Aragon High School • SAT · ACT · PSAT
Aragon High School sends a significant number of graduates to UC campuses each year. For the most competitive campuses, Berkeley and UCLA, test scores are required for merit scholarship consideration, and strong scores support course placement after admission. For private universities on a typical Aragon list, scores matter for admissions directly.
The students who come to Michael from Aragon are typically targeting UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, or UC Santa Barbara alongside private universities in the Claremont and CSU systems. The score ranges that are competitive at each of these schools are different, and Michael's trial session includes a conversation about the student's actual college list and what score each school's admitted student data suggests is necessary.
Aragon's AP and honors course offerings produce students who are academically prepared for demanding college coursework. What they sometimes need is specific preparation for the standardized test format, which evaluates content under timed conditions in ways that classroom assessment does not replicate. Michael's hybrid session format, combining one-on-one coaching with timed group practice, builds both the strategic knowledge and the performance habits that transfer to real test conditions.
PSAT preparation at Aragon benefits from starting in January of sophomore year. The California NMSQT cutoff is among the highest in the country. Aragon students who begin PSAT preparation early, connect it to their spring SAT work, and take the October junior year PSAT with genuine preparation have a realistic shot at Commended or Semifinalist recognition.
Preparation timelines vary based on a student’s goals, starting point, and target test dates.
Michael’s free trial session includes a diagnostic and personalized timeline recommendation based on each student’s individual situation — not a generic template.
The recommendation covers which test to prioritize, when to take it, how many sessions to expect, and a realistic target score given where the student is starting from.
The Trial Session
The free trial on Zoom includes a diagnostic, direct work with Michael, and a follow-up call with both student and parent. Michael presents a specific plan: which test to prioritize, a target score, a proposed timeline, and a session count. No financial commitment until both sides agree.
Every Session
Sessions are two hours long and combine individualized coaching, structured practice, and timed work using official SAT and ACT material. Students stay actively engaged while receiving ongoing guidance and feedback from Michael throughout the session. No homework.
The Guarantee
Students who complete the agreed program and are not satisfied with their results continue at no additional cost until they reach their target score.
The Mr. Test Prep Method™ builds the execution strategies and pattern recognition that transfer directly to test conditions. A-Game Access™ is the mindfulness and peak performance system built into every session — addressing the gap between practice performance and test-day performance.
Preparation timelines vary based on a student’s goals, starting point, and target test dates. Some students begin as early as January of their sophomore year, particularly those with National Merit goals. Many students begin preparation during the summer before junior year, with the period after July 4th being a common starting point. Students entering senior year often begin preparation during the summer before senior year, depending on their goals and testing plans. Michael’s free trial session includes a diagnostic and personalized timeline recommendation based on each student’s individual situation.
Several test centers are available in the San Mateo and surrounding Peninsula area. Check current availability at collegeboard.org (SAT) or act.org (ACT). Bay Area centers fill 5 to 6 weeks before test day, register on the first day the window opens.
The trial is a two-hour Zoom session where your student works through a diagnostic with guidance and feedback from Michael throughout. Afterward Michael calls both student and parent: which test to prioritize, a target score, a proposed timeline, and a session count specific to your student.
The trial is free with no obligation to continue.