Which college applicants submitted ACT or SAT scores?

Reporting was “far higher … among applicants living in more affluent communities, as defined by local median household income in applicants’ local ZIP codes.”

Which test should my son or daughter take: ACT or SAT?

This is (by far) the most frequently asked question, even though it has a relatively simple answer: have your daughter or son take practice tests and then we can help you make the decision. Ideally, students should take both practice tests within a 2-3 week period. If your student is a junior, you might be able to compare an ACT practice test score to his or her PSAT score. At Lafayette Academy, practice tests are ALWAYS FREE.

When should my daughter or son take the actual ACT or SAT?

Most students take their first ACT or SAT during the spring of their junior years. Advanced juniors can take a fall test (the beginning of their junior year). In all cases, you should consider extracurricular activities and how your student is scoring on practice tests when choosing a test date.

How many times can a student take a test?

Many students take the ACT or SAT test twice; some take each test once and then take one of the tests a second time. You should NOT take any of the tests more than three times.

What are the major differences between the ACT and SAT?

The math on the ACT covers more topics, ranging from Algebra 1 to Pre-Calc. The math on the SAT tests fewer topics, stopping at Algebra 2, but more in depth. The ACT has a science section while the SAT includes a few reading passages that focus on science topics. Time management is a big challenge on the ACT, especially in reading and science. The content on the SAT reading section is more challenging, even though you have more time. Again, taking practice tests is the best way to pick a test.

“What about the PSAT?” (for some reason, people often phrase PSAT questions like this example)

The PSAT is a good opportunity to get your son or daughter to take a practice test because most students take the PSAT. If you happen to have a genius living under your roof, the PSAT could be hugely beneficial because of the National Merit program. For most students, PSAT scores don’t matter so you should not spend money preparing your son or daughter for this test.

How can I be a great test prep parent?

In the interest of full disclosure, this is not a FAQ. If it were a FAQ, this would be my answer: challenge your children to embrace the preparation challenge on their own by promising to leave them alone (after you enroll them in one of our programs). We all mean well, but we fail to realize how much added stress we place on our children by micro-managing their test prep experience.

Does my son or daughter really need to take either test?

This has become a frequently asked frequently asked question because the University of California schools will no longer consider ACT or SAT scores in their evaluations, and other schools have followed their lead. There are many schools that still require or consider ACT or SAT scores in their evaluations or for scholarship purposes. Unless you are certain that your son or daughter will only apply to schools that won’t consider ACT or SAT scores, your child should still take one of these tests. Give us a call if you want to hear our more detailed thoughts.

Lafayette Academy in Danville Tutors Since 2004. Now Online.

Prior to the Pandemic, we had helped thousands of students from SRVHS and MVHS.

Since 2004, Lafayette Academy’s Danville Tutors have helped thousands of students in the San Ramon Valley school district.

We added Online tutoring in 2020, and many of our tutors are intimately familiar with the San Ramon Valley school district curriculum.

(925) 855-3700

Lafayette Academy in Danville Tutors started in January 2004, right before 1st-semester finals. Lafayette Academy in Danville became fully virtual when it became clear that we could not reopen after the pandemic. We continue serving the San Ramon Valley school district with online tutors, some of whom were working in our Danville location.

More importantly, we are intimately familiar with the Danville curriculum, particularly middle and high school math because your schools use the same textbooks that we see daily in Lamorinda!

Our tutors will help your children ace tests and earn higher grades! Plus, our Lafayette location is less than 15 minutes from most locations in Alamo and Danville, including Monte Vista and SRVHS. And online is … online.

Our tutors still know the San Ramon Valley and Monte Vista curriculum, and they are familiar with many of the teachers and the curriculum, particularly “Big Ideas Math.” Lafayette Academy also utilizes a variety of resources that our tutors have compiled based on their experiences with local students and teachers. We know the problems that students typically encounter in most classes, and we’re ready for them!

Our Danville tutors have collectively helped hundreds of students at San Ramon Valley, Monte Vista, and some of the middle schools. They are familiar with the nuances of many teachers, particularly at MVHS and SRVHS. We have been tutoring in Danville for 17 years.

Our tutors use flexible approaches based on each student’s learning style and familiarity with the material. We are not a cookie-cutter operation. We also give you the flexibility to choose a schedule that works best for you and your child, in one of our learning centers or online. There are also many tutors to choose from, which means there will (almost) always be a great match available to help your son or daughter.

Request a Danville Tutor Below

or call 855-3700

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Shadow Classes

Shadow Classes® are weekly, small-group tutoring sessions that shadow specific subjects at San Ramon Valley or Monte Vista. Subject-specific classes meet online and are led by one of our expert tutors, most of whom are intimately familiar with each school’s curriculum. Two students can start a new Shadow Class by contacting Lafayette Academy and letting us know the days of the week and times that you prefer. We will take it from there. Here are some of the features that make our Shadow Classes special:

Our instructors collaborate with each other to ensure that we’re teaching “best of breed” strategies in each class.

We sometimes add FREE Shadow Classes if there’s an upcoming test that doesn’t coincide with one of our existing class times.

Our instructors explain the difficult concepts that the Shadow Class students need help with.

We preview upcoming material when our instructors realize that students may need a head start.

Lafayette Academy always personalizes instruction.

Shadow Classes^TM are online, and in our Lafayette location.

$196/month ($49/week per class).
Only $40/week if you pre-pay for the semester.
You can drop at any time and get a pro-rated refund based on the regular class fee.
The last time we surveyed our Shadow Class students, 91% said that their grades were one or two letters higher thanks to our classes!

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Lafayette Academy in Danville Tutors Since 2004. Now Online.

Since 2004, Lafayette Academy’s Danville Tutors have helped thousands of students in the San Ramon Valley school district.

(925) 855-3700

Request a Danville Tutor Below

or call 855-3700

Contact Us Today

Shadow Classes

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The Inside Story