The Advanced Start™ Program for 7th, 8th or 9th graders helps younger students develop above-grade-level knowledge and testing skills that they can use in the classroom. It’s also one of the most effective ways to begin preparation for future college admissions tests. The program consists of Lessons, Workshops, Practice Tests, and Instructor-Led Test Reviews.
Students can attend test prep activities online from anywhere or in person at one of our Dallas-Fort Worth campuses located in Frisco, Plano, and Coppell.
Families of 7th, 8th or 9th graders often choose the Advanced Start™ Program for their high-performing students for one or more of the following reasons:
Families of 9th Graders may also choose the Advanced Start program for their students as a shorter-term and more cost-effective alternative to KD’s Complete Test Prep program for 9th graders, which preps students for PSAT, SAT, and ACT tests until they reach their score goals or until high school graduation. Note: we recommend speaking with an advisor for recommendations specific to your student.
Please Note: Advanced Start students will participate in activities alongside high school students, working on high school level material specifically for the SAT test. The Advanced Start Program runs from June-April each academic year.
Let’s take a look at everything that’s included in the Advanced Start Program.
New students take an initial diagnostic test to establish a baseline score to help track progress throughout the program and in some cases help place the student into a class section with similarly scoring students. This would be done one time before attending the initial set of lessons.
Following registration, students and their families receive a phone call and an email confirming their registration details. A link to the on-demand Advanced Start orientation is included in the email. Students and at least one parent should watch the orientation for clarity on the program and how to get the most out of it. It’s key to student success, so don’t skip this step!
This course includes one set of unique lessons for the PSAT and SAT tests.
These two-hour, lecture-style classes use our proprietary curriculum, updated every year to reflect changes in the national testing environment. Lessons teach students content and concepts from the national tests, how to approach question types, and how to apply specific strategies to get answers quickly and confidently.
There are 14 scheduled class times: six math lessons, six verbal lessons, a post-lesson diagnostic test, and a post-lesson diagnostic test review.
Please note: Advanced Start™ students participate in activities alongside high school students.
Advanced Start students will also have access to the KD Student Portal for access to homework video explanations and workshop registration.
Each lesson contains 15-30 minutes of homework specific to that lesson for extra practice. Homework answers and explanations are found within the student portal.
Instructor-led workshops provide year-round, targeted practice allowing students to get help on question types that occur most frequently and are the most challenging. The goal of a workshop is practice towards mastery. From the beginning of their program, we recommend students attend up to two workshops every month for as long as they are enrolled at KD. Students joining Advanced Start Program will NEVER see the same curriculum twice during their time at KD.
Our workshops feature new curriculum weekly, and bonus workshops are available during SAT test weeks and holidays.
Full-length practice tests for the SAT test help students build mental endurance and put it all together.
After taking a practice test, students receive a detailed test analysis identifying their strengths and weaknesses.
Students review each practice test using self-correction for easier problems, guided explanations for more difficult problems, and personalized help sessions for the most challenging problems. The goal is to incrementally improve test-taking skills while learning from mistakes. Each practice test must be reviewed before taking additional tests.
Advanced Start™ students will focus on the SAT test only since that will be the first test they might see in middle school or early high school.
What payment options are available?
You may choose to pay online during registration, over the phone, or in person at one of our campuses. Payment must be received before attending orientation or any activity.
A $50 nonrefundable administrative fee is included in the cost of all programs.
A $50 shipping fee will apply for out of area students or those who choose to have materials shipped (covers shipping for the duration of the program). Fee will be automatically added if you select the virtual campus at checkout.
We accept cash, check, or credit card (Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover).
Advanced Start students can join our Complete™ Program at the conclusion of their program for a special discounted price. Contact us to learn more.
(if paid in full) — Includes a nonrefundable $50 administrative fee.
* An installment plan option is available at checkout. A $50 shipping fee will apply for out of area students or those who choose to have materials shipped (covers shipping for the duration of the program).
“My daughter loved the program—the program materials and the teachers both online and in person. She participated in a year of online and a year of in person. It was incredible enrichment and helped her keep her skills sharp over the summer. She liked being challenged academically, and she loved taking classes with high school students who were focused on their college goals. These students were also excellent role models! The lessons were especially important during the pandemic when it wasn’t a typical middle school experience.”
“My daughter loved the program—the program materials and the teachers both online and in person. She participated in a year of online and a year of in person. It was incredible enrichment and helped her keep her skills sharp over the... Read more...
Beth L. – Advanced Start™ Parent
