SAT Preparation

Like an exam in school, the SAT is a test that can be studied for. However, while students can make modest improvements in their scores by taking a practice test or learning a few basic facts about the test, dramatic score increases only occur when students rigorously review and prepare for all aspects of the SAT. At Odyssey, we ensure that in addition to learning important information about how the test is designed, students devote considerable time and energy to learning what kinds of questions are on the test by delving deeply into content review and strategy.

Our Approach to the SAT

Our SAT methods have been designed by accomplished tutors, writers, and educators. We put particular emphasis on making our materials clear, concise, and engaging. Many SAT guides on the market today lumber along for hundreds of pages, spelling out strategies in a mind-numbingly tedious way that leads to boredom and frustration. In contrast, our entire SAT guide is less than 50 pages. As we review each section of the test with students, we employ a disciplined, efficient approach that allows students to digest the essential facts and strategies of the test without losing focus.

Finding the Starting Line: We first work with students to arrive at a benchmark. This is usually found by administering an SAT/ACT diagnostic exam. We then grade the test, analyze the results, and compose a detailed score report.

An Introduction to the SAT: If it is clear from the diagnostic that your child will perform better on the SAT, we will work with them to prepare for that test. When we begin our review, we analyze how the SAT is organized and scored, and review concepts like guessing and pacing.

Content and Concept Review: After reviewing the structure of the test, we thoroughly review each section found on the SAT—the Writing/Reading and Math sections. This includes going over strategies, shortcuts, and question types. It is during this phase of our review that we put particular emphasis on disciplined, targeted analysis of the types of questions found on the SAT. If there is an apparent weakness in a student’s knowledge base (say, an aversion to triangle problems) it is during this phase of studying that a concerted effort will be made to shore up deficiencies.

Practice, Practice, Practice: Odyssey knows that reviewing questions under test-like conditions is one of the best ways to methodically improve scores and confidence. Knowing this, we have students take frequent practice tests to track progress. Odyssey also goes to great lengths to ensure that students in our SAT programs have extensive resources for additional practice and review.

Our Expectations

We have high expectations for our students. While an excellent tutor can make a positive impact on even the most unmotivated of students, test preparation must be approached with diligence if it is to be transformative. Students will have homework in between sessions, and we expect these assignments to be done carefully and thoroughly. We also expect students to be attentive and engaged during sessions. We understand that high school can be a busy, stressful time for students, and empathize with the many obligations that students have during this period of their lives. However, we require students to take their test preparation responsibilities seriously.

Length of the Program

The length of an SAT program depends on a number of factors, including:

The needs of the student (as evidenced by the diagnostic/recent test scores);
The student’s goals for a final score;
The student’s own schedule and timeline for taking the test; and
The number of meetings the student and tutor have each week

We recommend a course of study totaling 24 tutoring hours for most students beginning test preparation. In lieu of or in addition to a package, individual meetings are also available. See below for a more thorough description of the SAT tutoring package.

SAT Tutoring Package

Length: 24 hours (12, 2-hour sessions)

Course Description: This comprehensive course carefully reviews the strategies and techniques needed to excel on the SAT. This course is tailored specifically to the testing strengths and weaknesses of your child—we will spend the most time and effort on sections that give him or her the most trouble. With these strategies in hand, your child will be armed to tackle even the most difficult questions on the test. This package includes:

A personalized study plan, along with practice and review materials;
A proctored SAT/ACT Diagnostic (if necessary);
Written session summaries after every meeting;
Proctored practice tests

Who it’s designed for: Students looking for thorough preparation for an upcoming SAT. If your child has an SAT coming up in 12 to 16 weeks, we’re here to help. We have an excellent record of results and are committed to delivering superior outcomes for your child on the SAT.

About the SAT

The SAT is a 2 hour and 14 minute test divided into two sections: 1) a Reading/Writing section and 2) a Math section.

The scale of the SAT differs from the way a test in school might be graded. The SAT is not out of 100 points. Instead, the totals for the Reading/Writing section and the Math section add up to produce two separate raw scores. The raw score for each section is scaled ranging from 200-800. Thus, the cumulative score on the SAT ranges from a 400 to a 1600. The national average hovers around a 1030, while a perfect score of 1600 puts you in the 99th percentile.

You receive no points for unanswered questions. Importantly, you are not penalized for incorrect answers. Thus, you should answer every single question on the SAT (even if that means guessing on the harder questions). Importantly, scoring on the SAT is adaptive, which means that the difficulty of the second module in each section is based on performance in the first module.

READING/WRITING: The Reading/Writing Section includes two modules (sections) that are each 32 minutes long and include 27 questions. These modules test reading comprehension, literary analysis, as well as a student's knowledge of grammar and the fundamentals of standard written English.

MATH: The Math Section consists of two modules that are each 35 minutes long and include 22 questions. These questions test a number of different concepts you've learned in high school math classes, including algebra, advanced math (nonlinear functions and equations, etc.), arithmetic, geometry, and a few other topics.

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