Teacher: Justin Van WelyE-mail: prowessprep@gmail.comPhone: 518.364.7908

WELCOME TO PROWESS’S

PERFECT SCORE SAT PREP CLASS

A Message From Space?

Why are we here?

Not the ages-old existential question…

• You want to paint the best self-portrait

• We want you to get an edge

• The test is here to give you a fair assessment

Grades alone aren’t fair:

• Different curriculumso Percentage of APs, etc.

• Biased teacherso May like or not like you

• Uneven weightingo Not every school does it the same

• Special Circumstanceso Poor attendance due to illness, home schooled

What will colleges look at?

• College Readiness & Course Placement

• 1/6 of your applicationo with GPA, essay, letters of recommendation, extracurricular

activities, and challenge of course loado Carries same weight as GPA but easier to fix quickly

• Your Reporto Superscore (more on that in a bit), Percentile, & Essay Score

How these things combined show your potential at the next level

ExpectationsFrom Prowess From you

• Expert advice• Great material• Dynamic lessons• Individual attention

even in a group setting

• A commitment to helping you succeed

• Commitment & trust• Come prepared & on

time• Do the work• Seek help if you need

it• Have fun

constructively

ExpectationsFrom Prowess

• Expert advice• Great material• Dynamic lessons• Individual attention

even in a group setting

• A commitment to helping you succeed

• 99th%, years of experience in teaching and tutoring

• Tests made by the makers

• Fun lessons, POD, group exercises, games

• Personalized assessments

• You have my number. call or text me any time

Turn to page vi in the course book

ExpectationsFrom you

• Want it. Be open to new ways.

• Always bring your text, calculator, notebook, & pencil.

• Homework after each session. Problem sets in class. Tests on weekends.

• Safe env’t. same Qs show up on test day.

• Don’t hate it. Don’t be a distraction.

• Commitment & trust• Come prepared & on

time• Do the work• Seek help if you need

it• Have fun

constructively

Turn to page vii in the course book

Your tools for this course:

• The Course Texto “The Official SAT Study Guide (for March 2016 & later)”

• Workbooks

• Real Full-length Practice Testso Typically held at our offices on the weekends. You will need your book for these.

• Score Reportso Personalized assessment tools

• Other 7-session SAT Courseso Review, make-up, or a new perspective. Ask us about how to register for that.

• The website: www.prowesstestprep.como Student materials, password = ‘prowess-sat’o “7-session course”o Copies of lessons (PPT), handouts (if lost one or didn’t get one), homework assignments &

answer keyso Additional downloadable materials

Turn to page x in the course book

Khan Academy• A non-profit organization in partnership with the

College Board to help you prepare for the exam.

• Khanacademy.org

• You will need a facebook or gmail account to login.

• Modules, videos, practice sets, and full tests. But no strategy.

What to do if you miss a class?

Several Options…o 1. Get the notes from a fellow

student…o 2. Find the notes on the website and

attempt to complete the homework using just these…

o 3. Make up that session at a different 7-session SAT course…

o 4. Grab a few hours of 1-on-1 tutoring.

Turn to page x in the course book

We are ready to begin…but first

A game!

MYTH OR FACT?

• The SAT stands for Scholastic Achievement Test.

MYTH !

• It doesn’t stand for Stress and Anxiety Test either. It doesn’t stand for anything.

MYTH OR FACT?• Having a strong vocab is

important for achieving the maximum score on this test.

MYTH !• The SAT is not a vocab test. Esoteric

words don’t show up.

MYTH OR FACT?

• It is crucial to know your way around a calculator for the math section of this test.

MYTH !

• You are not allowed to use a calculator for 1/3 of the math portion. You won’t need one for the other 2/3.

MYTH OR FACT?

• The SAT is put together by a bunch of castle-dwelling ogres who prey on the dreams of the college hopeful.

MYTH !

• But not that far off…ETS does live in a castle-like compound in Princeton N.J. Despite what you may hear, CB actually wants to see you succeed.

MYTH OR FACT?

• If you are not a good test taker, it will be very hard to do well on this test.

FACT !

• At least we think so…which is why we are going to teach you to how to be good.

The 6-Tiered Approach to achieving success on the

SAT:• 1 – get to know the test• 2 – learn B.T.S. (basic test-taking

strategy)• 3 – learn format-specific methodology• 4 – learn the content• 5 – learn advanced strategy• 6 – gain consistency through practice

• Let’s turn to page 6 in our blue books

Turn to page xvi in the course book

The 6-Tiered Approach to achieving success on the

SAT:• 1 – get to know the test √• 2 – learn B.T.S. (basic test-taking

strategy)• 3 – learn format-specific methodology• 4 – learn the content• 5 – learn advanced strategy• 6 – gain consistency through practice

C – confidence O – organization M – Methodical P – Pace well L – Learn from mistakes E – Efficient T – Think like a test maker E - Engaged

Ok, how does one become a “good” test taker?

Turn to page xiv in the course book

The 6-Tiered Approach to achieving success on the

SAT:• 1 – get to know the test √• 2 – learn B.T.S. (basic test-taking

strategy) √• 3 – learn format-specific methodology• 4 – learn the content• 5 – learn advanced strategy• 6 – gain consistency through practice