is a good indicator of a future ACT score. While I can make neither predictions nor guarantees about any student and an anticipated score, there are several factors to keep in mind when expecting a score increase. First, I do not take the test; the actual test day belongs to the student. Second, as athletes attest, anyone can do anything on any given day. Third, test anxiety is very real for some. Though I work hard to give students every advantage, I cannot make any student smarter; I am also incapable of diminishing a student�..s abilities. I have tracked the scores of the more than five hundred students whom I have tutored. The major percentage has received higher scores. A �..huge�.� increase cannot be the expected norm. With 36 as a perfect score, four points is valued at greater than 10%. Ten percent is a substantial gain, equivalent to a scholastic letter grade.

Most students will take the ACT at least twice; three times is suggested. Should a student wish additional tutoring for a subsequent test date, the program can be revised.

The twelve sessions will cost $800. This will include a three and half hour group practice test to be offered before the February and April tests and free drop in study sessions for the June test. Scheduling these active students is always a challenge; therefore, I have policies in place to encourage families to plan ahead to ensure success in both scheduling and test results. Additional individual tutoring will be billed at $60 an hour.

I am a reading and learning styles specialist. I can teach students to organize their materials to learn most efficiently. I can aid students to accommodate for attention and learning deficiencies. My goal is to work with students so that they no longer need my help. I am also an above-average writer who can help students with college application essays.