Prep Firm Offers "Test Drive" for SAT and ACT

NATIONAL (05/04/2007)(readMedia)-- Students who are looking for a "Test Drive" now have opportunities to practice on SAT and ACT before the big test. Ivy Bound Test Prep is offering a timed practice ACT test and review session on Saturday May 19, and a timed practice SAT Test on Sunday May 20.

Scoring is done immediately, so students leave knowing their score, and a 30 minute review follows each scoring session. In locales where fewer than 6 students are committed to joining, the test and review is done by phone. Ivy Bound uses teleconference technology that allows up to 200 participants.

"This was definitely helpful", said one participant from Ivy Bound's first open Practice Test in April. "It gave me a good idea of the actual SAT". That "good idea" is worth points, especially for students who are unfamiliar with how much time is allowed and how much time they are likely to need on each section.

Gus Demady, a spokesman for Ivy Bound, illuminated why the PSAT is not an especially effective practice test. "The PSAT is shorter, lacks an essay, and doesn't contain 'stopper' math questions that are found on the SAT."

The result is that students do not always get a great snapshot from the PSAT, and need a full-length SAT or ACT to simulate the test that will be vital to their academic careers. "Moreover, it takes 6 - 10 weeks for the PSAT to be delivered to most students", says Mr. Demady. "Our students will be getting a realistic score immediately".

The testing takes nearly 4 hours, roughly the same amount of time required for the real SAT and ACT. Who will give up four hours on a spring weekend? These days, the answer is: MOST ambitious students. "Ambitious students realize that the SAT is a huge factor in determining college admissions and merit scholarship awards", says Jennifer Baldoni-Simcik, a tutor coordinator and class coordinator for Ivy Bound. "Our students treat SAT prep as their part-time job."

Nina Liu can attest to the importance of the test and the seriousness of many students. She and partners Chris Huang and Joy Chiang run Excel Academy, an enrichment center in Manhasset NY, where students have in the past spent six hours on multiple Sundays testing and reviewing for the SAT. Excel Academy offers SAT classes on a regular basis throughout the year.

The tests are free of charge. In fact, for the ACT session, new participants get a $150 certificate off the price of a regular Ivy Bound ACT or SAT class, should they choose to join later.

To sign up for Ivy Bound's ACT or SAT Test Drive, high schoolers or their parents may email info@ivybound.net with their name, locale, email address and telephone number. Please include ACT PRACTICE TEST SIGN UP in the subject header.

The deadline for signing up for this test is May 16th.

Ivy Bound and Excel Academy also hold "Open House" sessions for parents interested in college enrichment. The next ones are May 8th in Greenwich CT and Rye NY, and May 26th in Manhasset.

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