Steps to Smarter Test Prep

As high school students and their parents start the college application process, they may feel pressure to sign up for expensive SAT and ACT tutoring. It’s understandable that they want any possible edge, given the competitive nature of college admissions and the growing number of schools that are no longer test-optional. Most recently, McGill University announced it will require test scores for most majors from American curriculum applicants, while Princeton will mandate them starting the 2027-28 application cycle. 

But before jumping into costly tutoring, there’s a better way. Students can make tremendous progress by using high-quality, free resources then getting strategic, targeted support when it actually matters. In our experience, here’s what works: 

Start with Free, Proven Resources: Students should first build a strong foundation using resources that are already available at no cost. A strong option is Khan Academy, which offers excellent tools for preparation: personalized practice based on skill level, video explanations, step-by-step work examples, and printable PDFs and exercises. By doing this, students can identify gaps, learn unfamiliar topics, and practice at their own pace. For many students, this alone can lead to meaningful score improvements.

Study Official College Board Questions: Practicing with approved College Board questions is essential. These reflect the exact style, difficulty, and structure of the SAT, and enable students to become comfortable with test wording, understand common traps, learn pacing and question patterns, and track progress realistically. We encourage students to rely heavily on official material–not just third-party question sites.

Build the Foundation First, Then Add Tutoring: For tutoring to be most effective, students must understand the basics. Too often, students jump straight into expensive tutoring programs before they’ve covered foundational content. This leads to unnecessary, costly sessions. 

Please contact valery@ivyoptions.com to arrange efficient and personalized test tutoring. Ivy Options also runs free ACT and SAT diagnostics on Saturdays to help determine which test is right for you: register here.