DAEG Prep Classes for the ACT and SAT

DAEG is sponsoring basic ACT and SAT prep classes for 7th and 8th grade students interested in taking the ACT or SAT exam in connection with participating in an academic talent search program, such as Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) and Northwestern Center for Talented Development (CTD). These prep classes are intended to familiarize students with the format of the exams, rather than provide in depth preparation. Classes will be taught by DHS teachers, and will meet in the MMS Library from 2:30- 3:45 pm. The cost per session (which includes two classes) is $75. Class sizes are limited to 25 students, and registration will close when we reach capacity. Availability permitting, the deadline to register is January 10th. Priority registration will be open to parents of Idea students until December 8th, at which time we will open up registration to the broader MMS community.

There will be an ACT session consisting of two classes (one focusing on Math and the other on English), for those students planning to take the ACT. The ACT session will meet on 1/22 and 1/29, with a snow date, if needed, on 2/5. The suggested ACT exam date is 2/8, but your child may take the exam at any time prior to May 15th. Please click here to register for the ACT prep session.

There will be an SAT session consisting of two classes (one focusing on Math and the other on English), for those students planning to take the SAT. The SAT session will meet on 2/12 and 2/26, with a snow date, if needed, on 3/5. The suggested SAT exam date is 3/8, but your child may take the exam at any time prior to May 15th. Please click here to register for the SAT prep session.

Please contact DAEG Education & Enrichment Chair Mekhala Attonito at meksub@gmail.com with any questions.

In addition to registering for a prep class session, please be sure to register your child for the actual ACT or SAT exam itself. Please see below for more information about academic talent search programs, as well as important details about the ACT and SAT exams.

What are Academic Talent Search Programs?

Academic talent search programs offer in person commuter, residential and online academic enrichment courses for exceptional students throughout the school year and during the summer. They offer a variety of classes including Astrophysics, Anatomy and Physiology, Marine Ecology, Electrical Engineering, Fiction and Poetry, Genetics, Global Leadership and Neuroscience. Over the years, we have found that Idea students in particular perform well on entrance exams for these programs, and tend to enjoy the rigorous academic environment that these courses and programs can offer. Additionally, students have the opportunity to interact with and learn from like-minded peers. The programs that tend to be the most popular with our students are Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY), Northwestern Center for Talented Development (CTD) and the Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG). Students entering or currently in high school may also be interested in various precollege programs throughout the country.

For further information about these programs, please reference the below resources:

CTY
CTD
SIG
Precollege Programs

How Can My Child Qualify?

Eligibility requirements vary by program, class and even the time of year. Please note that the SAT and ACT may not be required for all classes offered by these programs. If your child is interested in taking specific classes, you may want to review the respective course catalogs and eligibility requirements prior to registering your child for an exam, in order to determine what path to eligibility is best for them.

CTY offers courses that are deemed either CTY level or Advanced CTY level, the former of which typically reflects ability approximately two grade levels above the student’s current grade, and the latter of which reflects ability approximately four grade levels above their current grade. CTY level and Advanced CTY level courses differ in their eligibility requirements as well as their academic rigor. CTY also accepts a variety of test scores including the SAT, ACT, SCAT (a test created and administered by CTY) and other exams. For more information on CTY eligibility, click here. Setting up an account with CTY will provide you with access to detailed information about their classes, and if you submit your child’s test scores to them, CTY will award your child with the appropriate honors as applicable.

CTY ACT Qualification from January 1 to May 31:

CTY LevelAdvanced CTY Level
7th Grade Reading1521
7th Grade Math1823
8th Grade Reading1824
8th Grade Math2126

CTY SAT Qualification from January 1 to May 31:

CTY LevelAdvanced CTY Level
7th Grade Verbal440540
7th Grade Math440540
8th Grade Verbal490590
8th Grade Math490590

CTD, on the other hand, structures its classes into four tiers, with each tier varying in eligibility requirements as well as academic rigor. Some tiers will accept OLSAT scores in the 90th or 95th grade level percentile, while others require SAT or ACT scores comparable to the Advanced CTY level. For more information on CTD eligibility, click here.

Recognition

Each year, a number of MMS students qualify for the Advanced CTY level, and some go on to achieve the distinction of Grand Honors, which is reserved for the very top tier of performers worldwide. In May, DAEG will send an email out to all students who registered for our prep classes. Those students who achieved High Honors by qualifying for the Advanced CTY level by CTY’s standards will be recognized in the local newspaper for their exceptional scores.

Can My Child Take the ACT or SAT Prep Classes and Exam Just for the Experience?

Yes! Signing up for academic talent search programs is not required. Taking a DAEG prep class and corresponding exam would give your child exposure to a test that they may eventually take, without the pressures of a score going on their permanent record. Additionally, gifted students often cap out on grade-level tests administered in schools; allowing them to take an above grade-level test may give them a normal distribution and a true sense of their reasoning abilities. If you’d like your child to get some experience taking a college entrance exam before the scores go on their permanent record, while qualifying for academic talent search programs and potentially receiving recognition in the local newspaper for exceptional scores, then this opportunity may be right for them.

Is My Child a Good Candidate for Academic Talent Searches?

CTY suggests that any student with a score in the 95th percentile of any subset of a nationally normed standardized test is a good candidate for their programs. However, you know your child best, and are familiar with both their abilities as well as their passions. Regarding the ACT and SAT exams, students should know that there will be plenty of questions and material that they are not familiar with- and that’s ok! Additionally, not all students will be prepared to sit down and take an exam for such a long stretch of time; while the new SAT has been shortened to approximately two hours, the ACT is a bit longer at about three hours.

Which Exam Should My Child Take?

There isn’t a simple answer to this, and if you’re unsure whether the ACT or SAT is right for your child down the road, this is a great opportunity for them to test out the waters and see what they prefer. Familiarizing yourself with the differences between the ACT and SAT will help you make a decision. One factor that may be important to you is that the SAT is now digital. Beginning in April 2025, students may choose to take the ACT digitally, which will have more choice and flexibility than the paper exam.

The New Digital SAT

As of spring 2024, the SAT is a digital exam. A number of things have changed from what you may be familiar with:

  1. The digital SAT exam is computer adaptive. The better that students do on the first module, the harder the questions they’ll get for the second module (and harder questions will be worth more points).
  2. The test has been streamlined to approximately two hours. The new version has shorter reading passages (reduced from approximately 750 words to 150 words), more direct questions and only one question per passage.
  3. Calculators are permitted throughout the entire exam. Students also have access to a built in graphing calculator.
  4. You may either bring your own computer/tablet, or use one provided by the testing center. The test is entirely digital. If you’d like toborrow a device, you need to indicate that on your exam registration form.

Given these changes, middle schoolers might find the new SAT much more accessible than the versions administered in previous years.

SAT Math Content Areas

The SAT test requires a deep understanding of a handful of math topics, focusing largely on prealgebra, Algebra I and Algebra II. If your child is on the Double Accelerated Math Track at MMS, or has experience with these subject areas, the SAT may be well suited for them. Students need to know how to solve algebraic equations as well as how to create equations or graphs to model real world problems, requiring conceptual understanding and application.

Subject Distribution of SAT Math Questions*

 

* Summit Educational Group https://mytutor.com/

SAT English Content Areas

The SAT English section focuses on craft and structure, evidence and inferences, English conventions and expression of ideas. The new digital SAT offers shorter passages and more direct questions than previous versions of the exam. There is no essay component.

The Enhanced ACT (coming April 2025)

In April 2025, the ACT will undergo a number of enhancements, which we will update here as they take effect. As a general matter, the test length is expected to be reduced from up to 195 minutes to 125 minutes, math answer choices will be reduced from five to four, and the score report will include a STEM score if students elect to take the science section which will be optional. The ACT will be available in both online and paper formats. Please visit ACT.org for more information.

ACT Math Content Areas

The ACT requires a basic understanding of a broad range of math topics, covering a wider (but shallower) range of subjects than the SAT. Algebra comprises only about 30% of the math questions, and there is a greater focus on geometry and trigonometry than the SAT. If your child has not yet done a deep dive, but rather has a familiarity with a wide variety of math topics, the ACT may be right for them.

Subject Distribution of ACT Math Questions**

 

** Summit Educational Group https://mytutor.com/

ACT English, Reading and Science Content Areas

The ACT contains multiple choice questions in English ( grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and rhetorical skills), math, reading and science. The Reading passages pertain to prose fiction, social studies, humanities and natural sciences. The science questions are based on information provided in passages, graphs, charts and tables, as opposed to prior knowledge. Typically, academic talent search programs look for only ACT Reading and Math scores, and the optional writing test need not be taken.

How Can I Register for the ACT or SAT?

Please visit the ACT website to register for the ACT exam, and for any ACT specific questions, including questions related to accommodations. Please also take a minute to note the registration deadlines and test center locations for the exam you are interested in taking. If your child is interested in taking the ACT exam on February 8th, the deadline to register is January 3rd. Darien High School is a test center for this exam. If your child is under the age of 13, for privacy reasons you’ll need to reach out to the ACT to request an application on their behalf.

Please visit the College Board website to register for the SAT exam, and for any SAT specific questions, including questions related to accommodations. Please also take a minute to note the registration deadlines and test center locations for the exam you are interested in taking. If your child is interested in taking the SAT exam on March 8th, the deadline to register is February 21st, and Darien High School is not a test center for this exam. If your child is under the age of 13, for privacy reasons you’ll need to reach out to the College Board to request an application on their behalf.

Please note that your child may take the exams at any time this academic year prior to May 15th (subject to any applicable program admissions deadlines) to be included in DAEG’s recognition of students with exceptional scores. Please click here for some helpful information on registration deadlines and which exams are held at Darien High School.

*Please note, test centers fill up quickly, especially at DHS, so early registration is recommended.*

Students Under 13 Years Old

For the SAT, if your child is under 13 years old, a parent or guardian will need to complete and submit an Account Creation Consent form. Once it has been submitted, a College Board representative will reach out to you with next steps on setting up your child’s account.

Currently, students under the age of 13 years old may not register for the ACT.

Next steps?

  1. Determine which exam is right for your child.
  2. Register your child for the respective DAEG ACT prep course or SAT prep course.
  3. Register your child for either the ACT or SAT exam itself, being mindful of the respective deadlines.
  4. Feel free to sign your child up for classes through CTY, CTD, SIG or precollege programs!

Additional Helpful Resources: