Test Preparation

Whether you are taking a standardized test for the first time or taking it again to improve your score, Aspire Prep will create a program tailored to your needs. We offer short-term “boot camps” and longer prep programs based on your goals. We can also help you decide which test is best for you to take, based on your strengths.

SAT/ACT

COVID-19 has brought so many changes to college admissions test policies that parents and students are left barely able to keep up. It is certainly easier -- and for many the right decision -- to opt for not taking the SAT or ACT when that option presents itself. That said, after multiple semesters of Zoom classes and inconsistent grading policies, these two tests still remain one of the most trusted measures of students' academic qualifications. The word "standardized" means that these scores are understood by colleges when comparing students whose GPAs and extracurricular activities are in flux.

At Aspire, before sessions begin, we help clients understand their best test-optional pathway for each unique program. Every student is different and we are staying ahead of the curve in order to understand the changes in policy and to guide our families along the best and most strategic path.

Aspire's typical test prep program consists of 90-minute sessions with tutors available in-person or via video conference, if preferred. Tutors are trained as experts in content and strategy. Students work one-on-one with them to develop critical skills that help them achieve 6-10 point improvements on the ACT and 200-300 point improvements on the SAT, subject to recommendations at the start of each program.

We’ve gathered resources here for the SAT, and the ACT, in addition to other #AspirePrepTips!

ISEE/SSAT/PSAT

Taking the ISEE, SSAT, or PSAT can be stressful for young students. For many of our students, it is the first time they have taken a test that “counts”. They compare it to the SAT or ACT and feel like their entire academic future hinges on this one performance. Aspire Prep helps these students stay calm and carry on. We provide knowledge and confidence while allowing students to understand that their future success will depend on many factors.

An ISEE, SSAT, or PSAT program with Aspire Prep is a customized experience. Your son or daughter will work with one of our tutors as well as with an established prep book, received prior to their first session. The first session involves a review of this diagnostic test, an overview of each section of the test, and development of a study plan. This is followed by a series of one- to two-hour sessions in which strategies for each section of the test are learned, practiced, and understood.

Our typical program provides a total of 15 hours of customized, 1-on-1 test prep, including proctored practice tests and a calm mentor holding each student’s hand through the process.

AP/SUBJECT TESTS

Our AP Exam and Subject Test programs complement the academic tutoring we provide our students, as these tests are usually the culmination of a full year of course study in that subject. Still, focused AP Exam and Subject Test preparation, in addition to test bootcamps, allow students to zero in on the relevant course material as well specific test requirements (essays, FRQs, DBQs, True/False, etc).  Programs vary considerably in duration depending on the student’s goals and familiarity with the subject matter.

Aspire Prep offers the following AP Exam and Subject Test services:

GMAT/GRE

The GMAT and GRE are computer adaptive exams required for admission to most M.B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. graduate programs. For many students, preparation for these tests can be daunting because school was a long time ago. As someone who took the MCAT many years after graduating from college, I can attest to the fact that your brain is a muscle that needs to be exercised just like any other. The longer it’s been since you’ve exercised your standardized test brain, the earlier you should start preparation.

Aspire Prep recommends 3-6 months of preparation, depending on how long you’ve been out of school. Remember, you need to be able to recall all that early stuff – basic principles of numbers and operations, algebra, functions, data analysis, a little trig. You need to have your grammar on point. You’ll need to not just bone up but master reading comp again. Graduate programs are competitive. I recall that, when I was considering medical school, there were more applicants with 4.0 GPAs or higher than there were spots for med students in the country.  Just saying.

Aspire Prep’s GMAT and GRE programs are demanding – you’ll have homework assignments and required proctored practice tests in order to ensure that you are able to demonstrate your mastery of the test and its format when it comes time to head to that strange prometric test center.

PROCTORING SERVICES

Practice tests, score reporting, and full proctoring services are available for each of our services (ACT, SAT, ISEE, PSAT, SSAT, practice AP exams, GRE and GMAT) including personalized consultations to review goals and develop individualized programs. We offer experienced proctoring services in Los Angeles in a secure and monitored environment. Local students taking classes or training at other colleges and institutions, not through Aspire services, may contact us for further information on contracting proctoring services as well.