Yes. Because essentially the PSAT and SAT are the exact same test. The only difference is the absence of the essay on the PSAT, and it’s a bit shorter. Otherwise, they test the same material, have the same structure, and require the same technique. The PSAT exam is only offered in fall and will be used to qualify for the National Merit scholarship in a student’s junior year. PSAT’s in other years are merely for practice.

If your goal is admission to a top-tier or ivy league university, then we recommend both. Here’s why: Students may be better at one test than another, maximizing their test score potential. Preparing for the SAT allows students the chance to compete for PSAT National Merit, second only in achievement to a perfect score. Some public schools mandatorily report the SAT test on student's transcripts so be sure to check on this with your school. The ACT and SAT each require a different skill set. By studying both, students can identify where they’re strongest and combine their skills for the best possible score. Students get to see the same material in different ways, enhancing learning. Increased scholarship opportunities. But really, the statistics tell all. We tracked a year’s cycle of test takers to develop this evidence-based conclusion that the highest achievers generally took both tests. DISTRIBUTION OF STUDENTS ACHIEVING A 33-36 ACT + SAT/PSAT Course ACT Course Alone 65% 35%

In general, there are a lot of misconceptions about how the two tests are perceived in a side-by-side comparison, but ultimately both tests carry equal weight. All four-year institutions accept both tests and use a conversion system to compare applicants. That said, every institution in the country gives special consideration to PSAT National Merit, which a student can only achieve through taking both the PSAT and SAT. If you really want a competitive edge, take both tests.

It is very hard to tell which test would be better for a student. It is analogous to selecting a sport for a child and telling them to become a superstar without witnessing their development. In short, taking a practice exam can help students figure out which exam they like but not necessarily which one suits them. Unfortunately, the pACT is a highly unreliable predictor of future ACT performance. The PSAT is a great predictor of SAT performance but the reported percentile should be ignored.

Of course! Our classroom is an equal-opportunity environment. We only ask that you come with a goal and the commitment to grow. The building-block structure of the course allows the instructors to assess your strengths and challenge areas early on in order to create an individualized approach to closing the gaps.

All classes have 70-80 students.  

No, we do not. Having a solid mix of students across a range of abilities creates a healthy competitiveness needed in the classroom. Furthermore, a mixed-skills class encourages the lower-level students to grade up, and the high-level students to improve through the demonstration of knowledge – a highly productive process that helps to cement information in the brain. All students should be put through a curriculum that advances from the basic level to an advanced one to ensure that skills are learned properly.

You may! We generally offer multiple class options to choose from so that you can select a class schedule that works for you. Each class is assigned a certain letter (within any one course) and is the exact same in terms of instruction. The only difference is when class meets during the week. 

First, select "course" from the top of the home screen. Then navigate to the course you are interested in. Once there, click on the “Find a Class” button to view the current offerings and calendar for your desired course.  Toggle through the class options to see the specific class that works for you. Once on your preferred class calendar, you’ll see options to switch to list view or to download a PDF of the schedule.

Indirectly through the student/parent portal, assessment results, and videos. Over the last 10 years, Kabir’s Prep has used the experiences and suggestions of our students to create the most productive communication system for everyone. We strongly believe that success in standardized testing comes from a triad of parent, student, and instructor involvement. That said, we expect our students to exercise responsibility over their own progress through directly communicating questions or concerns to their tutors. Parents have their own account so that they can log into the portal. On the dashboard, you are able to see student score progression for any previously taken practice exams. We regularly send emails with homework reports to make sure that you are aware of the quality of work completed.   We are very serious about communication. We are accessible by email, phone call, and in person while classes are being conducted. We try to strive to solve your concern right away but if not we will make sure to follow up promptly.

It depends on your goals and current test level. The critical first step is to know what score you’d be happy with and taking a practice test to assess how much work you need to get there. Some students are content with an ACT score of 30, while others need a 35. This requires a little research. What are your target schools? What scores do you need for admission to said schools? If you’re dreaming of a place at Princeton, you’d better aim for a perfect 36, which means starting earlier than you might need to otherwise. With this in mind, we recommend that all students start preparing for at least one exam (ACT or SAT) by the 10th grade, but no earlier than the summer before 9th grade. You can take either exam first but we highly recommend ACT in our fall season and SAT in our summer season. Here are some pros and cons of starting test prep (too) early:   PRO CON Gives enough time to maximize potential scores. Student may lack enough maturity to cope with the curriculum. Provides adequate time to develop skills in particularly weak subjects. Student could benefit from the additional knowledge provided by school. Taking tests early allows more school focus when it counts – when curriculum gets significantly more difficult, such as during junior year when IB and AP curriculums are at their peak in difficulty. May need to retake the course due to need for increased help or failure to capitalize on the information in the course. Gets testing out of the way to allow more focus on student resume.     On the flip side, don’t wait too long! We’ve found that students starting in 11th grade often struggle or falter because they self-studied poorly, have too much going on in school/extracurriculars, or simply cannot grasp the material. Choosing the right time involves many personal factors. And while mastering standardized testing helps leverage the college application process, GPA takes precedence over test scores. So when considering when to start, take your own levels, goals, and outside responsibilities into account.

If space allows, you sure can. We understand the demands of an active student life, and want our students and parents to be able to maximize their investment in testing preparation. However, it’s important to remember that our courses are always at capacity, so our schedule change system is only available if there is an open slot left from an absence or another student switching spots.

Practice tests are an essential part of student success. If you happen to miss one, you can take the test remotely using our Self-Proctored option. This allows you to take the test in an un-proctored setting after you miss your scheduled time to take the test with a proctor.

While we offer as much flexibility as possible, we do have some constraints. Since our instructors teach seven days a week in the summer, "make-up" classes are not offered because there isn't enough time in the day. That means that you must be proactive to reschedule your class within the same week that it is taught.    We offer the following accommodations: 1) Lessons and Practice Tests can be taken during the same week at an alternative time we have the event scheduled. This can be requested through our online system, and must be submitted at least 2 hours before the rescheduled event. In Person seating is limited to In Person students and subject to availability, but Online spacing will be available.     2) Practice Tests can be taken on your own whenever you want if you cannot attend one of our scheduled times. Students will request a "Self Proctor Link" and we ask that an adult proctor them at home if possible. After the test is complete, the score and all of the data will be on the portal, but it is important to take it with the correct timings or the results could be skewed.   3) If you are scheduled for an In Person Lesson, you can attend the Online portion at the same time by submitting an online request.    4) While we will not record any events due to privacy laws, all of the information covered is on the portal (Learning Modules and/or Test Explanations). Students can use their curriculum packet to see what was covered in class, and input those sections into the Student Portal. After they have finished, they can go over the questions using the written/video explanations (if provided).  It’s important to remember that class materials are no substitute for direct instruction. Much of what we cover in class is how to use materials effectively, so we highly encourage regular attendance.    

We understand that life happens. Maybe due to late enrollment or extenuating circumstances, you miss several lessons. That’s okay. Our goal is to make sure you successfully complete the course and achieve a score to be proud of.  The best way to make up missed material is to take full advantage of the resources in the student portal.  The learning modules themselves cover all the material tested on the exam. This, in combination with the hundreds of explanations, allows you to get full exposure to all test material, even after missing a few classes. 

While each course has a structured lesson plan, the organic development of material in each course means that we can’t always anticipate what we will or will not cover in a certain lesson. We track class accuracy very closely and adapt the curriculum when scores clearly display that certain topics need more help than others. For these reasons and others, we do not offer a course option that allows you to attend only part of a course. 

Each has its benefits, but for introductory test prep, group classes are the best jumping off point. Why? Here are a few key advantages to group classes: Power from Peers — Each member of a study group shares the same personal goal – to improve test knowledge and scores. Group sessions offer incredible motivational energy that promotes active learning. Collaborative Learning – No student in a group course thinks exactly the same way, and this is amazing. It means that each person may bring a different question or perspective to the same topic. That’s powerful information sharing! More for Your Money – Group classes are a lower price-point per hour. So dollar for dollar, you’re getting more hours of instruction, information, and practice in a group course than in a one on one session. Diagnostic Testing and Assessments – Because group sessions offer more course time, there’s room for extra practice tests. Our unique curriculum design makes complex subjects manageable. In group sessions, you’ll get the perfect balance of personal attention and comprehensive coverage of key test information. If you dedicate yourself to the class sessions and coursework, you’ll acquire all the skills and information needed for standardized testing.

The question should be: Why do smart students take the official SAT in October? Many reasons! Here are a few: It lets students practice before the official PSAT, which is two weeks later It gets the test out of the way so students can focus exclusively on school for the rest of the year. Having an early rather than undetermined deadline gives students more focus and perspective. All but 44 schools have a score-choice policy that allow students to submit their best scores. So if you don’t do well the first time, you can withhold that score and try again. Gives you time improve if needed. Don’t wait until it’s too late! So taking the October SAT students give a student more flexibility, freedom, and choice!

Start early. Don’t wait until the middle of your 11th grade year to get started on test prep. Enroll by 10th grade so you have time to balance your schoolwork with test prep and have plenty of time to master the material. Participate. This doesn’t just mean raising your hand. Yes, raise your hand, offer answers, questions, and your perspective – but also attend every class. If there are extra sessions, come. Take all practice tests that we offer. Engage in surveys to improve your experience. Know how to use all resources in the portal. Put in what you want to get out of the class. Commit time to studying outside of class. Unless you have a photographic memory and a lot of luck, you’re not going to get a perfect test score from class prep alone. Successful students need to dedicate time outside of class to coursework and studying. Figure out what you need and speak up. We all learn differently. Some of us are visual and need to see a word to remember it, while others only need to hear it. Some of us do best in small groups, while others can’t get anywhere unless they can focus on their own. If you know that something about the class structure is difficult for you, confide in you tutor so we can create a positive experience for you. Have realistic expectations. You may discover your keen ability to absorb and retain information easily and to master testing technique – or you may not. Start the course with an open mind about your own ability to learn the material, and approach each challenge as an opportunity to improve your intellectual development. Aside from helping on the standardized test, this approach will serve you well in your college studies!

Yes. At a minimum you’ll need a computer or tablet with wifi to access the student portal to see scores, assignments, and learning modules.

Each course models our bottom-up development approach. In short, we assume ALL material is brand new to every student. That puts everyone at an advantage. Accelerated students can easily absorb information and move forward; students with less background can easily identify their knowledge gap and assess how much extra work they need to put in to achieve the 88-92% accuracy rate required by top-tier colleges. Course time itself is divided between instruction (to improve accuracy) and practice tests (to assess progress and knowledge gaps). Our extensive instruction hours gives students plenty of time to both learn and apply through a knowledge-build structure.  Our methodology is all about how to use the information. Without learning practical application, the information isn’t relevant to the real test. Don’t forget, standardized tests are intended to give colleges a snapshot of a student’s capability to learn – so our approach aims to help practically integrate complex information into a rigorous academic environment.

No. The owner and founder of Kabir’s Prep, Kabir Mendiratta, is intimately involved in every detail of Kabir's prep. From curriculum development to teaching, Kabir does it all but not without a team.   Kabir, along with a group of other instructors, will be responsible for teaching all the classes.   All of our instructors scored in the 99th percentile and/or are previous graduates of Kabir's Prep with teaching experience.

For Lessons, students will almost always start the class with completing a section of questions. Selected questions from the section serve as the primer for an interactive question and answer lecture. Each lecture is focused on a balance between background content as well as test taking strategies required for solving questions.   

Every student has different needs in the course. We commonly get parents and/or students who either request for increased coverage of certain subjects. Please be aware the curriculum we have laid out has a very specific order of coverage and time of coverage that corresponds with what we feel is most beneficial for students. If a student requires extra coverage, we specifically have written modules and extra questions and explanations to allow that student to self study and individualize his/her experience.

Fall Homework in the class is roughly 6 hours a week when school is in session, and about 15 hours a week during breaks (Thanksgiving and Winter breaks). Summer Homework in the class is roughly 20-24 hours a week. The homework time is calculated assuming a student puts in full work and effort into the assignments. Many times students do not and the time is much less but this time reflects the time it would take to perfect the material.

We are able to provide proctored extra timing practice tests for students with accommodations. On your Kabir's Prep profile, click "Apply for Testing Accommodations" and submit your official timings. We will then change your Practice Test schedule so you will be able to test with your correct timings.    For lessons, we are unable to offer accommodations during the class, but we provide the section we are going to use during the lesson. We encourage students with accommodations to complete the section (or at least half) before coming to class so you don't have to rush during the time we provide.