For the first time this year, Darlington will offer brief mini-courses in an effort to familiarize juniors with the SAT. The goal of these courses will be to assist in their preparation for a very important part of the college admission process.
Sessions will be taught by English department chairman David Powell and Upper School math teacher Fran Buice ('76). Course objectives include greater familiarity with the types of questions asked, strategies for tackling the length of the test, perspectives on how the test is scored, resources available for individual self-study to improve scores, and help with planning for the senior year from January through December 2008.
The course is mandatory for all juniors at no cost to parents except for the textbook, which sells for approximately $20. Parents may request in writing that their students be excused from the course if students are already planning to enroll in a more extensive review course during the summer.
"We are offering this free service so that all of our students will benefit from some targeted and specific test-taking strategies while at the same time maximizing their comfort with one of the most important factors for college acceptance," said Buice.
Eleven course sessions will be offered throughout the year. Juniors should look at their calendars now and e-mail their preferred course session to
fbuice@darlingtonschool.org as soon as possible. There will be a cap on enrollment for each session.
1) Aug. 25-26 (Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.)
2) Aug. 27-Sept. 20, 3rd Period
3) Sept. 24-Oct. 15, 7th Period
4) Nov. 27-Dec. 18, 3rd Period
5) Jan. 8-Jan. 31, 7th Period
6) Jan. 8- Feb. 1, ASA 3:45-4:45 p.m.
7) Jan. 12-13 (Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.)
8) Feb.4-Feb.28,
6th period
*Note this is a different time than was originally listed in the letter.
9) Feb.4-Feb.28, ASA 3:45-4:45 p.m.
10) Mar. 25-Apr. 17, 4th Period
11) Apr. 21-May 14, 8th Period
The PSAT will be given Oct. 17, and the SAT will be given Jan. 26, March 1, May 3, and June 7, 2008. The College Board’s Web site (
www.collegeboard.com) has a wealth of information including remaining dates for 2008 as well as other useful tidbits about the test. Juniors will be asked to take the SAT two out of the four dates in the spring of 2008.
