The following are our general recommendations for which courses to choose or what to work on this semester. Naturally, your student might be an exception and need more specific guidelines. If you have any questions, please send us a message.
G10/11 students: If you haven't started studying for the SAT, you should begin taking SAT classes immediately. Rising juniors (G11) really need to take your first official SAT test once in the fall, at the end of this year (if you have not already booked a place, you need to do so asap). We have two classes, depending on your needs: EBRW (Reading, Grammar, and Essay class) and a Strategy Class (Reading, Grammar, and Math). If you're consistently scoring 750+ on the SAT math tests, EBRW could be the best choice for you. If not, the Strategy class might be the best option. Rising seniors (G12) don't have much time left, so your best option is to do tons of mock tests before your exams. We have mock test classes on Saturdays and Sundays.
G9/G10 students: If you are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS, you should choose one of those tests and work mainly on improving the four skills (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing) for that test over the coming year. You'll need a TOEFL score of 90-100 (or above for competitive schools) or an IELTS score of Band 6.5-7 (or above). Achieving these scores before G11 will allow you to focus on the SAT, extracurriculars, and schoolwork in your final two years of high school. Students in G9/10 who have already achieved their IELTS or TOEFL scores should work on the SAT or academic writing to begin preparation for upcoming college essays and university-level writing.
G8/G9 students: You need to spend your time working on academic writing and reading skills, before the pressure of tests or schoolwork becomes too heavy. This form of skillbuilding will be extremely beneficial as a bridge to the SAT and other tests, not to mention as preparation for the university application essays. You should also experiment with extracurricular activities to find something you are passionate about.
AP students: If you are in G10 or G11, you will be pleased to know that we have classes in Biology, Environmental Science, Literature, and Calculus. You can either take one-on-one classes or organize a small group of students to take classes with. Now is a good time to start preparing for your AP test in May. Remember that preparing for the AP will also prepare you for the SAT Subject Tests.