SAT Archives - Long Island Regents Prep

Earn College Scholarships with Higher ACT and SAT Scores

By Dennis Urban on Sunday, September, 11th, 2016 in ACT, SAT.
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College is expensive, and it’s not getting any cheaper. Which is why there are billions of dollars in merit-based grants and scholarships available. Doing well on your SAT and ACT can increase your eligibility for these awards from schools, states, and private companies. College scholarships Hundreds of public and private colleges and universities offer merit scholarships […]


sat and act review classes

College is expensive, and it’s not getting any cheaper. Which is why there are billions of dollars in merit-based grants and scholarships available. Doing well on your SAT and ACT can increase your eligibility for these awards from schools, states, and private companies.

College scholarships

Hundreds of public and private colleges and universities offer merit scholarships based on students’ standardized test scores. Higher SAT and ACT scores not only increase your chances of getting accepted, but can also increase the amount of financial aid you’re eligible for. Depending on the school, students with good test scores can earn anywhere from a few thousand dollars to a full ride.

For example, at The University of Arizona, merit-based scholarships are offered to in-state and out-of-state residents based on GPA and SAT or ACT scores. If you’re an in-state resident with a minimum GPA of 3.25 and CR&M SAT scores of 1110, or ACT scores of 24 or higher, you could get a scholarship award of $2,000 or more per year. Out-of-state residents will receive a minimum scholarship award of $8,000 per year. Keep in mind, these are the minimum requirements — if you have higher test scores, you can receive even more financial aid, exceeding $13,000 per year.

At private institutions, such as Villanova University, the average merit scholarship is around $10,000 with a minimum SAT score of 1310 or ACT score of 30. At Emory University, the average merit scholarship is about $21,000 for a minimum SAT score of 1365 or ACT score of 31. A simple Google search for your top college choices along with the search term “merit scholarships” will generate useful and money-saving results.

State scholarships

Many states across the country also offer scholarships based on SAT and ACT scores. Louisiana, for example, offers the TOPS Performance Award and the TOPS Honors Award for students who score at least 23 or 27 on the ACT. Missouri’s Bright Flight Program offers $3,000 to students scoring in the top 3 percent of the state on the SATs or ACTs. So definitely check out your state’s education department website to see if it offers similar merit scholarships.

Private Scholarships

One of the most famous and prestigious private scholarships is the National Merit Scholarship Program, which requires students to score in the top 1 percent nationally on the PSAT. Even though the PSAT is practice for the real SAT, it counts for a lot.

Many private merit-based scholarships are specific to students’ backgrounds or areas of interest. Search the Internet, use personalized scholarship matching tools like UNIGO’s Scholarship Match, and get yourself some private merit scholarships for college!

Invest in your future — register for LI Regents Prep’s SAT and ACT Review Classes to raise your SAT and ACT scores.

 

A different version of this article first appeared at Unigo.com. 

Last Chance to Take the Current SAT Exam

By Dennis Urban on Wednesday, November, 11th, 2015 in farmingdale, new sat, SAT, SAT classes, SAT review, SATs.
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Right now, many high school juniors are deciding whether to take the current SAT exam, which has only two remaining administrations, in December and January, or to wait for the New SAT to debut in March 2016. The current SAT, with its focus on critical reading, writing, and mathematics is familiar to most students. There […]


Right now, many high school juniors are deciding whether to take the current SAT exam, which has only two remaining administrations, in December and January, or to wait for the New SAT to debut in March 2016. The current SAT, with its focus on critical reading, writing, and mathematics is familiar to most students. There are countless review resources, including practice questions, review books, SAT prep classes, and online materials.

The New SAT, however, is largely a question mark. Despite the publication of review materials designed for the New SAT, students won’t have a full autopsy report until after the first group of students conquers the exam next March. According to the College Board, which publishes the SATs, changes in the New SAT include the following:

  • All-new essay — and it’s optional
  • No penalty for guessing
  • No vocab that you’ll never use again
  • 4 parts: Reading, Writing and Language, Math, and the optional SAT Essay
  • 400–1600 score scale
  • 3 hours and 50 minutes with the SAT Essay — or 3 hours without it
  • 4 answer choices for each question

A recent article in Forbes cautioned students against taking the New SAT because there are so few practice questions, the score reports won’t be available until May 2016, and the exam is similar to the ACT. Students, however, should decide for themselves which SAT to take.

Test-prep guru Gary Gruber  has developed a diagnostic tool to help students figure out which SAT test is best for them. According to Business Insider, “Gruber contends that he knows which exam students should take to ensure they get the highest possible score…. Gruber went on to explain that students who were more inquisitive and could pick up on nuances in questions will do better on the old version of the SAT. The new SAT and the ACT — the other major standardized test students take — are very similar in terms of content and questions, according to Gruber.” Students can access this free SAT Diagnostic Exams here, or scroll down to the bottom of this post to take the Gruber Math and Verbal tests.

Long Island Regents Prep is busily preparing its New SAT review materials in anticipation of the March 2016 changes. In the meantime, though, students can register for our January 17 SAT Crash Course in preparation for the final administration of the current SAT exam. Students should sign up early for our Long Island SAT review classes at Farmingdale State College.

Long Island SAT Review Classes at Farmingdale State College

Long Island SAT Review Classes at Farmingdale State College

Fall SAT Review Classes

By Dennis Urban on Friday, September, 4th, 2015 in SAT, SAT classes, SAT review.
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Time is running out to take the current SAT before it’s phased out next spring. Register for one of Long Island Regents Prep’s SAT Crash Courses today! SAT Crash Course Flyer 9-27-15


Time is running out to take the current SAT before it’s phased out next spring. Register for one of Long Island Regents Prep’s SAT Crash Courses today!

SAT Crash Course Flyer 9-27-15

Long Island Regents Prep goes International with its SAT Review Classes

By Dennis Urban on Wednesday, July, 22nd, 2015 in new sat, SAT, SAT classes, sat practice, SAT review, worldstrides.
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Long Island Regents Prep recently had the pleasure of teaching its SAT Crash Course to 18 students visiting from China. The SAT prep and overview course, “Mastering the New SAT Exam,” was offered through a partnership between Long Island Regents Prep and WorldStrides, the nation’s oldest and largest student travel organization. Taught at Pace University, the SAT class was developed […]


Long Island Regents Prep recently had the pleasure of teaching its SAT Crash Course to 18 students visiting from China. The SAT prep and overview course, “Mastering the New SAT Exam,” was offered through a partnership between Long Island Regents Prep and WorldStrides, the nation’s oldest and largest student travel organization. Taught at Pace University, the SAT class was developed by Long Island Regents Prep’s Director of SAT Review, Joshua Fialkow. Mr. Fialkow, who holds degrees in history and education from Yale and Columbia, brings a decade of teaching, tutoring, and curriculum writing experience to his SAT course development.

During the 4-hour SAT class, which took place on July 19, Mr. Fialkow introduced students to the newly redesigned SAT, which debuts in March 2016. “Mastering the New SAT Exam” provided the WorldStrides students with an overview of the New SAT, test-taking strategies, and sample SAT questions. So far, feedback from WorldStrides students has been overwhelmingly positive. Long Island Regents Prep will offer a more comprehensive version of this SAT Crash Course at Farmingdale State College beginning in February 2016.

Long Island Regents Prep's Director of SAT Review, Joshua Fialkow, introduces the New SAT Exam to WorldStrides students from China.

Long Island Regents Prep’s Director of SAT Review, Joshua Fialkow, introduces the New SAT Exam to WorldStrides students from China at Pace University.

“How’d you do?” SAT Scores Released!

By Dennis Urban on Friday, April, 10th, 2015 in SAT, SAT classes, sat practice, SAT review, SATs.
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Last week, hundreds of thousands of students held their breath as the College Board released SAT scores for the March SAT. Many students around the country view the SATs as a make-or-break rite of passage in the college application admission process. Globally, the number of teens taking the SAT exams each year continues to rise, even […]


Last week, hundreds of thousands of students held their breath as the College Board released SAT scores for the March SAT. Many students around the country view the SATs as a make-or-break rite of passage in the college application admission process. Globally, the number of teens taking the SAT exams each year continues to rise, even as fewer U.S. colleges require the SATs for admission. According to FairTest.org, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, there are currently hundreds of “test-optional” colleges across the United States.

Despite controversies over the SAT, however—including whether it measures affluence or aptitude, whether online classes will render SATs obsolete, or whether SAT review courses are worth the cost—students should still plan on taking the SATs, since the overwhelming majority of U.S. colleges require them for admission.

Students who are interested improving their SAT scores for the May and June test dates should consider registering for a Long Island Regents Prep SAT Crash Course. When it comes to Long Island SAT review courses, there are plenty of options, but our one-day SAT prep classes include a custom SAT review book developed by Ivy League graduates. In addition, all of our SAT instructors are NYS-certified teachers, something no other SAT test prep company can boast. For more information, please contact us or visit http://liregentsprep.com.

Helping Long Island Students Prepare for the Big Test

By Dennis Urban on Sunday, February, 8th, 2015 in ap exams, ap review classes, education, farmingdale, regents, SAT, SAT classes, SAT review, test prep.
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Long Island Regents Prep Announces 2015 Regents, AP, and SAT Review Classes Long Island Regents Prep, which offers Regents, Advanced Placement, and SAT review classes in all major subjects, has announced its 2015 course schedule. Their courses are designed and taught by certified and experienced teachers who understand how to prepare students for their exams […]


Long Island Regents Prep Announces 2015 Regents, AP, and SAT Review Classes

Long Island Regents Prep, which offers Regents, Advanced Placement, and SAT review classes in all major subjects, has announced its 2015 course schedule. Their courses are designed and taught by certified and experienced teachers who understand how to prepare students for their exams and how to reduce the anxiety that comes along with high-stakes testing.

Over the past five years, Long Island Regents Prep has helped nearly 2,000 students in New York prepare for their Regents, AP, and SAT exams. In other words, their teachers have provided approximately 12,000 hours of class instruction. Because Long Island Regents Prep offers exceptional test preparation, their course registrations continue to grow at rate of almost 200% each year, largely due to word-of-mouth recommendations.

Since 2009, Long Island Regents Prep has offered one-day Regents review courses for each of the major subjects, including Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, Global History and Geography, United States History and Government, Integrated Algebra, Algebra 2/Trigonometry, and Geometry. Each class covers essential subject matter, offers test-taking strategies, and reviews practice Regents questions.

In 2013, Long Island Regents Prep decided to expand its course selection and begin offering Advanced Placement review classes in AP United States History, AP World History, AP European History, AP US Government and Politics, AP Psychology, AP Calculus AB, AP Biology, AP Physics B, AP Chemistry, and AP Environmental Science.

Last season, Long Island Regents Prep introduced SAT Crash Courses, one-day review classes offered the weekend before each spring SAT exam. There are three courses to chose from: SAT Critical Reading/Writing, SAT Math, and SAT Math/Critical Reading. All SAT Crash Courses will be taught by certified teachers who attended elite universities and excelled on their standardized exams. In addition, courses will include a custom SAT workbook that students will use during the class and bring home with them.

Long Island Regents Prep Long Island Regents Prep was founded in 2009 by Michael Graziosi, Brad Seidman, and Dr. Dennis Urban, full-time social studies teachers on Long Island, New York. After preparing hundreds of their own students for NY State Regents Exams and AP Exams, they realized that students sometimes needed review beyond what was offered in the classroom. So they have created clear, concise, six-hour review courses that provide students with the content, skills, and confidence they need to excel on their standardized exams. Finally, all classes are taught by experienced, highly-qualified, New York State-certified teachers in comfortable, state-of-the-art classrooms on the campus of Farmingdale State College, a State University of New York (SUNY) institution of higher learning. Students can register online quickly, easily, and securely by visiting http://liregentsprep.wpengine.com.

AP Review Classes –May 3 & 9, 2015 (9:00AM –4:00PM)

Regents Review Classes –June 13, 14, & 20, 2015 (9:00AM –4:00PM)

SAT Crash Courses –April 26, & May 31, 2015 (9:00AM –4:00PM)

 

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @RegentsPrep

LI Regents Prep will be at Suffolk Spring College Fair on May 5th

By Dennis Urban on Wednesday, April, 30th, 2014 in ACT, advanced placement, college, college board, college fair, discount, education, farmingdale, Long Island, NYS Regents, NYS Regents Exams, SAT, SAT classes, sat practice, SAT review, suffolk, test prep.
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Long Island Regents Prep is excited to be participating in the Suffolk Spring College Fair, sponsored by Western Suffolk Counselors’ Association. The College Fair will take place on Monday, May 5, 2014,  from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Students will be able to visit representatives from dozens of colleges and register for SAT and Regents review courses offered by Long Island […]


Long Island Regents Prep is excited to be participating in the Suffolk Spring College Fair, sponsored by Western Suffolk Counselors’ Association. The College Fair will take place on Monday, May 5, 2014,  from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Students will be able to visit representatives from dozens of colleges and register for SAT and Regents review courses offered by Long Island Regents Prep. In addition, we’ll be offering on-site registration discounts and raffling off a free SAT Crash Course and Regents Review Course!  Please stop by our booth to find out more about our courses! Here are the details:

Suffolk Spring College Fair
Monday, May 5, 2014
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Huntington Hilton Hotel, Melville NY

Directions: Take Long Island Expressway East to Exit 49S (Rte 110 South / Broadhollow Rd.) Turn Right at end of ramp onto Rt. 110 S / Broadhollow Road. Proceed 2 miles to the corner of Spagnoli Rd and Broadhollow Rd and the hotel is on the right.

The New SAT Exam

By Dennis Urban on Wednesday, March, 12th, 2014 in college, college board, erdesigned sat, Kaplan, new sat, SAT, SAT classes, SAT review, sat schedule.
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There’s been a lot of discussion in recent days about the redesigned SAT, which will debut in 2016. For decades, the College Board has faced criticism that the SAT helps students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, who can afford pricey test prep services and tutors, while lower- and middle-class students are left on their own to […]


There’s been a lot of discussion in recent days about the redesigned SAT, which will debut in 2016. For decades, the College Board has faced criticism that the SAT helps students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, who can afford pricey test prep services and tutors, while lower- and middle-class students are left on their own to navigate the arcane and archaic (SAT vocab words?) exam. These suspicions are borne out by statistics showing students from wealthier families achieving better SAT scores. The redesigned exam claims to be more equitable in allowing opportunities for all students to excel on the exam, not just those with the means to pay for test preparation.

Sifting through all the information on the new SAT can be daunting. Below are some resources to help you learn more about the College Board’s redesign.

Kaplan Test Prep
Fair Test – The National Center for Fair and Open Testing
Inside Higher Ed
U.S. News and World Report
The New York Times Magazine
The College Board

Since the current SAT exam will be around for a few more years, most high school students won’t have to worry about the coming changes. They can continue to rely on existing study methods, practice exams, review books, tutors, and prep courses. For more information about SAT Crash Courses that we offer at Farmingdale State College, or to register online, visit liregentsprep.wpengine.com.

 

Are SAT Review Classes Worth the Cost?

By Dennis Urban on Monday, February, 10th, 2014 in ACT, college, education, Kaplan, Princeton Review, review classes, SAT, SAT classes, SAT review, State University of New York.
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  It’s easy to get carried away with SAT test preparation, and it’s not unusual for a typical family to spend over $1000 per child on SAT review. So, is it worth it? In other words, do costly tutors, review books, and review classes result in better test scores and, thus, admission into elite colleges? […]


SAT review classes on Long Island

 

It’s easy to get carried away with SAT test preparation, and it’s not unusual for a typical family to spend over $1000 per child on SAT review. So, is it worth it? In other words, do costly tutors, review books, and review classes result in better test scores and, thus, admission into elite colleges? This question is difficult to answer.

The best research indicates that “test preparation efforts yield a positive but small effect on standardized admission test scores,” according to a report released in 2009 by the National Association for College Admission Counseling. In fact, although many of the best-known test prep companies (e.g., Kaplan, Princeton Review, and Sylvan Learning) claim to increase test scores by over 100 points, the “average gains are more in the neighborhood of 30 points.”

The College Board, which creates the SAT exams, has conducted its own research, which shows that test preparation courses offer limited benefit. In fact, Laurence Bunin, senior vice president for the College Board, “recommends free and low-cost College Board Materials, including a $22 study guide,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

Moreover, SAT prep companies like Kaplan and Princetown Review reap billions of dollars in profits annually, while charging students thousands of dollars to enroll in their comprehensive review courses. This may put students from lower-income families at a disadvantage. According to a Washington Post survey, students who come from families earning over $200,000 a year have an average SAT score of 1714, while students whose families make less than $20,000 a year have an average score of 1326.

Unfortunately, these figures sometimes force families to spend beyond their means in hope of sending their kids to better colleges, and the results can be disheartening. According to long-time SAT tutor Allison Kade, expensive SAT tutoring and review courses aren’t for everyone. She says, “you may not need to fork over tons of cash for test prep if: 1) Your kid is extremely self-motivated, already understands all the core concepts and has been successful with self-study for other standardized tests like AP exams or the PSAT; 2) Your kid doesn’t care, won’t put in the work and will potentially be a distraction to the rest of the kids taking the test.” On the other hand, she writes, you may want to spend a few bucks if “your kid cares about her score, but may not be self-motivated enough to do the studying on her own; your teen is a nervous test-taker…; or your child is struggling with core concepts and would benefit from extra help.”

But there is an alternative to the expensive tutors and review courses. Long Island Regents Prep, a teacher-owned and -operated company, offers one-day SAT Crash Courses the weekend before each SAT Reasoning Test. These courses, held at Farmingdale State College, offer students confidence, skills, knowledge, and strategies they need to excel on their SATs, all at a fraction of the cost of tutors and other courses. For more information and to register for upcoming classes, visit liregentsprep.com.

Announcing Schedule for 2014 NYS Regents, AP, & SAT Review Classes

By Dennis Urban on Monday, December, 9th, 2013 in advanced placement, ap classes, ap review classes, farmingdale, NYS Regents Exams, regents review classes, regentsprep.org, review classes, SAT, SAT classes, SAT review, tutors.
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Long Island Regents Prep, which offers Regents, Advanced Placement, and SAT review classes in all major subjects, has announced its 2014 course schedule. These courses are designed and taught by certified and experienced teachers who understand how to prepare students for their exams and how to reduce the anxiety that comes along with high-stakes testing. […]


Long Island Regents Prep, which offers Regents, Advanced Placement, and SAT review classes in all major subjects, has announced its 2014 course schedule. These courses are designed and taught by certified and experienced teachers who understand how to prepare students for their exams and how to reduce the anxiety that comes along with high-stakes testing.
Since 2009, Long Island Regents Prep has offered one-day Regents review courses for each of the major subjects, including Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, Global History and Geography, United States History and Government, Integrated Algebra, Algebra 2/Trigonometry, and Geometry.  Each class covers essential subject matter, offers test-taking strategies, and reviews practice Regents questions.
Last year, Long Island Regents Prep decided to expand its course selection and begin offering Advanced Placement review classes in AP United States History, AP World History, AP European History, AP US Government and Politics, AP Psychology, AP Calculus AB, AP Biology, AP Physics B, AP Chemistry, and AP Environmental Science.
This season, after helping hundreds of students from Long Island and New York City over the past five years, Long Island Regents Prep is introducing SAT Crash Courses, one-day review classes offered the weekend before each spring SAT exam. There will be three courses to chose from: SAT Critical Reading/Writing, SAT Math, and SAT Math/Critical Reading. All SAT Crash Course will be taught by certified teachers who attended elite universities and excelled on their standardized exams. In addition, courses will include a custom SAT workbook that students will use during the class and bring home with them.
Long Island Regents Prep is owned and operated by three current high school teachers who understand the importance of the Regents, AP, and SAT examinations. They have created clear, concise, six-hour review courses that provide students with the content, skills, and confidence they need to excel on their standardized exams. Finally, all classes are taught by experienced, highly-qualified, New York State-certified teachers in comfortable, state-of-the-art classrooms on the campus of Farmingdale State College, a State University of New York (SUNY) institution of higher learning.  Students can register online quickly, easily, and securely by visiting http://liregentsprep.wpengine.com.
What:
Review courses for Regents, Advanced Placement, and SAT exams
Where:
Farmingdale State College (Gleeson Hall)
2350 Broad Hollow Road
Farmingdale, NY 11735
When:
AP Review Classes – May 3 & 4, 2014 (9:00AM – 4:00PM)
Regents Review Classes – June 14, 15, & 21, 2014 (9:00AM – 4:00PM)
SAT Crash Courses – March 1, April 26, & May 31, 2014 (9:00AM – 4:00PM)
Registration:
Visit http://liregentsprep.wpengine.com for more information and to register for classes.
Contact Us:
Long Island Regents Prep
P.O. Box 1021
Bellmore, NY  11710
Call: (516) 847-1265
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @RegentsPrep
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/longislandregentsprep
About Long Island Regents Prep
Long Island Regents Prep, a teacher-owned and -operated company, offers one-day Regents, Advanced Placement, and SAT review classes at Farmingdale State College.