SAT/ACT

Course Objective:

• To teach students the skills and techniques instrumental in achieving high scores on the SAT/ACT
• To familiarize students with the structure and nature of the test
• To illustrate the unique challenges of the SAT/ACT and help students to overcome them

Course Description: 

Developed by The Edge’s test preparation experts with over a decade of experience, The Edge’s SAT/ACT Essentials Course is designed to prepare students for the SAT revised in 2023/ACT assessment test. The Regular SAT/ACT Essentials Course consists of 10 classes at 2.5 hours each class. The SAT classes focus on individual sections of the test: Writing, Reading, and Math and the ACT classes focus on individual sections of the test: English, Math, Reading, Science, and the Essay.

Through 25 hours of instruction, the class learns the fundamental concepts tested by the SAT/ACT–such as geometry or English punctuation–as well as how these concepts are tested through classic questions and effective strategies for quickly and accurately answering questions. Students learn specific ways to approach SAT/ACT questions and common problems facing Hong Kong students. Alongside instruction and practice, SAT students take an online mock exam and ACT students take three mock exams over the duration of the course to map progress. They will receive personalized recommendations for further action upon completion of the 25 hours.

Recommended For: 

The Edge’s SAT/ACT Essentials Course is recommended for any and all students considering applying to US universities. After completing the course, students may move on to more advanced instruction, such as The Edge’s SAT Boot Drilling course and/or ACT Power Series course. 

Course Schedule: 

The Edge’s SAT Essentials Course – 25 Hours of Instruction (Cost: HK$16,300)

The Edge’s ACT Essentials Course – 25 Hours of Instruction & 3 Mock Tests  (Cost: HK$16,300)

Next Intake*:

SAT Essentials

Christmas Intensive B : 23 Dec 2023 – 6 Jan 2024 (Mon – Sat 14:00 – 16:30)

Winter Regular : 27 Jan – 2 Mar 2024^ (Wed 16:30 – 19:00 <Math> & Sat 10:00 – 12:30 <English>)

Chinese New Year Intensive A : 7 Feb – 15 Feb 2024^ (Mon – Sat 10:00 – 12:30 & 13:30 – 16:00)

Chinese New Year Intensive B : 7 – 17 Feb^, 24 Feb & 2, 9 Mar 2024 (Mon – Sat 10:00 – 12:30)

ACT Essentials

Winter Weekend Intensive B : 13 Jan – 23 Mar 2024^ (Sat 10:00 – 12:30)

Chinese New Year Intensive : 7 Feb – 15 Feb 2024^ (Sat 10:00 – 12:30 & 13:30 – 16:00)

Winter Regular : 20 Feb – 21 Mar 2024^ (Tue & Thur 16:30 – 19:00)

*Do not hesitate to reach out to our program team with any inquiries you may have regarding our Regular Courses and Chinese New Year Intensive Courses.

^No classes on Sundays and Public Holidays.

SSAT/ISEE

Course Objective: 

• To teach students the skills and techniques instrumental in achieving high scores on the SSAT/ISEE
• To familiarize students with the structure and nature of the test
• To illustrate the unique challenges of the SSAT/ISEE and help students to overcome them

Course Description: 

The course will prepare students for the SSAT/ISEE test. The SSAT/ISEE Essentials course consists of 10 classes at 2 hours each class.  Classes focus on individual sections of the test: Reading, Verbal, Quantitative, and the Essay.

Through 20 hours of instruction, the class learns the Fundamental concepts tested by the SSAT/ISEE –such as algebra or vocabulary–as well as how these concepts are tested through classic questions and effective strategies for quickly and accurately answering questions. Students learn specific ways to approach SSAT/ISEE questions and common problems facing Hong Kong students. Alongside instruction and practice, students take three mock exams over the duration of the course to map progress and receive personalized recommendations for further action upon completion of the 20 hours.

Recommended For: 

The Edge’s SSAT/ISEE Essentials course is recommended for any and all students considering applying to SSAT/ISEE secondary, private, or boarding schools. After completing the course, students may move on to more advanced instruction, such as The Edge’s SSAT/ISEE English Builder course.  

Course Schedule: 

20 Hours of Instruction & 2 Mock Tests (Cost: HK$9,800)

Next Intake*:

Winter Regular B : 27 Jan – 13 Apr 2024^ (Sat 11:00 – 13:00)

Chinese New Year Intensive : 7 – 15 Feb 2024^ (Mon – Sat 11:00 – 13:00 & 14:00 – 16:00)

*Do not hesitate to reach out to our program team with any inquiries you may have regarding our Regular Courses and Chinese New Year Intensive Courses.

^No classes on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Interested in one of the above courses?

Submit the form below if you want to be contacted by one of our staff to find the most suitable course for you.

About The Edge

Established in 2008, The Edge Learning Center has grown into a premier one-stop provider of educational services for Grade 6 through Grade 12, targeting students who intend to pursue overseas education. Our three departments – Academic Tutoring, Test Preparation, and Admissions Consulting – offer a broad range of educational services spanning from SAT and IB Test Prep to colleges and boarding schools application counseling. The Edge Learning Center operates in multiple regions including Hong Kong, China, and Vietnam.

The post SAT/ACT/SSAT Essentials Course appeared first on The Edge.

Course Description:

The Edge’s Power Course uses tests specifically selected for their challenging questions in order to gain those last few points at the high end of the score scale. Students take a complete SAT test in the morning, which is then graded by Edge specialists. In the afternoon or evening, students meet with a tutor for two hours to cover specific problems and commonly missed questions. The course is rigorous and requires dedication.

Course Syllabus:

Day	Morning Activity	Afternoon Activity
1	Complete Power Series test #1	Explanations with tutor.
2	Complete Power Series test #2	Explanations with tutor.
3	Complete Power Series test #3	Explanations with tutor.
4	Complete Power Series test #4	Explanations with tutor.
5	Complete Power Series test #5	Explanations with tutor.

Course Schedule:

5 Mock Tests + 10 Hours of Review (Cost: HK$7,750)

Course Next Intake: 

29 October, 2022 – 26 November, 2022 (Saturday)

10:00 – 13:30 (Mock); 14:30 – 16:30 (Review)

Interested in the above course?

Contact us by submitting the form below or Whatsapp us (CWB) / (MK) for more details!

About The Edge

Established in 2008, The Edge Learning Center has grown into a premier one-stop provider of educational services for Grade 6 through Grade 12, targeting students who intend to pursue overseas education. Our three departments – Academic Tutoring, Test Preparation, and Admissions Consulting – offer a broad range of educational services spanning from SAT and IB Test Prep to colleges and boarding schools application counseling. The Edge Learning Center operates in multiple regions including Hong Kong, China, and Vietnam.

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SAT/ACT

Course Objective:

• To reinforce the techniques and skills introduced in SAT/ACT Essentials in test conditions.
• To familiarize students with the speed and other pressures of SAT/ACT test day.
• To push students to more fully realize their potential through more difficult tests.

Course Description:

The Edge’s Power Course uses tests specifically selected for their challenging questions in order to gain those last few points at the high end of the score scale. Students take a complete SAT/ACT test in the morning, which is then graded by Edge specialists. In the afternoon or evening, students meet with a tutor for two hours to cover specific problems and commonly missed questions. The course is rigorous and requires dedication.

Recommended For:

Students interested in the Power Series should already be scoring 1250 or above on either real SATs/ACTs or mock tests. Those scoring below this threshold should consider The Edge’s SAT/ACT Essentials course, SAT/ACT Drilling courses, or private lessons with one of our test prep professionals.

Course Syllabus:

Day	Morning Activity	Afternoon Activity
1	Complete Power Series test #1	Explanations with tutor.
2	Complete Power Series test #2	Explanations with tutor.
3	Complete Power Series test #3	Explanations with tutor.
4	Complete Power Series test #4	Explanations with tutor.
5	Complete Power Series test #5	Explanations with tutor.

Course Schedule:

5 Mock Tests + 10 Hours of Review (Cost: HK$7,750)

————————–

SSAT/ISEE

Course Objective:

• To reinforce the techniques and skills introduced in SSAT Essentials in test conditions.
• To familiarize students with the speed and other pressures of SSAT test day.
• To push students to more fully realize their potential through more difficult tests.

Course Description:

The Edge’s Power Course uses tests specifically selected for their challenging questions in order to gain those last few points at the high end of the score scale. Students take a complete SSAT test in the morning, which is then graded by Edge specialists. In the afternoon or evening, students meet with a tutor for two hours to cover specific problems and commonly missed questions. The course is rigorous and requires dedication.

Recommended For:

Students interested in the Power Series should already be scoring 2000 or above on either real SSATs or mock tests. Those who want to build their foundation should consider The Edge’s SSAT Essentials course, SSAT English Builder courses, or private lessons with one of our test prep professionals.

Course Syllabus:

Day	Morning Activity	Afternoon Activity
1	Complete Power Series test #1	Explanations with tutor.
2	Complete Power Series test #2	Explanations with tutor.
3	Complete Power Series test #3	Explanations with tutor.

Course Schedule:

3 Mock Tests + 6 Hours of Review (Cost: HK$4,650)

————————–

Interested in one of the above courses?

Contact us by submitting the form below or Whatsapp us (CWB) / (MK) for more details!

About The Edge

Established in 2008, The Edge Learning Center has grown into a premier one-stop provider of educational services for Grade 6 through Grade 12, targeting students who intend to pursue overseas education. Our three departments – Academic Tutoring, Test Preparation, and Admissions Consulting – offer a broad range of educational services spanning from SAT and IB Test Prep to colleges and boarding schools application counseling. The Edge Learning Center operates in multiple regions including Hong Kong, China, and Vietnam.

The post SAT/ACT/SSAT Power Course appeared first on The Edge.

The festive season is here! Families are congregating, people are loving/hating their presents, and many Christmas carols are being sung to the merriment of all. Sadly, not content with disrupting the busy schedules of high school juniors, the SAT has even managed to steal Christmas from us by putting it into a practice Reading passage! What horseplay! What tomfoolery! Can I see this passage?

Below are two excerpts from the practice Reading passage in question. It is a narrative passage. At this point, our bibliophile narrator is about to receive a Christmas gift from a friendly bookstore:

One Christmas Sempere gave me the best gift I have ever received. It was an old volume, read and experienced to the full.

“Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens,” I read on the cover. 

(Lines 47-51)

…

That afternoon I took my new friend home, hidden under my clothes so that my father wouldn’t see it. It was a rainy winter, with days as gray as lead, and I read Great Expectations about nine times, partly because I had no other book at hand, partly because I did not think there could be a better one in the whole world and I was beginning to suspect that Mr. Dickens had written it just for me. Soon I was convinced that I didn’t want to do anything else in life but learn to do what Mr. Dickens had done. 

(Lines 59-68)

Let’s now use this Christmas-specific portion of the passage to examine a Detail-Evidence question pair from the passage’s accompanying questions:

Question 5 is what we call an Implicit Detail question. The word “inferred” tells us that we are looking for a detail from the passage that is not explicitly written down. However, the answer will be a detail that the reader can arrive at after combining two details that have been explicitly written down. 

First, let’s first recall the moment when the narrator introduces the gift:

One Christmas Sempere gave me the best gift I have ever received. It was an old volume, read and experienced to the full.

“Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens,” I read on the cover. 

(Lines 47-51)

We learn that Great Expectations was the best gift he had ever received. Next, let’s go to the moment where the narrator discusses his experience with Great Expectations:

That afternoon I took my new friend home, hidden under my clothes so that my father wouldn’t see it. It was a rainy winter, with days as gray as lead, and I read Great Expectations about nine times, partly because I had no other book at hand, partly because I did not think there could be a better one in the whole world and I was beginning to suspect that Mr. Dickens had written it just for me. Soon I was convinced that I didn’t want to do anything else in life but learn to do what Mr. Dickens had done. 

(Lines 59-68)

Based on the highlighted portions of the excerpt, we can see that the narrator:

1. 1. Thinks that there is no way there can be a better book than Great Expectations
   2. Wonders if Charles Dickens had written it just for him
   3. Wanted nothing else in life but to “learn to do what Mr. Dickens had done”

Notice how point 3) is just answer A), but reworded! Plus, if we use our logical reasoning, it’s perfectly reasonable to infer that the fact that Great Expectations is the narrator’s favorite book would be linked to how the book compelled him to want to be a writer (i.e. “learn to do what Mr. Dickens had done”). 

Of course, without the context of the entire passage, it’s valid for us to wonder if some of the other answer choices could also be acceptable. That’s where Q6, an Evidence question, comes in. These questions often follow a Detail question and will ask the test-taker to justify his or her choice for the previous qeustion. 

For this example, notice how Q6’s answer D) corresponds to the last sentence of the paragraph – the same one we used to work out the answer to Q5. Secure in the knowledge that we have found the evidence for Q5 that the test wanted us to find, we can go ahead answer A for Question 5 and D for Question 6.

Merry Christmas! For additional SAT help like this, or for help with the ACT, SSAT, English proficiency tests, or any other standardized tests, why not give us a ring to see how we can help.

Sign up a Trial Lesson with Kevin

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About The Edge

The Edge Learning Center is Hong Kong’s premier Test Preparation, Academic Tutoring, and Admissions Consulting services provider. Founded in 2008, The Edge has helped thousands of students improve their ACT and SAT scores as well as their IB and AP grades. The AC team has just finished off another successful EA/ED period in which student gained early acceptance to schools such as Stanford, University of Chicago, Brown, and more! Check out our latest Admissions Results!

The post How the SAT Has Ruined Christmas? 🎄 appeared first on The Edge.

In the past few years, many schools are making the submission of SAT or ACT scores optional. However, this should not stop students from taking the test. If a student can obtain a good score on one of these two tests, it is always a bonus for the application.

The key is to get a good score. Both the ACT and SAT are ways to predict a student’s ability to do well in university, meaning that they are both just as difficult. Students shouldn’t be asking “which one is easier” as they make the choice between the two. Depending on the students’ abilities, one test may be a better fit than the other. When it’s easier for students to prepare for these tests, they will generally be able to improve on their scores faster and with less effort.

To help students make a sound choice, here are some questions you can ask yourself to help determine which one is a better fit.

1. Am I comfortable with reading information and working through problems quickly?

If you answer to this question is yes, ACT will be a better fit. The pace on the ACT is much quicker compared to the SAT. On the ACT, students are given about two-third of the time compared to the similar section on the SAT. This leaves little room for you to make mistakes or second-guess yourself. If you work well under pressure, and you are a meticulous person rarely committing careless mistakes, you will find that the ACT will reward you for such precision.

2. Can I understand more advanced concepts and apply the knowledge to solve more complex problems?

Being able to understand and apply advanced ideas tends to mean that SAT is the right test for you. To compensate for the quick pace, questions on the ACT tend to be more straightforward but broad. SAT, on the other hand, focuses on narrower topics but expects you to be able to understand these topics in a more in-depth way. This means that for choosing the ACT, expect to learn and know many topics, while for choosing the SAT, expect to be an expert on a smaller set of topics.

3. Do I enjoy getting hands-on with scientific experiments and finding patterns in data?

The biggest difference between the ACT and SAT is the Science section that is present in ACT but not SAT. If you have enjoyed the various scientific topics learned throughout your academic, tackling the ACT Science section should be a breeze. Even if you did not study any scientific subjects extensively prior to taking the test, you can still do well with an analytical mind. The Science section on the ACT is more about your ability to link various information together, not as much about scientific knowledge.

4. Do I prefer reading about the findings of scientific discoveries and their ramifications?

Three of the five passages on the SAT Reading section are about science, so if you prefer reading about how scientists tackle a hypothesis or verify a conjecture, you will find yourself having an easier time preparing for the SAT. While the authors of these passages will apply technical (sometimes quite advanced) terms in their writing (they are scientists themselves, after all), the focus is on the your understanding on how the authors present their views. Similar to the ACT, the purpose is not to test your scientific knowledge but using scientific background to determine your ability to follow, understand, and digest logical arguments.

Even students who have done extremely well in their classes can find these tests challenging. They key to success is to apply your own strength to maximize your score. If you are still not sure which test is better for you, try to experience them first-hand. With the right mind-set and perseverance, this is one obstacle that anyone can overcome.

Continue Reading: ACT and SAT Exam Strategies to help you get into the TOP 10 US Universities >>

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About The Edge

The Edge Learning Center is Hong Kong’s premier Test Preparation, Academic Tutoring, and Admissions Consulting services provider. Founded in 2008, The Edge has helped thousands of students improve their ACT and SAT scores as well as their IB and AP grades. The AC team has just finished off another successful period in which student gained acceptance to schools such as Stanford, University of Chicago, Brown, and more! Check out the rest of our latest Admissions Results!

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Good news for all international school students! We have created a list of courses during your school break to help boost your test scores and English!

Fall Break Intensive

*All lessons are taught at The Edge Mong Kok or Causeway Bay Center.

Please call us at (852) 2783 7100 (MK), (852)2972 2555 (CB) or WhatsApp us at (852) 5435 2540 for more details!

About The Edge

The Edge Learning Center is Hong Kong’s premier Test Preparation, Academic Tutoring, and Admissions Consulting services provider. Founded in 2008, The Edge has helped thousands of students improve their ACT and SAT scores as well as their IB and AP grades. The AC team has just finished off another successful period in which students gained acceptance to schools such as Columbia, Yale, UChicago, and more! Check out our latest Admissions Results!

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Of all the sections in the SAT, students find the Reading section to not only be the hardest section, but also the section that is hardest to make progress on. This is because, unlike the Math or Writing sections, memorizing formulas or grammatical rules is not particularly applicable to the Reading section’s gauntlet of reading comprehension and critical reasoning questions. 

So what can be done? Well, if you talk to folks who scored highly in this section, one common denominator begins to emerge: they all READ. Often beginning at a young age, these folks began devouring whatever materials they could get their hands on, reading frequently and widely, consuming everything with the same ferocity as a hungry foodie confronted with an all-you-can-eat buffet. Like professional sports players who have been shooting jump shots or freekicks all their lives, the breadth and depth of these bookworms’ reading experiences naturally equip them for the challenges posed by the SAT Reading section. Regardless of whether the passage is a science passage, a historical passage, or a fiction passage, they’ve (quite literally) seen it all before.

But even if you were never much of a reader, it’s not too late! Amidst the shifting SAT exam schedule, and the unfortunate uncertainty that the coronavirus pandemic has created with regards to student summer plans, there is an emerging opportunity for students with SAT plans to bolster their reading lists and start exercising their metaphorical reading muscles. If this sort of frequent reading isn’t something that you haven’t done too much of, here are some tips to get started:

1) Begin by reading about the things that you enjoy.

The road to accomplished reading does not necessarily have to go through Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, or any other author that your English teacher may have asked you to read for class. As great as their works are, it’s far more critical to read enthusiastically rather than dutifully if you’re just getting started. For example, if you like sports, then this may mean reading books written by seasoned sports journalists about your favorite sport.

2) YouTube comments don’t count.

But even as we read enthusiastically about our favorite things, we must also do so in the service of our reading abilities. Tweetstorms and social media comments are all well and good for a diversion, but the passages on the SAT aren’t written in that style. Rise above the memes and look out for long reads by magazines or periodicals that will give you the necessary endurance for the SAT Reading section.

3) Talk to your teacher or tutor about what’s next!

If everything goes well, you’ll eventually have a go-to list of materials or publications that you find interesting and challenging. All that’s left are the “blind spots” of your reading experience: maybe you’re still not much of a science person, or maybe materials from 200 years ago continue to be vexing and utterly uninteresting to you. But you’re not alone – at this point talk to your English teacher at school about what you’ve been reading, what you like to read, and what you haven’t been reading because it’s difficult or boring for you. Or come talk to us! We can all help point you to the right books or articles that find that common ground between what you like to read and what type of reading content you still need exposure to.

Want to know more? Still not convinced? Call or email us if you would like more insight on the SAT Reading section, the test in general, or to sign up for a course or a FREE SAT mock at The Edge!

About The Edge

The Edge Learning Center is Hong Kong’s premier Test Preparation, Academic Tutoring, and Admissions Consulting services provider. Founded in 2008, The Edge has helped thousands of students improve their ACT and SAT scores as well as their IB and AP grades. The AC team has just finished off another successful period in which students gained acceptance to schools such as Columbia, Yale, UChicago, UPenn, Oxford, and more! Check out our latest Admissions Results!

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