Choosing SAT Preparation

We recommend that students take and ACT and SAT diagnostic in the Spring of their Sophomore year to determine which test is better suited to their learning style.  Many students who prefer the SAT find many of the following to be true:

• Can successfully answer questions that require strong critical thinking skills.

• Are hoping to earn a competitive PSAT score and would like test preparation for both SAT and PSAT tests.

• Have a slower to moderate reading speed (please note that fast readers may also be better suited for the SAT).

• Find it beneficial that two out of four of the SAT multiple choice sections are math sections.

• Are not bothered by word problems, many of which involve practical application and critical thinking. *Note both the ACT and SAT contain word problems, but the SAT contains more.

• Are not adversely affected by the one math section on the SAT that must be completed without a calculator.

• Enjoy the fact that the science section is mostly contained within reading sections.

* Note - the SAT writing section and ACT English sections are extremely similar. 

Our SAT Tutorial

• The recommended number of hours in a student's first tutorial is 18 hours.

• LDT tutors typically give two to four of the four SAT test sections for homework each week. Tutors focus their tutoring time with students on the sections of the test in need of the most improvement.

• Students take full diagnostic tests throughout the tutorial; the number of tests students take is based on their individual needs.

• LDT tutors use books containing full solutions and encourage students to self-correct as much as possible. We find that students perform better if they take a more active role in their learning. Doing this is also shortens the number of hours needing to be purchased. * We realize that some students are heavily involved in activities and sports and are not able to be spend as much time self-correcting.

What if my child has already completed ACT prep and wishes to switch to the SAT?

• Since many of the skills learned in ACT prep are also used on the SAT, students can switch to SAT prep and know that the skills they learned during their ACT tutoring will not be wasted: the math and English content knowledge and reading and writing skills they develop during SAT preparation help to increase both SAT and ACT scores.

• Some of the types of the reading questions in the SAT are slightly different than those in the ACT, so LDT tutors do spend time showing students these differences, but the skills used to excel in both reading sections are similar.

Should my child prepare for the SAT and ACT at the same time?

• LDT highly recommends that students only prepare for one of these tests at a time. Preparing for both tests simultaneously will most likely impede students' progress and full potential on both tests and lead to burn-out. Burn-out could also affect their academic performance in school. Students are extremely busy during their junior year and senior fall and must spend as much time as they can preparing for one test at a time, while balancing their studies, extracurricular activities, and sports schedules at school.