December 2011 - Palos Verdes High School

COLLEGE ADMISSION TEST PREPARATION
Teri Kuwahara, Director of the College & Career Center
(310) 378-8471 x 618, kuwaharat@pvpusd.k12.ca.us
It is the policy of PVHS and the College & Career Center not to endorse any test preparation
course or company. However, test preparation companies who work with Palos Verdes students
have the opportunity to have a link to their websites on our school website. A page with links to
test preparation companies and courses is found at:
http://pvhigh.com/C_CCC/CCC_test_prep.html
(under Counseling/CCC>college admission tests>test preparation)
There are many test preparation companies who use the PVHS facility to conduct their classes.
Prep courses vary from group to private and different fees. If a student/family chooses to look at
test preparation for SAT, at PVHS, we recommend all families “shop around” and find the
course that best suits their schedule and budget.
At Palos Verdes High School we offer free test preparation in Naviance for SAT and ACT.
The Method Test Prep 2.0 is an easy-to-use self preparation with practice tests, quizzes and full
length tests. It includes a vocabulary builder with electronic flashcards and math tutorials, complete
with videos explaining how to solve a missed question. Last July, I attended the Naviance
Summer Institute near Austin, Texas, with Trista Ramirez. There, I attended a workshop on
Method Test prep and discovered some of the features they added to their new upgraded version.
Method Test Prep (MTP) is designed with a student’s busy schedule in mind.
They recommend a minimum of 2 hours per week preparation using their program
during the 8 weeks leading up to the SAT or ACT test.
Review notes for both SAT or ACT are highly recommended and found in their
MTP Resource Library. Go over them before the exam for last minute “cram” review.
Method Test Prep President, Tom Ehlers, recommends students take both the SAT and
ACT, as 30% of students will do better on one over the other.
If students purchase a hard-copy study guide, MTP recommended “The Official Study
Guide” (blue book) or “The Official ACT Study Guide”(red book) available on Amazon.com
Seniors should check with the colleges they intend to apply for their testing deadlines as they
may vary. Most colleges will accept November and/or December test scores.
Juniors may now register for spring (recommended) test dates by going to
www.collegeboard.com (SAT) and www.act.org (ACT). PVHS is a test site but will fill up. For
more information on college admission testing, please refer to the College Admission Guidebook
found on the school website at: http://pvhigh.com/C_CCC/CCC_College_Guidebook.html
If you have any questions about Method Test Prep or Naviance, please contact me in the CCC.
The Wave December 2011 - January 2012 Page 13