After a long pandemic period of testing uncertainty and compromises, I was thrilled to proctor live and in-person at the Fairport Public Library this weekend. We’ve worked with Rochester and Syracuse libraries for a decade to offer the highest quality proctored practice tests free of charge to anyone who wants them, and our COVID-era online tests lost their luster for some families fairly quickly. This is not to say we aren’t still offering those Zoom tests–we proctored one of those this weekend as well–but nothing feels quick like the real SAT or ACT as sitting in a room with ten to twenty equally nervous test takers… at least for now!
I was also impressed by the turnout at all of our practice tests over the last week, which happened to be Winter Recess. New York State students (and their families) enjoy not one but two long breaks during the first half of the calendar year and tend to take full advantage of the opportunity to relax, travel, and maybe even visit a few colleges. But Empire State schools often let out much later than those in other states, so many of our high schoolers need to push all the way to mid-to-late June. No wonder we need those breaks 😉
Now that Winter Recess is over, students would be well-served to prepare themselves for the work that lies ahead. High school juniors, in particular, have a ton of academic commitments to tackle between now and sweet, sweet summer. Besides finals, AP exams, and the usual avalanche of extracurricular activities, college-bound students still have SATs and ACTs to take, and they still count.
There’s still time to practice for the March SAT.
There’s still time to practice and prep for the April ACT.
There’s still time to practice and prep for the May SAT.
There’s still time to practice and prep for the June SAT & ACT.
Don’t let the moment pass you by. Chariot Learning has plenty of prep options and practice opportunities, so make the most of this spring. You’ll thank yourself this summer if you do!
Mike Bergin