SAT Preparation Programs

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The SAT is an entrance exam used by most US colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The SAT is a multiple-choice test created and administered by the US College Board. Given the challenges and importance of the SAT, Seconde students who are sure they will apply to U.S. colleges are urged to enroll in the PSAT/SAT Program followed by the SAT Program in their Première year. This will give students two full years to prepare for the test and to optimize their scores. That said, students may take just the Première Program. However, this option is prudent for only those students whose mother tongue is English and who have the ability to quickly read and comprehend complex texts in English.

Documents

2025-2026 Information Letter

Frequently Asked Questions

Please read the information letter (under "Documents") carefully before reading the FAQ.

Why should students start preparing SAT classes in Seconde?

The SAT’s intense, multiple choice format is radically different from the formats of most European academic tests. American students encounter this format in school exams, but EJM students do not and need extra time to get used to it. In addition, most EJM students study math in French and will need to learn a new math vocabulary. Moreover, the math section of the SAT is unlike academic math in certain ways. It requires logical analysis and critical thinking skills that students may need time to develop. The SAT also requires students to have sophisticated English vocabularies, a command of English grammar, and the ability to read and comprehend English texts very rapidly. Given their European curriculum and bi- or even tri-lingualism, the vast majority of EJM students need a full two years of preparation in order to obtain SAT scores that will fully reflect their true potential and make them competitive applicants to top U.S. universities.

What are the Programs?

The Programs are a combination of practice tests and classroom instruction. Each course offers 20 lessons and five practice tests. Each classroom lesson lasts 90 minutes. The lesson schedule is created after the rentree, using the students’ EJM schedules. All lessons occur at the EJM campus during the week. The first lessons are used to cover the most commonly occurring problems and the strategies for solving them. As the year progresses, more class time is devoted to practicing the strategies and timing. A great advantage of the Programs is that all students have the opportunity to meet with Mr. Shapiro during regular school hours, simply by asking for a meeting. These meetings can be used to discuss particular questions or individualized study plans and are included in the cost of the Programs.

Should I get a private tutor?

Most private tutors cannot offer a crucial aspect of testing training: the experience of taking practice tests under timed conditions and the question-by-question explanation of each question missed on those tests. EJM’s Programs include that invaluable testing experience, which is available only to our participants. In addition: EJM’s SAT Programs have been developed with EJM students in mind and with a decade of experience with them (the EJM Program began in 2005). More than any private tutor, our Programs teach according to what EJM students have been taught, how they have been taught, and how their school experiences affect their approaches to the SAT. The two-year Program, Keys, and private access to Mr. Shapiro should give students all the help they need to succeed on the SAT. However, if you want additional assistance from a private tutor, we encourage you to make sure he or she has a track record of score improvements, and we recommend you use a private tutor to supplement the EJM Program rather than in place of it. For instance, a private tutor probably would not be that helpful at the beginning of a student’s initiation into the SAT but might be useful in further explanation of missed problems with the help of the Keys.

What work can I do on my own?

Students are encouraged to make use of web-based (KhanAcademy) and/or published (Barron’s, Kaplan, etc.) practice materials to increase their exposure to the types of questions that will be on the SAT. If a student plans to join the Program he or she MUST NOT use any College Board practice tests as these materials will be used in the Program.

Will I have to give up Saturday mornings for the SAT and PSAT practice tests?

Yes. The goal is to become comfortable with the whole process of Saturday morning testing so that students go into their official PSAT and SAT test sessions relaxed and confident in their abilities. Therefore, the Saturday practice tests are a crucial aspect of the program—and one that may require sacrifices. Saturday practice tests may require students to give up a first Saturday in a holiday or to miss a family occasion or long weekend away. Tests taken outside of the program testing conditions yield unreliable results, so we discourage students from taking tests at home. The testing schedule will be available at the beginning of the school year in order to help students and families make plans.

Should I avoid going on school trips or exchange programs?

School trips are fun and educational, but they take time from academics and regularly scheduled activities such as the SAT classes. Therefore, we ask students and parents to find a reasonable balance. Our program is carefully planned so as to develop both knowledge and technique. Students cannot make up for missed classes by simply “getting the notes.” Therefore, we strongly advise students to make the SAT courses a priority and to miss as few classes as possible while enjoying the many options available to them.

Do students take their official SAT and PSAT tests here at the school?

Yes, provided that they register in a timely fashion. The PSAT is always at EJM. All students in the Program are automatically registered for the official PSAT in October; however, students must register themselves for the official SAT on collegeboard.org. Students and parents will be provided with information on the registration process at the beginning of the Program.

Which textbooks or tools does the SAT preparation program use?

Our school partners with https://score-smart.com/, which provides online SAT practice exams for the Digital SAT.