Test Preparation Services for College Entrance Exams

Alden Learning's test preparation specialist, Mark Hoadley, studied history and English literature at Harvard University. Before joining Alden Learning, he worked at the investment bank UBS in Singapore, and later as a trader at a hedge fund in New York. Since 2013 he has been studying fiction writing, with the eventual goal of publishing a novel. He scored an 800 on the SAT Math, a 790 on the SAT Verbal, and a 770 on the GMAT.  Mark imparts ways of thinking that prepare students to reach their full potential on the tests in addition to presenting strategies to help students meet the broader challenges of life.
Picture
Test prep specialist, Mark Hoadley
SAT vs. ACT:

How do I decide which test to take?

You might have heard that The College Board is rolling out a new SAT format this year (beginning March 2016). Depending on when you are planning to take the test, your test preparation strategy may be impacted. Many students are opting to take the ACT until more study materials become available for the new SAT exam. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you decide which test is right for you:
New SAT 
Practice Test 1 for New SAT | Essay | Scoring | Answer Explanations
Practice Test 2 for New SAT | Essay | Scoring | Answer Explanations
  • College Board has released four sample tests
  • No scoring exists
  • Scores released as late as eight weeks after March and May test dates 

ACT
Practice Materials for the ACT
  • Decade plus of study materials
  • Test will remain constant
  • More straightforward test, less vocabulary intensive
SAT Dates
May 6, 2017
June 3, 2017

​ACT Dates
April 8, 2017
​June 10, 2017