AGES: 15-17
WEEK: June 23
TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
FEE: $675
At the core of all standardized tests are certain principles and strategies that put students in the best position to succeed—mainly with the interpretive ability they’ve honed and the content knowledge they’ve built. Avoiding careless mistakes is not merely a question of focus but also a dedicated approach. Guessing is not guessing when it’s done analytically. Pacing and prioritization must be planned and practiced.
With two test options for college admissions, the ACT and SAT, identifying where a student’s skill set is best rewarded should be the first step. A student can waste months of preparation if they pursue the wrong test. The ACT is a faster-paced test with more advanced math and a data analysis section masquerading as science. The SAT, meanwhile, is an adaptive exam featuring paragraph-long reading passages, complex grammar rules, and math fill-in answers.
The Top Score ACT vs. SAT Test Selection & Testing Fundamentals camp offers students an introduction to the SAT/ACT through diagnostic testing, targeted strategies, high-yield content review, and personalized guidance. This camp is designed to help students determine the best test fit—ACT or SAT—and identify the key skills and next steps for self-study needed to achieve their best score
Skills Taught
- Pacing & prioritization
- Categorization of question types: See the test from the test maker’s perspective
- Reading critically for evidence and tone
- Grammar rules: recognition and application
- Breaking down challenging, multi-step math problems into easy, individual tasks
- Understanding ACT Science: interpreting data tables, charts and graphs
- Diagnostic Testing in ACT vs. SAT: Expose students to both test styles and determine the better test fit, as well as skill level across different subjects (Reading/Writing/Mathematics/Science)
- Testing foundations: understanding pacing, how to use process of elimination, importance of showing work, and using alternative methods to answer hard questions
- Changes and Updates to testing and how to prepare for the SAT’s digital format
- Evidence-Based Reading: reading with purpose, differentiating explicit vs. implicit evidence, recognizing tone and characterization, and what do I do when I’m down to two?!
- English Grammar: core content (subjects, verbs, pronouns: oh, my!), making language objective through sentence breakdown
- Math: what’s on the test, knowledge gaps, how to avoid careless errors, how to break down multi-step questions, alternative methods when the formula fails, core content tested on both exams
- Science: avoiding basic errors in data interpretation, making deeper data connections
- Final Diagnostic Testing and Reporting
*Campers should bring a graphic calculator and a laptop to camp each day.
PROVIDER: Top Score Education is a boutique tutoring and test prep company that offers bespoke in-home and virtual tutoring to students in the DC metro region, Durham, North Carolina, South Florida, and worldwide. Top Score supports students with all 6th-12th grade academic subjects, the SAT & ACT, SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, and almost all AP exams.
Founded in 2004, Top Score’s mission is to provide deep learning through deep relationships. This mission represents a commitment to understanding the individual needs of each student and providing all families with a highly personalized level of support throughout their student’s academic journey. Top Score tutors are highly qualified (and thoroughly interesting) professionals (8 Duke alumni, 2 medical students, 1 Oxford PhD, and 18 advanced degrees). Top Score Education is widely recognized as a leader in the DC metro region in SAT and ACT planning, preparation, and support.
