We were introduced to Kennon three years ago when my son’s teacher failed to teach enough of the textbook. My son needed a crash course for the Algebra 1 EOC (a graduation requirement). Kennon did an amazing job and my son continued to value working with Kennon and seek help for Algebra 2 and SAT prep. My son’s SAT score significantly improved thanks to the sessions with Kennon that improved his skills and motivation.

A. La., July 2018

What are the differences between the Digital SAT and the Classic SAT?

I get that question a lot! So, I created a whole series on YouTube to explain it!

When should I take the SAT?

It is complicated. In short, we believe you can achieve your highest score by studying over the summer after you have completed Algebra 2 and taking the August test as you begin Precalculus. Please read the full explanation on this page.

What is the QAS?

The QAS is the “Question and Answer Service.” The QAS may be discontinued once the SAT goes digital in 2024. The QAS allows you to see every question of the test, so you can pinpoint your mistakes. The QAS is only available on the October, March and May tests, so if you are taking the SAT for the first time and trying to identify your weaknesses, make sure to take either the October, March or May test. You can then review all of the questions and our tutors can help identify the areas you should study first to help increase your SAT score.

How do I register for the SAT?

To register for the SAT, visit the College Board website. Make sure to pay a little extra for the QAS (explained above).

I got my SAT score this morning and I increased my math score by 140 points since my last test. You are a wonderful tutor! Thank you so much for helping me prepare for the exam!

L. J., Sept. 2021

What SAT score is required for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship?

These requirements for the Class of 2021 and beyond will be 1330 (93rd percentile) & 1200 (81st percentile) respectively. There are GPA (3.0 or 3.5), volunteering (75 or 100 hours), residency and many other requirements that you can read all about here. The qualifying ACT scores are 26 and 29.

How much SAT prep does my child need to get the full Bright Futures Scholarship?

We are often asked to help students meet the qualifying requirements for Bright Futures and we are happy to help, but we cannot reliably estimate the number of hours required without first meeting your child and going over a practice test with them. Families need to carefully reflect on whether or not their student is really among the top 7% (full scholarship) or top 19% (75% scholarship) of graduates on these tests. Earning the full scholarship is somewhat equivalent to earning a full scholarship as an athlete. Think of the years of practice, daily training, and passion that a full scholarship college athlete has done to become the best of the best. Has your student demonstrated that same passion towards math and English? If not, consider the amount of work that will be required to reach the highest level. Sticking with the athlete analogy, if the state rowing championships is in 6 weeks and your child has never gone rowing, what are their realistic chances of beating 93% of the rowers? Are they committed to adding all of that DAILY work to their busy schedule right now? Will this be their top priority everyday? Will six weeks be enough time? Luckily, there are lots of students who probably have never cared about math (or learned to row), so you aren’t competing against all 100% of students, but nevertheless, before embarking on such a venture, please watch your child do this worksheet. If your child can correctly complete the 10 problem worksheet without a calculator in less than 1 minute, then they have a great chance of earning at least the 75% Bright Futures Scholarship. If they struggle with several problems on the worksheet, they have significant deficiencies that will not be overcome easily and they could require 50 hours or more of tutoring because a lifetime of misunderstandings cannot be overcome in a couple of hours of practice sprinkled over a few months. Would a few hours in a boat here and there earn someone a full ride rowing scholarship? If your child struggles with the worksheet, regardless of the Bright Futures Scholarship, you should strongly consider tutoring, because their weak math skills may significantly hinder their ability to succeed in college or their career.

How did Carter Earn a Perfect 800 on the SAT Math Test at Age 14?

First of all, he’s very a gifted mathematician and problem solver. He and I have done accelerated math problems since kindergarten. We did not really have any specific goal in mind other than developing problem solving skills and building a strong foundation in number sense. In sixth grade, we finished all of the books we had and we turned to the SAT practice tests as source of challenging problems. Because we was just beginning Algebra class, it was a bit bumpy at first, but his number sense and problem solving quickly helped him develop algebra skills rapidly. As sixth grade went on, the 20 weekly questions got easier and easier and before we knew it, he could routinely get 14-15 out of 20 questions correct. In the summer between sixth and seventh grade, he did questions questions a day and I set benchmarks for what percentage he needed to get correct in order to earn a reward. So, he was increasing his frequency of practice and for the first time, really concentrating on quality instead of exploration. He did an amazing job getting a 760/800 as seventh grade started. We left the SAT alone for a couple years and then in ninth grade, after tutoring so many students at the tutoring center, I decided it was time for him to study again and go for the perfect 800. I had seen so many stressed out, over scheduled, overloaded, distracted & forgetful juniors and seniors that I decided it was in his best interest to go for the 800 while all of his middle school math was still fresh in his mind and his life was relatively stress free and he had the capacity for a little extra studying. We did the exact same thing that I recommend to all of my tutoring students. Start six weeks before the test. Complete all 10 practice tests! Do 20 questions every day! Focus on quality and get help on the problems you missed. We ran out of official SAT tests, so we used some PSAT practice tests (the PSAT actually has a few more difficult problems than the SAT by the way) to keep him practicing up until test day. Then, the last few days, we reviewed all of the problems he had missed over the past six weeks just to make sure he had eliminated any misunderstandings and reviewed the trickiest questions. A childhood of exploration and excellence in mathematics, combined with adhering to a good plan, and Carter’s hard work was the perfect combination!

What is a good SAT score?

The SAT score is comprised of two scores, a math score and a reading & writing score. Each score ranges from 200 to 800, so a perfect score would be 1,600. A score of roughly 500 on each test, is meant to be about average. The 50th percentile is actually 1060, so 50% of students score above 1,060 and 50% of students score below 1,060. A score of 1,340 will place a student in the 90th percentile, whereas a score of 1,240 is the 80th percentile. A score of 940 is the bottom 30th percentile. So 50% of students score between 940 and 1,240. The SAT has published this helpful in-depth guide that breaks it all down. Every student is different and sets different goals, so a good score is any score that is good enough to get you into the college that you most want to attend. Check with your favorite school to see what score you will need to be considered as a top admissions candidate. Of course, the higher the score, the more likely the school is to offer you merit based scholarships, so doing well on these tests might save you tens of thousands of dollars in tuition.

Should I take the SAT once without studying?

Sure, if you want to waste time and money! This advice makes no sense to us. It’s like asking, “Should I fly a plane without taking flying lessons first?” The SAT has released 10 full practice tests that are available for free. If you want practice, use these 10 free practice tests. Once you are done practicing, register for the test, get serious about it, get a great score and set your sights on something more interesting to do with your Saturdays.

Should I take the SAT or ACT?

Check with your favorite school(s), then read this comparison between the two tests. If you are still not sure, ask for our opinion or just take both tests.

Are calculators allowed on the SAT math test?

Yes and no. The SAT has two math sections. One section, section 3, has 20 questions and does NOT allow a calculator. Section 4 has 38 questions and does allow a calculator. Generally, the more a student depends a calculator, the lower their score will be. Students who cannot function without a calculator should work to improve their mental math skills and should consider taking the ACT. Above average number sense goes a long way toward decreasing the difficulty of the SAT. Students with good computational skills will most likely not need a calculator for any question on the test.