FAQs
General Information
How do you choose tutors and what kind of training do they get?
For information about our hiring and training, please click here.
What is the length of a session and how frequently do students meet with their tutors?
Academic tutors usually meet with their students from 1 to 2 hours per session. SAT and ACT sessions are generally 2 hours each, while ISEE, SSAT, and HSPT sessions are usually 1.5 hours. AP Exam sessions range from 1.5 to 2 hours. Admission essay sessions generally range from 1 to 2 hours.
The frequency of sessions depends on when the student starts tutoring, what the relevant deadlines are, the time of the year, and other factors. These figures are all estimates that will vary based on individual students' needs. Please call us for more information.
Will students get homework from their tutor?
Our test prep tutors and admission essay tutors assign homework after every session. Our academic tutors may assign supplementary homework if they and their students feel that it is necessary.
Can a tutor come to our home or does the tutoring take place at your office?
Tutoring takes place in the student's home, at our office, or via videoconferencing. The best location depends on where the student lives, the subject being tutored, and the tutor's availability.
How much do your tutoring services cost?
Please see our rates page for more information.
Do you offer group classes?
No, our specialty is one-on-one tutoring.
Do your tutors have experience working with students with learning differences?
Yes. Please contact us if you have questions about your child's specific needs.
Do you offer tutoring during the summer?
Yes. Summer has become a very popular time for otherwise busy students to do at least part of their test prep and/or to jump-start their college admission essays and applications. We also have academic tutoring available for students in summer classes or those who want to brush up on a subject before the school year.
Can you help with educational testing?
Over the last 25 years, we have cultivated relationships with educational testers we trust and are happy to provide references.
College Admission Essay Information
Do students need to have a draft or outline prepared before beginning tutoring?
No, students do not need to have any outlines or drafts prepared before they begin tutoring. However, it is always beneficial for students to think about what they will write about before meeting with their tutors when possible.
Can your tutors offer feedback on drafts that students have prepared on their own?
Yes, our tutors can help students at any point in the process.
Do you help students with supplemental essays in addition to Common Application essays and UC Application essays?
Yes, we can work with students on any written portion of their applications, including individual school supplements.
Can your tutors also help with other aspects of the application process?
Yes, we can help students fill out applications, organize activity lists, and create plans based on their timelines.
When should my student start the college admission essay process?
It is often best to get started well ahead of application deadlines. We suggest most students begin brainstorming and constructing required application essays during the summer prior to senior year, if possible. However, successful timelines vary, and many students do not start working on their essays until the fall of senior year. We are happy to individualize timelines based on start date and application deadlines.
Do you offer essay coaching for high school applications?
Yes, we do provide coaching and support for students who are writing essays as part of their applications to independent schools.
Advanced Placement Exam Information
How do I know if my child should prepare for an AP exam?
AP classes are rigorous courses designed to be equivalent to introductory college courses. Students are typically encouraged, although not required, to take the AP Exams in the spring for any AP courses in which they are enrolled. Generally, AP classes are intended to prepare students for the AP Exam, but each school’s curriculum can vary and classes often move at different paces. If your child is taking an AP class but is feeling unsure about how they will perform on the exam, it is probably a good idea to seek help. Through individualized tutoring, our tutors are able to assess a student’s strengths and weaknesses and use our modularized approach to effectively and efficiently help a student.
Why is it important for my child to prepare for an AP Exam?
Now that College Board has eliminated Subject Tests, the AP Exams are one of the only standardized metrics to show a student’s mastery of a particular subject. Course rigor and grading systems can vary school by school, but AP scores are a standardized measure of a student’s knowledge and preparedness. AP scores are an important component of a student’s college application. Some colleges will also award college credit for exam scores of a certain level.
When is the best time to start preparing for an AP Exam?
Spring semester can often be a very busy time for students. They may be juggling extracurriculars, college visits, and Spring Break travels on top of preparing for multiple AP Exams, mid-terms and finals. Our goal is to alleviate stress by planning ahead and starting AP prep early. To that end, we recommend that students start their AP prep towards the middle of February. While students may still be learning new content in their AP class in February and beyond, a tutor can use their AP expertise to help guide them on what material from the previous semester they should start reviewing for the AP Exam and also help them to better synthesize the information they are currently learning. If students are not able to start prep in February, that’s ok. Our modular approach to AP prep still allows us to impart important knowledge to students in a shorter timeframe, but we find that a longer runway helps decrease stress for students.
If my student is not taking an AP level class at school, can they still take the AP Exam?
Yes, students can register for an AP Exam without being registered for an AP class. However, non-AP classes often do not teach the breadth of knowledge students will need to perform well on the AP exam. If your student is going to take an AP Exam, you want to make sure that they have a fair shot at scoring the best they can. Situations can vary—please feel free to give us a call to discuss whether taking an AP Exam is right for your situation.
Is my child’s grade in an AP class a good predictor of an AP score?
A specific grade does not necessarily translate to a specific score. Course curricula and the way teachers grade can vary from class to class and school to school. To get a quantitative view of how a student is performing, we include practice AP Exams in our AP test preparation.
How do colleges know my AP scores?
Students self-report AP scores on college applications. Once accepted to a school, students must send official score reports from College Board. Whether or not you should self-report a score on your college applications depends on a lot of factors. If the answer is unclear, it may make sense for you to check in with your school or private college counselor.
College Admissions Counseling and Consulting Information
Does CAM include college admission essay coaching?
Our college admission essay coaching is an hourly service separate from CAM. Students who work with us on CAM may get additional benefit from also working with us for admission essay coaching, since we will already have so much background information, but we can be effective in providing just one or the other.
Why is CAM not charged hourly like your other services?
In order for us to develop a personalized working college list, we need to do extensive research after learning about the student through our questionnaire and subsequent meetings. The research done on behalf of the student takes place outside of meetings with students and parents, while we bill our tutoring services hourly based on time spent with students.
Do you provide any college admission counseling or consulting services on an hourly basis?
Yes. We recognize that not all families need support on every step of the college application process from start to finish. Therefore, we are happy to answer questions and provide specific guidance at different points in the process. However, we do not provide a thorough working college list on an hourly basis, as doing so requires in-depth information about the student as well as extensive background research about colleges that fit the student's needs.
When should my student start working with Study Smarter for CAM?
Our CAM program is designed to help students in the second semester of their junior year and beyond. We do not advise starting too late, but we may be able to help even as late as fall of senior year. Each student’s goals and timeline are unique, but it is never too early to know you have the support of a knowledgeable team on your side.
ISEE, HSPT, and SSAT Information
When can I take the ISEE? How do I register?
The ISEE is offered several times per year. Students may take the test once per testing season, with one season each in fall, winter, and spring/summer. Many schools require scores from a fall or winter administration, but check with the schools to which your student is applying to see what they will accept. Please click on this link to register: https://www.erblearn.org/parents/isee-registration
Where is the ISEE offered?
The ISEE is typically offered at private schools, although some at-home testing may be available. Check the ISEE website to find specific locations and dates: https://iseeonline.erblearn.org/Search
We do not encourage students to take the ISEE at Prometric test centers because they require use of a computer for students' answers, rather than the paper and pencil students will use when they practice. For more information about this option, please click this link: https://www.erblearn.org/parents/isee-registration#testing-at-prometric
What are the differences between the ISEE and the SSAT?
Both the ISEE and the SSAT are entrance exams that draw upon material covered throughout a student's academic career. Both tests have essay components, although the prompts are slightly different. The SSAT includes analogy questions in the verbal section, while the ISEE does not. Also, the SSAT deducts a quarter point for each wrong answer, while the ISEE does not deduct any points for wrong answers.
What is the HSPT?
The High School Placement Test is an entrance exam for students in grades 8-9 who are trying to get into parochial high schools. Click below for more information:
http://www.ststesting.com/hspt/
Which test should my student take?
Some schools will only accept one test, so this decision primarily boils down to which school(s) your student hopes to attend.
PSAT Information
Should my student take the PSAT? How do I know if my student's PSAT score is high enough to qualify for National Merit?
We recommend that students take the PSAT to get an idea of where they are scoring. There is no risk in taking the PSAT since colleges do not see an applicant's PSAT scores. Students who score high enough on the PSAT in their junior year may be named Commended Students or even National Merit Semifinalists. Scores needed for these honors vary from state to state and year to year.
When are PSAT scores released?
In 2023, students who took the digital PSAT in October will receive their scores on either November 6th or November 16th.
College Admission Test Information
What are the differences between the SAT and the ACT?
Both the SAT and the ACT are college admissions tests that cover material from throughout the middle school and high school curriculum. Starting in 2024, the SAT will be a digital, adaptive exam while the ACT will continue to be administered on paper. The ACT has more questions per minute, so students have to be faster in order to complete the test. The ACT has a Science reasoning section and the SAT does not, but only a minimal amount of prior scientific knowledge is required to be successful. The ACT also has an optional essay component, while the SAT no longer offers an essay section.
Which test should my student take? Should my student take both?
To read more about how we decide which test is better for your student, please visit our College Admission Tests page to read about SAT vs. ACT.
How many hours does the SAT or ACT program take? How much will it cost?
Please see our rates page for more information.
When does my child need to start preparing for the SAT or ACT? When is the best time to take the test?
The best time to prepare and ultimately take the test depends on starting scores, schedules, academic workload, extracurricular commitments, and other exams such as AP tests and finals. To figure out the best timing for your student, please contact us.
When can I take the SAT? How do I register?
The SAT is offered several times throughout the year. Please click below to see the available test dates and to register:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/dates-deadlines
When can I take the ACT? How do I register?
The ACT is offered several times throughout the year. Please click below to see the available test dates and to register:
http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html
When is my child's last chance to take the SAT or ACT?
It depends. Since conditions vary from school to school and can change from year to year, it is best to verify all deadlines with specific schools. Students who are not applying early to college will usually be able to submit scores from test dates as late as November and (for some schools) even December of their senior year. There are even a few instances in which seniors can take the test after December and still use the scores for their applications. For early applications, students will need to take the test before November, and in some cases before October, of their senior years.
If students have IEPs or 504s at school, will they automatically receive accommodations on the SAT and ACT? If students have accommodations on one test, will they automatically be approved for accommodations on the other test?
No. Students will still need to apply to the College Board for accommodations on the SAT. Whatever accommodations are granted for the SAT will also apply to the PSAT and AP Exams. There is a separate application for ACT accommodations. Some students who apply get accommodations on both the SAT and the ACT, while others get accommodations on only one test or even no tests.
When I register for the test, do I have to select schools for my scores to be sent to?
No. If students know where they are going to apply and know that they want scores from that test date sent no matter what, they have the option to send scores to selected schools. However, it is best for most students to view their test scores before deciding whether to send them.
Can I change the test date and/or location once I have registered?
Yes. The cost to change registration for an SAT is $25. Please click here to change your registration:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/policies-requirements/changes
The cost to change the registration for an ACT is $44. Please click here to change your registration:
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html
What if I register for a test and then decide not to go – am I penalized for canceling my enrollment or for not showing up on test day?
Colleges will not see any information about cancellations or no-shows. The only penalty is the lost registration fee if the student never takes the test.
When are SAT/ACT scores released?
SAT scores are usually released online all at once about two weeks after the test. College Board provides a specific date for each test's score release at this link:
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/scores/sat-score-release-dates
ACT scores usually start to become available online approximately 10 days after the test. However, not all students receive their scores at the same time, and our experience has been that some students must wait several weeks before receiving their scores. ACT provides a score reporting timeframe for each of its test dates at this link:
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/scores.html
What is super-scoring?
Some schools will combine the highest section scores from different sittings of the test to get the overall SAT or ACT score for an applicant. Because of the variation from school to school and year to year, it is best to consult with a college counselor or the admissions office at each school to find out more.