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Q: There are many other SAT preparation companies. How are the programs at the MCA different from other programs? A. Mill Creek Academy is a small local business sitting in the heart of Mission San Jose. For the past seven years, students have been coming, primarily from Mission San Jose High School, for intimate, focused SAT preparation. Our instructors, several of whom teach at high schools in Pleasanton and Fremont, are well aware of the effort needed to prepare for such important tests. We use a number of published SAT preparation materials, as well as supplementary books and materials designed by our instructors. Finally, students enroll in our program because of our results: we consistently have over 100 of our students accepted to the University of California each year. Q: When is the right time for a student to start preparing for the SAT? A. Being an attentive student in class from an early age begins the SAT preparation. Reading a variety of literature, from short stories to novels, from biographies to medical articles, from Newsweek to the Wall Street Journal---such rigor continues the preparation! Formal preparation for the SAT usually commences some time during the early high school years. The majority of our students are in 10th and 11th grades although we do have some 9th graders as well. Many of our students repeat our classes as a way of cementing information into busy brains. Q: How is the new SAT different from the old SAT? A: The new SAT test is comprised of three parts: math, reading comprehension/vocabulary, and grammar/writing. The new SAT is very long, 3 hours and 45 minutes. The math includes algebra, geometry, and non- calculus based algebra II trigonometry. The verbal includes sentence completion, critical reading, identifying sentence errors, improving sentences, improving paragraphs, and a 25 minute essay. The new test, in my opinion, is a much better test than the old one. Students should not worry about the test. By preparing for it, especially practicing sitting for 3 hrs. 45 minutes, students should do just fine. Q: What are the SAT II Tests? A: The SAT II tests used to be called Achievement Tests, but are now called Subject Tests. They do just that! They test how well a student really knows the subject. The UC system requires two SAT II tests be taken in two different fields. For example, one could take the SAT II Math II C and the SAT II Chemistry. Each test is 1 hour, and a student may take one, two, or three tests in one sitting. A student may not take both the SAT I and the SAT II in one day. Q: When should the SAT II Tests be taken? A: They should be taken as close to the actual test as possible. For example, when a student finishes either Honors Biology or AP Biology, that student should take the test before some of the valuable detail is forgotten. Q: What happened to the old SAT II Writing Test? A: The SAT II Writing test still exists! Some universities across the country want their students to take it. However, a shorter version of the SAT II Writing has been inserted into the new SAT I. The SAT II Writing test has 60 grammar questions to be done in 40 minutes with a 20 minute essay. The new SAT I includes 39 grammar questions to be done in 35 minutes with a 25 minute essay. Q: Tell me about the 25 minute essay and should my child take a prep course if she/he is already a good writer? A: Writing coherently with specific content is not easy to do in 25 minutes. Even the best writers can use our prep course. Students report back to us that after taking our SAT I Verbal Part 2 course, writing in class essays is much easier and yields higher grades. Q: Where can I find out more detail about the SAT II tests? A: Go to www.collegeboard.com. There you will find out absolutely accurate information. |
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