One of the most common questions we answer about the test prep process is “how many tutoring sessions will my child need?” This is, of course, a question without a single answer, but in this article, we will try to explain both a typical tutoring timeline and the factors that drive the length of test prep for most students.
First, it’s worth making clear that most students will need to sit for the SAT or ACT® multiple times to achieve their target scores. While we have a couple of students (literally single digit!) each year who manage to hit their final scores in one sitting, it’s very rare for students to be able to perform to their potential on a first sitting of these challenging, stressful tests. Moreover, the process of “superscoring” (in which colleges consider a student’s highest section scores across different test sittings rather than only looking at one test date) often encourages students to take the tests additional times to see if they can pull up even one section score of the test. So, students and parents should be aware that 2-4 sittings are very common to reach a target score.
As a reference point, a general timeline for prepping for the SAT or ACT® often looks like:
– about 10-12 weekly tutoring sessions leading up to a first sitting
– about 4-6 sessions between the first and second sitting
– potentially 4 more sessions before a third sitting
Main Factors that Affect the Timeline:
- Students’ baseline scores and goal scores – if a student is looking to make a dramatic score increase well above our average score improvements, then the process very likely will take longer than the timeline noted above. Conversely, if a student is coming in with scores that are close to what they want to achieve, it can be possible to get to the finish line in just a few sessions.
- Math level – the math classes that a student has taken – specifically Algebra 2 – are often a big driver of achievement on the SAT or ACT®. If a student is entering Algebra 2 in 11th grade, it may be wise to wait to dive into test prep until the student is through the first semester and has more of a foundation with that material (Algebra 2 is the most central math tested on both the SAT and ACT®).
- Students’ other commitments – If a student is stretched thin with sports, extracurriculars, classes, and homework, it may affect how quickly they make gains, because the work students do outside tutoring sessions is critical to strong improvement on these tests. We try to strategize with students and families about the optimal time of year to do test prep, whether that be in the summer or during a season of the school year when the student has a lighter load of activities or classes. Students are expected to complete 1-2 hours of homework for each tutoring session. Being diligent about homework will keep you on track with your test prep plan.
- Reading ability – it’s worth noting here that reading comprehension is a critical skill tested on both the SAT and ACT®. The more reading students can do outside of school, the better they will do tackling the challenging question types on these tests, and typically the faster the improvements will come!
Lastly, once we have a plan in place, students and parents will be able to monitor progress on HW assignments and practice tests to determine readiness as we approach the target test date. And we understand that life can get complicated – we always work with students and families to adjust a test prep plan to accommodate busy and changing schedules.
Please reach out to us if you’d like to discuss what a tutoring plan might look like for your student – we are here to help!