PSAT, SAT and ACT Seminars
Sycamore Learning Company offers 5-hour ACT & SAT prep seminars at various high schools around the country. Depending on the school's preference, seminars are held for two and a half hours after school (either afternoon or evening) on two consecutive nights, or all in one day on a weekend. At Sycamore Learning Company we understand how active students are, which is why we have constructed our seminars in a way that is both efficient and effective.
In the 5-hour seminar, students will learn about all sections of either the ACT or SAT, take shortened practice tests to get used to the types of questions on the test, and be provided with a multitude of tips and strategies to help them on each section of the test.
Included in the price of the seminar is an extensive study guide full of tips and strategies, as well as many practice tests with detailed answer explanations. In the past, students taking seminars have seen an average increase of 2-4 points on the ACT and 50-150 on the SAT.
While each student's score ultimately depends on the amount of work he or she completes outside the seminar, Sycamore Learning Company provides students with the materials and strategies that can help increase the chances of achieving the best score possible.
Study Skills Seminars
Sycamore Learning Company has developed a new study skills seminar to help students at all levels of their academic progress. It is important to understand the process of time management and the optimal ways to study to increase productivity as well as test scores.
Throughout the seminar, students will learn a new way to look at things to help them throughout their years in high school and college. Developing this skill set early on can give students a significant advantage over their peers who do not manage their time and studies properly. This 4-hour seminar will give students new insight into a variety of topics, including:
The Psychology Behind Studying
Students will understand how the brain works as it goes through the process of learning new information. Students will be given a test to help them understand their optimal way to learn so they can utilize the methods that best apply to them.
Goals
Goal setting is a very important activity that often gets overlooked. In class, students will go through both their short-term and long-term goals to highlight why putting the extra effort in now can pay off in the long-run.
Note Taking
Students will learn a variety of methods of how to take notes while they are learning in class, reading textbooks, or listening to a peer presentation. After students learn how to properly take notes, techniques will be shown to condense the notes into a study sheet that will better prepare them for test time when midterms and finals arrive.
Studying
The goal in this section is to have students understand the work-intensity principal of studying. Tips will be given to help students avoid "pseudo-studying" and allow them to see the benefits of setting a productive environment to retain information in the most optimal way. Combined with the note taking, learning these study strategies can drastically improve students' recall from classes throughout the year and better prepare them to take their tests.
Memorization
In order to increase students' power of recall, they will be shown a variety of techniques to help them better memorize important facts that they may need for quizzes and exams at school. In the seminar, students will participate in learning activities that will help them practice these techniques.
Reading Speed
Students will be shown techniques that can drastically improve their reading speed and comprehension as well as learn the situations when this speed reading approach can be useful.
Essay Writing
Throughout their high school and college careers, students will have to write numerous papers. It is important that students understand the process of how to put together a paper. Students will learn the different ways to handle research papers and smaller class assignments, such as critical analysis essays. The seminar will not focus on writing skills, but more on the foundation behind a good paper such as the proper ways to approach the writing process and creating outlines to help along the way.
Scheduling
An important part of time management is learning how to schedule activities, homework, studying, and free time. The seminar will show students how to use a scheduling program and some simple techniques to keep them on task for their daily, weekly, and monthly activities.Combined together, these study skills strategies can help students become more prepared and enable them to make the best use of their time. The seminar has been designed to be very activity driven so students will learn as they practice all these techniques in class. If students can routinely utilize these processes and techniques, it can go a long way in boosting their test scores and grades as well as helping them prepare for college and the professional world.
For more info, please contact Tim Oliver at (678) 777-6031, or via email at, tim@sycamorelearning.com
Summer Camps Seminars
ACT & SAT SUMMER BOOT CAMPS
During the summer, Sycamore Learning Company offers five-day SAT & ACT training camps. Students can utilize these specially designed camps to get on track and jump ahead of other students on their upcoming tests. These programs were designed by Sycamore Learning Company's founder who is a 15-year expert in the field of SAT & ACT test preparation and a graduate of Princeton University who also holds an MBA from Emory University.
During the training camp, students will receive personalized instruction on each subject of the test, including the essay portion of the exam. The camp allows for a much more extensive look at each subject that is offered on the test. In addition, the instructor will sit down one-on-one and review the final diagnostic test with students in order to develop a personalized study plan.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
The "Prep for the Future" ACT & SAT Summer Boot Camps include a 650-page study guide filled with tips and strategies to aid in the improvement of test scores, as well as continued online support over the summer as students work through their studies.
The study guide, a 5-day training camp, and practice support is now available for the low price of ONLY $399.
ACT BOOT CAMP ITINERARY
9:00am-12:00pm OR 1pm-4pm
MONDAY - OVERVIEW, ENGLISH, & ESSAY
Overview: We will begin with a general test overview explaining all parts of the ACT and specific test-taking strategies unique to the ACT.
English Tips and Strategies: We will highlight the most important grammar rules necessary to score well on this portion of the test. We will also give a detailed breakdown of all of the different types of questions on this portion of the test.
Essay: Although the essay is an optional portion to the test, the top schools around the country view this as a requirement for admissions. The class will outline a specific strategy on how to write an essay within 40 minutes, as well as provide the key points that ACT is looking for on this essay to ensure a good score.
TUESDAY - MATH
Math review all day, but don’t be afraid!
Math: Students review all of the core math subjects that ACT is testing on the exam. Students will be shown how to break down the word problems that are specific to this ACT test. We will also go over, in detail, specific questions found on past tests so that students will know what to look for on upcoming exam.
WEDNESDAY - READING & SCIENCE
Reading: In class, students will look at the reading test and analyze the different types of questions. Students will then be shown how to discern between a good answer and the best answer.
Science: Students will learn how to attack the Science section in order to maximize their scores. In addition, we will break down the 3 types of questions and show students how to answer all of them.
THURSDAY - DIAGNOSTIC TEST
Students will take a full-length practice test so they can become accustomed to both types of questions they will see, as well as the timing strategies they will have learned for the ACT.
FRIDAY - PERSONALIZED ANALYSIS
On the last day, students will sit down one-on-one with the instructor and go over their diagnostic test.
The instructor will then analyze each students' own personal strengths and weaknesses in order to design a personalized game plan that will help them prepare over the summer for the Fall ACT test.
SAT BOOT CAMP ITINERARY
MONDAY - OVERVIEW & MATH
Overview: We will begin with a general test overview explaining all parts of the SAT and specific test taking strategies unique to the SAT.
Math: Students will review all of the core math subjects that SAT is testing on the exam. Students will be shown how to break down the word problems that are specific to this SAT test. We will also go over, in detail, specific questions found on past tests so that students will know what to look for on the upcoming exam.
TUESDAY - MORE MATH & READING
Math: After putting in a lot of hard work on Monday first half of the seminar.
Reading Tips & Strategies: Students will look at the reading test and analyze the types of questions that the SAT asks in this portion of the test. Students will then be shown how to discern between a good answer and the best answer.
WEDNESDAY - WRITING/LANGUAGE & ESSAY
Writing/Language: We will highlight the most important grammar rules necessary to score well on this portion of the test. We will also give a detailed breakdown of all of the different types of questions on this portion of the test.
Essay: The class will outline a specific strategy on how to write an essay in 50 minutes as well as provide the key points that SAT is looking for on this essay to ensure a good score.
THURSDAY - DIAGNOSTIC TEST
Students will take a full-length practice test so they can become accustomed to both types of questions they will see, as well as the timing strategies they will have learned for the SAT.
FRIDAY - PERSONALIZED ANALYSIS
On the last day, students will sit down one-on-one with the instructor and go over their diagnostic test.
The instructor will then analyze each students' own personal strengths and weaknesses in order to design a personalized game plan that will help them prepare for the upcoming SAT test.