To SAT or ACT?

To SAT or ACT: that is the question: Whether it’s best to subject the mind to the 3-hour-45-minute SAT Reasoning Test’s three sections in Writing, Critical Reading and Math to achieve the desirable 2400 or to take masterful control over the ACT and its 4 parts, based on the curricula of English, Math, Reading and [...]

2012 SAT/ACT Prep Program

Options Solutions is excited to launch our 2012 SAT/ACT prep schedule.  We will offer four different prep options this season. 1.    Full Length Practice Exams and Debriefs This option includes a 4-hour exam (SAT or ACT), exam marking (including customized essay marking), and a 2.5-hour debrief. Students are each given a cover sheet to help [...]

The ACT

If you are looking for an alternative to the SAT as a standardized test for admissions to a US university or college, the ACT (American College Test) would be your choice. A curriculum-based test similar to the SAT, the ACT also measures the high school student’s readiness for US universities, but assesses not three, but [...]

The SAT and SAT Subject Tests

The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized admissions test used to assess academic preparedness for universities and colleges in the United States, offered by the College Board. Required for entry to most higher education institutions in the U.S., the SAT (the ACT being the other) tests an undergraduate applicant’s writing, reading and mathematics skills and [...]

Factors in US Admissions: More than GPAs and SATs

If you’re thinking of applying to a university or college in the US, aside from facing higher tuition costs, you will be encountering a number of factors that have made gaining admission progressively harder each year. At the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Education Fair in downtown Vancouver last Saturday, December 3rd, Melinda Giampietro of Options Solutions identified and [...]

Applying for ACT Accommodations

If you have a disability that could have a major impact on your ACT score, it is important to apply for accommodations. The ACT organization is motivated to help students with disabilities by providing them with reasonable accommodations. They have established a number of policies in order to help applicants navigate the process. To apply [...]

Should I Take Both the SAT and ACT?

One of the biggest questions we get is whether or not a U.S. bound student should take both the SAT and ACT. Both tests hold equal weight with U.S. college admissions and both tests require preparation and studying. However, there are several differences between the two tests and this makes it difficult to determine which [...]

SAT/ACT April Schedule

SAT Full Length Practice Exam Sunday, April 10, 10-2 – Practice Exam Wednesday April 20, 5-7:30 – Debrief Weekly Prep Tuesday, April 5, 4-6 –  Essay Focus Thursday, April 7, 5-7 - Math Focus Tuesday, April 12, 4-6 –  Test Taking Thursday, April 14, 5-7 –  Vocabulary Tuesday, April 19, 4-6 –  ACT Math and Science [...]

SAT/ACT Prep is back at Options Solutions

SAT/ACT prep is geared towards the May and June exam dates. The prep at Options Solutions is focused on two areas:　test taking skills and curriculum development.　The first area focuses on understanding the SAT/ACT exam in order to gain tools and strategies to “beat” it.　This arena also focuses on developing test taking strategies and critical thinking [...]

Spring SAT and ACT Prep

SAT/ACT prep at Options Solutions is geared towards the May and June exam dates. The prep at Options Solutions is focused on two areas: test taking skills and curriculum development. The first area focuses on understanding the exam in order to gain tools and strategies to “beat” it. This arena also focuses on developing test taking strategies and critical thinking skills. The second focus is on learning the content that is assessed on each exam; such as math concepts, grammar rules, and vocabulary.