Academics & Testing
Our Academics and Testing resources focus on the classroom decisions students and their families make from pre-K through post-doc, from course selection through standardized tests. Guidance for choosing courses and the right level of rigor, planning for the SAT, ACT, and AP exams, self-studying subjects some schools might not offer, and weighing options like dual enrollment and community college classes.
All resources are PDFs unless a description notes otherwise.
Long-Term Academic Planning
How to build a strong academic record over time, from the early grades through senior year. Covers course selection, when to add challenge, and planning each stage around where the student is headed.
A Guide To Choosing High School Classes
How to pick classes each year and balance challenge against workload. Covers core requirements, honors and AP options, and choosing the right course load.
Comparing School Curriculums: A guide
How the common private school curriculums differ, from AP and IB to Waldorf, Montessori, traditional college prep, and more. Covers what sets each apart and how to match a program to the student.
A Guide to Standardized Tests
What to know about the full slate of tests, from placement exams like the SSAT and ISEE to the PSAT, SAT, and ACT, on through AP, and the GED, GRE, and other grad school exams. Covers which ones matter for a given path, when to take them, and how to plan a timeline.