Hammer's Blog

Why the ACT Feels Easier than the SAT

2012-01-26T06:50:00.000-08:00

Before starting an SAT or ACT program with Hammer, we meet with each student and his or her family. While the main purpose of the meeting is to set goals, we find that discussing what students and parents are hearing as arguably the biggest benefit. When we ask students what they've heard from their friends about the SAT vs ACT, we typically get the following response,

"I've heard the ACT is easier."

Every tutor at Hammer Prep has taken dozens of SATs and ACTs, and we all agree that ACT questions are typically more straightforward. However, every tutor at Hammer Prep also knows that ACT test writers offset the more direct language with less time. For example, the ACT gives you 60 minutes for 60 math questions; SAT provides approximately 75 minutes for 60 math questions (please note: there are only 54 math questions on the SAT).

Our advice: be careful with how you use other students' feedback. Easy is relative--and is largely based on skill level. So, while the ACT may feel easier, don't assume you will score higher. Find out by taking a practice test.

When are ISEE scores available?

2012-01-23T09:58:00.000-08:00

If you paid the extra $30 rush order reporting, you can get the scores the week after the test--either Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. If not, the scores are sent in the mail within two weeks.

SAT Results for Hammer Students December 2011

2012-01-06T12:37:00.000-08:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar SAT scores on December 3, 2011. Students, thanks for making us look good. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's December 2011 SAT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 313 points
Average Cumulative Score: 1994
10.59 points per hour of coaching

View score data from previous SAT exams

In order to increase an SAT score, students must prep smart. We've developed the most efficient and effective one-on-one training program for the SAT. If you're interested in learning more, visit our website: www.hammerprep.com or call 858-793-7737.

SAT Score Gains from November 2011 SAT

2011-12-05T18:05:00.001-08:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar SAT scores on November 5, 2011. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's November 2011 SAT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 241 points
Average Cumulative Score: 1875
9.76 points per hour of coaching

Average Score Gains on October 2011 ACT

2011-11-01T18:01:00.000-07:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar ACT scores on October 22, 2011. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's October 2011 ACT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 16 points
Average Composite Score: 29
1 point per hour of coaching

View score data from previous SAT and ACT exams

In order to increase an SAT or ACT score, students must prep smart. We've developed the most efficient and effective one-on-one training program for the SAT and ACT. If you're interested in learning more, visit our website: www.hammerprep.com or call 858-793-7737.

Average Score Gains from October 2011 SAT

2011-11-01T17:52:00.000-07:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar SAT scores on October 1, 2011. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's March 2011 SAT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 194 points
Average Cumulative Score: 1856
6.42 points per hour of coaching

Don't Recommend the ACT if YOU Haven't Taken It

2011-10-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

There is no denying that we're constantly exposed to too much information. Unless you shut down your TV, laptop, cell phone, and move to the mountains, you need to be highly discretionary. For those of you who still have their web browser open, listen up! When it comes to picking the best test for you, never take advice from someone who hasn't taken both exams in the last year. This is especially true for the SAT and ACT. He or she is borrowing information--that can be reckless and terribly misleading.

Here is one argument I recently heard from a counselor.

"Oh, you're more of ACT person because you work hard in school and get good grades, but tests have never been your strength."

Stop and think about this statement. If you get good grades but struggle with tests, that's a loophole in the grading system. You are avoiding the problem, which probably is a mix of incorrect study habits and flawed testing skills. Perhaps you don't read carefully. Perhaps you do too much work in your head. Perhaps you try to memorize everything. Both the SAT and ACT will not allow you to circumvent these underlying issues.

Please do me a huge favor. The next time someone recommends the SAT over the ACT, or the ACT over the SAT, ask them how they know. Also, find out how they felt when they took both exams (just note there's a good chance they haven't taken these exams in the last decade). I'm not encouraging you to be irreverent. Rather, I'm encouraging you to exercise diligence. Are you really getting the best advice?

How to Improve SAT and ACT Reading Scores

2011-10-10T15:46:00.000-07:00

While this plan works for all student levels, it is especially geared towards students starting in the 400s. We've helped many students push through the 500 threshold over the years, but it's never easy. Reading is a skill and most students scoring below 500 (that's below 50 on the PSAT), haven't logged the practice hours. While there is not a surefire way to boost a reading score, the following plan has worked for many of Hammer's students. You must follow it exactly as stated below.

Step 1 - Acknowledge that reading is a skill and demands daily practice. The more you've avoided reading, the more work you have to do starting today.
Step 2 - Don't make excuses. Again, reading is a skill that requires constant practice.
Step 3 - Keep score. Give yourself 1 point for each reading passage and 1 point for every 5 words you learn.
Step 4 - Read one passage per day.

Establish a training schedule. We encourage our SAT and ACT students to subscribe to www.delanceyplace.com and read the daily post. It takes 5-10 minutes per day. We also encourage you to pull from the most popular articles at www.nytimes.com and www.wsj.com.

Step 5 - Learn 14 new words per week (that's 2 each day).

We provide our students with a word list, as well as encourage them to add words from daily reading to the list. A simple Google search for "SAT words" will provide more than enough to start with.

Step 6 - Understand that improvement will take several months, but the return is lifelong. Stick with it!
Step 7 - Avoid these Common Mistakes:

#1 - Reading for school rarely improves your reading comprehension.
#2 - Don't clump all of your reading practice into 1 or 2 days.
#3 - Don't create flashcards and forget to study them.

Step 8 - Congratulate yourself after every 20 points. Target the century mark: 100 points.

We've found that students who stick to a reading training program for 3 months or more experience huge point gains...usually in the 100+ range. Let us know if this plan works for you.

New ACT Practice Tests

2011-10-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

Finally, ACT has provided students with two new exams. I don't think they will win any awards for cover design, but the exams are hugely helpful. Unfortunately, the first three exams in the book are still the same. Purchase The Real ACT Prep Guide as seen below. Make sure it's the Third Edition. Happy Prepping!

Should I apply early or take the SAT again?

2011-08-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

Parents and students are too often influenced by misleading data, such as a higher percentage of students are admitted early decision to the most selective schools. While this may be true at some schools, keep in mind that schools have their most qualified candidates in that pool. I would even argue that at many schools it's actually more competitive applying early.

If you remember one thing, remember this: present the best application. If you're SAT score is just shy of the test average at a school you'd love to attend, hold off, study, take another test, and apply regular admission. Chances are you will land at your dream school with a little patience and perseverance.

How to Study for US History SAT Subject Test

2011-05-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

Step #1 - Purchase The Official SAT Subject Tests in U.S. & World History Study Guide (Official Sat Subject Tests in U.S. History and World History) and take the first US History exam.

Step #2 - Purchase Spark Notes SAT Subject Test: U.S. History.

Step #3 - Read Spark Notes and take notes. This should take you 10-20 hours.

Step #4 - Take notes on every question you missed on your baseline test from The Official SAT Subject Tests in U.S. & World History Study Guide (Official Sat Subject Tests in U.S. History and World History).

Step #5 - Take Exam #1 from Spark Notes.

Step #6 - Take notes on every question you missed.

Step #7 - Repeat steps 5 and 6 for exams 2 and 3 in Spark Notes. If you have time, purchase the online testing package from Spark Notes and take the 8 exams.

Step #8 -Take the 2nd exam from The Official SAT Subject Tests in U.S. & World History Study Guide (Official Sat Subject Tests in U.S. History and World History).

Let us know how you did in the comments section. Thanks.

Hammer vs the Big Companies

2011-05-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

We don't try to compete with the big companies such as Revolution Prep and Princeton Review. We focus on a hands-on-super-positive experience with every student instead of what other companies are doing. We have a big enough challenge just trying to service the hundreds of families that work with us each year. But it's inevitable that parents often ask how we compare, so we decided to provide a snapshot.

Before you read the comparison table, here are a few things to consider. First, we are comparing private tutoring services. Second, many of these companies offer several tiers of service. Since our tutors prepare students full-time with an average experience level of 2700 hours, we used each company's mid to high level service offering for comparison.

Here is how we stack up according to some very basic research.

	Hourly	Minimum hours	Money Back Guarantee	Proprietary Curriculum	Points/hour
Hammer Prep	$110-$130	No	No	Yes	8
Revolution Prep (Premium level)	$190-$250	8 hrs at $250/hr	No	Yes	Not available
Princeton Review (Premier Tutoring)	$275-$290	10 hrs at $290/hr	Yes, but read the fine print.	Yes	Not available

We'd enjoy hearing about both your positive and negative tutoring experiences. We welcome your stories in the comment section.

To Do List for May

2011-05-02T08:13:00.000-07:00

Here is the quick hit list for May for high schools students.

11th Graders - Juniors (rising seniors)

Print a two month calendar, May and June, and write down all exams: APs, SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, and Finals.
Study for AP exams, but don't obsess. Remember, AP exams play a very small role in college admissions.
Study for the SAT or ACT. Although there aren't any test dates in the summer, you will have several opportunities in fall of your senior year.
Study for SAT Subject Tests if you need them. Here is a list of schools that require SAT Subject Tests.
Study for Finals.
Review your class schedule for 12th grade.
Plan your summer based on your goals.

Look at summer camps, internships, or do something entrepreneurial.
Write out a college list based on your current GPA and test scores.
Based on your college list, determine a study schedule for the SAT or ACT. Summer is a perfect time to improve a reading score.

10th Graders - Sophomores (rising juniors)

Print a two month calendar and write down all upcoming exams: APs, SAT Subject Tests, and Finals.
Prioritize your finals and find study partners.
Create a very rough college list based on your current GPA and PSAT scores.
Review your class schedule for 12th grade.
Plan your summer:

Schedule SAT/ACT prep. We encourage students to take a baseline exam in May or June to get an accurate snapshot of where you're at. Occasionally, scores can deviate considerably form 10th grade PSAT scores.
Set goals for the summer and work towards them.
Create a reading list.

9th Graders - Freshman (rising sophomores)

Print a two month calendar and write down all upcoming exams: APs, SAT Subject Tests, and Finals.
Prioritize your finals and find study partners. Consider hiring a tutor to teach you how to study for finals.
Review your class schedule for 10th grade.
Plan your summer.

Spend at least 40 hours on something that aligns with an area of interest.
Create a reading list.

Which Schools Require SAT Subject Tests?

2011-04-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

ALERT: School policies may change each year, and we do not guarantee this information to be perfectly accurate (we will do the best we can to keep it updated). We highly recommend that you call each school to verify testing requirements. Also, this list does not include schools that both 'recommend' and 'highly recommend' SAT Subject Tests. Even though SAT Subject Tests are not required at these schools, we still recommend submitting 2 exams.

Does SAT prep really help?

2011-04-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

Without specific data from students, test prep companies, and tutors, it's impossible to say that prep does help. However, even without data, I can shed some light about prep and its potential impact of preparing the right way.

In order to understand how prep can help, it's important to understand the objective of the test. The SAT writes a test that provides consistent scores (i.e. students are not increasing scores after a few hours of studying). That's why the average score per section is roughly 500 every year. That's why students, on average, score nearly identical scores each time them retake the exam. Brutal, I know.

How does College Board (ETS) do this? It writes a test that is based more on reasoning (think patterns) than content. If you think about it, most high school exams grade students on their ability to recite material. The more you've memorized, the higher you score. With the SAT, memorizing formulas leads to little--if any--score increase.

What should students do to avoid scoring similar scores?
#1 - Look for patterns instead of memorizing.
#2 - Don't expect scores to automatically increase after an SAT class or a few hours with a tutor. Growth takes time. Establish short term and long term goals.
#3 - Practice reading critically.
#4 - Don't try to answer every question, unless you're aiming for a 700+. Students aiming for 600 to 650, for example, should only attempt 16 of 20 math questions. Skip the hard questions--the test gets a lot easier.
#5 - Use official SAT questions, The Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd edition.

If you have other tips, please share them.

March 2011 SAT Scores at Hammer Prep

2011-04-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar SAT scores on March 10, 2011. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's March 2011 SAT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 258 points
Average Cumulative Score: 1928
8.9 points per hour of coaching

To Do List for End of School Year

2011-03-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

Here is our quick hit list for high school students.

Freshmen. Prepare your finals schedule 4 weeks before exam week. Prioritize your classes. Preparing for finals is a skill; start learning the best methods of study. Read hammer's advice on How to Prepare for Finals. If you're looking for the perfect book on how to study, purchase What Smart Students Know: Maximum Grades. Optimum Learning. Minimum Time.

Sophomores. If you've taken any honors or AP level courses, check if there is an SAT Subject Test offered in any of those subjects. Take a diagnostic to determine your starting point, and write out a prep plan. Read Hammer's advice on How to Pick SAT Subject Tests.

Juniors. I know you're ready for the year to end yesterday! Just remember:marathons are won in the last 2 miles, not the first 24. You can either finish the year strong and follow our advice or...never-mind,there is no other option. Read Hammer's advice on How to Prepare for AP Exams.

Seniors. Wear sunscreen.

We've been helping students Hammer all tests and classes for more than a decade. Don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like some assistance.

How to Pick SAT Subject Tests

2011-03-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

Which Subject Tests should I take? When should I take them? Is 9th Grade too early to start?

Picking which SAT Subject Tests to take is challenging, but with this quick guide you should have no problem.

Step #1 - Decide if you need to take SAT Subject Tests.
Check if schools on your college list require SAT Subject Tests. If you don't have a college list, create one right away. Click here for a list of schools that require Subject Tests. Update: Starting with the class of 2012, students applying to UCs are no longer required to submit two SAT Subject Tests.

Step #2 - Pick SAT Subject Tests.
Write out a list of subjects and your current level. For English, write in your SAT Reading score (e.g. 630). Circle all AP and honors courses. Circle your SAT Reading score if it's greater than 600. Place a star next to the two classes you enjoy the most; also place a star next to English if your SAT Reading score is greater than 600. Place a star next to any subjects in which your taking an honors or AP level course.

Step #3 - Take diagnostic exams.
Purchase The Official Study Guide for All SAT Subject Tests (Real SATs). Take each subject area with two stars next to it, first. Take exams with only one star, next.

Step #4 - Evaluate your scores.
Score each exam. Using your college list, check to see if your scores are good enough. As a general rule, Subject Test scores should be similar to SAT averages. For example, Harvard's average SAT score per section is 740. If you're applying to Harvard, focus on achieving a score of 740 or higher on three exams.

Step #5 - Create a prep plan.
Write down your starting scores. Write down the scores you need. Create a practice schedule. Purchase prep books, or better yet, hire an expert at Hammer.

Prep for the SAT for Less than $13

2011-03-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

This prep program is based free resources found on the web and The Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd edition.

You will need the following:

SAT practice test (Make sure to print it)
The Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd edition (Buy it from Amazon for only $12.42)

Step 1 - Download and Print this SAT practice test. Make sure to print the exam.

Step 2 - Take the test, but ask a friend or family member to proctor it. Take the exam in one sitting and don't allow one-second extra. At Hammer Prep, we use the Taylor Digital Minute/Second Timer to proctor exams.

Step 3 - Enter your answers at Collegeboard.com. It's free.

Step 4 - Do some research. Compare how your current scores compare to the average scores at schools that you'd like to attend. Here is a quick guide on how to research schools and test scores.

Step 5 - Start your prep. Use Sparknotes free SAT guide.

Step 6 - Using The Official SAT Study Guide, follow the Xigi method. He explains it here.

Make sure you find time to consistently practice each day, and you will Hammer the test. Good luck.

How to Take a Practice ACT at Home

2011-03-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

If you're looking to take an ACT practice test at home, follow these guidelines.

Step 1 - Download Preparing for the ACT and print the test. You don't need to print the entire booklet, just the test and answer sheet.

Step 2 - Find someone to proctor the test for you. Never proctor your own test! At Hammer, we use Taylor Digital Minute/Second Timer, which costs $6 on Amazon.com.

Step 3 - Score it using the answer key provided in Preparing for the ACT.

Which Schools Superscore the ACT?

2011-02-28T17:29:00.000-08:00

Superscoring refers to the practice of taking the highest individual section scores from different test dates. For example, a student takes three ACT tests and scores the following:

English	Math	Reading	Writing	Composite
26	28	26	28	27
27	27	27	27	27
28	29	26	25	27

If the college superscores, the application would assume the student scored a composite of 28 by using the highlighted scores of 28,29,27, and 28. A little testing magic, no?

However, which schools superscore? Finding the answer can be daunting. Here is a site that has a list, collegeadmissionspartners.com. I can't verify the accuracy of this list, so I suggest you contact each school on your college list to learn its official policy.

Also, here is an earlier post on How to Superscore the ACT.

What is tested on the World History SAT Subject Test?

2011-02-01T14:23:00.000-08:00

Over the years, I've seen many students under-perform on SAT Subject Tests because they focus too much energy on AP exams. While AP exams and SAT Subject Tests test many of the same topics, preparing for one doesn't adequately prepare a student for the other. Be smart and know how the exams are different.

What is actually tested on SAT Subject Test World History?

Chronological Material		Geographical Material
25%	Prehistory and civilizations to the year 500 Common Era (C.E.)	25%	Global or comparative
20%	500 to 1500 C.E.	25%	Europe
25%	1500 to 1900 C.E.	10%	Africa
20%	Post-1900 C.E.	10%	Southwest Asia
10%	Cross-chronological	10%	South and Southeast Asia
		10%	East Asia
		10%	The Americas (excluding the United States)

Make sure to read our blog on how to prepare for SAT Subject Test World History.

SAT Reading Curve vs ACT Reading Curve

2011-01-31T15:45:00.000-08:00

As I reviewed a student's ACT report yesterday, I noticed he had only missed 3 reading questions but scored a 34 out of 36 (A 34 is roughly equivalent to a 750-760 on the SAT.). I never realized how quickly scores dropped at the top of the ACT curve. Consequently, I decided to do some research. I opened to Practice Test 1 in The Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd edition and reviewed the conversion table. If this same student takes an SAT and misses 3 reading questions, he'd earn a 780. If he skips 1 question and misses 2, he'd earn an 800.

Is it easier to score higher on the SAT?

Colleges Can See Your SAT Essay

2011-01-25T14:28:00.000-08:00

I learn something new every day in the education business--that's why you will find me in this field for the rest of my life. Today, I found out that colleges have access to a digital copy of your SAT essay. Go here, http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/scores/online-essay-viewing, to learn more.

What are the chances that colleges are actually reading these essays? I would argue slim to none, but I'd enjoy getting your thoughts.

Do colleges actually read your SAT essay?

How to Find Free Prep Books on the Web

2011-01-03T23:13:00.000-08:00

I was doing a basic search the other day using Google and noticed something really helpful for students: free test prep books for the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and GMAT. All you need is Google books. While you can't get every book--and many publishers restrict your ability to view pages--, there is still a considerable amount of material available.

Instructions
1 - Go to books.google.com.

2 - Type in a popular title such as "Cracking the ACT" by Princeton Review (Cracking the ACT, 2011 Edition (College Test Preparation).
3 - Pick an edition. I selected the 2010 edition.
4 - Click on the title. Read through the entire book and work through practice questions on scratch paper.
5 - Repeat for other books. I also tried Cracking the SAT and 1,296 ACT Practice Questions. Amazing.

Tips

Make sure the preview link is available on the second line.
Some pages will not be available in a scanned version of the book, but what do you expect, it's FREE?!

November 2010 SAT Scores at Hammer Prep

2010-12-21T17:09:00.000-08:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar SAT scores on November 6, 2010. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's November 2010 SAT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 285 points
Average Cumulative Score: 2027
9.2 points per hour of coaching

When is the ISEE offered in San Diego?

2010-12-04T18:34:00.000-08:00

Here is a list of ISEE test dates in San Diego.
Students have many different dates to take the ISEE. Before registering for a specific test date, it is important to check application deadlines and grade level availability. For example, the January 29th test at Pacific Ridge is not offered to lower level students.

Test Date	Register by	Name of School	Grade
Nov. 14*	~~Oct. 23~~	~~Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School~~	~~5-12~~
~~Nov. 20~~	~~Oct. 30~~	~~La Jolla Country Day School~~	~~5-12~~
~~Dec. 4~~	~~Nov. 13~~	~~La Jolla Country Day School~~	~~5-12~~
~~Jan. 8~~	~~Dec. 18~~	~~The Bishop's School~~	~~6-12~~
~~Jan. 8~~	~~Dec. 18~~	~~Francis Parker School~~	~~5-12~~
Jan. 16*	Dec. 24	Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School	5-12
Jan. 22	Dec. 31	The Bishop's School	6-12
Jan. 22	Dec. 31	The Children’s School	5-12
Jan. 22	Dec. 31	La Jolla Country Day School	5-12
Jan. 22	Dec. 31	Maranatha Christian Schools	6-12
Jan. 29	Jan. 8	Pacific Ridge School	7-12
Jan. 29	Jan. 8	Warren-Walker School	5-8
Feb. 5	Jan. 15	The Children’s School	5-12
Feb. 5	Jan. 15	Francis Parker School	5-12
Feb. 6*	Jan. 15	Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School	5-12
Feb. 12	Jan. 22	La Jolla Country Day School	5-12
Feb. 12	Jan. 22	Pacific Ridge School	7-12
Mar. 6*	Feb. 12	Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School	5-12
Mar. 19	Feb. 26	Maranatha Christian Schools	6-12
Mar. 19	Feb. 26	Warren-Walker School	5-8
Apr. 16	Mar. 26	La Jolla Country Day School	5-12
Apr. 30	Apr. 9	Warren-Walker School	5-8
May 21	Apr. 30	Maranatha Christian Schools	6-12
Aug. 4*	Jul. 14	Maranatha Christian Schools	6-12

SAT and ACT Now Have the Same Number of Test Takers

2010-12-02T11:01:00.000-08:00

It has finally happened...the ACT caught up with the SAT. Read Bob Shaffer's article at The Answer Sheet. He is founder of Fairtest, which "works to end the misuses and flaws of standardized testing and to ensure that evaluation of students, teachers and schools is fair, open, valid and educationally beneficial."

Mr. Schaeffer doesn't favor the ACT over the SAT. Instead, he argues that the ACT has caught up to the SAT in popularity because it is more "consumer friendly". He also provides some interesting data to support the claim that grades are much better predictors of college success.

Read the full article.

How NOT to Increase Your SAT Scores

2010-11-19T06:36:00.000-08:00

Since I read "The Talent Code" by Daniel Coyle, I've proselytized his message to students and parents. He dispels the myth that high achievers are just born that way. Instead, he argues that high levels of achievement are the result of careful practice and great coaching. In a recent blog entry, Daniel Coyle describes how not to develop your talent. All three ideas apply seamlessly to SAT prep. Students, avoid these pitfalls and you will be on your way to high scores.

Taken from Daniel Coyle's blog at www.thetalentcode.com.

Deadly Habit #1: Thou Shalt Ignore Your Mistakes.

In order to develop your talent slowly, you should never, ever review your performance. You should regard errors as unfortunate, unavoidable events, and do your best to immediately hide their existence or, even better, erase them from your memory.

Deadly Habit #2: Thou Shalt Avoid Ritual.

In order to develop your talent slowly, you should approach each practice and performance as if you’ve never, ever done it before. You should be casual. You should avoid any repetition of actions, thoughts, or patterns of any kind, and instead make every day completely different.

Deadly Habit #3: Thou Shalt Not Steal.

In order to develop your talent slowly, you should regard your talent as your own private creation, and your challenges as private challenges that only you can solve. Don’t look elsewhere for guidance; certainly not to other performers.

October 2010 SAT Scores at Hammer Prep

2010-11-17T16:26:00.001-08:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar SAT scores in October 9, 2010. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's October 2010 SAT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 204 points
Average Cumulative Score: 1857
7 points per hour of coaching

Surfers, Apply for an Academic Scholarship

2010-11-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

The International Surfing Association (ISA), the World Governing Authority for Surfing, is now accepting applications for the 2011 ISA Individual Scholarship Program. The ISA aims to award 25 scholarships to junior surfers around the world.

The Scholarship Program is open to all junior surfers, age 18 and under. Applicants must prove financial need, be enrolled in school with good standing, and be an inspirational role model to the surfing community.

Apply here

When are ISEE scores available?

2010-11-07T13:05:00.000-08:00

ERB offers three ways to receive your ISEE results.

The standard option that is included with registration.
#1 - A copy of the Individual Student Report is sent to your household within 7-10 days of the test date. Also, copies of ISR and essay may be sent to 6 schools.

Pay an extra $30 and you can receive your scores early.
#2 - Reports by telephone are available by phone on the first Monday, Wednesday and Friday after the test. Call 1-800-446-0320.

#3 - Online scores are available for an extra $30 if you registered online. Scores on the web are available at the same time as the reports by telephone.

Remember, the essay is not scored and will be sent directly to the schools you provided during registration.

When to Start ISEE Preparation

2010-10-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

When is the best time to begin focused ISEE preparation?

Allow 3 months for noticeable improvement. But the breadth of prep is best determined by the starting point of a student. A starting point should always be determined by a baseline test. If you'd like to take a baseline ISEE at Hammer, call us at 858-793-7737.

Prep Schedule for ISEE

ISEE Test Dates	December	January
Start in	September	October

Some added notes:

Take a baseline test in the month before the suggested start date. For example, for students testing in January, take a baseline test in September.
We encourage most of our students to register for a late January exam since it provides a few weeks after the holidays to refine testing skills.

Does retaking the SAT increase your score?

2010-10-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

Too often, I'm left delivering the statistical reality of the SAT. Instead of hearing it from me, I've decided to let The College Board deliver the news.

Here is what The College Board states on its website:

On average, juniors repeating the SAT as seniors improved their combined critical reading, mathematics, and writing scores by approximately 40 points.
55 percent of juniors taking the test improved their scores as seniors.
35 percent had score drops.
10 percent had no change.
The higher a student's scores as a junior, the more likely that student's subsequent scores will drop.
The lower the initial scores, the more likely the scores will go up.
About 1 in 25 gained 100 or more points on critical reading or mathematics, and about 1 in 90 lost 100 or more points.

What does this mean for you? In order for scores to improve, you need to make significant changes. These changes will not happen overnight. But scores can and do increase with consistent practice.

College Board data from http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/scores/retake

How to Pick an ISEE Test Date

2010-10-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

If you're reading this post, you're probably thinking about applying to private schools. While there are many test dates available in your area, picking the right test date will have an impact on your child's score.
Instructions

Write down a list of schools. Next to each school, write down the application deadline.

Here are some quick links to the admission calendars at Bishop's, Francis Parker, La Jolla Country Day, and Pacific Ridge.

Visit ISEE site and select the application grade and location.
Review test dates in your area. Try to avoid registering for the last available test date before an application deadline in case of illness. For example, if the application deadline is February 1st, register for the January 22nd test instead of the January 29th date.
Pick a test location close to your home.
Register online.
Prep sufficiently.

When to take the ISEE in San Diego

2010-10-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

For the 2011 application season, we are encouraging students to take the ISEE on January 22, 2011 at one of the four available testing sites in San Diego. Since most of our students apply to Bishop's, Francis Parker, La Jolla Country Day, and Pacific Ridge, this test date provides sufficient time for scores to be sent before the application deadline of February 1, 2011.

Copies of the score reports and essay are sent within 7 to 10 business days to schools that you've requested. You can send up to 6 reports as part of the $89 registration fee. Also, we suggest that you pay $30 for the online score reporting service. Scores are available the first Monday or Wednesday following the test.

To search test dates and to register go here.

What is the cost of the ISEE?

2010-10-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of the ISEE testing fees. As part of your registration fee, you will receive up to 6 reports. Also, the rush reports fee is only necessary if you'd like to see the scores the Monday or Wednesday after the exam. Otherwise, it will be sent by snail mail.

Registration Fee:	$89.00
Change of Registration Fee:	$20.00
Additional Score Reports:	$20.00 for up to six reports
Rush Reports by Phone or Internet:	$30.00

How to Prepare for the PSAT

2010-09-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

The PSAT is just around the corner. Students take the test either October 13th or October 16th at their school. Although the PSAT is not used for college admissions, it is still a good idea to "get to know" the exam. Pick up a free test from your counseling department and complete it. To evaluate your performance on this "pre-PSAT", answer the following questions:

Did you miss any "easy" questions? The difficulty level of questions should be labeled in the answer key. In general, higher number questions are harder than lower number questions.
Did you miss most of the "hard" questions? Try to identify why these questions are missed by most students.
How was your pacing? Learning to skip around in an exam is essential. You'd be surprised to learn that by answering 70 percent of questions correctly, you'd earn a score north of 190.
How is this test different from a test at school? Write down your observations.

After you receive your score report (either in Dec or Jan),

Evaluate your performance. Read this blog for instructions.
Start addressing your areas of weakness immediately!

How to Write College Application Essays

2010-09-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

In addition to everything else that is going on senior year, students are asked write numerous application essays. The biggest hurdle, it seems, is deciding on a topic. Essay prompts tend to land in one of two categories: 1) specific topic or 2) choose your own. Do you choose the specific topic and write about something that doesn't interest you? Or, do you choose your own topic even though you have no idea what to write about?

Here are some tips:
#1 - Carefully plan the application process based on your college list.
#2 - Gather topic ideas from people who know you: parents, siblings, and friends.
#3 - Write about something you know and enjoy.
#4 - Write in any style you choose, but don't forget to follow the basic fundamentals of writing.
#5 - Make sure at least two skilled editors--other than your parents--review your essays.
#6 - Make sure you directly address the prompt. Don't recklessly recycle essays from different applications.

Don't forget that Hammer provides expert essay assistance from planning to final drafts. To learn about more, give us a call at 858-793-7737 or complete our online form.

How to Decide if SAT or ACT Scores are Good Enough

2010-09-23T11:31:00.000-07:00

To check if your test scores are a good match for schools on your list, follow these steps. I've chosen LMU as an example.

Search colleges of interest.
Use the college search finder on collegeboard.com.

Calculate the 50th percentile for first year students.
For SAT scores, calculate the average of each section score.

For LMU, write down Reading 580, Math 600, and Writing 560. I don't think LMU considers the writing section score at this time.

For ACT scores, calculate the average of the composite score.

For LMU, write down 26.

Write down your highest Reading and Math scores for the SAT; it doesn't matter if you achieved these scores on different test dates. Write down your highest ACT score from one test date.

Evaluate your candidacy.

If you're above the 50th-percentile (e.g. 580 for math), but below the 75th-percentile (e.g. 630 for math), you're a good candidate.
If you're above the 75th-percentile, you're a strong candidate--and you're on track to receive an academic scholarship from the college.
If you're below the 25th-percentile (e.g. 530 for math), consider taking the SAT or ACT again. Keep in mind that 25 percent of admits score below this number, so don't become too discouraged.

How many days until I receive my ACT scores?

2010-09-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

It takes at least 16 days to receive your ACT multiple choice scores through your student web account. If your scores are not available on the first available date, check back each week on Wednesday and Friday.

Writing scores are available 2 weeks after your multiple choice scores.

2010–2011

National or International Test Dates	Multiple-Choice Scores First Posted Online
September 11, 2010	September 27, 2010 – November 5, 2010
October 23, 2010	November 9, 2010 – December 27, 2010
December 11, 2010	December 27, 2010 – February 4, 2011
February 12, 2011	February 28, 2011 – April 8, 2011
April 9, 2011	April 25, 2011 – June 3, 2011
June 11, 2011	June 27, 2011 – August 5, 2011

Here is a direct link to the ACT website, http://www.actstudent.org/scores/early/index.html.

How to Order a Copy of My ACT Test

2010-09-12T13:34:00.000-07:00

ACT makes 3 tests per season available to test-takers. I highly recommend ordering any exam you take.

Here are the available test dates for the 2010-11 testing season.

Saturday, December 11, 2010
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011

To order, download the Test Information Release Form. The cost is $18.

How to Decide When to Begin SAT and ACT Preparation

2010-08-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

When is the best time to begin focused SAT and ACT preparation?

We find that students do best when they begin focused preparation in the summer before junior year. Allow 3 to 6 months for serious point gains. If you're only focused on one section, start practicing 6 weeks before an exam.

Prep Schedule for SAT

SAT Test Dates	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	March	May	June
Start in	June	July	August	Sep	Oct	Dec	Jan

Prep Schedule for ACT

ACT Test Dates	Sep	Oct	Dec	Feb	April	June
Start in	June	June	August	Oct	Nov	Jan

SAT test and registration dates
ACT test and registration dates

How to Understand NYU's New Policy for Standardized Tests

2010-08-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

I spent 20-minutes reading and re-reading NYU's blurb about testing requirements. News flash: creating many different possibilities does not reduce the stress of the application process; it increases stress. My advice to colleges: go back to the old policy of requiring an SAT or ACT. It was much easier.

What are the new Standardized Testing Requirements at NYU?
Student can submit:

The SAT Reasoning Test or;
The ACT (with Writing Test) or;
Three SAT Subject Test scores (one in literature or the humanities, one in math or science, and one non-language test of the student’s choice) or;
Three AP exam scores earned prior to senior year (one in literature or the humanities, one in math or science, and one non-language of the student’s choice) or;
Any combination of Subject Tests and APs (e.g. 2 Subject Tests and 1 AP) or;
Two APs or 2 Subject Tests if you "can demonstrate evidence of an extraordinary accomplishment outside of normal classroom"

NYU advises students to submit all your test scores and to let admissions determine the best policy for you.

We'd enjoy hearing from students and what they think of this new policy. Is it less stressful?

Will taking the SAT before the PSAT affect my eligibility for National Merit?

2010-08-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

"Will taking the SAT before the PSAT affect my eligibility for National Merit?"

I called the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to make sure, but the answer is NO. To become a national merit scholarship finalist, you do need to take both the PSAT and the SAT. However, you don't have to take the SAT after the PSAT to qualify. Any SAT test score from your sophomore year or higher would be acceptable as proof of qualification if you reach semifinalist status.

Here is the relevant information for the scholarship from this year's award: http://www.nationalmerit.org/Merit_R&I_Leaflet.pdf

How to Select the Right Tutor

2010-08-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

Finding the right tutor for your child is challenging. But if you ask the following questions, you should be able to gather some helpful information.

#1 - Do you provide training for your tutors?
By law, any company that uses independent contractors cannot provide training to employees. If a company is using an independent contractors--and most are--, make sure he or she has hundreds of hours of tutoring experience. Otherwise, you may end of paying for a tutor with limited tutoring experience and with no training. Ouch.

#2 - How experienced is the tutor?
Be very careful how you ask this question since the answer can be easily manipulated. Many tutors claim to have many years of experience in the form of helping friends or helping siblings; that's not the same as professional tutoring. It's best to ask how many hours the tutor works per week? Per month? Per year? Hopefully the tutor spends at least 10 hours per week with students. An experienced, professional tutor spends more than 25 hours per week.

#3 - How do you assess a student's needs?
For standardized tests, tutors should use a baseline exam from the official testing company; avoid any test that is not written by the actual testing company. Read more about how to make sure it's an official exam here. For academic tutoring, ongoing assessments are the most valuable.

#4 - What material will the tutor use?
For academic tutoring, look for tutors who will use the student's curriculum to develop better study habits and learn new concepts. For test prep, look for companies that write their own material, but use official exam questions whenever possible.

#5 - What is the cost per hour?
You get what you pay for. Here are my other posts about the cost of tutoring.

#6 - Do you have any references I can call?

For Test Prep only...

#7 - Will the student have the option to take group practice exams?
The most experienced tutors in your area tend to be the independent, full-time tutors. However, most of these tutors are unable to provide group practice exams for students. Instead, they ask the students to take the test at home with a parent as a proctor. This is not the same.

#8 - Do you have a score increase guarantee?
If yes, hang up. As much as a company may believe in its ability to raise scores, there are no guarantees when it comes to test scores. Almost every single guarantee policy contains safety clauses for the company, making the policy nothing more than a marketing gimmick. Read more about my take on score guarantees here.

How to study for ACT after studying for SAT

2010-07-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

I've written extensively about the differences between the SAT and ACT, which I feel are minimal. But I've never addressed how to prepare for the ACT after studying for the SAT. If you prepare properly for an SAT, you're prepared for an ACT--well, almost.

Step 1 - Take a practice ACT to determine your baseline score. Download an official test at http://www.act.org/aap/pdf/preparing.pdf.

Step 2 - Purchase The Real ACT Prep Guide: The Only Guide to Include 3Real ACT Tests. Use it for the tests only! Don't expect to learn any useful strategies from the test writers :)

Step 3 - Review some math concepts.

Review logs and matrices:
http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/act/chapter10section4.rhtml. Keep it very, very simple. You only have to be familiar with the concepts.
Review formulas for circles and ellipses: http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/act/chapter10section5.rhtml.
Review introductory level trig concepts: http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/act/chapter10section7.rhtml.
That's it for the math!

Step 4 - Learn three key strategies:
#1 - Apply the same writing (grammar), math, and reading strategies used on the SAT.
#2 - Don't omit any questions. That doesn't mean you should spend time on every question.
#3 - Don't read science passages and summaries. Go directly to the questions.

Step 5 - Take each practice test from The Real ACT Prep Guide: The Only Guide to Include 3Real ACT Tests, adjust to the pacing, and study all of your mistakes.

June 2010 SAT Scores at Hammer Prep

2010-07-10T16:23:00.000-07:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar SAT scores in June 2010. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's June 2010 SAT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 222 points
Average Cumulative Score: 1819
9.25 points per hour of coaching

How to Decide if You should Submit the ACT instead of SAT and SAT Subject Tests

2010-07-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

This is our second installment from our new series, Expert Guidance, that asks questions to the most experienced college counselors in San Diego. The answers in this installment are provided by Marjorie Shaevitz of adMission Possible, Bonnie Laughlin, Director of College Counseling at Pacific Ridge School, and Ruth Warburg, College Consultant.

Q. If a school takes the ACT in lieu of the SAT and SAT Subject Tests, should students still submit SAT Subject Tests?

A

No. Why bother, unless one’s SAT scores are higher than the ACT scores. Rule of thumb: when in doubt, only submit your highest scores, whether that’s SAT or ACT unless otherwise told by application directions.

-Marjorie Shaevitz, Founder of adMission Possible

I advise students to take the test that they will score highest on. And recently, many of my students have favored the ACT.

-Bonnie Laughlin, Director of College Counseling at Pacific Ridge

At this point, if the subject tests are above 600, I do have my students submit those scores. That may change next year as more schools drop their requirement.

-Ruth Warburg, College Consultant

May 2010 SAT Scores at Hammer

2010-06-05T13:54:00.000-07:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar SAT scores in May 1, 2010. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's May 2010 SAT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 258 points
Average Cumulative Score: 1861
8 points per hour of coaching

Do Any Schools Prefer the SAT to the ACT?

2010-05-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

This is our first entry from our new series, Expert Guidance, that asks questions to the most experienced college counselors in San Diego. The answers in this installment are provided by Marjorie Shaevitz of adMission Possible, Bonnie Laughlin, Director of College Counseling at Pacific Ridge School, and Ruth Warburg, College Consultant.

If you find these answers as insightful as we did, we encourage you to post your thoughts in the comments section. Enjoy.

Q. Do highly selective schools prefer the SAT to the ACT?

A

In my mind the data reflects the behavior of the students, not the attitudes of the Ivies and other schools. At national conventions of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, colleges including the Ivies swear that there is no difference in how they perceive the usefulness of the SAT and ACT. Many, many of my students have used ACT scores only when they successfully applied to the very competitive schools such as Yale, Princeton and Stanford.

My guess is that in general students are not as familiar with the ACT and they are holding onto old, inaccurate admissions wives’ tales about colleges preferring the SAT to the ACT.

I think there is a big difference in how different students perform on the two tests and I urge all my students to take a practice ACT and SAT to see which one is a better one for them.

-Marjorie Shaevitz, Founder of adMission Possible

In my many conversations with college professionals and admission officers, there are no indications of a preference for the SAT. I feel the SAT--at least on the East Coast--is more popular, and students consequently focus on the SAT.

Additionally, many students applying to highly selective schools qualify for a National Merit Scholarship. These students have to take an SAT in order to secure the scholarship. That could partially explain why more students are submitting the SAT to highly selective schools.

I advise students to take the test that they will score highest on. And recently, many of my students have favored the ACT.

-Bonnie Laughlin, Director of College Counseling at Pacific Ridge School, San Diego, CA

I am not certain when the data was collected and the fact that the data came from College Board is a bit suspect. I had three kids get into Yale this year; all took the ACT. Three going to Northwestern; all took ACT. My gut is that we try to find out which test is a better fit for the student and go with that.

-Ruth Warburg, College Consultant

How to Use Calculator Tricks on the SAT Math Level 2 Subject Test

2010-05-27T18:03:00.000-07:00

A fundamental part of our prep program for the SAT Subject Test Math Level 2 is learning to strategically use your graphing calculator. Upwards of 30 percent of questions on the Mathe Level 2 can be solved with a solid understanding of how to enlist these mini computers.

This is a great book to study to earn some extra points. Good luck, and let us know if you have additional recommendations for students.

How to Decide Between the SAT and ACT

2010-04-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

First, decided if you have 8 hours of your life to dedicate to evaluating which test to take. If you do, download both exams from their respective websites:
Download the SAT
Download the ACT

Second, take both exams. Don't take both exams on the same day.

Third, use a conversion table to convert your ACT score to an SAT score. If your ACT score is more than 100 points higher than your SAT score, focus on the ACT. If your SAT scores is more than 100 points higher than your ACT, study for the SAT.

Finally, pick your favorite test and prepare for it.

How to Organize Your Testing Schedule at the End of Junior Year

2010-04-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

April is my least favorite time of year in the prep business. We field more phone calls than any other month, yet we land a small percentage of new clients. Why? It's the panicked-my-Son-is-a-Junior-Mom call. It's the student who "forgot" to prep or took an SAT class that didn't work; now they're hunting the quick fix. Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes on the SAT. Think about it: if students could raise an SAT score by 100 points with a couple of weeks of practice, everyone would do it and scores would be invalid. Colleges would deem the scores useless--and the SAT would be placed in the same waste pile as the Walkman. Unfortunately, scores only improve with a tremendous amount of practice. After all, it's a reasoning test. In other words, it's not testing whether or not students can fire back hundreds of facts. Instead, the SAT forces students to manage familiar concepts in an unfamiliar organizational structure.

Here is my advice for students trying to get a quick fix on the final test dates of the school year:

Relax. You have several test dates during your Senior year before admission deadlines.

Prep Smart. Chances are if you're feeling anxious now, you didn't prep properly to begin with. That's all the more reason to make sure you do it right this time. Don't take a May or a June test unprepared--that's the worst thing you can do. Create an extensive study plan for the Summer, and focus on the tests in September or October.

Be realistic. If you've increased your scores 300-plus points from your 11th grade PSAT, don't expect another 300-point gain. Target a 100 point increase.

March 2010 SAT Scores at Hammer

2010-04-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar SAT scores in March 2010. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's March 2010 SAT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 257 points
Average Cumulative Score: 1963
10 points per hour of coaching

How to Decide about taking the World History SAT Subject Test after European History

2010-04-16T22:30:00.000-07:00

Should I take the World History SAT Subject Test after taking European History?

Probably not. Only 25 percent of the World History SAT Subject Test questions test European history. Therefore, you'd have to spend a lot of time learning about the other 75 percent of the world and its history to Hammer the test. If you're not taking World History, we recommend waiting to ace the US History test at the end of 11th grade. After all, you can't submit two history exams as your SAT Subject Test requirement.

Here is the complete distribution of topics on the World History test from Collegeboard.com.

Topics on the Test


		25%	Europe
		10%	Africa
		10%	Southwest Asia
		10%	South and Southeast Asia
		10%	East Asia
		10%	The Americas (excluding the United States)
		25%	Global or comparative

SAT Subject Tests--what your school is not telling you

2010-04-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

After a decade on the private side of education, I've seen and heard a lot. And I'm always bothered by the lack of proper advisement from teachers and counselors on SAT Subject Tests. This is not an attempt to slam schools--we all know they have enough to do. It's merely a challenge to schools to better advise their students.

Counselors often tell students to take SAT Subject Tests so they don't miss any opportunities. Consequently, students are taking the Biology SAT Subject Test at the end of 10th grade after taking standard Biology. Not a good idea.

Instead, a counselor should ask a student what schools she is considering. If she has no clue, then review her class schedule. If the student isn't taking any honors courses as a 10th grader, she shouldn't be taking an SAT Subject Test.

AP Teachers often tell their students that since they will prepare for the AP test, they should also sign up for the Subject Test.

Instead, teachers should tell their students that AP prep should help them prepare for the SAT Subject Test. However, it's really important to take at least one practice SAT Subject Test. These teachers should make sure their students purchase The Official Study Guide for All SAT Subject Tests and take the included test. Help them evaluate their scores and decided on a plan of action.

Finally tell them that SAT Subject Tests are an admission requirement at schools such as Harvard, Yale, Pamona, Boston University (i.e. the most selective schools in the country). AP tests are not required, but high scores can reduce the cost of your college education. So, do your best to Hammer both exams.

How to Study for US History Subject Test

2010-04-06T18:02:00.000-07:00

Step #1 - Don't rely on your AP teacher (or AP prep) to get you ready for the Subject Test. You may get an unpleasant surprise when College Board sends your scores. It's a different test so make sure you prepare differently. In case you're interested, here is Hammer's guide to preparing for AP exams.

Step #2 - Purchase the following prep books:

Step #3 - Take the first test in The Official Study Guide in U.S. and World History without any prep--that's the book published by College Board pictured above. Keep in mind that the USH test in The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests (not pictured) contains one of the two USH exams from the US and World History book.

Step #4 - Compare this score to the reading and writing averages at the colleges on your college list.

Step #5 - Write down your score goal and create a study calendar. Goals should be aligned with your college list and your SAT scores.

Step #6 - Study the Kaplan book.

Step #7 - Take Test #1 from Kaplan. Study any questions you've missed. Consider rereading some pages in your US History Textbook for remediation.

Step #8 - Repeat for tests #2 and #3.

Step #9 - Take Test #2 from The Official SAT Subject Tests book.

Step #10 - Reward yourself for all of your hard work.

How Hammer Picks Your Best SAT Subject Tests

2010-04-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

First, and most important, what are your college goals? I want your SAT Subject Tests scores to align with the SAT averages at these schools. So, for example, if you're applying to UCLA, I want both Subject Tests to be above 650, and at sum of 1400 or more.

Second, what are your SAT scores? I want your Subject Tests scores to align with your SAT scores. For example, if you scored a 710 on the SAT math, I don't want you to show a 640 on the Math Level 2 to a college.

Third, what are your best subjects? You only need to submit two Subject Tests to small number of schools that require them. Therefore, I want to make sure that you find at least two Subject Tests you can Hammer. Some are easier to prep for than others--and I will make sure to point you in that direction.

Fourth are miscellaneous factors based on my decade of experience helping students get into the most selective schools. Are you applying to a program that requires a specific Subject Test? Are you interested in Pre Med? Will you gain a competitive advantage by submitting more than the required Subject Tests?

Harvard Reduces SAT Subject Tests Requirement

2010-04-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

Harvard finally joined the rest of the Ivy League Schools by changing its admission requirements for students in the class of 2011 and beyond. Students are required to submit an SAT or ACT and two SAT Subject Tests. Prior to this year, students were required to submit three SAT Subject Tests.

Pulled from Harvard's website on April 1, 2010.

"All applicants must take the SAT or the ACT (with the writing component) as well as two Subject Tests. Students should not submit two Subject Tests in mathematics to meet this requirement."

Now Georgetown is the only college that requires three SAT Subject Tests. Hopefully, they will change their policy soon to mirror those of Harvard.

How to Superscore the ACT

2010-03-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

If you've taken the ACT multiple times, some schools will take your highest section scores from different test dates. The problem: each school has its own policy, so finding out which schools Superscore is time consuming. It will take many hours. A quick word of advice--call the schools instead of searching through college websites. It's much faster. Here is a quick link to a list I found with a Google search.

If you find a school that Superscores the ACT, such as Brown University, you have some work to do--and some money to spend. ACT, unfortunately, releases only one exam per request. Therefore, if you plan to send three ACT tests to Brown so it can take your highest section scores, you need to pay for three score reports. That's $27 according the ACT fee schedule. If you need to do that for 9 other schools, you've just spent an extra $270 on college applications.

In contrast, College Board, allows you to send all your SAT scores for $9.50. That's it, no additional fees. And that list of schools that Superscore the SAT is massive in comparison to schools that Superscore the ACT.

I'm confident that more schools will begin to Superscore the ACT, but for now, the SAT dominates the ACT in Superscore friendliness. It cost significantly less and more schools honor the policy. For some students, this may be reason enough to stick with the SAT.

Also, here is a post on finding a list of schools that superscore the ACT.

Great Expectations

2010-03-13T18:45:00.000-08:00

After seeing some of my students frustrated at "only" increasing their SAT score by 200+ points, I feel like it's important to address the idea of setting high expectations. Don't get me wrong - every student should be working towards a goal in order to get motivated, and it's good for you to reach high. But there are some pitfalls in the expectation game. I'll try to address the types of expectations I see my students struggling with and some things parents should and shouldn't do to help their kid achieve the highest score they can.

Peer Expectation

"What did you get?" All of our students talk to their friends about their SAT scores or hear from other kids who did fantastically well on the test. The average score on the SAT is around a 1500. Should I say that again? THE AVERAGE SCORE ON THE SAT IS AROUND A 1500. If it seems like every kid at your school scored over a 2000, it's because people love to brag when they do well. There's no need to compare yourself to other kids at your school, to your brothers or sisters, or to your parents. Look up the average scores at the colleges you are targeting - those are the scores you're shooting for. It doesn't matter if every other kid in your grade does better as long as YOU get into the school YOU want to go to.

Self Expectation

You are your own worst critic, and this is especially true when it comes to standardized tests. The best way to improve your score is through deliberate practice, and sometimes you're going to get questions wrong. Embrace the process, and learn from your mistakes instead of beating yourself up over a low score. Practice strategies perfectly, and figure out what you could have changed in your process when you get a question wrong. Remember to be specific with this. "Think better" is not a feasible change; "Cross out all prepositional phrases" is.

Parental Expectation

Having parents who care is a blessing. Having parents that care too much... well, it can be stressful! I see a lot of students struggling to meet an arbitrary goal that their parents have created for them, without knowing exactly why they're working so hard. Part of motivating a student is making sure they have a reason to do better. If a student really wants to go to a specific school, that's their motivation to improve and beat the SAT. If their parents are just pushing them to go to an Ivy, all they're doing is running on a treadmill with no idea why they're there. Most of the time they simply end up flustered and frustrated. So here is my list of Dos and Don'ts for parents:

Do: Talk with your child about their goals for the SAT, and let them drive the process.

Don't: Pressure them to reach a specific score or grill them about why they haven't reached it yet. Many students suffer from text anxiety, and putting undue pressure on them to get a great score can backfire in the worst way.

Do: Show interest in what they're doing, if they don't mind you asking. Explaining the concepts they've been taught to someone else can be a powerful aid to learning.

Don't: Push a kid into doing prep if they absolutely don't want to - it'll end up giving you (and me) a bad case of indigestion. Our sessions should be fun and informative - if the student hates going to them, they won't do any good anyway. Luckily for me, all of my students LOVE coming to SAT practice!

Do: Help them study certain things. Quiz them on vocabulary, take them to the library to check out books, discuss news articles with them. Ask them if they need help. If they don't want it, they'll be sure to let you know!

Don't: Help them with their SAT work. We teach our students specific strategies to follow, and having questions explained in different ways can often be confusing. Students will always struggle through parts of their homework: it's part of the program. That struggle will net them points when they get to difficult questions on the SAT.

Do: Be a good cheerleader! Praise their improvement and be as positive as you can during this admittedly stressful process. You know they're going to do just fine, get into a good school, and grow up to be terrific people. The SAT is just one small step along the way.

Guide to SAT Subject Tests

2010-03-13T12:35:00.000-08:00

Which Subject Tests should I take? When? Is 9th Grade too early?

Knowing which SAT Subject Tests to take can be confusing. There are so many options: English, Math, U.S. History, World History, Chemistry, and Biology. Tests can be taken in 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th--heck, parents you can even take these tests right now. Additionally, you have teachers and counselors recommending exams without understanding a student's college goals.

Follow Hammer's stet-by-step plan. Hopefully, it will lead to higher scores and save you precious time.

Step #1 - Decide if you need to take SAT Subject Tests.
Check if schools on your college list require SAT Subject Tests. If you don't have a college list, create one right away. Click here for a list of schools that require Subject Tests.

Step #2 - Pick SAT Subject Tests.
Write out a list of subjects and your current level. For English, write in your PSAT Reading score (e.g. 63). Circle all AP and honors courses. Circle your PSAT Reading score if it's greater than 59. Place a star next to the two classes you enjoy the most; also place a star next to English if your PSAT Reading score is greater than 59. Place a star next to any subjects in which your taking an honors or AP level course.

Step #3 - Take diagnostic exams.
Purchase The Official Study Guide for All SAT Subject Tests (Real SATs). Take each subject area with two stars next to it, first. Take exams with only one star, next.

Step #4 - Evaluate your scores.
Score each exam. Using your college list, check to see if your scores are good enough. As a general rule, Subject Test scores should be similar to SAT averages. For example, Harvard's average SAT score per section is 740. If you're applying to Harvard, focus on achieving a score of 740 or higher on three exams.

Step #5 - Create a prep plan.
Write down your starting scores. Write down the scores you need. Create a practice schedule. Purchase prep books, or better yet, hire an expert at Hammer.

Resources

Let Hammer help you pick the best SAT Subject Tests for you based on your college goals/list--and which exams are easiest to ace. Contact us.
List of suggested prep books for SAT Subject Tests
Register for SAT Subject Tests

California Schools that Require SAT Subject Tests

2010-03-07T10:35:00.000-08:00

As a San Diego company, we are often correcting students (& their parents) misconceptions about testing requirements. Because UCs require SAT Subject Tests, most students think they have to take them. The reality is that most schools don't require SAT Subject Tests. In fact, eliminate the UCs and Ivy League Schools, and you will have a tough time finding schools that require SAT Subject Tests.

Schools in California that Require SAT Subject Tests
UCs
Harvey Mudd
Pomona College

Schools in California that Recommend SAT Subject Tests
Claremont McKenna
Stanford
Scripps College

Schools that Require 3 SAT Subject Tests
Georgetown
Harvard

Notable Schools that Require SAT Subject Tests
Amherst
Boston College
Brown
Cornell
Dartmouth
Duke
M.I.T.

Do you see a theme here? All of these schools are highly selective. Unless you're applying to a highly selective school, you can likely avoid these rigorous SAT Subject Tests.

Nails and Screws Brainteaser

2010-02-28T20:50:00.000-08:00

This one comes to us from brainden.com:

Three boxes are all labeled incorrectly, and you must get the labels right.
The labels on the boxes read as follows:

Box 1: Nails
Box 2: Screws
Box 3: Nails & Screws

In order to gain the information you need, you may remove a single item from only one of the boxes. You may not look into the boxes, nor pick them up and shake them, etc.

Can this be done? If so, how? If not, why not?

Yes, it can be done! Because we know all three bags are labeled incorrectly, we only need to determine the contents of one bag and then can arrange the labels on the others accordingly.

So, which of these bags can we determine by selecting one object? The Nails & Screws bag. We know this bag is labeled incorrectly, so it must be either a) full of nails or b) full of screws. Once we select an object, we know which one it is.

Let's say the Nails & Screws bag has nails in it. If it has nails, then the bag labeled Screws not only doesn't have nails, it also doesn't have screws (labeled incorrectly), so it must be the bag with both nails and screws. Therefore, we have identified the bag with nails and the bag with nails and screws, so the only remaining bag must be the bag with only screws.

The same works if the Nails & Screws bag has screws in it.

Five SAT Words Every Student Should Know

2010-02-28T08:29:00.000-08:00

Having spent thousands of hours preparing students for standardized tests, one demand is ritualistic: study vocabulary. Too often, students and parents write off SAT vocabulary as a place enjoyed by "literary snobs" or "walking dictionaries". While words such as "obsequious" and "sycophant" do show up on the SAT, such high level words are rare--and minimally impact a student's score. However, a typical SAT test is flooded with "somewhat" common words that most high school student can't define. Here are my top FIVE.

Ambivalent
Students commonly confuse this word with indifferent ("to not care"). Ambivalent often shows up when test writers ask for an author's point of view on a topic. It means undecided.

Revere (reverence, irreverent)
This is another word that often shows up in answer choices when test writers ask how an author feels about someone or something. It means to admire. Irreverent, in contrast, means to despise.

Undermine
"Which of the following statements undermines the author's argument" is an SAT classic. Unfortunately, many students cannot define undermine. It means weaken.

Ambiguous
Again, when test writers ask about an author's position, ambiguous is often an answer choice. It means unclear. How does equivocal differ from ambivalent?

Nostalgic
Expect this word to show up in a tone question. It means longing for how it used to be.

How to Assess a Student's Approach to Homework

2010-02-26T09:16:00.000-08:00

This week, I fielded three phone calls in which the parents complained how their child did great on homework but struggled on tests (& quizzes). Each parent had turned to us in hopes that our services could teach their students to test effectively. While all three of these parents felt their child had some "bad test-taking gene", I knew otherwise. Low test scores are often the result of ineffective preparation (i.e. improper homework completion).

Here are some tips to assess your student:

Is there a clear discrepancy between his homework grade and test average?
If yes, skip to the next question.

Is his homework grade based on homework completion?
Most teachers reward students for completing homework. And most young students do just enough to complete the homework. Whether they answer 70 percent or 100 percent of questions correctly, they still receive full credit. They use homework as a tool to evaluate understanding. When students miss 6 of 20 questions in an assignment, instead of dissecting the mistakes, they happily take their "credit" and stuff the assignment in a binder. That's a major problem.

Does he rework missed questions?
All students should rework missed questions independently. Note: a teacher showing students how to answer the question does not count! Be able to explain why you missed the question to anyone who asks. Even better, keep a special spiral notebook of all questions you've reworked.

Does he read the textbook lesson and his class notes before starting an assignment?
If not, encourage him to work through the example problems. In contrast to what a teenager may argue, working through example questions saves time because you have a better understanding of the material.

When you try to help, does he argue with you?
If yes, call Hammer at 858-793-7737.

Grandmas and Trolls Brainteaser

2010-02-03T09:54:00.000-08:00

Taken from Braingle.com:

You are on your way to visit your Grandma, who lives at the end of the valley. It's her birthday, and you want to give her the cakes you've made.

Between your house and her house, you have to cross 7 bridges, and as it goes in the land of make believe, there is a troll under every bridge! Each troll, quite rightly, insists that you pay a troll toll. Before you can cross their bridge, you have to give them half of the cakes you are carrying, but as they are kind trolls, they each give you back a single cake.

How many cakes do you have to leave home with to make sure that you arrive at Grandma's with exactly 2 cakes?

2 cakes.

You can solve this by working backwards. Each troll does two things: first he takes away half, then he gives you one back. If we look at the last troll with the last step first (giving one cake back), we see that to have two cakes at the end of it, we must have had only one cake (because 1 + 1 = 2). The previous step, in which he took away half of your cakes, we just have to double the number of cakes we had (1) to find that number, so we had two cakes before our last troll.

If we had two cakes leaving the 6th troll, that means he gave one back in the last step, so we had one cake after he halved our cakes. If after halving our cakes there was only one, that implies we had two cakes before he took half of them. So we had two cakes before our 6th troll as well.

If we continue working through with every troll, we see it doesn't matter how many trolls we encountered. With this pattern of troll tolls, to have exactly 2 by the time we reach Grandma's house, we would have to start with 2 cakes.

5 Lessons for ISEE Parents

2010-01-29T09:33:00.000-08:00

In our 10th season at Hammer Prep, the ISEE doesn't get any easier. It's often the first time parents learn how their child compares to other top students throughout the country. And for many--especially those who have invested heavily in education--the scores are disappointingly low, especially when compared to scores on state exams.

Here are 5 lessons for parents of ISEE students.

#1 - Parents, even though your child does great in school, don't expect him to ace this test. A strong memory doesn't take you very far on this exam--in fact, I'd argue that dependence on memory will lower a score.

#2 - Ignore the results of your child's friends. I know that I'm asking parents to do something almost impossible; however, if parents spend less time worrying about how their child stacks up and more time focused on how they can address their child's weaknesses, the student would experience less stress and more progress.

#3 - Building skills take time; the development process, in fact, never ends. Most of our students meet with us for 8 to 10 weeks in preparation for the ISEE--that's not much time. While our prep process leads to better results, realize that skills are just beginning to take shape. It's important to keep working at it.

#4 - Address weaknesses now! Once this exam is over, keep tutoring. Students need to build on the momentum. If your child is doing great in math at school but struggling with ISEE questions, chances are your child relies too heavily on rote memorization. ISEE questions combine reading and math--, not just the math facts.

#5 - This is a reading test. Great test-takers are skilled readers. Work with your child to build his or her reading skills.

2009 SAT Results at Hammer

2010-01-26T18:58:00.000-08:00

2009 marked two major events at Hammer Prep:
#1 - we launched our SAT curriculum, developed in house by our talented team
#2 - we opened Hammer's first learning center

Our students rewarded us by scoring higher than ever, assuring us that we're only getting better at what we do.

Here are the statistics for Hammer's SAT students in 2009:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 205 points
Average Cumulative Score: 1888
Average score increase in reading: 49 (this would be twice as high if we could convince students to study vocabulary :)
Average score increase in math: 81
Average score increase in writing: 75

In order to increase an SAT score, students must prep smart. We've developed the most efficient and effective one-on-one training program for the SAT. If you're interested in learning more, visit our website: www.hammerprep.com or call 858-793-7737.

December 2009 SAT Scores at Hammer

2010-01-10T18:55:00.000-08:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar SAT scores in December 2009. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's December 2009 SAT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 225 points
Average Cumulative Score: 1855

November 2009 SAT Scores at Hammer

2009-12-01T18:53:00.000-08:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar SAT scores in November 2009. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's November 2009 SAT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 246 points
Average Cumulative Score: 1866

Marbles Brainteaser

2009-11-30T18:04:00.000-08:00

This brainteaser comes from 256.com:

Five youngsters entered a contest to guess how many marbles were in a bowl. Alice guessed 45, Betty guessed 39, Chuck guessed 49, Dan guessed 50, and Ed guessed 47. One was off by 6, one by 5, one by 2, and one by 4. One was right.

Who was right?

A. Alice
B. Betty
C. Chuck
D. Dan
E. Ed

(Scroll down for answer)

An explanation from Moana:
A. Alice was right. You can do this easily by testing each number to see which one was right, but there are some easy ways to narrow it down. Firstly, the range of the numbers is 11, so the correct answer HAS to be one of the middle numbers - if it were the largest or smallest, the wrong answers would be off by much more than 6. In fact, since one answer is off by 6 and one off by 5 (two numbers which add up to the range of the set), the right number HAS to either be 44 or 45, since those are the only two numbers which are 5 and 6 off from the high and low guesses. And since nobody guessed 44, it HAS to be 45.

Using the Holiday to Boost SAT Scores

2009-11-29T08:27:00.000-08:00

Although school holidays are a tremendous relief for many students (& their families), they can impede SAT prep by causing students to take weeks--if not months--away from a consistent practice schedule. Here are some things you can do to utilize the holiday schedule, especially the extended Winter break.

Learn vocabulary words.
Stop procrastinating with your word list. Make flashcards, and study the words. Your verbal SAT score will certainly benefit from your time investment.

Read for 1 hour each day.
A break from school is a break from daily homework and class attendance. It's not meant to be a time to avoid intellectual stimulation. So read.

Avoid Cramming, please.
Many students think break is a perfect time to meet daily with an SAT tutor. It's not. Preparing for an SAT is not about cramming; it's about dedicating yourself to a consistent practice schedule over an extended period of time. Your SAT score will improve more if you spend 4 hours per week practicing for 12 weeks, instead of 4 hours per day for 12 days.

National ACT Averages for 2009

2009-11-25T17:22:00.000-08:00

Much like the SAT, the ACT has an uncanny ability to garner consistent scores from its test takers. Of the approximate 1.5 million test takers, the average cumulative score was a 21.1. Students, on average, earned a 20.6 in English, a 21 in Math, a 21.4 in Reading, and a 20.9 in Science.

How does this stack up to last year's averages? Perfectly. in 2008, the average composite score was a...21.1.

As I review these averages, I can't help but respect the ability of the test designers to set a score target for students and achieve it every year. It's almost as remarkable as the engineers who created an underwater train passage between England and France. Okay, not really. The Chunnel is miraculous.

In case missed my earlier post of the National SAT averages for 2009, here they are.

Math Anxiety

2009-11-19T12:22:00.001-08:00

Oftentimes in conversations with parents, I'll hear the term "math anxiety" or "test anxiety" mentioned as a reason that their child is not performing well in math class. A common issue in sports, it seems to be increasing in frequency in the classroom as well. At the very least, our recognition of anxiety in the classroom or before tests is increasing.

I’ve had some personal experience with math anxiety. Despite majoring in math in college, I remember vividly the first time I was crippled by math anxiety. I was in 6th grade. Normally a straight-A’s student, regular factors (not paying attention, missing school because I was sick, etc.) contributed to me not performing well on a quiz or homework. This poor performance increased my worry, and I continued to perform poorly until I received a C on a test. A C was unheard of for me at that point in my academic career, and I was devastated.

So how did I recover? How did I eventually become so good at math that I majored in it?

Well, there’s no magic bullet, but scientists made an interesting discovery in 2007 about math anxiety that could illuminate our efforts. They found that math anxiety occupies a large majority of our working memory, the same working memory used to complete complex mathematical computations. Simple mathematical computations don't require as much working memory, so worried students can still add and subtract, but are unable to use and complete concepts they learned more recently. In effect, math anxiety can actually cause poor performance, all by itself.

For me, I was fortunate enough to have a teacher who pushed me to join the math club at school, MathCounts. By practicing math more often, the club got my confidence up, and I began performing better on exams. I didn’t fully understand what happened until I read the findings years later, and I still consider myself lucky to have those resources available to me at such a young age. It’s not easy to improve your confidence in such a challenging subject; we all need a little help sometimes. Having someone outside of my regular routine who could help me build my confidence saved me years of insecurities later.

October 2009 SAT Scores at Hammer

2009-11-17T16:48:00.000-08:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar SAT scores in October 2009. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's October 2009 SAT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 227 points
Average Cumulative Score: 1959

We had many Seniors retaking the SAT after doing the bulk of their prep during 11th grade. Many of these students were up more than 300 points from their 11th grade baseline test. One student increased more than 500 points from his PSAT in 11th grade. Impressive.

In order to increase an SAT score, students must prep smart. We've developed the most efficient and effective one-on-one training program for the SAT. If you're interested in learning more, visit our website: www.hammerprep.com or call 858-793-7737.

Quarter Grades: What do they mean? What can we learn from them?

2009-11-16T16:48:00.000-08:00

First quarter grades are coming out, and we can use this opportunity to examine your child's progress and do some general goal setting, and/or goal realignment if necessary.

While hopefully the First Quarter grades were all very positive and in line with both your and your child's expectations, it's more than likely that there is at least one class that could use some improvement. The first quarter sets the tone for the rest of the year, and should be treated not only as a piece of a whole in their final grade, but as an assessment of your child's progress and stepping stone to success in their academic career.

If a particular grade is not as high as you or your child would like, it's time to start determining why. Is your student performing to the teacher's expectation? Are they performing to their own potential? Is there a specific part of the system (textbook, class notes, homework, tests) that your child is under-performing on?

Furthermore, it's also a good time to discuss the goal grade for the class, and what grades will be needed for the next three quarters and on final exams to achieve their goal. Goal setting is an integral key to achieving success, and goals that are set should be both achievable and something for students to aspire to. For example, if your student has an 85 as their first quarter grade but wants a grade somewhere between 90 and 95 as their final grade, what will it take to raise it 5 - 10 points? Will earning 90's through the next 3 quarters be enough? It won't. Then again, perhaps a 90 for the second quarter as a goal is both a step in the positive direction, and achievable. It's not reasonable to expect your child to start earning 100% on every quiz from this point on, so how will academic success be achieved? Understanding both the long term picture and the stepping stones to achieving the long term goal is crucial.

Grades and goals are an important part of your child's development into a successful adult. Learning to set achievable goals and overcome difficulties on their path are both very significant real-world skills that can be developed within the school system. Taking the time to understand first quarter grades in their appropriate perspective, of both a piece of their larger grades, and a stepping stone to their success, is vital to building these skills. And remember, we can learn more from our mistakes than our successes, so seize the opportunity!

Get an A in Math Class

2009-11-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

My tutoring career started as a math coach. During my first tutoring session 9 years ago, I realized instantly that I studied differently. I was never obsessed with the A, but I was competitive enough to make sure I achieved it. I never wanted to complete monotonous practice work, but I wanted to understand everything I studied. I was never content just memorizing. What I learned during that first tutoring session is that many students rely too heavily on memorization.

If you want to ace your math class, here are two study skills to help you Hammer It!

#1 - Before diving into a new section of your math book, write each example question on a piece of scratch paper. Try to solve the problem. If you get stuck, refer to the step-by-step instructions provided in your textbook.

#2 - Purchase a spiral notebook and place it in your study area at home. Each day you sit down to complete a homework assignment, first, rework each missed question from the previous assignment in the spiral notebook (even if your teacher worked through the problem on the white board, still take the time to do it yourself). It's amazing how much easier math can be, if you learn from your mistakes.

Your IQ Only Takes You so Far on the SAT

2009-11-04T20:32:00.000-08:00

I often tell our students that a high IQ does not translate into high SAT scores. There are too many skill sets an IQ test does not address that an SAT requires. Keith E. Stanovich brilliantly illustrates my point in his article, Rational and Irrational Thought: The Thinking That IQ Tests Miss.

Mr. Stankovich uses the following problem to illustrate how humans, despite our ability to think in complex ways, often favor simple, impulsive solutions. Try this question before you read the solution.

1. Jack is looking at Anne, but Anne is looking at George. Jack is married, but George is not. Is a married person looking at an unmarried person?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Cannot be determined

More than 80 percent of people choose C. But the correct answer is A. Here is how to think it through logically: Anne is the only person whose marital status is unknown. You need to consider both possibilities, either married or unmarried, to determine whether you have enough information to draw a conclusion. If Anne is married, the answer is A: she would be the married person who is looking at an unmarried person (George). If Anne is not married, the answer is still A: in this case, Jack is the married person, and he is looking at Anne, the unmarried person. This thought process is called fully disjunctive reasoning—reasoning that considers all possibilities. The fact that the problem does not reveal whether Anne is or is not married suggests to people that they do not have enough information, and they make the easiest inference (C) without thinking through all the possibilities.

When it comes to the SAT, students are victim to a singular way of thinking--the thinking patterns they use each day in school. While most students are capable of answering most SAT questions, their locked into a set way of thinking--mostly based on rote memorization. If students can learn to break correct these patterns, they can learn to answer just about any SAT question.

National SAT Avereages for College Bound Seniors

2009-11-02T19:05:00.000-08:00

One thing I've come to respect about the SAT is its ability to consistently achieve a score average of approximately 500 on each section of the SAT. With more than 1.5 million students suffering through the lengthy exams, 2009, fittingly was no different.

2009 College Bound Seniors:
Reading - 510
Reading - 515
Writing - 493

How does the SAT achieve such flawless consistency? Simple. Students are predictable. Just as I can randomly dial any US phone number and expect the person to answer "Hello", test writers can predict how most students will react to specific questions.

ISEE Advice for Parents and Students

2009-10-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year when a handful of young students and their families start thinking about the ubiquitous ISEE. After working with students for nearly a decade, I'm going to offer some advice. It's in your best interest to prepare properly. Here are my tips.

Don't assume your child will ace the test because he/she does well in school.
I've been preparing students for a long time, and I'm always amazed out how many parents are willing to make assumptions about their children with no frame of reference. The ISEE is different than a typical classroom exam.

Don't use a STAR test as a measuring stick.
STAR tests are used to make sure students know the concepts for a specific grade level. The ISEE is a carefully written reasoning test that seeks to obtain a consistent bell curve (i.e. statisticians want students to score the same score every time they take the test).

If your child is not a reader, this test will let him/her know.
Standardized tests can be universally described as reading tests. The more hours you've logged as a reader, the better you will likely score. The "Natural Test Takers", in my opinion, are adept readers.

Don't waste your time on a weekend warrior ISEE class.
To date, I've never heard of a weekend class that actually helps a student improve. I usually here a parent say, "It was good because it helped my child understand the format of the test." If you just want your child to know the format of the test, visit the ISEE website and review the test format; it will save you time and money.

Take an Official ISEE diagnostic test.
Go to the ISEE website and download a grade appropriate practice test (it's the only official test available from ERB). If you score the exam using the guide provided for the ISEE, it will offer limited analysis. We've created a detailed score report that estimates exact percentile ranks and stanine scores. If you live in San Diego, we can administer the test at our center. If you live outside of San Diego, we can still provide a score report; send us an email at scores@hammertutoring.com if you're interested. The cost is $50 for the score report or $150 for the score report and phone consultation with Andy Hemmerich.

Why prep?
The answer is simple. Despite what you may hear--or what you want to believe--, the ISEE is a huge part of a student's application. While I can't quantify the importance of the ISEE, I tend to think of it as equivalent to several classes. Now, I'm confident that most students taking the ISEE study for typical weekly exams...so it only makes sense to study considerably more for a test of such significance. Don't let the false notion that the ISEE test what you learn in school...test writers started that rumor so they can guarantee a perfect bell curve.

Selling Furniture Would be Way Easier than Tutoring!

2009-09-21T08:29:00.001-07:00

I often joke how selling furniture would be so much easier than helping students increase test scores. Of course, I'm never serious. I believe too deeply in education--and the need to help students learn to study and ace tests. Selling furniture would probably result in higher profits, extravagant company dinners, big vacations, but discussions of space planning and wood types. No thanks.

My interactions with a family last week was yet another reminder of how difficult our industry can be. This family had learned about us from a friend. The student had a diagnosed learning difficulty, and felt that one-to-one prep was imperative. Unfortunately, they waited until the end of the Summer, just before the start of Senior year to begin prep. The lack of careful planning combined with the student's low starting scores, made it an uphill battle.

Based on her diagnostic scores, we started with a 4-week reading program, focused on improving comprehension and vocabulary. From the moment we started working with this student, we felt encouraged. Her reading level was considerably above what her starting scores indicated. In mid-August, we made a switch to other sections of the ACT in preparation for the September and October ACT dates.

Since we only had 4-weeks until the September ACT, my colleague and I decided to briefly touch on each section, but to focus on the October test date. As much as I'd like to think there's a way to greatly accelerate progress on standardized tests, there's not. These tests are carefully written to ensure that test scores don't increase or decrease--without considerable work. After all, consistency is key when you're ranking college applicants each year.

A few days before the September ACT, I received an email asking about when the student would take practice tests. My answer was when we feel the student is ready. I don't think the student's parents felt the response was appropriate--in fact, it was described as arrogant--since the September test date was a few days away. After several phone calls and emails, I was able to explain why it's important that we wait until the student is ready to begin practice tests. In short, taking a practice test before a student is ready only enforces that a student will take the test the wrong way--and likely result in unchanged test scores.

But it was too late. The family had decided to go another direction, picking a tutor that could better accommodate the student's needs. Customers change their minds every day, so what's the big deal?

The program was working. Her test scores were up 200-plus points and we were only half way through the program. Most importantly, the student was working really well with her ACT Coach. While I realize I won't always win in business., my goal is to make sure that every student that walks through our doors has a positive experience. It's the clients that walk away that you can learn the most from. Here is what I take from this experience:

#1 - Spend more time telling the parents exactly what's going on. Most parents want to be removed from the process, while a few want to know details. We have always catered more to the student, while allowing the parent to get as involved as he/she wants. We need to spend more time reaching out to parents.

#2 - Email communication can be misinterpreted...easily. Time to use the phone more than email.

#3 - Stick to our winning ways. It's important that we don't change our guiding philosophy because we lost one student, especially since the student was improving.

When to Hire an Academic Tutor

2009-09-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

In spending a better part of this year putting together task lists for my October wedding, I've learned many lessons in preparation--and procrastination. Timing is everything. We were able to secure Naked Cafe for our Rehearsal Dinner because I contacted Gabe, the owner in December of 2008. If I was to call today, there is no way Naked would cater any of our events. I was unable to secure a local acoustic band because I waited until last month to call.

Procrastination, often the easier option, often leads to secondary options. Careful planning does not. The same logic used in wedding planning can be applied to hiring a tutor at the right time.

Be proactive. Don't wait for your child to begin struggling. By that time, it's often too late.

Book your tutor now. Professional tutors fill their schedules, so it's better to get in now, and realize six weeks from now that your child can ace this class independently. Too many parents use reverse logic here: if my students begins to struggle, I will search for a tutor.

AP students need tutors too. Just because your child is an AP student, doesn't mean your child has to learn the material alone. Some parents still want to believe that tutoring is reserved for remediation, not staying ahead of the curve. Learning how to study is priceless. A great tutor will help students develop study skills. A bad tutor will help with homework.

If you're not sure about whether or not your student needs a tutor, contact me. I'd be happy to discuss your specific needs.

SAT Score Guarantees Part II

2009-08-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

After writing about the score guarantee from a local company, I decided to do some additional research. What are the guarantees of large prep companies? Warning: the following guarantee may require a J.D. degree to comprehend. I had to read it four times and map it as a logic game to fully understand it.

Princeton Review has abandoned its point guarantee and now offers three options: Readiness, Satisfaction, and Money Back. For the gifted readers (or lawyers) you can read it here. Customers can only pick one of the guarantees.

Readiness: If you don't feel ready, you can take a Refresher class for free after paying the $200 administrative charge. Yeah, I wasn't really sure how paying $200 qualifies as free.

Satisfaction: If you're not satisfied with the class or private tutoring, you can take a Refresher course after paying the $200 administrative fee.

Money Back: If your score doesn't improve, you can get your money back. It's worth reading the fine print on this guarantee.

Requirements for the guarantees: student must attend all sessions, complete all practice work, and take all assigned practice tests. For private tutoring, students must meet with a tutor for at least 24-hours.

How are test scores calculated?
If you've taken an official test, you can use this score as your baseline. Otherwise, the first practice test provided by Princeton Review (note: this is not an official College Board test) will be used as your baseline. The point difference is calculated based on an official test you take within 30 days of your program completion.

As I stated in the last entry, I don't blame companies for creating these guarantees. Many consumers base purchasing decisions on these very policies. But careful reading of these policies makes you realize that the house--a Vegas reference--doesn't give away anything. In this case, you either are offered a Refresher course for $200 or your money back. However, the money back guarantee comes with so many requirements that's it would be nearly impossible to avoid violating the terms.

Don't base your decisions on contentious guarantees. Focus on tutor experience--and what other students are saying about the program.

SAT Point Guarantees

2009-08-15T12:54:00.001-07:00

A parent of one of our students recently passed along a competitor's point guarantee. She wanted to know my thoughts since we don't offer a guarantee. This parent felt that some of her friends went with this other company because of its guarantee.

Guarantee: 200 points on the SAT or 3 points on the ACT.

Minimum Requirements:

36 hours SAT (or ACT) class and 3 practice tests or at least 20 hours of private tutoring.
Student must take the diagnostic at the company's location
Student must take all practice tests at the company's location
Student must complete all homework
Score increase is the difference between the diagnostic taken at the center or an official SAT or ACT and the actual exam.

If you don't increase your score by 200 points then...
You can work privately with a tutor until you do.

Here are my questions...
Is there a minimum starting score to receive the guarantee? What happens if a student scores a 2100 on the diagnostic?
What constitutes all homework? If a student leaves 4 questions blank because he/she is not sure how to complete them, does that void the guarantee?
How does the company score the SAT essay accurately?

Score guarantees have been the most popular marketing gimmick for prep companies since, well, the start of the test prep industry. Every potential client wants to believe that his/her investment is insured. Unfortunately, guarantees are always contentious. This Wall Street Journal article by John Hechinger peeled back a couple of layers of the deceit that some prep companies practice. While I detest deceptive marketing, I don't place all of the blame on a company such as Revolution Prep. Consumers often encourage this behavior. When a consumer bases his/her purchasing decision on a guarantee (i.e. what I get if the program is unsuccessful) as opposed to the quality of service, he/she is promoting the practice. Consequently, other prep companies (& tutors) introduce a guarantee to gain market share. And the domino effect begins.

As you shop for a test prep class or private tutor, I encourage you to focus on:

The experience level of each tutor
What other students and their families are saying...call references

Here are some sample questions to learn more about a tutor.

How many hours per week does the tutor teach this test?
What is the tutor's most recent score on the test he/she is teaching?
How many hours do you spend training your tutors?

What are your thoughts about guarantees?

Should Students Prepare for the PSAT?

2009-08-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

Today, I was on the phone with a Mom discussing PSAT prep for her child. Her son is getting ready to enter 10th grade, and she wants to know when to start prep. He's an overachiever, who will likely ace the SAT, ACT, and any other standardized test he takes. Even though it's early in the process, his Mom wants to be sure. And to be honest, I'd be the same way with my kid.

Regardless, I could not recommend serious preparation. In preparing students for the last 8 years, I've learned one very important lesson: high school students will only dedicate so much time to SAT preparation. If I have one chance to coach a student, I prefer keep it as short and sweet as possible--usually in the 3-6 month range and during the student's Junior year. That's not to say that a student cannot benefit immensely from prep. In fact, the benefits of test prep on school tests are incredible.

Since I know there are many other Moms out there wondering when they should start PSAT prep, here is my advice.

Know your child.
If he or she struggles with tests, hire an academic coach for the school year (the PSAT should be an after thought). Bad test-takers are the result of bad preparation, and chances are your child won't learn how to ace a test at school. Our academic are trained to help students develop their test-taking skills--the same skills that are required on an SAT or ACT.

Establish a Baseline.
Take a diagnostic PSAT (contact us and we can provide you with one) to establish a baseline score. If you don't know where to start, give us a call. We can send you an official PSAT.

Prepare lite.
Avoid meeting several times per week with a private tutor. If you meet with a private tutor, just review basic strategies and complete a couple of practice exams. I'd estimate that 4-10 hours is sufficient.

Build Your Basic Skills.
Read at least one article per day. We tell all of our SAT students and academic students to read. The SAT and ACT are reading tests, so begin practicing today. Also, learn new vocabulary words every day.

Find Time to Travel and to Study

2009-08-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

As I think back through my high school years, I can't remember leaving town more than few times. My family didn't have the money; plus, there are few things more enjoyable than a Summer in San Diego. Consequently, I've been pleasantly surprised to learn how many of our students travel--whether it's to a nearby state or internationally. It's truly amazing. And I'm sorta jealous.

However, my concern is that many of these students are not only taking a vacation from school, but they're also taking a vacation from thinking. They're not reading; they're not completing thinking games; they're just cruising.

So, students (& parents), if you're spending a big part of the summer traveling, bring lots of books. Read everyday. Read for several hours per day. Write down every word you don't know. Don't let your mind take a vacation. That way traveling can truly be the greatest gift.

The Price of College Guidance

2009-07-18T09:48:00.000-07:00

Jacques Steinberg writes an excellent article in The New York Times about the contentious college consulting industry that highlights the lack of quality control. With the number of counselors for hire nearly tripling in the last three years, he justifiably advises all parents to do some research before hiring a counselor.

Despite the lack of quality control, I've found that professional guidance has been particularly helpful for students of Hammer Tutoring. It allows a skilled professional to help a student--and his/her family--explore the wildly confusing college process (i.e. What do I want out of a college?). Considering that many students work from early childhood through adolescence in preparation for college, investing in a counselor is worth the thousands of dollars that most charge. Based on my students' experiences, I can vouch for the following counselors in San Diego: Marjorie Shaevitz, Ruth Warburg, and Bonnie Laughlin. If you're a counselor in the San Diego area with a proven track record, please contact us. We'd enjoy learning more about you.

June SAT Scores are Online

2009-06-25T11:08:00.000-07:00

I'm always excited to call the parents of our students the day scores are posted to their accounts. And I've learned that this phone call is priceless, namely, for that one parent who can't recognize progress. These parents--despite what they've said throughout the prep process--have forged lofty score expectations for their child. When the scores are posted, these parents can no longer hide their feelings. They're disappointed.

The trouble is, these students have typically earned an incredible score increase, usually 150 to 300 points. It's just short of USC score averages--or some school that Mom knows she can openly brag to her friends about if her son is admitted.

Parents, I know it's hard to understand the SAT (or ACT) score system, so I will use an analogy; I'm even confused by the scaled scores. Imagine you're a newbie to golf and it takes you 120 shots to complete 18 holes (Par is usually around 74). For the next 3 months, you practice 5 hours per week. On a warm San Diego morning, you ask your best friend to join you for a round of golf--the same course you played 3 months earlier. You shoot an 87. Your friend, who claims he hasn't played all year, shoots a 79. You're devestated. You consider giving up golf. You're thinking, "How the heck did my friend, who never plays, beat me?" Unfortunately, your friend had played golf every day during the Summer bewteen the ages of 8 and 13.

I see the SAT (or ACT) the same way. First, it's a skill game. Skill development takes time. Second, if you're friend--who is not nearly as smart as you are in math--is scoring dramatically higher, you're friend most likely logged many hours of his childhood reading, while you were doing something else. Now you have to make up for those missed hours of reading.

Reconsider the Cost of Tutoring

2009-06-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

I'm often entertained by the range of prices for tutoring. For example, I recently read an ad on Craigslist in which the tutor was asking for $20 per hour. The tutor was even willing to drive to the student's home for an extra $5. If you're truly knowledgeable and you value your time, $20 is a shockingly low price point--especially for an educator. Not only do you need to know the material your teaching, but you also have to explain it in a way that makes sense. And if you're really doing your job, you need to develop a system of study with the student so she can continue to excel outside of tutoring sessions. Now, think back through your high school years and write down the number of "really good" math teachers you had who truly inspired you. My math teacher count is at one.

Consequently, I encourage parents to rethink the cost of tutoring by challenging your typical cost-benefit analysis. Hiring a professional should be your only option. After all, it's your child's education and development.

Think of academic tutoring as a price per month as opposed to a price per hour.
Stop thinking of the cost per hour, and think of it as cost per month. If you hire a tutor, you're not employing them 9 to 5. Therefore, a professional academic tutor who meets a student once per week at a rate of $75 per hour, actually costs $300 per month. That's probably less than your car payment--and chances are you won't pay anything to your tutor when school is out (not the same for a car company). Due to holidays and breaks, you will probably pay $2000 for a tutor throughout a school year. Not bad.

Distribute SAT/ACT Prep as a cost over 4 years.
If you're serious about doing your best on the SAT or ACT, you will need to prepare. Since this is part of the high school experience, distribute the cost over 4 years (or 48 months). That $4000.00 private tutor starts to look like a good deal at $83 per month. Prep may even cost less than your gym membership.

Misusing Score Choice

2009-06-21T15:46:00.000-07:00

Last week, I spent 20 minutes on the phone with a prospective parent (if you ask any of my colleagues, it was probably more like 40 minutes since I'm known for spending too much time on the phone). The conversation was typical progressing from "Could you describe your program?" to "When should we start prep?". As I shared our recommended testing timeline, she asked about Score Choice. I advised her to use Score Choice cautiously since some colleges, such as Stanford, are requesting that you send ALL of your test scores. "Really?" she responded, "I have a friend who is having her son take his Subject Tests several times, and they are only going to send the highest scores".

Consequently, I took this opportunity to point out the flaws of the bulk testing strategy when it comes to the SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests.
#1 - Students tend to perform better when they don't have other options. It's better to encourage a student to focus on a specific test date, and to establish a serious practice regime.

#2 - Standardized tests are still used by colleges because they offer consistent measurements. In other words, scores don't change unless the test-taker learns to change. Taking the test multiple times is statistically proven to lead to limited--if any--point gains.

#3 - Students can't review their exams, unless it's one of three exams released by College Board or ACT each year. It's frustrating to take an exam, earn a score, and not have the option to review your missed questions.

#4 - Some schools require students to send all their tests.

#5 - Taking an official test requires time and money. It doesn't make much sense to spend $45 (plus gas) and 5 hours of a Saturday taking a test you're not ready for.

Fluid Study Skills

2009-06-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, as I watched an 1500 meter Track and Field Championship on ABC, I started to think about study skills. Why? Just stick with my analysis for a second. As a group of five girls pulled away from the pack, I noticed two girls at the back who were working incredibly hard--much harder than the leading pack. The last place girl was running upright with limbs that seemed to work sporadically. The front girl had a slight forward lean with perfectly synchronized arms and legs. Each trailing runner within the lead pack had a similar, seemingly effortless stride.

As I watched the race develop, I had an aha moment. The trailing group, while working hard, was just like the students with inadequate study skills. No matter how hard they work, they will never win the race. They will always come up short because their form is flawed. Fortunately for students, study skills are much easier to change. Work on studying in the lead pack.

How to Spend Your Summer

2009-06-02T18:28:00.001-07:00

Enjoying it!

Really though, summertime is a wonderful opportunity to start anew. You can reflect on the previous year; examining what you did well, what you didn't do well, what you enjoyed and didn't, what your accomplishments and achievements were, and how you generally felt. You can also spend time considering your next school year: would you like to perform better? what would you like to achieve? are there activities you'd like to join or leave? What do you want to do?

This is a question you'll have more and more freedom to answer as you grow, and which becomes more important each summer, and each point of reflection. Use this time well. If the opportunity of a good college is in your sights, what do you need to change to make that an even greater possibility? What do colleges look for? These are the questions worth asking of yourself.

Summer is also a great time to get ahead in your schoolwork, or develop a skill. Everyone knows that practice makes perfect in sports, but few consider how it applies to academics. Whether you want to improve your grades, your SAT scores, your guitar chords, your jumpshot, or your serve, practice is necessary. While there are no mandatory classes, use this time to learn skills at your own pace.

And of course, as we said earlier, enjoy your summer!

Summer Reading

2009-06-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." - Joseph Addison

So school is out, you're done with finals, and it's time to relax. However, during San Diego's June gloom, enjoying a day at the beach doesn't seem too likely. During the drizzly days of summer, what could be better than curling up inside with a good book?

There are many resources to help you choose a book to kick back with - your local librarian will be able to help you find anything you're looking for and make some helpful suggestions for summer reading. College Board has a list of books for the college bound here...incidentally, those books all include some vocabulary that would be useful to know on the SAT! If you just want to relax with a novel, here's a top 100 list that includes some of my favorite books: Pick a book and go for it!

Really, it doesn't matter what you read; reading anything and everything will boost your verbal skills and help you both in school and on the SAT. Read online articles from the New York Times. Read your favorite science blog. Read a comic book and then go see the movie. Read the backs of cereal boxes! Reading stretches your brain and helps you to understand more of the world around you. There's nothing better on a cloudy June day than a cup of tea, a comfy chair, and a book to take you into another world.

-------
Moana's summer reading list includes: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Mind's I, Le Ton Beau de Marot: In Praise of the Music of Language, and the rest of the Master and Commander series.

Do Colleges have an SAT or ACT Score Cut-Off for Applicants?

2009-05-30T11:57:00.001-07:00

Yes. In a study by Derek C. Briggs, Professor at University of Colorado at Boulder, and NACAC, they reveal that some colleges use a cut-off score for applicants. Although most--if not all--colleges and universities argue that they use a holistic approach in evaluating students, this study reminds us to be cautious of the actual implementation of a truly holistic approach.

During this study, NACAC sent a survey to hundreds of admission counselors, asking about the effect of a 20-point increase in an SAT math score and 10 points in reading on a student's likelihood of admission.

The conclusion: small point gains can greatly influence a student's chances of admission. The 30 point increase becomes even more significant for students applying to highly selective schools that demand high scores since the score impact increases with higher scores. Just another reason to spend some extra time training your brain for the SAT or ACT.

Misleading SAT Companies

2009-05-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

In January of 2009, I wrote an entry about the exploitative practices of a few SAT prep companies. I argued that no prep company can produce a practice SAT or ACT with the same statistical accuracy of the real test. Well, someone at the Wall Street Journal agreed with me. In this article, John Hechinger writes,

Jonah Varon, a straight-A student at Lowell High School in San Francisco, took a mock SAT from a test-prep company last year and scored 2060 out of a possible 2400. A few weeks later, with no tutoring, he took the real test. His score: a perfect 2400, or 340 points higher.

Mr. Varon, who is headed to Harvard in the fall, was suspicious. The coaching company, Revolution Prep, of Santa Monica, Calif., says its mock tests are calibrated to be at the same difficulty level as the real SAT. So why had it seemed to the student so much harder?

After gathering test scores from 15 classmates who had had similar experiences, Mr. Varon and classmate Lydia O'Connor wrote an article for their school newspaper claiming that the mock test was far more difficult -- or was scored more harshly -- than the actual exam to make Revolution Prep appear to be raising test scores more than it actually does.

What do I take from this example? Be very careful as you shop for the best way to prepare for the SAT or ACT. If your school seems to promote one company over another--and it should--find out why. Does your school support the program because it's being paid OR does it support a company because student experiences have been positive?

Finally, when it comes to establishing your baseline scores, USE an official test. Official tests are available on the College Board and ACT websites. Use these tests to establish baseline scores and avoid the contentious Mock Exams.

Link to Official SAT

Link to Official ACT

May 2009 SAT Scores at Hammer

2009-05-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

Congratulations from the Hammer Prep Team on some stellar SAT scores in May 2009. Way to Drop the Hammer!

Here are the statistics for Hammer's May 2009 SAT students:

Average Cumulative Point Gain: 195 points
Average Cumulative Score: 1889
Greatest Point Increase: 530 points

How to Prepare for Finals

2009-05-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

Even if your performance on your final will not influence your grade, study for it. The more practice you have preparing for finals, the more success you will have in college. After all, many grades in college classes are based on one test--a final.

Print out a calendar. Write in your test dates.
Rank your finals by importance.
Find out the format of each test. Is it multiple choice? Is it an essay? Is it a mix?
If your teacher provides a study guide, ask for it two weeks ahead of the final.
Find a study partner. Make sure you’ve studied the material before meeting.
Take practice tests. For example, if you’re taking a final in US History, take practice SAT Subject Tests or AP Tests. Any question missed should be reviewed.
Summarize the entire class on one page. The day before the test, condense all of your notes onto one page. This should summarize the most important concepts.

Of course, if you need some expert assistance, give us a call, 858-793-7737. Learning to study for a final is a skill.

Congratulations to Hammer's ISEE Students - 2009

2009-05-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

Our students were incredibly successful in the private school admissions process. Thanks for making us look good.

Bishop's: 12 of 12 admitted

Francis Parker: 6 of 7 admitted

Pacific Ridge: 2 of 2 admitted

La Jolla Country Day: 9 of 9 admitted