BodSAT Prep advocates a "smart" approach to SAT/ACT prep that focuses on strengthening fundamentals through schoolwork, building endurance with good study habits, and maintaining mental and physical well-being, rather than extra test prep. Their approach typically leads to higher scores than average prep through optimizing the first three components without weekends spent prepping. For the final component of understanding the test, they offer seminars and tutoring focused on the specific exam.

1. The SAT/ACT: Prep Smarter
Justin Sigars, Wes Carroll, and Megan deVries
of BodSAT Prep
www.bodsat.com

2. Who we are
BodSAT Prep is Justin, Wes, and Megan.
We work only with students who have
solid fundamentals and go to strong
schools.

3. Our way works
Normal gains:
PSAT 180 to 225 → SAT 1820-2200

4. Our way works
Normal gains:
PSAT 180 to 225 → SAT 1820-2200
Our students:
PSAT 180 to 225 → SAT 2000-2350

5. Smart SAT/ACT prep
Why does “smart prep” matter?

6. When does it matter?
Most students spend 80-200 hours on test
prep.

7. When does it matter?
Most students spend 80-200 hours on test
prep.
That’s all day Saturday, every Saturday, for ten
weeks to six months.

8. When does it matter?
Most students spend 80-200 hours on test
prep.
That’s all day Saturday, every Saturday, for ten
weeks to six months.
(That’s not fun.)

9. Smart SAT/ACT prep
There is a better way.

10. Smart SAT/ACT prep
Four components of smart preparation for the SAT/ACT:

11. Smart SAT/ACT prep
Four components of smart preparation for the SAT/ACT:
1. Mastering content and fundamentals
2. Building endurance
3. Taking care of your mind and body
4. Understanding the test like an expert

12. Smart SAT/ACT prep
Three of these four components are best addressed
through schoolwork.

13. Smart SAT/ACT prep
Three of these four components are best addressed
through schoolwork.
In other words, without any extra SAT/ACT Practice
Tests.

14. Smart SAT/ACT prep
Three of these four components are best addressed
through schoolwork.
In other words, without any SAT/ACT classes.

15. Smart SAT/ACT prep
Three of these four components are best addressed
through schoolwork.
In other words, without SAT/ACT tutoring.

16. Smart SAT/ACT prep
Three of these four components are best addressed
through schoolwork.
In other words, without losing your weekends.

17. Prep through schoolwork
Here are the parts you can do through schoolwork:
1. Mastering content and fundamentals
2. Building endurance
3. Taking care of your mind and body

18. 1. Fundamentals

19. 1. Fundamentals
The SAT and ACT test your mastery of
information and processes in reading,
writing, and math.

20. 1. Fundamentals
You know what’s great for improving your
mastery in these areas?
Your classes.

21. 2. Endurance

22. 2. Endurance:
Here’s why mental and emotional endurance
matters:

23. 2. Endurance:
Good Homework Habits
These tests are four uninterrupted hours long.

24. 2. Endurance:
Good Homework Habits
These tests are four uninterrupted hours long.
Endurance is a muscle. You have to build it.

25. 2. Endurance
Building endurance is best done by
focusing on excellent homework habits.

26. 2. Endurance
Building endurance is best done by
focusing on excellent homework habits.
Here’s how:

27. 2. Endurance:
Good Homework Habits
Do your homework as if it were a long test.

28. 2. Endurance:
Good Homework Habits
Do your homework as if it were a long test:
●
●
●
●
●
Clear your room of distractions.
Work efficiently.
Don’t take excessive breaks.
Engage yourself fully.
Work meticulously.

29. 2. Endurance:
Good Homework Habits
Do your homework as if it were a long test.
Those habits make you better at the SAT/ACT
even though you’re not working on “SAT/ACT
stuff.”

30. 3. Mind and Body
Working smarter means taking advantage of
the research, which shows that the following
things matter:

31. 3. Mind and Body
Mind:
Focus on the work and not the result.
Practice stress reduction techniques.
●
●

32. 3. Mind and Body
Mind:
Focus on the work and not the result.
Practice stress reduction techniques.
●
●
Body:
Hydrate often.
You are what you eat.
Practice good sleep habits.
●
●
●

33. 3. Mind and Body:
Sleep Hygiene

34. 3. Mind and Body:
Sleep Hygiene
●
Teenagers need 8.5 to 10 hours of sleep
every night, on average.
●
Avoid inconsistent sleep and wake times.
●
Limit screen time near bedtime.

35. 3. Mind and Body:
Stanford Sleep Study

36. 3. Mind and Body:
Stanford Sleep Study

37. 3. Mind and Body:
Stanford Sleep Study

38. 3. Mind and Body:
Stanford Sleep Study

39. 3. Mind and Body:
Stanford Sleep Study

40. Components #1 to #3
We’ve just talked about three components of smart
preparation for the SAT/ACT:
1. Mastering content and fundamentals
2. Building endurance
3. Taking care of your mind and body

41. Components #1 to #3
So, if your results are lower than you’d like,
first look at your school and life habits.

42. Components #1 to #3
Working on these components by taking
practice tests...

43. Components #1 to #3:
The wrong way
Working on these components by taking
practice tests...
...is working harder than you have to.

44. Components #1 to #3:
The wrong way
Working on these components by taking
practice tests...
...is working harder than you have to.
(a.k.a. It’s a waste of time and effort.)

45. Components #1 to #3:
The wrong way
“Working harder is the new lazy.”

46. Too many practice tests
●
●
●
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Lowered enthusiasm / higher resentment
Lower GPA
Less time for extracurricular activities
Less success in college

47. 4. Understanding the test
This final piece is something you don’t do as
part of your schoolwork.
For this part, you need to understand the SAT
or ACT.

48. 4. Understanding the test
If you succeed in the first three components of
preparation, then the fourth (understanding
the SAT or ACT) should be relatively fast and
painless.

49. 4. Understanding the test:
ACT vs SAT
How can you tell whether the ACT or the SAT
is better for you?

50. 4. Understanding the test:
ACT vs SAT
How can you tell whether the ACT or the SAT
is better for you?
For most, it doesn’t matter.

51. 4. Understanding the test:
ACT vs SAT
How can you tell whether the ACT or the SAT
is better for you?
The tests are standardized: most students
will get approximately the same score on both.

52. 4. Understanding the test:
ACT vs SAT
But if you’re one of the few students who
should be taking one and not the other, how
would you know?

53. 4. Understanding the test:
ACT vs SAT
Here are a few guidelines.
If you’ve taken both:

54. 4. Understanding the test:
ACT vs SAT
Here are a few guidelines.
If you’ve taken both:
Take the one you got a much higher score on.
Take the one you are more comfortable with.

55. 4. Understanding the test:
ACT vs SAT
Here are a few guidelines.
If you haven’t taken both:

56. 4. Understanding the test:
ACT vs SAT
Here are a few guidelines.
If you haven’t taken both:
The ACT is dense.
To ace the ACT, you need to be a fast reader.
The ACT probably already feels familiar.

57. 4. Understanding the test:
ACT vs SAT
Here are a few guidelines.
If you haven’t taken both:
The SAT takes some getting used to.
To ace the SAT, you need to get to know it.
The SAT is more vulnerable to expert strategy.

58. 4. Understanding the test:
ACT vs SAT
Still not sure? Give us a call. We’d be happy to
help you sort it out.

59. 4. Understanding the SAT/ACT:
How to do it
No matter which test you choose, there are
two good ways to understand the test:

60. 4. Understanding the SAT/ACT:
How to do it
No matter which test you choose, there are
two good ways to understand the test:
1. Read some tests and think about them.

61. 4. Understanding the SAT/ACT:
How to do it
No matter which test you choose, there are
two good ways to understand the test:
1. Read some tests and think about them.
or
2. Work with us.

62. 4. Understanding the SAT/ACT:
How to do it
We hold small SAT seminars
in the San Francisco CA Bay Area
throughout the year.

63. 4. Understanding the test:
How to do it
We also offer private tutoring for the
SAT/ACT.
This tutoring is available in any location.

64. In summary: work smarter.
Work smarter, not harder,
to build the foundation for a higher GPA,
higher ACT/SAT scores, and most importantly,
for a more fulfilling life.

65. Questions?
www.bodsat.com
800.291.4661