Less than two years after the SAT update, in which the test grew shorter and became section adaptable, the ACT is set to undergo its own revision. The details of the revision can be found here, but the crucial change is that the ACT is spinning off the science section into a standalone test, leaving the core test with only three sections: English, Math, and Reading. What’s more, the sections will be shorter. While students may appreciate a shorter test with fewer questions, the ACT is creating tremendous potential for students who invest in multiple sittings to achieve higher superscores through an ACT Superscore Strategy.

For those new to the game, superscores represent the best section scores across multiple tests. So, if a student scores well on Math during the first test and performs well on Reading and English during a second test (while doing poorly in Math that day), the superscore allows the student to present the best combination of section results. Most colleges evaluate superscores rather than a student’s single best test day. This practice works best when section scores remain relatively consistent, but data released by the ACT show that the shorter section lengths are causing greater variance — sometimes referred to as “noise.” In essence, noise allows for more lucky (or unlucky) bounces.

Variance, Noise, and the Power of Lucky Bounces

The ACT doesn’t publish the variance for each section, but they do report that the combined score across all three sections has a standard error of about ±1 point. When we pull on that thread, we can infer that the standard error on each individual section is roughly ±1.73 (methodology shown below) — and that’s a big deal. It means that 68% of the time, a student’s section score will fall within 1.73 points of their true average, and 95% of the time, within about 3.5 points above or below it. In other words, single section scores can swing wildly from test to test — even when a student’s underlying ability stays the same.

This “true average” — also called a student’s expected score — represents the score they would receive if they could take the same test an infinite number of times under identical conditions. It reflects their actual ability level, separate from random factors like which questions appear, test-day headspace, or a lucky guess.

The increased variance in the new ACT can actually work in students’ favor — especially at colleges that accept superscores. Each test sitting becomes a new roll of the dice, and over multiple sittings, students are more likely to encounter a test that plays to their strengths. Superscoring captures the best of these outcomes, making it possible for a student’s final score to exceed their true average — not because they got smarter, but because they played the game often enough to hit a high roll.

Why More Attempts Lead to Higher Superscores

According to the statistical principle that the expected maximum of repeated samples increases with the number of attempts, the more times a student takes a test with built-in variance, the more likely they are to outperform their average on at least one section. We applied this principle using the ACT’s own reported standard error of measurement. Assuming a student’s ability remains stable and each test introduces natural variance (±1.73 per section), we can estimate the expected benefit of superscoring across multiple sittings.

Let’s consider a motivated student who takes the ACT five times. Statistically, their best score on each section — English, Math, and Reading — will, on average, land 2.01 points above their true ability.

But here’s the thing: even taking the test a second time provides a meaningful benefit. A student who retests once will typically gain nearly a full point on their superscore. It takes a third, fourth, and fifth sitting to earn that second point — illustrating both the opportunity and the diminishing returns of the ACT superscore strategy.

But what about schools that don’t superscore? Roughly 15% of competitive universities only accept a student’s single best test day. In those cases, the gains are more modest. Even here, however, the ACT’s reported standard error of about ±1 point on the composite score means that repeat testers can still benefit. On average, it takes four sittings to improve a composite score by one point — still worthwhile, but less dramatic than the superscore advantage.

Below is table in which students can see how much their score will improve based on number of tests.

But of course, students shouldn’t rely on variance alone to boost their scores. Effective test prep drives scores much higher than the occasional lucky bounce ever could. What the new ACT is revealing, however, is just how much students can further improve their outcomes by sitting for more tests. In Part II of this series, we’ll examine this trend from the perspective of colleges. And in Part III, we’ll zoom out to explore why this may be a feature — not a bug — of the modern testing landscape and why the ACT may be more concerned with their bottom line than testing integrity.

Methodology

To calculate the expected gains from repeated ACT testing, we used statistical simulations based on the ACT’s own reporting of test score variance.

The ACT reports that a student’s composite score — the average of the English, Math, and Reading sections — has a standard error of measurement (SEM) of approximately ±1 point. Since that composite is based on the average of three sections, and assuming the errors across sections are independent (as measurement error typically is), we can work backward to estimate the SEM of a single section using the formula for the SEM of an average of independent variables:

The standard error of an average of three independent values is smaller by a factor of √3.

So, if the composite SEM is ±1, the SEM for each individual section is approximately ±1.73:

Using this estimate, we modeled each section score as a normally distributed variable centered around the student’s true ability, with a standard deviation (SEM) of 1.73. For each number of test sittings (from 1 to 8), we simulated 1,000,000 students taking the test that many times. For each simulated student, we recorded:

• Their best score on each section (English, Math, and Reading), across all sittings
• Their superscore composite, calculated as the average of those three best section scores
• Their best composite score from a single sitting (for comparison, representing schools that do not superscore), modeled with an SEM of ±1

These seven questions are designed to cut through the marketing and get to the heart of what matters: the quality of instruction, the integrity of the approach, and whether the tutor actually knows how to help your student improve. You don’t need to know everything about the SAT or ACT to ask the right questions—you just need to know which answers signal competence, experience, and honesty.

Here’s the questions to ask a test prep tutor before signing on.

1. What is your approach to test prep tutoring? 

This should always be your first question. Every company may be preparing students for the same test, but their philosophies can differ dramatically. You may not know the “right” answer going in—but you’ll recognize conviction when you hear it. A strong tutor has thought deeply about their approach. They can articulate not just what they do, but why they do it that way. And while it’s possible to be confident and passionate and still be wrong, the truth is: bad tutors rarely sound like they’ve wrestled with this question at all.

2. What is the average improvement your students exhibit?

On the surface, this feels like the most important question—and in theory, it is. But it’s more complicated than it seems. First, companies differ in how they measure improvement. Some use formal diagnostics; others rely on PSAT scores or student-reported baselines, which can skew results. Second, the starting point matters. A company whose students average a 1450 will naturally show smaller gains than one working with students in the 1100s. So don’t just ask what the gains are—ask how they’re tracked, and who they’re coming from.

3. Who will be working with my student, and what are their credentials?

This is one of the most overlooked questions. It’s easy to browse a website, see a few friendly bios, and assume everyone is equally qualified. But what’s often missing is any real transparency about tutor experience—or how the company actually hires. Don’t get distracted by degrees or name-brand résumés alone. Ask how tutors are selected, trained, and evaluated. Some companies keep prices low by hiring the first competent applicant. Others charge more because they’re deliberately selective—choosing only those who meet a far higher bar.

4. How do you decide what content to cover with each student?

This seemingly simple question reveals a major philosophical divide. Does the company walk every student through the entire test, or do they zero in on the specific concepts holding your student back? Fixed curricula aren’t necessarily bad—but they often signal a one-size-fits-all approach. Companies that rely heavily on standardized content may not fully trust their tutors to diagnose and adapt. The result? Wasted time. A thoughtful, diagnostic-driven approach is not only more efficient—it’s far more effective.

5. What’s your philosophy on test-taking strategy vs. content mastery?

This question gets to the heart of how a tutor thinks—and yes, there is a right answer. The best tutors lead with content mastery. They help students truly understand the math, reading, and writing concepts behind the test, and then layer in strategy to improve efficiency and confidence. Tricks and shortcuts can offer quick wins, but they won’t carry a student to their full potential. Real improvement comes from real understanding.

6. How do you determine how many sessions my student will need?

This question reveals more about a company’s integrity than its expertise. In any learning process, most gains come early—then progress naturally slows. A trustworthy tutor will recognize this, adjust pacing, and even recommend pausing if your student hits a plateau. Be wary of anyone who insists on a fixed number of sessions without understanding your student’s goals or baseline. This question helps you spot whether a company is truly student-centered—or just focused on billable hours.

7. How do you support students between sessions?

Tutoring isn’t just what happens during the hour—it’s also what students do with that hour afterward. Ask how the tutor reinforces lessons, assigns and reviews homework, and remains accessible for quick questions or motivation in between sessions. Some tutors provide ongoing check-ins, customized homework plans, or feedback loops; others disappear until the next appointment. This question helps you distinguish between passive session-based tutors and those who take ownership of the entire learning arc.

Choosing a test prep solution is about more than finding someone who knows the material—it’s about finding someone who knows how to teach it, how to adapt, and how to genuinely move the needle for your student. These seven questions aren’t just a checklist; they’re a filter. Ask them, and you’ll quickly separate the polished sales pitches from the providers who actually deliver. The right tutor won’t just answer these questions—they’ll appreciate that you asked.

A 30-point difference might not seem like much on paper. After all, it’s just a few more correct answers per section. But when we take a step back, that small edge compounds over time. To illustrate this, let’s compare two hypothetical tutors: Tutor A and Tutor B.

A Tale of Two Tutors

Tutor A Score Improvements: 230, 120, 260, 100, 210, 310, 120, 150, 190, 150, 90, 180, 120, 210, 120

Tutor B Score Improvements: 300, 160, 180, 250, 130, 220, 280, 110, 210, 220, 250, 130, 120, 230, 220

Can you spot the difference?

Tutor A (them) achieves an average 170-point improvement—a solid result that any reputable tutor would be proud of, with satisfied students and a good reputation. Tutor B (us) helps students improve by an average of 200 points—just 30 points more, yet that small edge has fueled the shared success of Ivy Tutor and our students. Here’s how.

Instead of focusing on the numbers alone, consider experience of the students and parents. Most students of Tutor A are satisfied customers. They have no idea that their tutor didn’t get them to a better destination, but they are happy with their improvements. Similarly, most students of Tutor B are satisfied customers. They have no idea that their tutor actually outperformed the alternative. So why does Tutor B grow? Even though Tutor B’s students improve about 17% more than Tutor A’s, Tutor B sees more major success stories: Twice as many students will have score improvements of 250 points or greater and they will have far fewer duds. The result, Tutor B will have more students achieving life-changing score jumps and more parents raving about the results.

• More word-of-mouth referrals from ecstatic families.
• More students with top-percentile scores, making their results stand out.
• Fewer quietly disappointed clients who expected a bigger score boost.

How 30 Points SAT Score Improvement Can Change Transform Futures

A 30-point difference doesn’t just improve a student’s test score—it changes their college trajectory. Roughly 500 colleges nationwide do more than verify competence; they actively screen for excellence. With GPA inflation making academic records less reliable, SAT scores serve as a crucial differentiator. Each 10-point increase may seem minor, but even small gains can significantly expand a student’s college options. For a student competitive at the 250th-ranked school (by average SAT), a 30-point improvement will unlock roughly 50 additional colleges. Beyond admissions, those extra points can also secure significant merit aid. At schools that publish scholarship cutoffs, 30 more points could mean over $10,000 in financial awards over four years.

To be clear, this isn’t just about points. It’s an investment in a student’s future. Every point gained isn’t just a number; it’s a gateway to better opportunities, greater financial support, and the confidence of reaching full potential.

An Honest Signal: Ivy Tutor Has Been Growing for a Reason

When parents consistently hear about how their friends’ kids jumped 200+ points, demand increases. When a school guidance counselor sees Ivy Tutor’s name associated with one success story after another, they start recommending us more often. As this reputation builds, we have to expand. More students seek us out, our waitlist grows, and we get to bring in and train more incredible tutors to scale what we do best.

That’s the real power of a 30-point edge. It’s not just about numbers on a score report—it’s about momentum, trust, and reputation. Over time, that difference compounds into a team that’s both thriving and constantly improving.

So, what’s 30 points actually worth? It turns out, it’s worth more than you’d think.

Learning and growing have always been central to Ivy Tutor’s ethos, and we’re constantly seeking new ways to elevate our game. That’s why we’re proud to announce new tools and services to enhance what is already a fun (and effective!) test prep process.

• 📊Student Tracking Database: We’re excited to introduce a powerful new tracking system that ensures everyone stays on the same page. This tool will provide clear updates on test dates, progress tracking, assignments, and more—making the process smoother for students and parents alike.
• 🧠 Enhanced Diagnostic Intake: We’re leveraging our experience with the MindPrint cognitive assessment to better target our tutoring. Enhancing our process allows us to more effectively tailor tutoring toward students’ strengths and away from their challenges, enabling us to create even more personalized and effective learning plans.
• 👩‍🏫Impressive New Talent: After an extensive search across the metro area for top talent, we’re nearing the final stages of hiring our newest tutor, who will make house calls in New York and Jersey City. We’re excited about the finalists and can’t wait to introduce our newest team member soon. Stay tuned for the announcement!
• 🏫School Partnerships: Ivy Tutor is proud to launch group classes in collaboration with select high schools. These partnerships enable us to refine our methods and expand our strategies. Looking ahead, we aim to offer these courses to the public starting next year.
• 📦 Flexible Tutoring Plans: We’ve restructured our packages to provide predictability for students, families, and tutors. These packages offer structure, value, and convenience, while still allowing families the option to continue on an hourly basis. It’s the perfect balance of flexibility and planning to meet everyone’s needs.

These improvements build on some of the great things we already do:

1. Free and Unlimited Practice Tests: Students can hone their new skills and abilities each week, and parents can observe their process.
2. Scientifically Informed Instruction: Ivy Tutor does what works. We’re never doing “busy work” or wasting time. Our methods are so effective because they are informed and validated by scientific research.
3. Dynamic and Inspiring Instruction: We instill awe and wonder in our students regardless of the subject matter.

We’re so excited about what’s ahead for 2025! Over a thousand students have already seen the difference our passion brings, and we’re committed to finding even more ways to help students excel.

How We’re Hiring Exceptional Tutors

Step 1: We Create a Compelling Job Listing

Before we post a job listing, we conduct a thorough survey of the current tutor market, specifically investigating the going rates. Our listings start by matching the higher rates currently offered. Our aim is to attract and retain the best talent by recognizing their worth. We understand that a lower rate might attract some of the same winning applicants, but it’s crucial to us that we pay our tutors what they deserve. Besides compensation, we also communicate our passion, vision, and mission in the listing, appealing to applicants who are looking to be part of something greater than themselves.

Step 2: We Review Over 100 Qualified Applicants

Given the appeal of our job listing, we receive over 100 qualified applications. Applicants are considered qualified if they can certify that they scored at least 1450 on the SAT or an equivalent score on a comparable test. From those whose resumes qualify, we seek evidence of academic excellence, teaching experience, or any other attributes that might indicate they are uniquely suited for the role. However, we remain open-minded, recognizing that some of the best tutors may not look perfect on paper.

Step 3: We Speak on the Phone with Nearly Two Dozen Candidates

After narrowing down our pool, we conduct phone interviews with about 20 promising candidates. These calls focus on assessing two key qualities: strength of communication and depth of thought. We invite candidates to share insights from their tutoring experiences or to respond to complex questions. This step often reveals significant differences between candidates who appear similar on paper and ensures that only the most thoughtful applicants move forward.

Step 4: We Further Scrutinize the Phone Interview Standouts

From the phone screenings, we select 3 to 5 standout applicants for virtual interviews. This stage allows for a deeper exploration of each candidate’s potential compatibility with Ivy Tutor. We delve into their thought processes, insights, and let them ask questions about our Ivy Tutor. Candidates are also asked to teach us something, so they may showcase their ability to explain concepts clearly and intuitively. A tentative candidate is selected from this field.

Step 5: We Vet Our Selection

The top candidate is then invited to an in-person meeting over lunch, which serves as both a final assessment and a verification of their professional suitability. This stage confirms our observations from previous interactions and provides candidates a chance to demonstrate their in-person professionalism. If we are confident in a candidate’s abilities and fit, we extend a formal job offer. Otherwise, we request an in-person interview with another finalist.

Step 6: We Impart Our Insights and Time-Tested Wisdom

Once hired, our tutors undergo a training period, though we do not prescribe specific teaching methods. Instead, we share the ethos, philosophies, and insights we’ve accumulated over many years. As we explain, ‘We’re not here to tell you what to do. Rather, we want to share our approach and the reasoning behind it, so you are equally convinced of why this is the best approach.’ In this way, we aim to equip the tutor—who has already revealed themselves to be gifted—with the wisdom needed to achieve the level of effectiveness expected of an Ivy Tutor, marrying their natural communicative gifts with our proven tutoring approach.

What This All Means for YOU

As you can tell, we take hiring seriously. Sometimes, parents compare our prices to those of competitors, many of whom pay their tutors near the minimum wage. They might think, “How hard can it be to teach a few tips and tricks?” It’s an understandable question—how could inquiring parents know how much we invest into producing our results? But the proof is in the pudding. Our commitment to securing top talent and employing thoughtfully developed methods has led to an average improvement of 200 points on the SAT (or ACT equivalent). That’s no small feat, and it wouldn’t be possible if we cut corners on the caliber of our tutors.

Rather than share broad generalizations, I will highlight some of the questions and explain how they present novel challenges, as well as how Ivy Tutor recommends overcoming them. Finally, I will share why I believe this new approach reflects the novel challenges we face in the information age.

Reading Question Example: A New Emphasis on Reading Bandwidth

In this first question I will share, students are given shorter passages. In moving away from the long-form passages, one would assume these questions would be less of a burden on one’s working memory. However, because the paragraphs are so dense and fully understanding each sentence is crucial for answering them, students can get easily overwhelmed. Let’s take a look at an example.

Question: “Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?”

This question draws on several abilities, but two in particular stand out. From simply reading the question, you may notice that it draws on verbal reasoning. The text features complex sentence structure and a heavy use of metaphorical language. Parsing the individual sentences can be a challenge. However, many students are capable of these individual tasks. For example, they might recognize that “life-blood” refers to the sap. But as students dive deeper into the paragraph, they will find that each new idea and new challenge strains their ability to remember multiple elements they must keep in their heads simultaneously. Let’s list the key ideas:

1. The writer is recalling how women from his trip harvested maple syrup when he was a child.
2. The text then explains the process, using an em-dash to convolute the sentence: women would strike the trees to test for the presence of sap.
3. The text introduces the sentence in question, which is metaphorical: the trees are personified. Some are more forthcoming than others, but in this case, it’s not about their feelings, but rather their sap contents.
4. The text then goes on to describe the physical process and mechanics of harvesting the sap.

Notice that I’ve already excluded information that won’t be needed to answer this question, a skill that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Now, with this information, I need to determine the function of the underlined sentence. We recommend that, where possible, students predict the answer so they aren’t misled by a tempting answer choice.

Prediction: The sentence shares the process for assessing the presence of sap.

The answer that most closely matches my prediction is D) “It elaborates on an aspect of the maple trees that women evaluate.” My diligent process made matching my prediction fairly easy, but I can imagine students choosing B.

I chose this question because students tend to struggle with it but also to show a clear case where students must keep many ideas in their head while they process new and difficult information. Some students might have the gifts to take an intuitive approach: to read the question, reflect on it and identify the answer. Most, however have to mentally distill these ideas into the useful nuggets that enable them to process the logic that leads them to identify the purpose of the sentence.

Math Question Example: Rewarding Conceptual Foundations and Resourcefulness

For the Math section, I will share another question that I believe exemplifies the SAT’s new paradigm. This question is not particularly difficult for a student who has placed into a rigorous precalculus class, but it shows the extent to which students can quickly determine an answer through a theoretical understanding and the capabilities of Desmos

This question can be done the math-teacher-approved way, in which a student will substitute for y and use the discriminant in the quadratic formula to determine the value of a that offers one solution. I’ll let ChatGPT explain this time-consuming approach.

This question can be done the math-teacher-approved way, in which a student will substitute for y and use the discriminant in the quadratic formula to determine the value of a that offers one solution. I’ll let ChatGPT explain this time-consuming approach.

However, savvy students will understand that if there’s one solution, that parabola will be tangent to the x-axis. In moments, they can determine the value of a by using the slider feature in Desmos to manipulate the function until a has one solution. This is not to say that knowing a few Desmos tricks is a substitute for understanding the concepts. Rather, hard questions will reward students who understand the concepts and can think of ways (even if unconventional) to use Desmos to their advantage.

A New Test For New Times

I often take a cynical approach to these tests. I understand that the test makers run large organizations that rely on a large base of students willing to sign up for the tests, ideally multiple times. I initially assumed that these question types were chosen because they effectively differentiate students, a quality that helps shorten tests. However, as I worked with the questions, I realized that this is a test for the information age. The reading questions ask students to distill large amounts of information into the ideas useful for determining an answer. In an age flush with information, eliciting the crucial ideas is a skill worth rewarding.

As for the Math section, with so many tools available to us, connecting the tools we have with the problems we face is as valuable as knowing how to answer the question without the assistance of technology. As the test makers innovate the tests, we must also innovate our teaching methods. We now teach students important skills for distilling dense passages and understanding how to leverage Desmos for assisting in answering complicated questions, though never as a replacement for understanding the concepts.

#1 University of Tennessee

• SAT Range: 1190-1340
• Acceptance Rate: 68%

The University of Tennessee has grown in appeal, thanks to its combination of strong athletic programs and robust academic offerings, especially in engineering and business. Known for its spirited campus life and SEC sports, the university also prides itself on academic excellence and research initiatives, making it a favored choice for Ivy Tutor’s students from the Northeast looking for a vibrant yet challenging educational environment. This school’s blend of engaging sports culture and academic rigor not only attracts students interested in athletics but also those seeking a comprehensive, well-rounded college experience.

#2 Northeastern University

• SAT Range: 1480-1540
• Acceptance Rate: 6.8%

Northeastern University has transformed from a safety school to a top-tier institution within the last two decades, largely due to its innovative co-op program which integrates real-world job experience with academic studies. This unique approach has made it one of the premier colleges in the Greater Boston area, increasingly popular among students from Ivy Tutor seeking practical, career-oriented education. The co-op program not only provides valuable work experience but also allows students to apply their classroom learning in real-world settings, enhancing both their academic and professional growth.

#3 Arizona State University

• SAT Range: 1130-1360
• Acceptance Rate: 87%

Arizona State University is rapidly gaining traction among Ivy Tutor’s students, despite its geographic distance. At its dynamic Tempe campus, ASU champions an entrepreneurial spirit, with strong programs in technology, sustainability, and the arts. The university’s connections with global corporations offer students practical experiences alongside their academic studies. This blend of extensive academic programs and lively campus life makes ASU a sought-after destination for students seeking a progressive and comprehensive educational setting.

#4 Emory University

• SAT Range: 1470-1540
• Acceptance Rate: 11%

Emory University is ascending towards “elite” status, enhancing its reputation for intellectual rigor within a vibrant scholarly environment. It’s renowned for specialized programs in law, theology, and health sciences. The university’s seminar-style classes and close faculty collaboration offer a personalized academic experience. Set in a lush, suburban area near Atlanta, Emory provides a balanced atmosphere of tranquility and urban energy, making it increasingly popular among Ivy Tutor’s students who seek to engage deeply with both academic and community-oriented projects.

#5 Indiana University

• SAT Range: 1210-1420
• Acceptance Rate: 82.5%

Indiana University, particularly its flagship Bloomington campus, is renowned for its rich academic tradition and cultural vibrancy. It is a hub for students passionate about music, business, and the arts, offering extensive programs and facilities like the innovative Kelley School of Business. The campus’s iconic limestone architecture enhances a creative and collaborative atmosphere. This university’s blend of rigorous academics, comprehensive educational experiences, and dynamic campus life makes it a growing favorite among Ivy Tutor’s students.

#6 SUNY Binghamton

• SAT Range: 1300-1450
• Acceptance Rate: 43%

SUNY Binghamton, a pivotal institution within the State University of New York system, merges the affordability of public education with the academic rigor typically found in private universities. Known for its strength in engineering, psychology, and business, Binghamton attracts students who value a strong return on their educational investment. The university promotes a tight-knit community within its research-driven environment, offering a serene suburban campus that contrasts with vibrant student life. Ivy Tutor’s students frequently select Binghamton for its challenging academic programs and opportunities for early research and community engagement.

#7 University of Florida

• SAT Range: 1320-1470
• Acceptance Rate: 23%

The University of Florida (UF) is rapidly gaining prestige as a top-tier public research university in Gainesville, noted for its rigorous academic standards and energetic campus life. It’s a leader in educational innovation and research, pioneering new technologies and initiatives. The campus is alive with activities, including highly competitive NCAA sports and a wide array of student organizations. This vibrant blend of academic excellence and dynamic student life makes UF increasingly popular among Ivy Tutor’s students, who are drawn to its supportive and stimulating educational environment.

Interested in exploring exciting options or need guidance on your college journey? Visit our contact page to get in touch with our test prep experts and advisors. We’re here to help deliver top scores and make informed decisions for navigating the admissions process with confidence.

Q: Can you tell us about your background and what inspired you to become a high school admissions advisor?

Nina Kedersha: Coming from immigrant parents whose focus was all about getting the best education you can afford, I entered parenthood with the same mindset and as a new resident to NJ. Learning about the different towns, the school rankings and eventually understanding how to tap into alternative options in the county, continued to drive my passion for academic equity.

Q: What do you believe sets you apart as a high school admissions advisor, and how do you leverage your unique strengths to benefit the students you work with?

NK: My older daughter is neurodivergent and struggled through most of her elementary education. After years of advocating for her proper accommodations and consulting with various medical professionals, she began to soar and reached her full potential by the end of middle school. She was ready for a competitive high school environment to keep her stimulated and driven to succeed. She just graduated from Bergen County Technical School in Teterboro and is attending University of Pittsburgh. My younger daughter is quite the opposite. So, my high school research was completely different and she’s now attending an all-girl Catholic high school where she’s enjoying her environment and her new friends.

Q: How do you approach the challenge of helping students find the right high school fit, and what is your philosophy on guiding them through the admissions process?

NK: Our philosophy and mission is to find a high school that’s the right fit for each student to ensure that they will thrive in the right environment. In order to meet this goal, we need to spend time getting to know the student as a whole and the background of the parents (morals, beliefs, their perception of the student’s capabilities and expectations, etc.). During this initial in-take session, we collect data from both sides separately – a survey for the student and one for the parents to complete. In addition, academic grades from 6-8th grade are shared along with teacher’s feedback/comments, school standardised test scores and a list of active extra-curricular activities. This collective data is gathered and evaluated to develop a comprehensive report which will include top 2-3 recommended high schools and specialized programs (if applicable). This information and next steps-plan overview are provided in a comprehensive report to each family.

Q: How do you build relationships with students and families during the admissions process, and what strategies do you use to ensure they feel supported?

NK: After the in-take session, the report is produced and sent within 2 weeks and a final review call is scheduled to discuss the recommendations and plan within the report. The unique in-take process will provide a full picture of the student’s drive and motivation as well as the family’s values and interests, in order to produce a solid report with our recommendations. If the family chooses to extend services for optimal application strategies and essay assistance, we are happy to provide this support with additional consulting hours as needed. In addition, if the student or parents would like to schedule an informational session with a parent or student from our advisory board, this is a complimentary service that is provided after the report has been provided and next steps are determined. Aside from open houses that are more easily accessible at private schools than county magnet schools, students have limited exposure to specific vo-tech programs or school cultures. Having access to current and past students from each school and program being considered, will provide a personal back-stage review with Q&A opportunity that’s customized for each applicant.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Nina can help your family navigate the high school admissions process, you can reach out directly through her website. Visit Apply High School Consulting to explore her services and schedule a consultation.

To begin, the test in its current form will be available until at least July 2025. This means that juniors studying for the ACT can stay the course. They will have ample opportunities to take the test in its present format over the next 12 months.

Here are the changes:

• The Science section will be offered as an optional section.
• The test duration will be approximately two hours, shortened from three hours.
• Students will receive more time per question, but the average question difficulty will necessarily increase.

Timeline for the Transition:

• Current ACT available until: July 2025
• New computer-based ACT launch: April 2025
• Updated paper-based ACT launch: September 2025

We view this as an opportunity for students to have a second bite at the apple. Rising juniors can take the current ACT until July 2025 and then apply their skills to the new ACT thereafter. While the prospect of extra time per question is enticing, it will be balanced with increased question difficulty. In this respect, the ACT may begin to more closely resemble the SAT, though we do not anticipate it will be quite as slow or as difficult. From a tutoring perspective, this is challenging as it is typically more effective to teach students how to answer simpler questions more efficiently than to tackle harder questions. Therefore, I advise that rising juniors plan to complete the current ACT by June 2025. Students can then attempt the revised test in September. As more information becomes available, I will share it along with its implications.

In summary, while the changes are intriguing, it’s unlikely that they will make the test easier for those investing in preparation. Therefore, I recommend we stay the course and consider the benefits of attempting the second version of the test in September 2025.

To recap, the ACT is trimming its fat. It is removing a number of questions and giving students more time to answer them. What’s more, the makers of the ACT, the now for-profit ACT Education Corp, are giving students the option of taking the ACT Science. As a result, there will be a new truncated ACT, known as the Core ACT, which can optionally include Science, Writing, or both Science and Writing. The ACT will also give students the choice to take the test on paper or on a computer.

Why the changes?

There are two college entrances exams—the SAT and ACT—which compete with one another to win over anxious 16-year olds who typically choose whichever test they believe will provide a less painful test-taking experience. Over the last few decades, the ACT was winning this battle, eventually overtaking the SAT in terms of market share. Students reported that, unlike the SAT’s complex questions, ACT questions felt straightforward. They had less time to respond, but overall, they preferred the ACT. Not to be outdone, the College Board attempted revisions to the SAT to better compete, but their efforts were largely ineffective. So, last year, College Board made a profound change to finally recover its market share. By utilizing newer testing theories known as “Item Response Theory” and “Computer Adaptive Testing,” College Board shortened its 3-hour test to 2 hours. This revision led to an uptick in SAT registrations. Faced with this challenge to its market share, the ACT is now introducing the “Core ACT,” a response fraught with compromises to its quality and risks to its viability.

The ACT is Taking Big Risks

The ACT’s bid to shorten the test may undermine its usefulness. Tests are only useful to the extent they produce consistent outcomes. This quality, known as “reliability,” is compromised when tests are shortened. Fewer questions mean each carries more weight, leading to greater score variability due to chance. The SAT was able to maintain its reliability thanks to its adoption of advanced testing methodologies; however, the ACT’s commitment to a paper-based test precludes a similar strategy. As a result, the shorter ACT risks producing scores which will report luck as much as ability.

Chipping away at test reliability is concerning, and there may be a breaking point. But the more pressing issue for the ACT is the potential erosion of the ACT’s appeal to students. The ACT plans to allow more time per question. This change which appears to make the test more student-friendly could paradoxically diminish its attractiveness. There is a trade-off between question difficulty and the allotted time per question: a test can feature either quick, simple questions or complex questions with ample response time. Providing both ease and ample time would fatally undermine the exam’s purpose—to rank students. A test without sufficient difficulty means minor performance variations, rather than ability differences, would determine high scores—an unacceptable outcome to both students and colleges. The ACT could compensate by creating more difficult questions, but students gravitate to the ACT precisely because the questions are easier, even if they have less time to answer them.

The ACT will abandon another asset as a result of its revision: practice material. Old versions of their exams are widely circulated and provide ample fodder for practice. A revision will render these old exams obsolete, costing the ACT the one advantage it indisputably retains—particularly now that their competitor no longer releases exams to students. Forgoing this advantage is unnecessary.

The ACT can have its proverbial cake and eat it. Because the ACT plans to offer both a computer-based and paper-based variant, why not retain the current test which is popular among many students in paper form and introduce the revision in the online variant? As of now, the ACT indicates that they will first introduce the computer-based variant of its new iteration in the spring of 2025 and then replace its legacy test with a paper-based variant of the new test in the fall of 2025. But it shouldn’t replace the current paper-based test—and for good reasons. Not making this change would allow the ACT to introduce Computer Adaptive Testing and Item Response Theory on the computer-based variant—retaining reliability—and offer the test in its current paper form which is both reliable and popular.

What’s Really Going On?

Why is the ACT willing to risk its reliability and student-friendly reputation? The recent developments seem more reflective of current organizational upheaval than of meticulous planning. Notably, the ACT’s announcement of its privatization and partnership with a private equity group indicates a shift in direction. Changes may be driven more by investor demands than by a considered response to the evolving testing landscape. Given the costs ACT Education Corp could bear as a result of these announced changes, it is conceivable that they will reconsider or modify some aspects of their plans. Ultimately, time will reveal how these decisions unfold.