We will work with you on a strategy to meet the unique needs of your school.  A schoolwide implementation showing the videos in the classroom is key to your success. OTC is turnkey, making it easy to implement, and your teachers and staff do not need to develop a curriculum. Courses can be completed in as little as five weeks leading up to the test date (40-minute sessions per day) or 10 weeks (20-minute sessions per day). OTC includes enough resources to fill a semester-long course when combined with our College Counseling Academy.

OTC is committed to helping all students learn more effectively. The 22-minute Study Skills session gives students an action plan for improved studying and note-taking so that school is more valued, enjoyable, and successful. John covers note taking, general study skills and habits, test preparation, etc. It is appropriate for middle school-12th grade. We’ve heard from seniors who wished they had taken the course earlier, but know it will help them in college.

So often we hear from students, “I’m just not a good test taker.” In the 23-minute Test-Taking Strategies video John gives students ways to do better on ALL tests.

OnToCollege requires access to a browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Explorer, Edge) and a strong broadband internet connection.

As of March 2022, we work with nearly 800 partner schools and districts in 27 states.

Within the For Educators Only course, a Family Communication Letter (Word format) can be personalized and printed on school letterhead. The letter  explains the program and why students take it.

The National Clearing House provides reporting on high schools’ two and four-year college matriculation and graduation rates. These reports are comprehensive and can be received quickly. All services are compliant with FERPA. Full Student Tracker services cost $595 per year per high school. Click here to register and to see sample reports: StudentTracker for High Schools

Here are suggestions to help special education/special needs students, and/or those with ACT-approved accommodations or SAT-approved accommodations maximize their test prep:

• use closed captioning option (turn on/off with CC icon in lower right corner of video)
• slow video play speed (click Gear icon in lower right corner of video, then the Racing Clock icon, and select desired speed)
• consider starting with PreACT Prep which has slower pacing and does not cover higher math skills
• turn off the Timer when taking online quizzes
• use paper/pencil rather than online testing (quizzes and section tests can be printed)
• Bubbletime (tactic explained in course)

Generally, the ACT class is taught in this order: Session 1: English and Reading; Session 2: English, Reading and Science; Session 3: Math and Science; Session 4: Math and Science; Session 5: Review of all four sections and Writing.

If cancellation occurs prior to the first session of your registered class, your registration may be applied to a future class. 

If you must miss a class session, please make it up with one of three options:

1. Online (no cost): All students have access to online recordings

2. Attend the same session (Lincoln or Omaha) (no cost):  No need to notify us—just show up!

3. Complete a 90-minute tutoring session with an OnToCollege teacher ($100): scheduled at your convenience, subject to availability. Please email Brenda@OnToCollege.com if you are interested in this option.

The SAT offers a Waitlist Status for approximately one week after late registration deadline has closed. Additional fees apply. Waitlist Status Requests for the SAT do not guarantee a seat or test booklet. Click here for more details.

Many of our In-Person students have retaken our class and achieved even better results (see our testimonials) on their next test. If you’re an OTC alum, please contact us for a discount code to retake the class for only $98.

Some students prefer to work One-on-One with a tutor on specific subject areas, at a reduced alumni rate. To discuss scheduling and arrangements, please email Brenda@OnToCollege.com. Tutoring also includes online access to Additional Prep materials.

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In high school, John only took the SAT and scored the equivalent of a 31-32. Not bad—he was admitted to Yale, Rice, and Stanford—but sadly not a 36.

Our full-year plans include access for one year from date of purchase. Boot Camp plans provide access through the next national test date. Once enrolled in an ACT or SAT Boot Camp, the cost of the course can be applied to extend access for a full year of test prep from the original registration date.

About 80% of the content is subject specific and 20% is test-taking strategies and college counseling.

On average, our students will see a 1-3-point increase in their composite ACT scores, with many students joining the Five-Point-Jump-Club. Our SAT Prep students can expect a 50-150-point increase in their composite SAT scores, with many increasing their score 200 or more points.

Some places of business and networks block purchases. Try again later from a different network. Or call us at 402-475-7737 for assistance.

Students who have already taken an OTC test prep course may sign up for ACT or SAT tutoring on a hourly basis. The cost is $70 per hour and can focus on a specific test subject or multiple subjects. Students who have not completed an OTC test prep course may purchase five 2-hour tutoring sessions for $850, and cover one or more subjects.

Our tutors are a combination of college students, teachers, and professional tutors. All of our tutors have personally achieved high ACT and/or SAT scores. Our tutors are all fully trained and tested on the material and strategies.

College Counseling On-Demand provides one year of access. Other College Counseling options provide unlimited access from purchase date until July 31 of the student’s graduation year.

The ACT allows you to test 12 times, including tests cancelled by you or by ACT. Exceptions can be granted by the ACT if necessary.

The SAT has no restrictions on how many times you can take the test.

Generally, ACT or SAT test results are considered valid for five years.

Each ACT section is scored up to 36 points. Generally, answering only 2-3 more questions correctly will jump your section score a full point. For example: answer 50 of 75 questions correctly on the English section for a section score of 23, but answer 6 more right and score a 25, taking you from the 70th percentile to the 70th percentile on the section. The SAT is scored up to 1600 points, with Reading and Writing & Language accounting for 800 points and Math for 800 points. Again, a few more correct answers can significantly affect your overall SAT score, and how you rank compared to your peers. Those score jumps, and the scholarship money they can potentially create, are why test prep can be the best-paying high school job you can have!

• Improves Core Skills. ACT/SAT prep provides further practice and boosts performance in Grammar, Math, Reasoning, Writing and basic knowledge valued by employers. Some schools/states require minimum test scores as graduation requirements. Some employers ask about ACT/SAT scores.
• Uncertain/Change of Plans. Students who aren’t sure or aren’t interested in college at graduation may discover later, after working for a year or two, that they are ready. ACT/SAT scores remain valid for five years from the test date. Students will likely find the ACT/SAT much more difficult to take several years post-high school than while actively enrolled in core high school courses.
• Community College. Though not usually required for general admission, ACT/SAT scores can exempt students from placement tests in Math and English and prevent the need for remedial classes. Your scholars want to avoid remedial classes!  Also, some specific programs (health sciences, nursing, engineering) may still require test scores. ACT/SAT scores may also be required if transferring to a four-year university. Plus, many community colleges offer scholarships based on ACT/SAT test scores.
• Technical and Trade Schools. Many schools will accept satisfactory ACT/SAT scores in place of an admissions test. Some will offer scholarships based on ACT/SAT test scores.
• Military ROTC. To enlist in ROTC programs, minimum ACT/SAT test scores are required; these may vary by branch.
• Enlisted Military. Students enlisting in the military will need to take the ASVAB exam. Preparing for the ACT/SAT will help students prepare for the ASVAB.
• Scholarships. Most post-high school programs that don’t require ACT/SAT scores for admittance/placement still use test scores as criteria for awarding scholarship money.
• Free Career Planning. Taking the ACT/SAT includes access to online tools to help assess strengths/weaknesses, abilities, and interests when planning occupations.

Go to the ACT website for registration information. For the SAT, register at the College Board website.

The ACT offers a Standby Request Period for approximately two weeks after the late fee deadline. Additional fees apply.  Standby Requests for the ACT do not guarantee a seat or test booklet. Click here for more details. 

The SAT offers (not currently an option for 2022-23) a Waitlist Status for approximately one week after late registration deadline has closed. Additional fees apply. Waitlist Status Requests for the SAT do not guarantee a seat or test booklet. Click here for more details.

For ACT, log in to your account and select “Make changes to your registration” or call ACT at 319.337.1270 by the late registration deadline. 

For SAT, click here for details on how to change your registration date.

Available accommodations may include extended time, extra or extended breaks, reading or visual accommodations. Work with your school officials for best results. Find more information from ACT or from SAT.

Click here for the rules for calculators allowed during the ACT. Click here for the rules for calculators allowed during the SAT/PSAT.

ACT | For the national June and December test dates only, you can receive a copy of the multiple-choice questions, your answers, and an answer key. If you took the writing test, you can also receive the prompt, your scores, and the rubric. Additional fees required. More details about Test Information Release

SAT | You can order answer verification services when you register, or up to 5 months after your test date. Question-and-Answer Service includes a copy of the questions and a report with your answers for October, March and May test dates. Student Answer Service provides a report with your answers and information about the questions, but not the actual test.

The national average ACT score in 2021 was 20.3, and is also shown for each state at this link.

The national average SAT score for 2021 was 1060 with additional results by state and other filters also available at this link.

The answer depends on how large the point range is between section scores, and how much one could feasibly improve in each. Generally, a Composite score is more likely to improve with gains to the areas of strength. Score increases in any section can help boost a Composite score, but one is more likely to increase the Composite score with score jumps in 2 or 3 sections of the test, rather than a single subject score increase.

1. Practice with many ACT reading passages. Many are available in Additional Prep in our courses. Your counselor will have some practice tests, and more can be found on the ACT website.  You can also purchase old tests on Amazon or similar websites.
2. Be sure to time yourelf: 8:45 for each passage and circle/mark any question that you guess on.
3. Review those guesses and wrong answers before doing the next passage in 8:45.
4. Read, read, read at least two books a month—a “classic” and one you choose.  Here’s a few of John’s suggestions. While reading, circle/highlight any unknown words or any phrasing you like, then once finished, review all those circles.

Waiting isn’t always the best answer. Sending scores to schools before taking the test (four for ACT or SAT) is included in your test registration, while sending after will cost (ACT: $13/school; SAT: first four schools free up to 9 days after test; then $12/school), and adds up quickly. But, if you don’t think you did well (sick, not prepared, etc.), you have the right to cancel ACT or SAT scores by completing a form before you leave the test center, or downloading and mailing a cancel request within five days of your test date. Both tests allow you to send just your best scores rather than all your scores, although some colleges prefer/require all your test scores be shared, so visit SAT’s College Search or the college website to check their test score policy. For other score reporting questions, try ACT Score FAQs or SAT Score FAQs.

Some colleges require submission of all scores, while others care only about your highest score. Generally, college admissions officers appreciate the grit and determination displayed by retaking the test, especially if you have taken additional math or other courses, test preparation, or made other efforts to jump your scores. Most students take the test/s multiple times.

Many colleges (but not all!) also consider superscores, which use the best score on your record for each section to create a maximized composite score. In September 2020, ACT plans to add superscoring, and in 2021, to allow section retesting.

Both the ACT and SAT are academic exams, so students who do well in school tend to do well on the tests. Many high school subjects (history, economics, civics, calculus) are not tested at all. Check with your high school counselor to select appropriate yet challenging courses–they are your best source for advice on specific coursework available to match and stretch your academic abilities. Course rigor and GPA are also important parts of college applications. Even students who do well on classroom tests will benefit from practice ACT or SAT tests to learn pacing and other techniques specific to each test.