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Insider’s Guide to �College Admissions�Testing

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Revolution Prep’s Mission

Transform millions of lives through online instruction.

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Insider’s Guide�Key points

1. Understand what test-optional / test-free means

2. Start by setting your testing goals

3. Decide which test to focus on: ACT® or SAT®

4. The ACT® and SAT® are challenging, yet learnable

5. Maximize your scores by improving your mindset and study habits

SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

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Key Point #1

Test-optional and test-free policies have become the norm – but a strong test score can still be an advantage

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The three main policies:

Test-Required

Test-Optional

Test-Free

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Understanding all the nuance of testing policies:

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3%

84%

13%

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Test-optional was around long before COVID

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Portion of test-optional / test-free schools from U.S. News Top 50 National & Top 25 Liberal Arts:

13%

Fall 2019

75%

Fall 2025

…just not at the most selective institutions

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Test-optional / Test-free, �Fall 2019

Testing required, �Fall 2025

  • University of Chicago
  • Wake Forest University
  • University of Rochester
  • Brandeis University
  • Case Western Reserve
  • Bowdoin College
  • Smith College
  • Wesleyan University
  • Colby College
  • Bates College
  • MIT
  • Dartmouth
  • Yale*
  • Harvard
  • Caltech
  • Cornell
  • Stanford
  • Johns Hopkins
  • Carnegie Mellon*
  • Brown
  • Georgetown
  • University of Florida
  • Georgia Tech
  • University of Georgia
  • University of Texas - Austin
  • U.S. Naval Academy
  • U.S. Military Academy
  • U.S. Air Force Academy

Who are these outliers?

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What about test-free?

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Testing as additional differentiator

24.3%

33.8%

37.9%

53.9%

58.9%

83.1%

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What has happened since this �big shift?

Subset of 27 highly selective institutions that went test-optional in 2020:

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TEST-OPTIONAL VARIABILITY

​

​

​

​

Wesleyan University

Middlebury University

Colgate University

Vassar College

New York University

Boston University

Colorado College

Babson College

Northeastern University

Bates College

Duke University

Northwestern University

Princeton University

University of Chicago

Rice University

University of Michigan

Carnegie Mellon

Harvey Mudd

University of Virginia

University of North Carolina

HIGHEST

LOWEST

81%

79%

77%

76%

72%

70%

68%

67%

66%

63%

42%

42%

39%

39%

39%

38%

37%

36%

35%

22%

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Portion of Applicants Including a Test Score to Highly Selective Test-Optional Colleges (2023-2024)

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Start by setting your testing goals

Key Point #2

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School

25th/75th percentile ACT®

25th/75th Percentile�SAT®

Harvard

34/36

1490/1580

Vanderbilt

34/35

1490/1570

Duke

33/35

1490/1560

Columbia

34/35

1510/1560

Notre Dame

32/35

1420/1550

MIT

34/36

1510/1570

US Naval Academy

27/34

1250/1510

University of Virginia

32/35

1400/1510

University of Miami

30/33

1330/1450

Middlebury

33/35

1420/1520

University of Florida

29/33

1310/1450

Florida State

26/31

1220/1360

Virginia Tech

26/32

1220/1420

St. Lawrence

29/32

1270/1380

Fordham

30/33

1320/1450

  • Discuss with your counselor and �parents to set your school list

​

  • Search for “admitted student profile” �to identify interquartile ranges for �GPA and test scores

​

  • Visit colleges that interest you

​

  • Set goals at the 75th percentile

Identify your goals

SAT® , PSAT/NMSQT® is a registered trademark of the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.�ACT® is a trademark owned by ACT, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC

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Decide which test to focus on: ACT® or SAT®

Key Point #3

SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

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100s of Hours�Everything Else

?????? �Test Scores

​

10,000+ hours�Transcript

Average Time Spent

  • Unless they are test-free, all colleges in the U.S. accept the ACT® and SAT® (practice tests will help you determine where to start)

​

  • There are no “easier” test dates (select test dates strategically that work well with your schedule & school)

​

  • Most students score higher the second time they take standardized exams, so you should plan to take tests multiple times

​

  • You can use Superscoring, if your goal school(s) allow it

​

  • These tests are learnable (time + effort = results)

You can achieve high scores

SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

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SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

ACT ® vs SAT® comparison

​

ACT®

SAT®

Testing Time with Breaks

3 Hours (w/Science)

2 Hours, 20 Minutes (w/o Science)

2 Hours, 24 Minutes

Testing Format

Digital or Paper

Digital Only

Score Range

1-36

400-1600

Content Covered

Math, English/Reading, Science

Math, Reading & Writing

Reading & Writing Passages

Reading: 4 long passages,9 questions each

English: 6-7 passages, 5 or 10 questions each

Every Reading & Writing question has its own short passage (~100 words each)

Science Section

Yes (Optional)

No

Math Weight

25% or 33%

50%

Big Challenge

Time Crunch

Critical Thinking Skills

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TO THE ACT®

KEY ENHANCEMENTS

Shorter Test, More Time Per Item

More Flexibility

Continue Online Testing

Content Update

    • 44 items shorter total
    • ~10 seconds more per item
    • English, Math & Reading
    • Science + Writing = Optional
    • Online test linear, not adaptive
    • Accommodations still offered
    • Math -– 4 answer choices
    • Science – engineering & design

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Science Required

​

​

ACT SCIENCE POLICIES:

Science Recommended

​

​

​

Science Ignored

​

​

Science Optional but Considered

​

​

...the other hundreds of institutions that have announced their policy.

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​

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL*

AUG

SEPT

OCT

NOV

DEC

ACT

​

​

​

​

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

SAT

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

Take the ACT® or SAT® at the times that are best for you

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Baseline Scores and Strengths

Should Inform Your Choice

SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

Less Critical Thinking

ELA Strong

Comfortable with moving fast

Higher Baseline Score

Slower Approach

Math Strong

SAT®

ACT®

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  • PSAT® or SAT® results, when compared with a practice ACT ®, can help you learn which test is right for you

​

  • Most students score similarly on both exams

​

Which test is right for you?

SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

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Only prepare for �one exam at a time

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The ACT® and SAT® are challenging, yet learnable

Key Point #4

SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

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SAT ®/ACT®

Prep & Planning

Step 1

Take a practice test of each

Step 2

Step 3

Set goal score (based on most competitive school)

Decide which is best fit

Step 4

Select 2-3 test dates (strategic)

Step 5

Determine prep type/plan

SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

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  • Consider your long-term goals (university acceptance, major(s), career)

​

  • Should include selected test (ACT® vs. SAT®) based on starting scores

​

  • Should include planned test dates

​

  • Relieves stress

​

  • Aim to finish standardized testing before the beginning of senior year

​

  • Should be achievable

Developing a testing plan

SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

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  • Identifying content knowledge gaps
  • Illustrating time management challenges
  • Measuring your starting place for ACT® and/or SAT® prep

Practice test score reports�help with planning

SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

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Both tests are cumulative reflecting years of learned concepts

Reading Speed

•

Understanding Main Ideas

•

Word in Context�•�Comparing Multiple Texts

Algebra

•

Trigonometry

•

Geometry

•

Word Problems

Essay Structure

•

Grammar

•

Punctuation

•

Rhetoric

Reading Charts and Graphs

•

Drawing Conclusions

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  • Plan should ideally be long-term

​

  • The goal is to increase scores and decrease stress by mapping out �the plan in advance and sticking to it, staying �ahead of the testing timeline

Developing �a Testing Plan

March

Last official SAT®

Final strategy review and last practice test (demonstrated score consistency)

December-February

Second official SAT® & time management skills

Master low-yield concepts and establish consistent strategy application

October-November

First official SAT® & start work on low-yield areas

Start learning low-yield content for additional score gains; strategy application should be more regular

August-September

Focused prep on weak high-yield content areas

Introduce strategies for consistent accuracy and mastery of high-yield content for initial score gains

July

Start SAT® exam prep

Set goals for content mastery/score progression based on practice test

June (Rising Junior)

Determine test dates (ex. Oct, Dec, Mar)

Create study plan & determine method of prep

SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

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Avoid the SAT®/ACT®

Tricks & Traps

 

  • A high GPA does not guarantee a competitive ACT® or SAT® score

​

  • ACT® and SAT® questions are written to cause students who �are moving too quickly to make an error

​

  • Do the math on the test, not on the clock

SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

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  • Over 75% of teenagers get less than the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep

​

  • Fatigue makes learning more difficult, and makes it more challenging to recall information on test day

​

  • Not getting enough sleep makes it more likely we will lose focus and motivation during the test

Don’t allow fatigue to impact your test score

Teenagers, average hours of sleep per night

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The tests are long, but you can build mental endurance

  • The ACT® and SAT® are mental marathons

​

  • Taking full-length practice exams is an essential part of building mental endurance

​

  • Logic games for extended periods and use of HW for school to mimic exam timing also help build endurance

​

  • Use official exams from the College Board and ACT, Inc. for practice

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Maximize your scores by improving your mindset and study habits

Key Point #5

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A Growth Mindset

Makes a Huge Difference

  • I’m either good at it, or I’m not.
  • When I’m frustrated, I give up.
  • I don’t like to be challenged.
  • When I fail, I’m no good.
  • Tell me I’m smart.
  • If you succeed, I feel threatened.
  • My abilities determine everything.

Fixed Mindset

  • I can learn anything I want to.
  • When I’m frustrated, I persevere.
  • I want to challenge myself.
  • When I fail, I learn.
  • Tell me I try hard.
  • If you succeed, I’m inspired.
  • My effort and attitude determine everything.

Growth Mindset

.

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Never forget that your transcript is the #1 factor considered for admission

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Insider’s Guide�Key points

1. Understand what test-optional / test-free means

2. Start by setting your testing goals

3. Decide which test to focus on: ACT® or SAT®

4. The ACT® and SAT® are challenging, yet learnable

5. Changes are coming to the SAT®

6. Maximize your scores by improving your mindset and study habits

SAT® , PSAT®, and AP® are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT® is a trademark of ACT, Inc. which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, Revolution Prep, LLC.

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Want to learn more or speak to us?

�

Vasilios Kostakis

Academic Advisor

(781) 916-8668

vasilios.kostakis@revolutionprep.com

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Any Questions?

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www.revolutionprep.com