THE FULL PSAT/SAT COURSE (15 Hours)
In the first 1½ -hour appointment, we establish starting scores, and goals. We review the Fine Print of changing appointments, and requirements for the guarantee. We then teach quizmanship. We offer information and suggestions on every aspect of mastering the examination; when and how many times to take it; and how to get real tests back for later diagnostic post-mortems. We explain directions; how to improve speed and accuracy; how many questions to try (and what to abandon); where, when, and how to guess; how to strip a reading passage; categories of mathematics problems; and exactly what the written essay must contain to get a perfect score of 12. We also point out common errors, traps, tricks, and forced carelessness.
We then complete one entire section of each kind of problem to illustrate clearly how new knowledge and insights are applied to each category of problems. We also provide extensive vocabulary materials including a master list of the 360 most frequently appearing vocabulary words (with meanings) and a separate list of most frequently appearing prefix, suffix, and foreign language roots (with meanings and words most frequently appearing containing a particular root or base.)
For homework (about five hours between meetings) a student applies what we have taught to at least one full-length real past test, and builds assigned vocabulary daily from flash cards.
At each of the separate subsequent appointments, the same instructor (whatever individual time slots a student might choose one-at-a-time as one goes through the course) starts by randomly quizzing forty vocabulary words and looking over the flash cards. We record the percentage of words mastered, and offer generous praise for jobs well done, or massive encouragement if vocabulary could be studied more thoroughly.
Simultaneously, the instructor also grades, scores and curves the real past test completed for homework. We, the student, our computer, and parents therefore have a constant flow of numbers to know exactly where we stand at each meeting.
Once scored, the instructor explains each error, leaves correct written solutions for every missed problem, and reviews the pattern of errors and weakness, focusing on particular areas that still elude mastery. Focus includes a strategy review for a section, more hands-on examples, having students teach problems back to the instructor, and tearing just areas of weakness from older tests to provide more specific practice in these areas.
We have also cut-and-pasted mathematics problems from older tests sorted by problem category such that we can provide sheets with many examples of the same type of problem with which a student is encountering difficulty.
Students can observe their scores rising from appointment to appointment. Final real-test-center results usually mirror the most recent homework numbers.
Success results from a number of contributing factors: new insights and knowledge; complete familiarity with the examination, testing procedures and formats; increased confidence; and extensive supervised practice with conscious control of carelessness. The process is similar to preparing for an Olympic Event!
Students may return to us after completing a course on a by-the-hour pay-as-you-go basis for further review in preparation for any future test date(s). Students would then complete multiple tests or extra specific sections between meetings. We would continue to focus on areas of greatest weakness and further build vocabulary.