Most programs, classes and books do not teach that tests like the SAT/PSAT, ACT, and CLT are tests of logic and critical thinking that have questions designed to purposely misguide students to pick the wrong answers.  Many programs simply teach content memorization or re-teach high school over again such as more math concepts and thousands of vocabulary words; these courses can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars and result in frustration and disappointment.

College Prep Genius teaches relevant strategies and the logical recurring patterns found on the tests. 

Since the ACT is changing in 2025, College Prep Genius will analyze and create a new program once the ACT has released their final test in September. Beware of companies who come out with a program before then. Nevertheless, many students had used the test-taking techniques from our older SAT program to receive perfect scores on the ACT.  View our testimonials. 

The live virtual “Master the SAT/PSAT” Bootcamp is taught online in a 3-day (4 hours each) or 8-week (1½ hour) format.

The on-demand “Master the SAT/PSAT” Bootcamp contains 12 self-paced lessons that provides the same content in smaller chunks.

The in-person “Master the SAT/PSAT” Bootcamp is generally presented in 2 days (6.5 hours each day), including time for breaks and lunch.

Students from 7th grade and above should consider taking this class.

Even if you haven’t had test prep on your radar, realize that younger students have time on their side.  Preparing early gives your child the ability to figure out their strengths and weaknesses early—long before there is a lot of pressure to raise their scores for college entrance and scholarship money.

College Prep Genius is an award-winning company that has stood the test of time for more than two decades.  We have helped tens of thousands of students—in the USA and around the world—ace standardized tests.  Our founder, Jean Burk, has been a keynote speaker at numerous homeschool conventions, schools, and conferences.  She has also been featured on Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, TXA21, CW33, WE, ION, Forbes Living, Smart Woman, UShop TV and The Homeschool Channel. 

View our testimonials.

Although College Prep Genius cannot guarantee results, many of our students have had astounding success—some increasing their scores by 700 points on the SAT, 11 points on the ACT, and 26 points on the CLT.  College Prep Genius has had numerous alumni become National Merit Scholars, gain admittance to Ivy League Universities, and/or achieve enough scholarship money to go to college for FREE!

You may feel skeptical about what College Prep Genius offers, but take the time to watch the many independent and glowing reviews about our programs. View a few of our testimonials.

Yes, whether the sibling is attending a live bootcamp, a virtual class, or watching the on-demand videos, there is a discount.

On-demand course sibling tuition: $199 

Virtual boot camp tuition: $295

In-person sibling tuition: $345

For those who purchased the program, it is a one-year subscription from the day of purchase.  The subscription can be renewed annually at the discounted price of $89.

No, families will receive email notices within 30-days prior to expiration that the subscription is expiring so they can opt in for renewal.

Yes.  The program is self-directed, and both students and parents should be able to easily follow directions. Parents  do not need to do anything since the course is self-contained. Many families use the course as an elective on their transcript.

Approximately 14 hours of video material; there is also homework, quizzes, practice tests, etc.

The classes are offered throughout the year.  They are usually in high demand, so you will need to register early.  View our upcoming classes.

College Prep Genius presents the “Master the SAT/PSAT Class” which covers both Modules of the SAT and PSAT:  Math, Reading and Writing.  This 12-hour program equips students to conquer the secrets of these standardized tests.

Our teachers frequently travel across the country to teach the College Prep Genius program.  Contact us at support@collegeprepgenius.com or 817.282.7737 for more information about bringing CPG to your school, co-op, or group.  Hosting a class requires a minimum of 10 paid students (Continental U.S.) and an adequate facility to teach the class; we will take care of the rest.  If you are outside of the Continental U.S., please contact us so we can design a program for your students to learn the secrets of test success.

Check out our Host a Class page.

Bring pencils, highlighter, calculator, snacks, drink and a lunch (or $ if the host is organizing a meal).  We highly recommend taking a practice College Board test before the class so students can have a baseline score; this helps them know how much they improved after completing the class and finishing all the follow-up homework. 

Every student is different.  Some learn better in a virtual or in-person classroom setting and others learn better at their own pace with the on-demand video course.  Students who take any of our live in-person classes receive a one-year subscription to the self-paced course so they can go back over the strategies, techniques and patterns over and over again. 

Regardless of the chosen format, most students need repetition to internalize their test-taking skills and solidify the information so they can apply it appropriately.  It is important to know not only why the right answer is right but also why the other three answers are wrong and how not to fall for the wrong pattern on the real test.

View Which Test is Right for My Student

Yes, many schools offer test prep as an elective class.  This program can easily be incorporated into your school or homeschool schedule.  

Sample Class Names:

Test Prep; SAT/PSAT Prep; Logic Prep; Life Skills, College Prep; etc.                                        

Here is a sample description you can use:

This one-semester program teaches students the logic behind standardized test questions and reveals hidden recurring patterns that point students to the correct answers.  The class contains the followings:

• Advanced instruction in objective reasoning, including,
1. Test-taking shortcuts
2. Strategies to avoid trick answers; and
3. Skillset to answer questions in 30 seconds or less.
• Classroom work that helps students learn the reasoning behind the right answers as well as why the wrong ones are incorrect.
• Weekly corresponding homework that will reinforce what was learned in the classroom.  There will also be a follow-up checklist for continual success.

Effective Date: January 1, 2026

We’re honored to support your student’s academic journey!

By placing an order with College Prep Genius, you agree to the following terms.

Order Processing

Orders are processed within 2–5 business days, excluding weekends and holidays. Processing times may extend during peak sales periods, conferences, or promotional events — thank you for your patience.

Processing time does not include shipping transit time.

Shipping Methods

Most book orders ship via USPS Media Mail unless an upgraded method is selected at checkout.

Delivery timelines are estimates only and are not guaranteed. College Prep Genius is not responsible for carrier delays once an order has been transferred to USPS or UPS.

Media Mail Disclosure

Media Mail is an economical shipping method for books and may:

• Take longer than Priority services
• Be subject to USPS inspection
• Experience delays during peak seasons

If expedited delivery is required, customers must select an upgraded shipping option at checkout.

Risk of Loss

Risk of loss transfers to the customer once the order is delivered to the shipping carrier.

We are not responsible for:

• Lost or stolen packages marked “Delivered”
• Delays caused by carriers
• Incorrect addresses entered at checkout

Shipping Fees

Shipping charges are non-refundable once an order has shipped.

Preorders

Preorder items ship on or after the listed release date. Release dates are estimates and subject to change without notice.

If an order includes preorder and in-stock items, the order may ship together.

Returns

Returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery for unused, unopened books in original condition.  Because our materials contain proprietary strategies, we cannot accept returns on used books or digital products.

Customer is responsible for return shipping costs.

Original shipping fees are non-refundable.

We do not accept returns on:

• Digital products
• Used or marked materials
• Bulk/wholesale orders
• Conference pickup orders not collected

Refunds are issued only after returned items are received and inspected.

Limitation of Liability

College Prep Genius shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from shipping delays or carrier issues.

Thank you for allowing us to serve your family.

For questions: support@cfollegeprepgenius.com

Although most colleges moved away from standardized tests during and right after the COVID-19 pandemic, most colleges have returned to requiring standardized testing as part of the admissions process.  Colleges know that a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) at one school is not necessarily equivalent to the same GPA at another school.  Tests like the SAT, ACT, and CLT are standardized—testing the critical thinking skills of students, regardless of school background.  These tests are graded blindly, putting all students on an equal playing field to demonstrate college readiness.

High School Prep Genius is your own personal guidance counselor.  It contains everything you need to prepare your high-school student on the road to college:

• Monthly Guide for 9-12th Grades
• Checklist for Parents
• Checklist for Students
• College/career planning notebook
• College Search and Admissions Counselor Info
• Scholarship Information
• Important Study Tips
• Time Management Strategies
• Tips from Guidance Counselors
• Plan for your High School Degree
• Test for Identifying Interests and Personal Motivation
• Internships Summer before College
• Little-known secrets of the highly competitive
• Goal-setting strategies
• All-you-need-to-know Guides about:
• Transcripts
• Volunteering/Extracurricular activities
• Awards and recognition
• GPA and credits

Privacy Policy

No.  The on-demand videos are a bonus for students to help reinforce what was learned in the class.  If you are already a subscriber to the self-paced course, your student’s membership will be extended an additional year for no charge.

Yes. Students often pick up new information when hearing from a live teacher. They also have the ability to ask questions and get instant feedback.

Every student learns differently.  Some flourish in an environment where they can communicate with an instructor, and others prefer to do the class at their own pace.  All similar College Prep Genius programs cover the same information regardless of class format.

Would you like to experience the COLLEGE PREP GENIUS in-person bootcamp?  Learn from the expertise of our qualified instructors as they bring the “Master the SAT/PSAT” Bootcamp to your hometown.  Hosting a class is simple and easy.  All you need is an adequate facility and a minimum number of ten paid students (Continental USA*), and we’ll provide the rest!  Host kids are FREE for the class. 

This 13-hour workshop series can be divided into two days (or a three-day session for DFW groups). It’s perfect as an after-school, weekday, or weekend workshop and is suited for public, private, and home-school groups.

Hosts do not incur any additional expenses to organize a class.  College Prep Genius covers all instructor fees, airfare, hotel, rental car, and miscellaneous expenses; this is why each class requires a minimum student count. 

*If you are not located in the Continental US, please contact us for details about hosting and we will design a class for you:  support@collegeprepgenius.com or 817.282.7737.

To host a class:

Minimum student number: 10 (Continental US)

Adequate facility

Class Price: $445 per student/Siblings $345

There is no class maximum.

Inquire at support@collegeprepgenius.com or 817.282.7737 for more information.

In order to accommodate for travel planning and expenses, you must schedule your hosting class no less than 10 weeks in advance or 8 weeks for the Dallas/Fort Worth area. 

SAMPLE TWO DAY CLASS SCHEDULE

9:00AM – 3:30PM                 (includes breaks and lunchtime)

3:00PM – 9:30PM                 (includes breaks and dinner time)

12-6:30PM or 1-7:30PM        (includes breaks and snack breaks)

Students will receive the College Prep Genius workbook, class instruction, and one-year membership to the bonus eCourse ($289 value) which contains video lessons, homework, practice tests, etc.There are no additional fees to students or facilitators.  

HOST A CLASS

**SPECIAL BONUS: Parents who take on the challenge of hosting a class will receive FREE tuition for their children.  Class hosts will also receive our award-winning High School Prep Genius.  

In-person Bootcamp Class Policy

Please read the following information before you enroll your student in a live/in-person College Prep Genius class. 

Students are responsible for attending class.  Please note the class date, time, and location on your calendar.  Students need to bring sharpened pencils, a highlighter, calculator, a snack, a drink and a lunch on 2-day class and/or money if the class host is ordering food.

All students should arrive 15 minutes prior to class starting time.  Classes will not be delayed by late-arriving students.

If a student misses a class, he or she is responsible for contacting College Prep Genius to reschedule and make up the class, if there is another one available.  Students will have access to the dashboard which includes homework, recap videos and practice tests.  There are no partial refunds for a student attending part of the boot camp.

On 2-day classes, there will be a lunch/dinner break.  Students who leave the class premises for food must have permission from their parents/guardians.

Students who are disruptive in any way may be removed from class without a refund.  It is the parent’s responsibility to remove their student if necessary.

Cell phone use/texting is prohibited during class time.  Students who violate this may have their cell phones taken up during class and/or may be removed from the class.

Dress code:  Clothing should be modest and not a distraction to other students.  Shoes must be worn at all times.  Students may be asked to leave without a refund for not abiding by dress code restrictions.

Since students will only retain a small percentage of what they hear the first time, we highly suggest that students go back over the dashboard information multiple times after the class has completed.

No parent, No Student Rule

We have a No parent- No student rule.  This class is NOT for unpaid adults.  Parents who sit in must have a paid student.

Colleges want to attract talented students.  In the end, each college wants to admit the next Albert Einstein or Marie Curie.  Test scores are often used as a proxy for student talent.  Higher test scores can mean higher rankings.  Higher rankings can attract better talent—and college and universities will provide huge scholarships for the students with the highest scores! 

Yes, although not all colleges require it for older applicants.  Please check with the school of your choice.

Yes, all of College Prep Genius programs are current to the new digital SAT and PSAT.

Yes. Depending on how well a student answers questions in the first module will determine the difficulty level of the questions in the second module. Questions in both modules are mixed up.  Easy, medium, and hard questions are intermixed throughout the tests.

The exam’s difficulty is modified in real time based on a student’s performance on both the Math and the Reading/Writing sections.  The questions in the second module will depend on the student’s performance in the first module.  Module 2 questions get harder if a student does well on Module 1, and test questions get easier if the student doesn’t do as well at the start.  Students could answer fewer questions correctly in Module 2 and still get a high score because they received harder questions based on their performance in Module 1.

The SAT and PSAT have two sections with two modules each:

• Math
• Reading/Writing and Language 

Both tests provide 2 hours and 14 minutes for completion.

• Parents or students can sign-up by mail or on the official website: www.collegeboard.org for the SAT.  Please sign up early because deadlines and late fees may apply.  There is a nominal fee to sign up for the test, and waivers are available for individuals who may find this fee a financial burden. 

• The PSAT/NMSQT can only be registered for at your local high school up until the day of the test if there is room.  Students should sign up early to help ensure a spot.

The SAT is offered seven times a year (August, October, November, December, March, May, and June), and the PSAT/NMSQT is offered once a year (October).

Not true.  Colleges want your highest scores and most schools will Super Score—taking the highest scores from different sections of different tests, i.e., cherry picking the best scores.

Being prepared will help lessen the overall stress of test-taking, so gather these items the night before: a laptop (if not provided), several sharpened pencils (#2), a calculator with new batteries, a picture ID, a registration ticket (from the College Board website), driving directions, a sweater (buildings are usually kept cold), water, and a snack.

1. Create an account at College Board here.
2. Follow directions for the Blue Book account.

First of all, all math questions on these tests CAN be answered correctly and quickly without a calculator. 

There is a built-in Desmos calculator on the digital test.

As a backup plan, we recommend that all students take a calculator to the test, even if you plan on using the Desmos one.  Here are the acceptable calculators:

• Graphing calculators
• Scientific calculators
• Four-function calculators (not recommended option)

BE WARNED – students may be seated away from other students (at the discretion of the test proctor) if their calculator has characters that are one inch or bigger or if it has a raised display where others may see it.

THESE are unacceptable calculators:

• Laptop or a portable/handheld computer
• Any calculator that has (typewriter-like) keypad, uses an electrical outlet, makes noise, or has a paper tape
• Electronic writing pad or pen-input/stylus-driven device
• Pocket organizer
• Cell phone calculators

Whether you are using your own calculator or the built-in Desmos, it is always good to use the same calculator that you have been practicing with at home or at school.  Always bring one to the test just in case, and make sure it has fresh batteries.  Simple functions are all that are needed, so don’t waste your money on expensive calculators.

Many students start taking the SAT as early as seventh grade for talent search purposes, and there is no age limit so take the SAT many times to get the desired score.  Students should start working on the PSAT in eighth grade.  By taking the PSAT in eighth, ninth and tenth grades, students can become familiar with the test and can learn to identify their weaknesses and strengths.  Sophomores should take at least 2-3 SATs and use the summer before the junior year to prepare for the PSAT.  Juniors should take the October SAT right before the PSAT/NMSQT which can qualify them for the National Merit Scholarship competition.

Based on the actual SAT test, students get around 71 seconds per question on Reading/Writing and Language and 95 seconds per question on Math.

There is Algebra 1 and 2, and some trigonometry and geometry.

Learning a lot of vocabulary words is not necessarily the key to scoring higher on the Reading/Writing section of the SAT.  The College Board is the only one who knows what words will be on each individual test.  You could learn 4,000 vocabulary words and not one of them end up on the test.  Since the SAT is a logic test, there are ways to figure out the words without knowing them.  College Prep Genius gives you exclusive information to help decipher unknown words on the SAT.

These tests are not about I.Q. but are about examining how students can handle pressure and think on their feet when push comes to shove.  The College Board even trademarked “SAT Reasoning Test” which by its very definition, reasoning means to arrive at a conclusion using your logic and thinking skills.  Watch students whose lives have changed by learning how to ace these type of tests.

In 2024, the average score was 1024 (out of 1600).  The score is relative depending on the college.  A good starting score for scholarships for many colleges is around 1300 and 1400 can be a sweet spot for a lot of schools. 

Ultimately, it’s the score that gets you what you want in the way of admittance and scholarships.

Usually, the schools will post the scores needed for entrance and scholarships on their respective websites.

SAT scores typically are available online 2-4 weeks after your test date.  The College Board lists the score release dates online, so mark your calendar. 

For a small fee, you can request your test to be hand scored.  Call them at (866) 756.7346.  International calls: +1.212.713.7789.

Contact Fair Test at (917) 273-8939
(617) 477-9792, www.fairtest.org

The College Board has Score Choice, a service that allows students to send only certain scores to colleges.  Sometimes a school wants to see ALL scores by a student, but most colleges only want to know a student’s highest score.  Many schools will take the highest scores from different sections on different tests to get the student the best score, i.e., the Super Score.  Therefore, it behooves students to take the test as many times needed to achieve their best result.

The two tests are extremely similar.  Both contain two sections: Math and Reading/Writing.  Both are 2 hours and 14 minutes in length.  The PSAT/NMSQT is only offered in October, and the SAT is offered seven times a year (August. October, November, December, March, May and June).  The SAT is used for college entrance as well as scholarship opportunities, but the PSAT/NMSQT is unique in that it is used to determine eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship program.

Both tests are important; when students are studying test-taking techniques for one test, essentially they are also studying for the other test at the same time.

If a student’s PSAT/NMQST score falls within the semi-finalist range of his or her state, (99th percentile), it can qualify him or her for numerous scholarship opportunities that can include full tuition, room and board, graduate school money, study abroad stipends and more.  For many colleges, enrolling National Merit Scholars is a bragging right.

If your Junior misses the PSAT/NMSQT in their junior year due to illness or extenuating circumstances, they can take the “alternative testing option.”  Students can take the SAT in exchange for the PSAT/NMSQT and the score is converted and used in substitution for the PSAT/NMSQT.  They have up to eight months to retake this test several times (after the October PSAT/NMSQT has been administered).  This procedure includes calling or sending a letter or fax to the National Merit Corporation (by April 1st) stating that your child did not take the test and you want the extension/alternative testing time.  Students will need to have a counselor (or parent if homeschooled) sign-off on this request.  The National Merit Corporation will send you information showing future SAT test dates and tell you to use their code on the test (code 0085).  The scores will then go directly to them [The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (847)866-5100].  Students will still be eligible for scholarships opportunities.  These scores can also count for their SAT as well.  Besides the National Merit code, students will need to put down the code(s) for the colleges they want their SAT score to go to as well. 

It varies yearly depending on the state you live in and the average test score the year it is taken.  The score range is 320-1520.  The National Merit Corporation will send all semi-finalists information and details about applying to be a finalist.  To not be disqualified, make sure you do everything they ask and get the information submitted on time to be eligible for any awards.  Make follow-up calls to make sure materials were received.  Out of the contenders, scholars are then picked.  There are also scholarship opportunities for those who score at the National Merit Commendable level.

Students can take the PSAT “multiple” times, that is, once a year starting in eighth grade (with the PSAT 8/9).  However, the score will only count for scholarships during the junior year.

The College Prep Genius SAT/PSAT course is specific to those tests.  Nevertheless, some of our alumni have used our general test-taking strategies and logic techniques on the ACT, LSAT, AP, GRE, and other tests. Test-taking is a different skill set. Most standardized tests follow similar patterns–one objective answer and several distractors.

A dual credit class is when a student is enrolled in both a high school (public, private or homeschool) generally at a local junior college. Students take classes at both institutions to simultaneously earn credit for their graduation requirements as well as college credit. Although some dual credit classes result in college credit and can transfer,  some are used as honors courses and some are used for internal class placement and prerequisite requirements.

AP (Advanced Placement) classes are college-level courses taken in high school.  Students who complete AP courses are eligible to take AP exams designed by The College Board.  These tests are scored on a scale of 1-5.  A score between 3 and 5 may qualify a student for college credit at most colleges and universities.

CLEP (College Level Examination Program) allows a student to earn college credit by taking qualified CLEP tests in a particular subject.  The tests are designed to correspond to a one-semester class but can sometimes cover up to a two-year course.  The exams are generally 90 minutes long and cover specific information on knowledge and skills acquired about a certain subject.

Definitely not!  The material on the SAT is not an exclusive curriculum found only at public or private schools.  The test is a “reasoning” or logic test, and the key to doing well is to learn the hidden strategies and recurring patterns that are usually found on these tests.

Test scores will be available online.  You can access your score using the Big Future School mobile app if you provided your mobile number on test day.

Enter 970000 as the high school code.

Accommodations can be made for students with special needs and time constraints can be lessened.  However, going through the process of obtaining special accommodations could take many months.  Parents will need to schedule a battery of tests, obtain the diagnostician’s report for their student, arrange for and implement accommodations at school, and have these accommodations in use in the school setting for a minimum of four months (College Board rule). 

When applying for special accommodations, please keep in mind the time it takes for the College Board to process and grant/deny the request.  Families may be limited to working with the school’s calendar/timetable for testing, ARDs and creating IEPs.  Ideally, the process of preparing for standardized tests should start in the student’s freshman or sophomore year, to allow time for the College Board accommodations to be in place before the PSAT/NNSQT in the student’s junior year.  For more information about forms, eligibility and documentation please visit https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/accommodations or call 844-255-7728 (International +1-212-713-8333).

All colleges accept either test, and if an institution prefers one over the other, it will convert the score of the non-preferred test.  The SAT, however, is unique because of the opportunity for the PSAT/NMSQT, which can yield amazing scholarships in the junior year.  Students should try taking both tests to see if they have a preference for one over the other.  Free practice tests are available on the respective websites for both tests.

Students should write the essay if it is offered.  There are some states and colleges that require it.  It is also usually mandatory for the military.

There is no guessing penalty on the tests.  This has caused a slew of test prep companies to encourage students to go ahead and guess if students don’t know the answer.  Unfortunately, this is bad advice since there is a 75% chance on the SAT of getting the question wrong when guessing.  Knowing this, students shouldn’t be too quick to guess on a question they don’t understand as suggested by so many programs.  College Prep Genius teaches students the steps to answering more questions correctly using strategies. 

The Classic Learning Test (CLT) is the alternative to the SAT and ACT.  It also tests a student’s critical thinking skills.  It is currently accepted in over 280 colleges—with many more adopting it each year.  It is offered fourteen times a year and is taken at home or at a school on a device such as a laptop or tablet.  The test is two hours long and has 120 questions worth one point each.  Students receive quick results and a score comparison chart to the SAT and ACT.

The CLT10 is a scholarship opportunity for sophomores. It is offered five times a year and should take as many as possible. The highest score can be used to receive money.

College Prep Genius is honored to partner with the CLT: https://info.cltexam.com/college-prep-genius.  

Students can learn to ace the CLT with our program.

Younger children should read good books, learn a basic logic curriculum, begin volunteer work/community service, look at future colleges, and follow a test prep plan.  

Programs like the Johns Hopkins Center of Talented Youth (CTY) or the Northwestern University Center for Talent Development (CTD) are designed to identify talented seventh graders; these students who qualify will take the SAT or ACT.  Benefits could include: testing experience, college guides, merit certificates, award ceremonies, scholarships, etc.  These programs are open to students from public, private, and homeschool backgrounds.

Test-taking is a skillset that is not taught at most schools.  Standardized tests like the SAT, ACT and CLT are made up of recurring patterns.  College Prep Genius materials unveil the secrets of these patterns.  Through clever ACRONYMS students can not only grasp the concepts, but also can readily recall them to memory while taking the actual test.  It’s like walking in with an answer key stored in your head. 

While College Prep Genius cannot guarantee results, our students have raised their SAT scores by as much as 300-700 points, ACT by 5-11 points and 26 points on the CLT.  Watch some of our amazing testimonials.

Definitely not!  Usually prep courses are very expensive; they can cost between $2000-$5000 or higher and often only boast an average raise in test scores of 200 points.  But why spend money to study material that may not be on the real tests?  Only the creators of the test (College Board) know what will be on the test.  It is better to learn to decode the hidden schemes and recurring patterns that the College Board likes to use on their tests so you can learn to answer their questions.  College Prep Genius cleverly teaches students, through ACRONYMS, how to remember steps to these revealed patterns found on the SAT, PSAT and CLT.

Most programs, classes and books do not teach that tests like the SAT and PSAT are tests of logic and critical thinking, which have questions designed to purposely misguide students to pick the wrong answers.  Many programs simply teach content memorization or re-teach high school over again such as more math concepts and thousands of vocabulary words; these courses can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars and result in frustration and disappointment.

Many students consider themselves “bad test-takers” because they tend to do poorly on standardized tests (even though they usually have good grades).  Truthfully, these students are not bad test-takers!  They just don’t understand the logic behind the test questions.  Getting familiar with the recurring patterns, learning test-taking strategies and lowering test anxiety is the key to help students gain confidence in their abilities and raise their scores.  Logic is a trained skill (not a personality trait), so even if a student is not naturally logically minded, he or she can train the brain to be a critical thinker.

That would make sense if the SAT and PSAT/NMSQT were tests of content, but since they are tests of logic using recurring patterns and hidden tricks, the best way to be successful is to take a prep course as soon as possible!  The longer a student waits, the less time there is to improve.  Starting early is the key to success.  Ideally, a student should start learning test prep in 8th grade (7th if they are participating in a talent search).  With so much time to prepare, students can eliminate the stress of test anxiety when they reach the upper grades.  You can’t get time back.

No one wants to waste their time or money when it comes to preparing for the SAT and PSAT/NMSQT.  After students have learned the recurring patterns, shortcuts and test-taking techniques from the “Master the SAT/PSAT Class” it is extremely important that they continue preparing for the real test.  (Just like in sports, athletes MUST practice in order to win a game.)  Students should practice with test-maker materials ONLY; students need to become familiar with their questions, hidden patterns and schemes.

By writing down your missed questions and the correct answers, you can learn how to identify the types of problems that are hard for you, and hopefully why they trip you up.  When you are faced with a similar question in the future, your journal work will prove useful.  Make sure to periodically go back over your journal entries. 

College Prep Genius recommends starting with index cards.  At the top, write horizontally the section.  Along the left side, write the ACRONYM vertically and big. Next to each letter, write the long version.  On the flipside, do the same but write the shorter version.  In the beginning, refer to the longer side as you are learning the ACRONYM.  Then switch to the shorter version.  After you have memorized each ACRONYM, start writing the word(s) at the top of the appropriate page.

Choose a book(s) or course(s) that will strengthen your critical thinking skills and help you to reason logically.

The respective websites for both the ACT and SAT have free practice tests.  Students can also purchase official tests from the test makers. 

Yes, our resource High School Prep Genius provides suggestions for your student’s reading list.  However, you can make your own list by using these criteria: well-known author, interesting subject-matter, has withstood time, high standard, unabridged.

According to this chart, the cost of college has gone up around 1200% in the last 40 years and the average student takes 21 years to pay off college loans.

*source: Visual Capitalists 

Many colleges have full-ride scholarships available for students who score well on the PSAT/NMQST (99th percentile) or the SAT (approximately 1240-1400 and above).

Absolutely.  Jean’s son received numerous offers from colleges because of his outstanding PSAT/NMQST score (219).  Some offers he turned down included:

• Texas A & M (full-tuition, honors dorm, study abroad stipends),
• Texas Tech (full-tuition, room and board, one-year graduate school money),
• Oral Roberts University (full-tuition, room and board, plus exclusive honors status and dorm), and
• Abilene Christian University (full tuition, plus room and board, new computer).

Students who score in the National Merit range can be offered lucrative scholarships and benefits such as full rides, monthly spending money, fees, etc. A high junior PSAT score is a money magnet; colleges attract these students because it makes them look good.

Having a good GPA is important, but it is often not the determining factor to receive college money.  GPAs can often be an admissions determining factor for students with borderline SAT scores; they can also be a qualifying factor for certain academic scholarship awards (that usually have a standardized test component).

Absolutely!  High test scores can yield amazing scholarship money for homeschoolers as well.  The test scores can help to validate the homeschool transcript and verify college preparedness.  Test scores are the one thing that is common to all college-bound applicants.

Every college has its own rules and regulations, so it is best to check with each individual college about their scholarship offers.  It is important to know that if a student receives too many college hours (from junior college, dual credit, CLEP courses, etc.), he or she may no longer be considered an incoming freshman but a transfer student and that can nullify opportunities for lucrative scholarships.

Also, if a student delays college after high school, the College Board does hold their test score indefinitely.

Immediately.  It’s never too early to begin preparing for your child’s future, especially when it’s a matter of $100,000+ in scholarships.  College Prep Genius recommends starting PSAT/NMQST prep by at least eighth grade.

• The PSAT/NMQST is only offered once a year in October and it ONLY counts for the National Merit Contest in a student’s junior year.  Therefore, students should learn the techniques and patterns found on these tests early so that when it counts, they will be ready.  Most students wait until their late junior or early senior year to start preparing for college entrance exams.  HUGE MISTAKE!  Not only does this add to the already mounting pressure of leaving high school, but it also shortens their time to improve, thus making it more difficult for them to raise their scores.  Students should start preparing as early as possible.

The longer a student waits to start preparing, the less time he or she has to improve.  Cramming for any test is never a good idea.  These tests are not about learned content.  Students should start learning about the SAT and PSAT/NMSQT at least in eighth grade, or earlier.  They need to be fully ready by their junior year to take the PSAT/NMSQT, since a student is only eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Competition in the eleventh grade.

• Yes, students can take the PSAT 8/9 in eighth grade.  Register at your local school.
• College Prep Genius HIGHLY recommends that students take the PSAT each year, starting in eighth grade.

Middle school is not too early but ninth grade at the latest. Students should be taking practice tests at home.  Ideally when they are scoring around 1200, then it is a good idea to sign them up for a real test.  An ideal scenario would be that the student receives the desired score he or she wanted before his or her senior year.  This can take the pressure off a year already full of college decisions, final exams and graduating. 

Of course, if a student in eleventh or twelfth grade has not received their desired score, then he or she should make the SAT a priority and practice as much as possible at home (hopefully reaching around 1200 on practice tests before test time).  Then the student should schedule as many real tests as possible, especially since a senior has only a few opportunities to take the test before college admissions decisions.

There are no limits on taking the SAT, and most colleges will Super Score—taking the highest scores from different tests to give an overall higher score.

ACT is limited to 12 times and the CLT is  unlimited.