SAT Curriculum

Our Exclusive Curriculum. 

Content-based curriculum. While many companies rely on roundabout ruses, tricks and shortcuts, IvyPrep puts stress on comprehensive preparation approach – building logic skills and strategies needed for all different types of questions tested on the SAT. Our practice problems are carefully selected to reflect every content area of the exam. IvyPrep curriculum also covers many advanced SAT problems.

As a foundation, one needs working knowledge of basic Math, an extensive vocabulary and an ability to read and analyze complex texts. This building block we will call “Fundamentals of Math and Reading”.   

While fundamentals are necessary, by themselves, they are insufficient for success on the SAT. To succeed one must know what types of questions typically appear on the SAT.  This is the second building block, which we will call “Knowledge of typical SAT questions.”

Finally, to solve the most challenging questions on SAT, one needs certain problem solving skills such as breaking down a question and taking proper steps to solve it.  This is the last building block, which we will call “Problem solving skills.”

Most SAT courses do very little to give students necessary basic knowledge and make no attempt at all to get students to understand the logic behind SAT questions.

Those courses jump right to teaching shortcuts, strategies and tricks. As a result, these courses emphasize almost exclusively the “Knowledge of typical SAT questions” (right column on the graph), briefly touching upon basics and completely ignoring any problem solving skills.

Imagine a building that has no strong foundation, only one relatively strong column and no other support. When under pressure (and the SAT provides plenty of it) such structure will collapse.

Finally, students face the SAT unprepared  - with shaky and unstable foundations, partial and uncertain knowledge of the strategies and virtually no clues to approach difficult SAT questions.  It is hardly an enviable position to be in.               

IvyPrep is the only company offering balanced and comprehensive SAT preparation program.  It is far-reaching and all-inclusive. We spend a significant amount of time to form, strengthen and reinforce all three building blocks of SAT success.  This approach is solidified by our unique teaching methodology and matching materials. 

IvyPrep course is typically at least twice as long as most courses are. We carefully identify and work through all topics represented on the SAT.  On top of that, in every class a number of problems are considered in a careful and deliberate fashion, intended to work out simple and efficient problem solving algorithms.