Online Test Preparation for US Students
One-to-one online exam preparation for every test that shapes a US college application, from the PSAT in junior autumn through to AP exams in May. Every plan starts from a diagnostic, not a generic syllabus.
We are recommended by parents & students
Every useful prep plan begins with one honest timed test.
The Four Tests That Matter Most
Each does a different job in a college application. Knowing which one is doing what saves months of misdirected effort.
PSAT/NMSQT
Grade 11 · October
The only sitting that qualifies a junior for National Merit. Same adaptive format as the SAT, scored 320 to 1520, so preparing for it prepares for both.
- One shot, junior year only
- Selection Index decides National Merit
- Doubles as SAT practice
SAT
Grades 11–12
Fully digital and adaptive, delivered through Bluebook in 2 hours 14 minutes. Two sections, four modules, scored 400 to 1600, with a built-in Desmos calculator throughout Math.
- Adaptive: Module 1 sets Module 2
- Shorter passages, tighter pacing
- Retake runway in senior fall
ACT
Grades 11–12
Now the Enhanced ACT: three core sections in roughly two hours, with Science optional and excluded from the 1 to 36 composite. Linear rather than adaptive.
- 131 core questions, down from 215
- Science reported separately
- Composite from English, Math, Reading
AP Exams
Grades 10–12 · May
Course-specific exams scored 1 to 5, sat each May. Strong scores can earn college credit or advanced placement, and the coursework itself signals rigour on an application.
- Scored 1 to 5 per subject
- Credit policies vary by college
- Coursework grade matters too
SAT or ACT? Let the Diagnostic Decide
Colleges accept both without preference, so the useful question is not which test is better but which one suits how your child thinks under time pressure. Guessing at that wastes a semester. Sitting one timed practice test of each answers it in a weekend.
The two tests now differ more than they used to. The digital SAT adapts between modules, so careful accuracy early opens access to harder questions and a higher ceiling. The Enhanced ACT stays linear but moves faster, and with Science removed from the composite, reading-heavy sections carry two-thirds of the score.
In practice, students who read quickly and trust their first instinct tend to prefer the ACT. Students who work more deliberately and dislike time pressure tend to score better on the SAT. Neither preference says anything about ability.
Side by Side
Format
SAT adapts between modules · ACT is linear
Length
SAT 2 hrs 14 min · ACT core about 2 hrs
Scoring
SAT 400–1600 · ACT 1–36 composite
Science
No SAT science · ACT science optional, scored separately
Calculator
Desmos built in for all SAT maths · permitted on ACT maths
Pacing
ACT allows less time per question overall
Formats and policies are set by ACT and the College Board and change periodically. Confirm current details before registering.
When Each Test Falls
These tests are not independent of each other. Sequenced properly, preparation for one feeds directly into the next.
Grades 9–10
Build the foundations that scores rest on. Algebra, grammar and reading stamina are what set a score ceiling later. Sophomores can sit the PSAT 10 for a low-stakes baseline.
Grade 11, Autumn
Sit the PSAT/NMSQT in October. This is the National Merit qualifying sitting and it does not come round again. Start structured SAT or ACT prep off a diagnostic.
Grade 11, Spring
First real SAT or ACT sitting, typically March through June. Grades are settled, AP exams are close but not yet on top, and there is still a retake runway ahead.
Grade 11–12, May
AP exams. Scores can convert to college credit, and the courses themselves strengthen a transcript regardless of the outcome.
Grade 12, Autumn
Retake window. August and October dates align cleanly with Early Decision and Early Action deadlines in early November, with December as a last option for Regular Decision.
How We Prepare Students
Score gains come from fixing specific weaknesses, not from working through a course front to back.
Diagnose Before Teaching
A full timed test first, marked question by question. Two students with identical scores usually need completely different plans, and a course built before that is a guess.
Train Pacing Separately
Most lost marks are on questions the student could answer, given time. Pacing is a trainable skill in its own right, and it is usually the fastest available gain.
Fix the Foundation
Where a score is capped by missing algebra or weak reading comprehension, technique alone will not move it. We rebuild the underlying skill, which is slower and considerably more durable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What American families ask us most often about choosing tests, timing them and preparing well.
Find Out Where Your Child Actually Stands
The free session is a genuine diagnostic. We identify what is capping the score, recommend which test suits your child, and tell you honestly how much work it will take.
No credit card required