By Irena Choi Stern, Member, Board of Trustees, Bronxville Adult School
Mar. 16, 2016: It is no secret that high school students across the United States believe test preparation can increase standardized test scores, and many employ private tutors for this purpose. The Bronxville Adult School offers a cost-effective option for students through Bespoke Education's test prep classes, which cover content and essential strategies for all sections of the ACT and SAT and allow students to practice what they are learning through the use of actual released questions and timing drills.
"We are well aware of the fact that private tutoring is quite expensive," said Simon Liebling, Bespoke's director of school programs. "The classes we offer are top-notch without breaking the bank. It's much more accessible, and the drop-off in quality is minimal. The quality of the class and benefit to the student is almost entirely intact."
The SAT prep class begins on April 7 and meets for eight Thursdays, and the ACT prep class begins on April 12 and meets for eight Tuesdays; each course is $650. Bespoke has been offering the classes at the Bronxville Adult School since 2013, and class size is small, varying from six to no more than the mid-teens. The classes target the June administration of each exam.
All colleges now accept both the SAT and the ACT. Liebling said, "The decision between them is which test seems best suited for a student's skills and learning styles. We frequently offer counseling to families who are confused about which test they should pursue." For those unsure, Bespoke offers a proprietary diagnostic test that, in the space of two and a half hours, exposes students to both tests and provides them predicted scores with which they can make an educated decision.
He added, "A lot of people have mistaken impressions that test prep is based on gaming the test. There are certainly strategies to learn for these tests, but the bulk of teaching boils down to teaching academic content both for the test and the student's academic careers. Classes are mostly focused on content teaching, similar to what students would have in a school day. Students really benefit from thorough holistic academic prep."
The students are given a certain number of free mock tests with the course, typically two. Students are welcome to take additional tests at Bespoke offices for an additional fee.
Classes at the Bronxville Adult School are conveniently scheduled weekdays, weeknights, and weekends this spring. To find out more about the Bronxville Adult School spring course offerings and to register, go to https://www.bronxvilleadultschool.org or contact the office at 914-793-4435 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Photo by A. Warner