Palo Alto High School • SAT · ACT · PSAT
The universities PALY students often consider are largely the same ones that reinstated testing requirements in 2024 and 2025. Harvard, MIT, Dartmouth, Princeton, and Yale now require or strongly expect standardized test scores. The UC system requires scores for merit scholarship consideration. A PALY student who does not submit strong scores is making a strategic decision in a context where most of their peers are submitting them.
The competitive floor at PALY is not defined by the national average. It is defined by the peer group. Students from this school consistently submit SAT scores in the 1400 to 1550 range for merit scholarship consideration and 1500 to 1600 for the most selective private universities.
The SAT is now fully digital and adaptive. Module 1 performance determines which version of Module 2 a student receives. Students who understand this and pace themselves accordingly can unlock the harder questions where scores above 1500 are earned. Students who don't can underperform in ways entirely disconnected from their actual ability.
The ACT changed in 2025. Science is now optional and does not affect the composite score. For PALY students who previously chose the SAT to avoid Science, that reasoning no longer applies. Michael assesses both tests during the free trial and makes a recommendation based on actual diagnostic data.
California's NMSQT Selection Index cutoff runs several points above the national average. A PALY junior competing for Semifinalist recognition is competing against one of the highest-density pools of high-achieving students in the country. The PSAT happens once. The October junior year test is the only qualifying opportunity. Michael's recommendation for PALY students with National Merit ambitions is to start in January of sophomore year, integrating PSAT work directly into the SAT readiness track so the two reinforce each other.
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 recommendation: which test gives the student the best opportunity, how far their score may be able to go, a recommended training plan, and which upcoming test dates are most strategic. 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 after the agreed session cap until they are satisfied or available testing opportunities have been exhausted.
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.
The diagnostic produces a specific recommendation: which test gives the student the best opportunity, how far their score may be able to go, a recommended training plan, and which upcoming test dates are most strategic.
For UC merit scholarship consideration, strong scores are required. For the most selective private universities PALY students frequently consider, competitive applicants typically submit scores in the 1400 to 1550 range. The peer group sets the standard in practice.
Preparation timelines vary based on a student's goals, starting point, and upcoming 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 during the summer before, 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.
Both are accepted by every university PALY students commonly consider. Which test gives a specific student the better score is a diagnostic question. Michael assesses both during the free trial.
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 with a specific recommendation: which test gives the student the best opportunity, how far their score may be able to go, a recommended training plan, and which upcoming test dates are most strategic.
The trial is free with no obligation to continue.