SAT Test Prep!
We will cover content and techniques needed for success on all parts of the SAT. Real stuff, no fluff. The course helps your critical thinking skills, too, and covers skills you can use all through life.
Michael Gold
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(166)
What's included
12 live meetings
18 in-class hoursClass Experience
Conquering the SAT is about knowing your stuff, and knowing how to do it quickly and accurately (knowing "tricks" and "short cuts," as some might say). So we'll go over the math, reading, and writing concepts that are tested, as well as learning some test techniques and strategies. Students will do a lot of work in class. I'll provide minimal -- but sufficient! -- instruction, just what students need to get the idea and run with it. So they should be prepared to use their pencil, paper, calculator, brain, and mind! This will be very much a practical class: some instruction, some discussion, some Q&A, lots of work. If needed and desired, I will give students some supplemental work, on a class or an individual basis. Be prepared to learn! And remember that studying for the SAT is not like studying for a typical test, or even for a final exam. The SAT covers your entire academic career, and is supposed to test "college readiness." So studying well for the test takes more time and effort. Tentative schedule: Week 1: SAT structure and format; basic test strategies; what kind of improvement is possible; planning for what your colleges want; algebra review; basic grammar; SAT reading basics Week 2: geometry review; math techniques/tricks/tips; basic grammar; SAT reading basics, marking a reading, staying focused Week 3: algebra review; math techniques/tricks/tips; grammar and writing; reading, questioning, and using the answers Week 4: data analysis review; math techniques/tricks/tips; grammar and writing; reading and thinking Week 5: algebra review; math techniques/tricks/tips; working the SAT writing section; reading practice; fundamental factors of success, fundamental factors that affect your test performance and score: logic, sleep, exercise, breathing, diet/nutrition, etc. Week 6: harder math problems; math techniques/tricks/tips; working the SAT writing section; SAT reading practice 2024 official SAT test dates are: 9 March 2024 4 May 2024 1 June 2024 See: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/dates-deadlines “My son says: ‘Great experience. It really helped me improve my average score (statistics from practice tests) from about a 29 to a 32.’ “ –An Outschool parent, “ACT Test Prep!,” 20 Jun 2020 "I wanted to let you know that Emily got a 33 on her most recent ACT. She was beyond happy. Her college list just expanded. She is being recruited by some schools, so she has a number of options, which makes this fun but challenging. She had a 29, so she’s gone to a 30 and then a 33. On her recent ACT, she was up 2 points in English and Science, 1 point in Reading, and 5 points in Mathematics: from a 30 to a 35. We appreciate all of your help." –John M, father of a high school student “My son is a 9th grader so this class was a little early for him and might have been better in a year (but that was my fault). Still, my son was engaged throughout the whole class. I felt the class gave an excellent overview to SATs and taught some tips and tricks of how to go quickly and do better overall. I’m glad he took it and think it helped.” –Jennifer W., parent, “SAT Test Prep!,” 25 May 2020 “When I met Michael Gold at a high school open house in 2008, I was impressed by qualifications and expertise in tutoring. Our daughter Maggie had a full schedule and opted for semi-private and private tutorials. Maggie got the remediation and test tactics she needed from Mr. Gold in half the traditional time it takes through testing companies. Our fees were also considerably less. He hones in on student needs and builds from there. We were very pleased with our SAT and ACT test results. She is getting letters from many upper-tier private colleges. I would recommend Mr. Gold to any ambitious high school junior.” –Carol V, parent of an ex-high school student (Image from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Matura2005_ILOSzczecin.jpg)
Other Details
Supply List
If you would like, you could purchase The Official SAT Study Guide, as well as Barron's SAT, (good math review), for paper copies to work out of. Some SAT Study Guide tests are available online, and we will us them, but some of the Barron's book is good review on its own. Purchasing them is optional, not necessary for the course. A graphing calculator like the TI-84. The SAT calculator policy is here: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/taking-the-test/calculator-policy I will provide some work (free worksheets on the Internet) for students to do on their own as we go.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined June, 2019
4.8
166reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Texas Teaching Certificate in Mathematics
Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from University of Texas at Austin
What matters is not so much my credentials (which, yes!, I have, as you can see in my Outschool profile bio), but the success of my students.
Those successes are my real credentials. Here are some:
Tia Z, high school student: "With Mr. Gold's help I managed to get a golden SAT score!!! My SAT score increased from a 1630 to a 1970!" (Out of 2400. By improving her score, she was able to get into a university ranked in the top 20 nationally.)
On another SAT (when it was out of 2400), a student I worked with earned a 710 on the math section, a 690 on the reading, and a 700 on the writing. A football player I tutored for the SAT went from an 890 before I worked with him to an 1190 after (out of 1600)!
Jessica P, high school student: "I wanted to thank you again for the ACT prep class. I got a 30 on the ACT on my first try. Your classes really prepared me - there's no way I could have gotten that without your help. So THANK YOU!"
Courtney F, 10th grade student: "Thank you so much for giving your time to teach the ACT and SAT prep classes. I really appreciate it, and I believe that it helped me greatly in taking the tests. I am very happy with my scores." (35 on the English, and 32 overall.)
Other students I have worked with on ACT prep have gone from 25/27 before I worked with them to 32/34 after.
Michelle F, mother of high school student: “Thank you again for your efforts and wonderful tutoring for both the SAT and ACT prep classes. I think the benefits reach far beyond good scores on standardized tests. I believe the skills you teach and emphasize have a tremendous impact on our kiddos critical thinking as well. You are greatly appreciated by our family!”
Two homeschooled students I worked with made stellar grades. Leo K (17 y/o) earned a 1570 on his SAT. His sister Kira K (15 y/o) earned a 1510 on her SAT. I worked with Leo and Kira to prep them a bit for the SAT, but also worked with them -- for a long time, in-depth, and rigorously -- on science and on writing.
Theodore G, ex-high school student: “Overall, extremely helpful. Mr. Gold worked with me in college algebra, ACT, and geometry for two years. I still remember a lot of the things we when over. Also he’ll not only motivate you to be a better student, but a better person as well.“Reviews
Live Group Class
$350
for 12 classes2x per week, 6 weeks
90 min
Completed by 75 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
4-12 learners per class
