Regents, AP, and SAT Blog

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Helping Students Prepare for the Big Test

Long Island Regents Prep Announces 2015 Regents, AP, and SAT Review Classes

 

(Farmingdale, NY) Long Island Regents Prep, which offers Regents, Advanced Placement, and SAT review classes in all major subjects, has announced its 2015 course schedule. Their courses are designed and taught by certified and experienced teachers who understand how to prepare students for their exams and how to reduce the anxiety that comes along with high-stakes testing.

Over the past five years, Long Island Regents Prep has helped nearly 2,000 students in New York prepare for their Regents, AP, and SAT exams. In other words, their teachers have provided approximately 12,000 hours of class instruction. Because Long Island Regents Prep offers exceptional test preparation, their course registrations continue to grow at rate of almost 200% each year, largely due to word-of-mouth recommendations.

Since 2009, Long Island Regents Prep has offered one-day Regents review courses for each of the major subjects, including Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, Global History and Geography, United States History and Government, Integrated Algebra, Algebra 2/Trigonometry, and Geometry.  Each class covers essential subject matter, offers test-taking strategies, and reviews practice Regents questions.

In 2013, Long Island Regents Prep decided to expand its course selection and begin offering Advanced Placement review classes in AP United States History, AP World History, AP European History, AP US Government and Politics, AP Psychology, AP Calculus AB, AP Biology, AP Physics B, AP Chemistry, and AP Environmental Science.

Last season, Long Island Regents Prep introduced SAT Crash Courses, one-day review classes offered the weekend before each spring SAT exam. There are three courses to chose from: SAT Critical Reading/Writing, SAT Math, and SAT Math/Critical Reading. All SAT Crash Courses will be taught by certified teachers who attended elite universities and excelled on their standardized exams. In addition, courses will include a custom SAT workbook that students will use during the class and bring home with them.

Long Island Regents Prep Long Island Regents Prep was founded in 2009 by Michael Graziosi, Brad Seidman, and Dr. Dennis Urban, full-time social studies teachers on Long Island, New York. After preparing hundreds of their own students for NY State Regents Exams and AP Exams, they realized that students sometimes needed review beyond what was offered in the classroom. So they have created clear, concise, six-hour review courses that provide students with the content, skills, and confidence they need to excel on their standardized exams. Finally, all classes are taught by experienced, highly-qualified, New York State-certified teachers in comfortable, state-of-the-art classrooms on the campus of Farmingdale State College, a State University of New York (SUNY) institution of higher learning.  Students can register online quickly, easily, and securely by visiting http://www.liregentsprep.com.

What:

Regents Prep classes, AP Review classes, and SAT Crash Courses

Where:

Farmingdale State College (Gleeson Hall)
2350 Broad Hollow Road
Farmingdale, NY 11735

When:
AP Review Classes –May 3 & 9, 2015 (9:00AM –4:00PM)
Regents Review Classes –June 13, 14, & 20, 2015 (9:00AM –4:00PM)
SAT Crash Courses –April 26, & May 31, 2015 (9:00AM –4:00PM)

Registration:

Visit Long Island Regents Prep for more information and to register for classes.

Contact Us:

Long Island Regents Prep
P.O. Box 1021
Bellmore, NY  11710
Call: (516) 847-1265

Email: info@longislandregentsprep.com
Twitter: @RegentsPrep (https://twitter.com/regentsprep)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/longislandregentsprep

LI Regents Prep will be at Suffolk Spring College Fair on May 5th

Long Island Regents Prep is excited to be participating in the Suffolk Spring College Fair, sponsored by Western Suffolk Counselors’ Association. The College Fair will take place on Monday, May 5, 2014,  from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Students will be able to visit representatives from dozens of colleges and register for SAT and Regents review courses offered by Long Island Regents Prep. In addition, we'll be offering on-site registration discounts and raffling off a free SAT Crash Course and Regents Review Course!  Please stop by our booth to find out more about our courses! Here are the details:

Suffolk Spring College Fair

Monday, May 5, 2014

5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Huntington Hilton Hotel, Melville NY

Directions: Take Long Island Expressway East to Exit 49S (Rte 110 South / Broadhollow Rd.) Turn Right at end of ramp onto Rt. 110 S / Broadhollow Road. Proceed 2 miles to the corner of Spagnoli Rd and Broadhollow Rd and the hotel is on the right.

The New SAT Exam

There's been a lot of discussion in recent days about the redesigned SAT, which will debut in 2016. For decades, the College Board has faced criticism that the SAT helps students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, who can afford pricey test prep services and tutors, while lower- and middle-class students are left on their own to navigate the arcane and archaic (SAT vocab words?) exam. These suspicions are borne out by statistics showing students from wealthier families achieving better SAT scores. The redesigned exam claims to be more equitable in allowing opportunities for all students to excel on the exam, not just those with the means to pay for test preparation.

Sifting through all the information on the new SAT can be daunting. Below are some resources to help you learn more about the College Board's redesign.

• Kaplan Test Prep
• Fair Test - The National Center for Fair and Open Testing
• Inside Higher Ed
• U.S. News and World Report
• The New York Times Magazine
• The College Board

Since the current SAT exam will be around for a few more years, most high school students won't have to worry about the coming changes. They can continue to rely on existing study methods, practice exams, review books, tutors, and prep courses. For more information about SAT Crash Courses that we offer at Farmingdale State College, or to register online, visit www.liregentsprep.com.

Are SAT Review Classes Worth the Cost?

It's easy to get carried away with SAT test preparation, and it's not unusual for a typical family to spend over $1000 per child on SAT review. So, is it worth it? In other words, do costly tutors, review books, and review classes result in better test scores and, thus, admission into elite colleges? This question is difficult to answer.

The best research indicates that "test preparation efforts yield a positive but small effect on standardized admission test scores," according to a report released in 2009 by the National Association for College Admission Counseling. In fact, although many of the best-known test prep companies (e.g., Kaplan, Princeton Review, and Sylvan Learning) claim to increase test scores by over 100 points, the "average gains are more in the neighborhood of 30 points." 

The College Board, which creates the SAT exams, has conducted its own research, which shows that test preparation courses offer limited benefit. In fact, Laurence Bunin, senior vice president for the College Board, "recommends free and low-cost College Board Materials, including a $22 study guide," according to the Wall Street Journal. 

Moreover, SAT prep companies like Kaplan and Princetown Review reap billions of dollars in profits annually, while charging students thousands of dollars to enroll in their comprehensive review courses. This may put students from lower-income families at a disadvantage. According to a Washington Post survey, students who come from families earning over $200,000 a year have an average SAT score of 1714, while students whose families make less than $20,000 a year have an average score of 1326.

Unfortunately, these figures sometimes force families to spend beyond their means in hope of sending their kids to better colleges, and the results can be disheartening. According to long-time SAT tutor Allison Kade, expensive SAT tutoring and review courses aren't for everyone. She says, "you may not need to fork over tons of cash for test prep if: 1) Your kid is extremely self-motivated, already understands all the core concepts and has been successful with self-study for other standardized tests like AP exams or the PSAT; 2) Your kid doesn’t care, won’t put in the work and will potentially be a distraction to the rest of the kids taking the test." On the other hand, she writes, you may want to spend a few bucks if "your kid cares about her score, but may not be self-motivated enough to do the studying on her own; your teen is a nervous test-taker...; or your child is struggling with core concepts and would benefit from extra help."

But there is an alternative to the expensive tutors and review courses. Long Island Regents Prep, a teacher-owned and -operated company, offers one-day SAT Crash Courses the weekend before each SAT Reasoning Test. These courses, held at Farmingdale State College, offer students confidence, skills, knowledge, and strategies they need to excel on their SATs, all at a fraction of the cost of tutors and other courses. For more information and to register for upcoming classes, visit www.liregentsprep.com.

Announcing Schedule for 2014 NYS Regents, AP, & SAT Review Classes

Long Island Regents Prep, which offers Regents, Advanced Placement, and SAT review classes in all major subjects, has announced its 2014 course schedule. These courses are designed and taught by certified and experienced teachers who understand how to prepare students for their exams and how to reduce the anxiety that comes along with high-stakes testing.

Since 2009, Long Island Regents Prep has offered one-day Regents review courses for each of the major subjects, including Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, Global History and Geography, United States History and Government, Integrated Algebra, Algebra 2/Trigonometry, and Geometry.  Each class covers essential subject matter, offers test-taking strategies, and reviews practice Regents questions.

Last year, Long Island Regents Prep decided to expand its course selection and begin offering Advanced Placement review classes in AP United States History, AP World History, AP European History, AP US Government and Politics, AP Psychology, AP Calculus AB, AP Biology, AP Physics B, AP Chemistry, and AP Environmental Science.

This season, after helping hundreds of students from Long Island and New York City over the past five years, Long Island Regents Prep is introducing SAT Crash Courses, one-day review classes offered the weekend before each spring SAT exam. There will be three courses to chose from: SAT Critical Reading/Writing, SAT Math, and SAT Math/Critical Reading. All SAT Crash Course will be taught by certified teachers who attended elite universities and excelled on their standardized exams. In addition, courses will include a custom SAT workbook that students will use during the class and bring home with them.

Long Island Regents Prep is owned and operated by three current high school teachers who understand the importance of the Regents, AP, and SAT examinations. They have created clear, concise, six-hour review courses that provide students with the content, skills, and confidence they need to excel on their standardized exams. Finally, all classes are taught by experienced, highly-qualified, New York State-certified teachers in comfortable, state-of-the-art classrooms on the campus of Farmingdale State College, a State University of New York (SUNY) institution of higher learning.  Students can register online quickly, easily, and securely by visiting http://www.liregentsprep.com.

What:

Review courses for Regents, Advanced Placement, and SAT exams

Where:

Farmingdale State College (Gleeson Hall)
2350 Broad Hollow Road
Farmingdale, NY 11735

When:

AP Review Classes – May 3 & 4, 2014 (9:00AM – 4:00PM)

Regents Review Classes – June 14, 15, & 21, 2014 (9:00AM – 4:00PM)

SAT Crash Courses – March 1, April 26, & May 31, 2014 (9:00AM – 4:00PM)

Registration:

Visit http://www.liregentsprep.com for more information and to register for classes.

Contact Us:

Long Island Regents Prep
P.O. Box 1021
Bellmore, NY  11710

Call: (516) 847-1265
Email: info@liregentsprep.com
Twitter: @RegentsPrep
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/longislandregentsprep

About Long Island Regents Prep

Long Island Regents Prep, a teacher-owned and -operated company, offers one-day Regents, Advanced Placement, and SAT review classes at Farmingdale State College.

Introducing SAT Crash Courses

We are excited to announce that Long Island Regents Prep will begin offering SAT Crash Courses in spring 2014.  Due to the success of our Regents and AP review programs, and in response to the positive feedback we've received from parents and students, we are expanding our review course catalog to include one-day SAT review classes. We will be offering three options:

- SAT Math

- SAT English (with Writing)

- SAT Math and English 

As with our Regents and AP prep classes, SAT Crash Courses will be one-day, six-hour sessions held at Farmingdale State College.  In addition, students will receive a custom Long Island Regents Prep SAT workbook. Classes will be taught by certified teachers who attended elite colleges and excelled on standardized exams. Registration will begin soon.  In the meantime, visit Long Island Regents Prep for more information and to join our email list.  Also, find us on Twitter @RegentsPrep and on Facebook.

Long Island SAT and ACT Prep

Over the years, many students and parents have asked us why we don't offer SAT and ACT review courses.  The answer is pretty simple.  As full-time high school teachers, we work with the New York State Regents material everyday.  So we focus on what we're good at: we take the Regents course content and skills that we teach throughout the school year and create intensive, one-shot, six-hour review sessions.  We leave the SAT/ACT prep to those who specialize in that type of tutoring.  That being said, if you're looking for a local, experienced tutor and are not interested in wasting thousands of dollars on Kaplan or Princeton Review, then check out these Long Island companies:

Long Island Test Prep with Gregg - For the past 8 years, Greg Zehentner has tutored hundreds of students from all over Long Island.  Here's what he has to say about his services: "My specialized approach and experience enable me to target any student's weaknesses and provide the strategies, tips, and tricks that will help raise his or her score to the level it should be! In addition to the many students I have assisted over the years, I have also developed content for SAT and ACT review websites, written an SAT study guide for a national review company, published an SAT book and taught prep classes across Long Island. I know the SAT and ACT inside and out!  Rather than a teacher who moonlights as a tutor, I am a full-time standardized test tutor who has cultivated his targeted methods over years of practice. You can check out my website at www.litestprep.com."

SAT, ACT, and GRE Tutoring with Mr. Eisenberg - Jeffrey Eisenberg has been tutoring students for over 20 years.  In addition, he is a social studies teacher at East Meadow High School.  Jeff says, "I help students in Long Island to succeed on the SAT, ACT, and GRE and work with students to demystify the exam, lower stress levels, and apply real-world strategies for mastering the test.  Students who embrace my techniques and practice them as assigned typically improve their scores significantly.  I look forward to discussing with you how we can work together towards this goal."  Visit his site at www.longislandtestprep.com.

Tips for dealing with test anxiety

For many students, the end of the school year brings a combination of excitement and anxiety. As the days grow warmer, students look forward to their two-month summer break.  But, before fleeing to the beaches or to summer camp, they must first pass their finals, Regents exams, and, perhaps, take the SATs and ACTs. School can be stressful enough without the added pressure of standardized exams, but test anxiety is becoming increasingly widespread in our test-obsessed age of accountability.

According to the Penn State University Learning Center, symptoms of test anxiety can include insomnia, loss of appetite, panic, confusion, hopelessness, anger, and depression.

There are ways of dealing with these symptoms. Georgetown University's Counseling and Psychiatric Service website lists helpful tips for reducing test anxiety. Before the exam, students should get a good night's sleep, eat a modest meal, avoid other students who are stressed, and arrive early for the test.  During the exam, students might consider budgeting their time wisely, answering the easiest questions first, and making a brief outline of ideas.

In addition, Georgetown psychologist Wayne Hurr recommends relaxation techniques.  He writes, "If your mind is blocked by tension during an exam, close your eyes, take a long, deep breath, and then let it out slowly. Concentrate on your breathing and actually feel or hear yourself breathe. Don't allow yourself to worry about the time, test, or tension.  Repeat this twice, then return to the test."

Finally, researchers at the universities of Colorado and Chicago have found that writing down feelings shortly before an exam can reduce test anxiety and improve exam scores.  Perhaps students should jot down some of their summer vacation plans to help offset the stress!

This article was originally published on http://farmingdale.patch.com.