Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Potomac Education Center

What are your hours of operation?

We have VERY flexible hours. During the school year, we typically meet with students after school, evenings, and on weekends. During vacations and over the summer, we see students during the day as well. We also work with students via Zoom.

When should I begin prep?

Ideally, prep should begin approximately three months prior to the date that a student plans to take the SAT or ACT for the first time, a date we’ll help to determine. Factors we consider include: the level of Math that the student has completed, baseline and target scores, academic course load, and sports schedules and extra-curricular activities. Many students take advantage of slowdowns in their academic and extra-curricular schedule to get a jump-start on the process. Rising juniors who have high National Merit Selection Indexes – from their 10^th grade PSAT and/or a recent diagnostic – may want to consider beginning prep during the summer before junior year to work on qualifying for a Letter of Commendation or a National Merit Scholarship.

When are the tests given?

PSAT

NEW DIGITAL PSAT DATE: October 2023

Anticipated 2023–24 School Year Test Dates

SAT Test Date*	Registration Deadline	Deadline for Regular Cancellation
Aug 26, 2023	Domestic: Jul 28, 2023 International: Aug 11, 2023	Aug 15, 2023
Oct 7, 2023	Domestic: Sept 8, 2023 International: Sept 22, 2023	Sept 26, 2023
Nov 4, 2023	Domestic: Oct 6, 2023 International: Oct 20, 2023	Oct 24, 2023
Dec 2, 2023	Domestic: Nov 3, 2023 International: Nov 17, 2023	Nov 21, 2023
Mar 9, 2024	Feb 23, 2024	Feb 27, 2024**
May 4, 2024	Apr 19, 2024	Apr 23, 2024**
June 1, 2024	May 17, 2024	May 21, 2024**

ACT Test Dates and Deadlines 2022-2023

SAT Test Date	Registration Deadline	Late Fee Deadline
February 6, 2021	January 8	January 15
April 17, 2021	March 12	March 26
June 12, 2021	May 7	May 21
July 17, 2021*	June 18	June 25
Sept 11, 2021	Aug 6, 2021	Aug 20, 2021
Oct 23, 2021	Sept 19, 2021	Oct 3, 2021
Dec 11, 2021	Nov 5, 2021	Nov 19, 2021
Feb 5, 2022	Jan 7, 2022	Jan 14, 2022
Apr 9, 2022	Mar 4, 2022	Mar 18, 2022
June 11, 2022	May 6, 2022	May 20, 2022
July 16, 2022	June 10, 2022	June 24, 2022

ACT Test Dates and Deadlines 2023-2024

Test Date	Regular Registration Deadline	Late Registration Deadline Late Fee Applies	Photo Upload and Standby Deadline
September 9, 2023	August 4	August 18	September 1
October 28, 2023	September 22	October 6	October 20
December 9, 2023	November 3	November 17	December 1
February 10, 2024	January 5	January 19	February 2
April 13, 2024	March 8	March 22	April 5
June 8, 2024	May 3	May 17	May 31
July 13, 2024*	June 7	June 21	July 5

Do all colleges take the SAT and ACT?

Yes, the SAT and ACT are accepted by all colleges.

Do you do group tutoring?

No. One-on-one tutoring is both our specialty and philosophy.

How many sessions?

Students typically require 12 verbal sessions and 12 math sessions. Since our program is customized, we tailor the number of sessions to the individual needs, aspirations, and circumstances of each student and family.

What’s your average improvement?

We average 100 points of improvement on the SAT verbal sections and 100 points on the SAT math sections.

Improvements on the ACT average 6 composite points.

What is a typical lesson like?

Every one-on-one lesson is one hour and fifteen minutes long. Each tutor starts with a curriculum specially designed for the test the student is prepping toward. Our extensive tutoring experience and expertise are reflected in the curriculum. In order to reinforce the lesson, homework is assigned, which consists of sections from authentic tests that are curated to address specific issues at the time. We provide feedback on the homework to correct and mitigate future errors. The parameters of the lessons are the same, but no two students’ lessons and homework are alike as they are highly individualized.

Do I need to take Subject Tests?

It is advisable to first check the requirements of the schools on your college list.

Some schools require one or two Subject Tests, while many don’t ask for them at all. Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University are currently the only schools that require three Subject Tests.

Subject Tests assess your knowledge of subjects on a high school level and are the only national admission tests that allow you to select the tests that best highlight your strengths and interests. Even if Subject Tests are not required, you may want to take one or two to demonstrate your proficiency in a particular subject or potential college major.

Not all Subject Tests are given on all test dates, and you may not take Subject Tests on the same day as the SAT. You may take up to three Subject Tests in one day, and, except for Language with Listening, you can decide which Subject Tests to take right up until the day of the exam. Subject Tests are scored on the same 200–800 scale as the SAT.

What’s the difference between the ACT and SAT?

Since the recent redesign of the SAT, the two tests are more similar than before. The SAT is more abstract, while the ACT is more concrete and time-driven. The ACT has a separate Science section, whereas the SAT has table and graph questions incorporated throughout the test.

The SAT

Score Range: 400-1600

The SAT composite score is the sum of the Reading and Writing score (200-800), and the Math score (200-800). The Essay is scored separately from 6-24.

Length:

The SAT is 3 hours and 50 minutes long, including the essay.

The SAT Sections:

Two Verbal Sections
- Reading: 65 minutes; 52 questions; five passages
- Writing and Language: 35 minutes; 44 questions
Two Math Sections
- No Calculator: 25 minutes; 20 questions
- Math/With Calculator: 55 minutes; 38 questions

The ACT

Score Range: 1 – 36

Each section of the ACT is scored from 1-36. The ACT composite score is the rounded average of the four test scores. The Essay is not part of the ACT composite score and graded separately from 2-12.