SAT Prep

Achieving a Good Score on the SAT

Achieving a Good Score on the SAT

The SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is a standardized test administered by the College Board. U.S. colleges widely use it as one piece of their admissions processes, along with GPA, course rigor, letters of recommendation, essays, special talents like athletics and music, and other factors. 

Achieving a good score on the SAT can make you a competitive applicant for top universities, increase your chance of acceptance, and improve your scholarship chances. So, even though some schools are test-optional, taking the SAT can still help your application stand out.  

Top 7 Tips for SAT and ACT Testing: Your Ultimate Schedule

Top 7 Tips for SAT and ACT Testing: Your Ultimate Schedule

By following these seven tips and creating a strategic schedule for SAT and ACT testing, you can approach the exams with confidence and maximize your chances of success. Remember to stay focused, stay motivated, and trust in your preparation efforts. You've got this!

High School Students Think They Are Ready for College. But They Aren’t

High School Students Think They Are Ready for College. But They Aren’t

At last count, 62 percent of 2022 high school graduates enrolled in either a two- or four-year college immediately after graduation. But students’ college readiness has reached historic lows, according to several metrics—including the lowest scores in 30 years on the ACT and declining scores on the SAT, the two primary standardized tests used for college admissions. And yet, more than 4 in 5 high school seniors report feeling “very” or “mostly” academically prepared for college, according to a 2023 ACT nationwide survey.

They’re not, say experts.

Exploring the New Digital SAT: A Comprehensive Guide

Exploring the New Digital SAT: A Comprehensive Guide

For almost 50 years, the SAT has played a pivotal role in the college admissions process. The upcoming transition from the traditional paper-and-pencil format to a digital, adaptive SAT marks one of the most significant changes since its inception in 1926. The Class of 2025 will be the first cohort of U.S. students to undergo both the PSAT and SAT in a digital, adaptive format.

Choosing Between the Digital SAT and ACT: What You Need to Know

Choosing Between the Digital SAT and ACT: What You Need to Know

Starting in March 2023, the SAT is set to transform into a shorter, snazzier digital test. This development is causing quite the buzz, especially for high school juniors (Grade 11). Typically, strong math whizzes have thrived on the SAT, while those leaning towards reading and verbal skills have found their stride with the ACT. However, with the digital shift, SAT takers now need to excel across the board.There's also the option of ditching the SAT altogether and channeling their efforts into the ACT.

PSAT vs. SAT: How Are They Different?

PSAT vs. SAT: How Are They Different?

The SAT and PSAT are pretty similar tests, but we'll outline four key differences you should know before you take these exams. The SAT is typically a test for which Juniors and Seniors in high school spend more time studying, whereas the PSAT can serve as a practice and a litmus for the SAT.


Sleep and Health

Sleep and Health

Adequate sleep contributes to a student’s overall health and well-being. Students should get the proper amount of sleep at night to help stay focused, improve concentration, and improve academic performance.

Children and adolescents who do not get enough sleep have a higher risk for many health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, poor mental health, and injuries. They are also more likely to have attention and behavior problems, which can contribute to poor academic performance in school.

Junior Year Testing Timeline

Junior Year Testing Timeline

Here's a breakdown of a traditional timeline for junior year, focusing on the PSAT, SAT, and/or ACT, with suggestions for tutoring and goal planning:

September:

- Start by familiarizing yourself with the test formats and content of the PSAT, SAT, and ACT.

- Consider taking a diagnostic test to assess…

Top 11 Tips for Back to High School

Top 11 Tips for Back to High School

Heading back to high school? Whether you’re a high school junior or a senior these tips will help you quickly get into gear for fall semester in terms of your classes, the college admissions process, test prep and, of course, your scholarship search. Yes – there’s a lot to remember – but these tips will help you keep everything on track all semester long by starting out organized, with a plan and with right goals in mind.

SATs are Just Around the Corner 

SATs are Just Around the Corner 

At Vint Hill Education, we take immense pride in being leaders in private in-home and online SAT and ACT tutoring, with a track record that speaks for itself. We recognize that every child is unique, with their own set of academic strengths and weaknesses. It is because of these differences that we firmly believe a one-size-fits-all approach, such as a commercial classroom course, may not fully meet your child's specific needs.

What is the Submitter Advantage?

What is the Submitter Advantage?

Colleges universally adopted test optional admissions policies during the pandemic, in part because a handful of national SAT and ACT test dates and a flood of local test center administrations were cancelled. Test optional admissions also served to lower anxiety during a time when both applicants and the schools themselves were panicked about COVID-college. The general public became enamored with rhetoric about how removing objective data somehow produced fairer outcomes. However, feelings among applicants and their parents about test optional admissions have become more mixed as people have had time to consider its implications.

What To Do Summer Before Junior Year of High School

What To Do Summer Before Junior Year of High School

Don’t know what to do summer before junior year of high school? Here are 10 awesome ideas to give you a head start!

Digital SAT Brings Student-Friendly Changes to Test Experience

Digital SAT Brings Student-Friendly Changes to Test Experience

In early 2022, The College Board announced plans to shift the SAT to a computer-based format. The pencil-and-paper version will be retired and students will eventually only be able to take the test digitally (unless they need accommodations that require a physical version of the test). Moreover, the new SAT will be adaptive — the content of the test will adjust according to each student’s performance within the first module.

The SAT® Test Goes Digital: What to Expect in 2023-2024

The SAT® Test Goes Digital: What to Expect in 2023-2024

College Board announced in early 2022 that it will offer the PSAT/NMSQT® and SAT® tests digitally starting in 2023 and 2024. Over the last 30 years Vint Hill Educational Services has seen numerous adjustments, reconstructions, and make-overs by College Board. With each change we have adapted and found new and improved ways to prepare our students.

SAT Going Digital in 2023

SAT Going Digital in 2023

Back in September of 2018, ACT made the change to computer-based tests for all students outside the US. It’s only time that the SAT will follow suit.

College Board has recently announced that the SAT (and also PSAT) will also become a computer-based test starting in 2023. The SAT will become digital first, beginning with the March 2023 test. PSAT will go computer based starting Fall of 2023.

The major advantage of taking the test online will be a quicker turnaround time for score calculation. Students will be able to receive their test scores in a few days instead of weeks. College Board also suggests that these tests will be unique for each student (but did not elaborate whether it will the order of questions that are different, or two students may receive different questions), thus eliminating the possibility of a “leak test”, which can affect all students taking the same exam.

The scores will still be out of 1600. However, the digital test will be shorter: two hours instead of three for the current paper test. Students will also be given more time per question.

The format will also be slightly changed. For the reading section, students will be given shorter passages with one question per passage. There will also be a wider selection of topics for these passages. For the math sections, there will only be one instead of two, and the students will be able to use a calculator for the entire section.

All tests before the March 2023 exam will still be paper-based. We will let you know when we find out more about the detailed changes.


Mock SAT Testing and Tutoring with

Vint Hill Educational Services

CONTACT US FOR A FREE PRACTICE TEST PACKET AND DIAGNOSTIC REPORT (VIEW SAMPLE STUDENT REPORTS: ACT, SAT, SSAT, ISEE, AND HSPT).

Vint Hill Educational Services offers mock tests for the ACT and SAT. These are taken in a group setting to simulate the testing environment. For the ACT and SAT, we will review the scores to see which test the student is scoring higher on. Since all colleges and universities accept both tests, it's beneficial to know if your child is scoring higher on the ACT or SAT. Check out our ACT versus SAT comparison chart for test differences. Sometimes the difference is like night and day, and for others, it may be a hairline higher on one versus the other. The student won't know which test is better, unless the individual takes one of each. We'll use our score concordance chart in order to make a test recommendation.

2022-2023 MOCK ACT/SAT TEST DATES  

WE WILL BE PROCTORING TESTS VIRTUALLY ON SATURDAY MORNINGS AT 9:00 AM. UPON REGISTERING FOR A VIRTUAL MOCK TEST, YOU WILL RECEIVE A TEST PACKET IN THE MAIL THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING.

  • ACT/SAT ANSWER SHEET

  • ACT/SAT TEST BOOKLET

  • TEST INSTRUCTIONS

PLEASE SIGN UP NO LATER THAN MONDAY DURING THE WEEK OF THE MOCK TEST. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS DURING REGISTRATION, SO THAT WE CAN MAIL YOU A TESTING PACKET.

ACT/SAT TESTS WILL BE PROCTORED VIRTUALLY THROUGH LESSONSPACE. THE DAY BEFORE EACH TEST, STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE AN EMAILED LINK TO JOIN THE VIRTUALLY PROCTORED TEST. THE TEST INSTRUCTIONS CAN BE USED SHOULD THE STUDENT LOSE CONNECTION TO THE TESTING LOBBY. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE A WORKING BUILT-IN MIC (OR A HEADSET) AND AUDIO ON YOUR LAPTOP/DESKTOP.

ACT

Register for a mock ACT by clicking on a specific test date below

Mock ACT test dates:

SAT

Register for a mock SAT by clicking on a specific test date below.  :

Mock SAT test dates:

We also offer one-to-one private mock testing at our offices or virtually through Lessonspace. This consists of a full-length practice test for your child. Tests include: ACT, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEEHSPT, and SAT Subject Tests. We provide the test booklet, essay booklet, answer sheet, testing timer, calculator, and pencils. 

We can send parents a practice test as well, to administer to their student in-home. We will send out a free practice test packet along with proctoring instructions. Parents must send the answer sheet back to us via email or mail. 

Education is a Gift

Education is a Gift

Teachers, tutors, trainers, and coaches have been giving the best possible gifts all year. Education is a gift that none can take away. It increases in value over time and compounds exponentially when shared. Plus, you don't have to worry about where to store it.

Getting Ready for College—It’s Easier Than You Think

Getting Ready for College—It’s Easier Than You Think

It’s never too early—or too late—to explore your options for college or career school. We’ll walk through some key steps in preparing for college and provide resources that can help you along the way. You’ll have to take the time to research and understand your options, but you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to help students make informed decisions and find out what they need to do!

Your SAT Score Report Explained

Your SAT Score Report Explained

The top portion of your score report contains a big black number. This is your SAT Score, also referred to as your total score. Next to your score are the numbers 400–1600, indicating that the range of possible scores on the SAT is 400–1600. To the right of your total score is your score percentile, telling you what percentage of students who took the test did better or worse than you. In small type below your score is your Score Range…

PSAT Test and SAT Overview

Overview

The PSAT/NMSQT is a standardized test that 11th graders (and some 10th graders) take in October. Like the SAT, it measures the knowledge and skills in reading, writing, and math students learn in the classroom—the same knowledge and skills your child needs to succeed in college and career.

Fast Facts

  • The primary date for the 2021 PSAT/NMSQT was Wednesday, October 13, while some students took the test on Saturday, October 16 or Tuesday, October 26. See more PSAT/NMSQT test dates.

  • Students sign up for the PSAT/NMSQT at their school—not online. See how homeschooled students can sign up and take the test at a local school.

  • By taking the PSAT/NMSQT as a junior, students may meet the requirements to enter the National Merit® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Additionally, the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, and PSAT 10 connect students to another $300 million in college scholarships for students across major demographics. Learn more about the scholarships.

  • The PSAT/NMSQT has three parts: the Reading Test, the Writing and Language Test, and the Math Test. See what's on the test.

  • PSAT/NMSQT scores are available online in December. Here's how your child can see their scores.

  • We never send PSAT/NMSQT scores to colleges.

  • If your child qualifies for a PSAT/NMSQT fee waiver, they take the test for free. After they take the PSAT/NMSQT, your child may also be eligible for other fee waiver benefits, including 2 free SATs, unlimited free SAT score sends to colleges, waived college application fees at participating colleges and more. Learn more about fee waivers.

Why the PSAT/NMSQT Is Important

When your child takes the PSAT/NMSQT, they open the door to more benefits than you might think.

  1. It connects students to more than $300 million in scholarships, including the National Merit® Scholarship Program. If your child opts into our free Student Search Service®, scholarship providers will invite them to apply.

  2. It's excellent practice for the SAT. Both tests measure the same knowledge and skills and ask the same types of questions, so PSAT/NMSQT takers will know what to expect on the SAT.

  3. It's the first step to a free, personalized SAT study plan. Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy® uses your child's PSAT/NMSQT score to create a customized SAT study plan with sample questions that focus on areas where they need help.

  4. It shows student progress on the road to college. The PSAT/NMSQT is part of the SAT Suite of Assessments, a series of tests beginning in eighth grade that shows your child and their teachers whether your child is on track for college.

  5. It shows which Advanced Placement Program® (AP) courses your child is ready for. The PSAT/NMSQT Score Report indicates which college-level AP courses your child has the potential to succeed in.

Read More About It
For Students: Scholarships and Recognition
About the SAT Suite of Assessments
Parent's Guide to Official SAT Practice
For Students: Discover Your AP Potential

How to Sign Up

The only way your child can sign up for the PSAT/NMSQT is through their high school. Each school's signup process differs, so your child should talk to their school counselor to learn more.

Some students pay a small fee to take the PSAT/NMSQT, but many students have test-related fees covered in full or in part by their school. If your child qualifies for a PSAT/NMSQT fee waiver, they test for free. For more information, talk to your child's school counselor.

Read More About It
Learn About the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10
PSAT/NMSQT Fee Waivers

How to Practice

The best way your child can prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT is to pay attention in their high school classes and study the course material. Students who do well in school are likely to do well on the PSAT/NMSQT.

Because the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT focus on the same subject areas and ask the same types of questions, your child can use Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy to practice for the PSAT/NMSQT. It's a free, interactive study tool that provides a personalized practice plan that focuses on exactly what your child needs to stay on track for college.

Your child can download and print official PSAT/NMSQT practice tests.

PSAT/NMSQT Scores

PSAT/NMSQT scores range from 320 to 1520 and are on the same score scale as the SAT. This means that a score of 1100 on the PSAT/NMSQT is equivalent to a score of 1100 on the SAT. The only difference is that SAT scores range from 400 to 1600, because the difficulty level of the questions is higher than on the PSAT/NMSQT.

After your child takes the October PSAT/NMSQT, their scores will be available online in mid-December. If your child has a College Board online account, they'll get an email saying their scores are ready to view on the Student Score Reports website. If they don't, they can talk to their school counselor to get their scores.

Who Sees PSAT/NMSQT Scores

We don't send PSAT/NMSQT scores to colleges. We only send your child’s PSAT/NMSQT score to:

  • Their school (always), school district (often), and state (often)

  • National Merit Scholarship Corporation

  • Select scholarship and recognition programs (your child may opt out of)

If you want to log in yourself to see your child's score report, use the email and password your child used when they set up their College Board online account.

Once your child gets their score report, they should sit down with you and go over it. That way, you both know what to focus on to be ready for college. Score reports also indicate suitable AP or grade-level courses to take in the future.

Read More About It
For Students: Understanding Scores
For Students: Who Sees Your Scores
Student Search Service


PSAT and SAT Tutoring

ONE-TO-ONE SAT PREP TUTORING - SESSIONS CAN OCCUR IN-HOME, AT OUR OFFICES, ONLINE VIA LESSONSPACE, AT A LOCAL LIBRARY OR COFFEE SHOP.

“We were happy because this program focuses on the individual. After our daughter did the mock practice tests, it was discovered she only needed SAT math tutoring. The in person 1 on 1 prep got her up 210 SAT math points!

— Leslie N. (Washington, DC)

VIEW OUR ACT VERSUS NEW SAT COMPARISON CHART

VIEW OUR ACT SCORES VERSUS NEW SAT SCORES CONCORDANCE CHART 


SAT FORMAT AND STRUCTURE (FOR JUNE 2021 TEST AND BEYOND)


Reading – 65 minutes (52 questions)
Writing and Language – 35 minutes (44 questions)
10 minute break
Math – No calculator – 25 minutes (20 questions)
Math – Calculator allowed – 55 minutes (38 questions) 


On the SAT, students will have an average of 1 minute and 10 seconds to answer each question. This includes the multiple-choice questions and the math grid-in questions. This varies drastically from the ACT, which gives students an average of 49 seconds per question. The format is similar to the ACT; however, there are two SAT math sections and no dedicated science section like the ACT. There is no penalty for answering incorrectly. Therefore, students should answer every multiple-choice question. Students can only gain points on the SAT, so it’s important not to leave any questions unanswered. The SAT contains four answer choices, instead of five, which was seen on the old SAT. A new SAT report will encompass a math section with a scale score of 200-800 and a reading/writing section with a scale score of 200-800. The overall combined scale score will be 400-1600. 


SAT Reading

The new SAT will focus more on academic achievement. The College Board is eliminating sentence completions from the new SAT and increasing the presence of tier 2 vocabulary.  All of the SAT reading passages will be considered “long” as the College Board got rid of the shorter passages. Students will need to be skilled at citing evidence, extracting information, analyzing structure, and purpose. The new SAT reading section will include a pair of related passages and questions will ask students to draw connections. 


SAT Math

The new SAT math section will focus heavily on algebra. The College Board added a sub-score to the new SAT report titled “Heart of Algebra.” Geometry will be de-emphasized, while algebra will be the main focus. There will be more real-world math problems, for example, how to leave a calculated tip at a restaurant. The new SAT will include trigonometry for the first time. Both the ACT and SAT will now contain trigonometry. Formulas are provided on the SAT, unlike the ACT, and there will be the introduction of a no calculator math section. 


SAT Writing and Language

The SAT writing and language section will test students editing and revising skills. They will need to correct errors in sentence structure, usage, and punctuation. There will be at least one informational graphic on the SAT reading and writing section. This section will be similar to the ACT English section.   


We offer SAT prep throughout the Washington DC areaNorthern VA area, Richmond VA area, Fredericksburg VA areaCharlottesville VA area, Raleigh NC area, and Charlotte NC area. We will have a SAT tutor come to your home for one-to-one instruction. We will review previous SAT practice test scores or official SAT scores to determine the area of focus. We can also email out a SAT practice test to take at home and provide an analysis for a customized SAT prep program.

Contact us to learn more about our SAT prep program or choose a package from below.

12-Hour SAT Prep Package $1,500.00

18-Hour SAT Prep Package $2,070.00

24-Hour SAT Prep Package $2,520.00

36-Hour SAT Prep Package $3,420.00