Test Prep Essentials
NOTE: The Test Prep Essentials for grades 9-12 runs from October through March 4, 2027—ahead of the March SAT® test.
If time and cost matter most in choosing a test prep partner, then Test Prep Essentials could be a good fit for your student. BUT you should consider the following questions before making that decision.
- Does your 9th-12th grade student know the score range they need for their college, honors, and scholarship goals?
- Is your student already scoring close to that range, making a shorter timeline realistic?
- And most importantly, is your student willing to commit the time and effort to get there faster?
This program teaches the content and strategies students need to answer PSAT/SAT® questions quickly and confidently. Every lesson is led by an experienced, degreed instructor with demonstrated mastery of the test content. Students can choose in-person classes at a DFW-area campus or live-online for added flexibility.
- Proprietary curriculum book
- Up to 66 hours of live classroom instruction
- 15-30 minutes of homework per lesson
- Free makeup lessons
- Five digital practice tests, including two diagnostic tests
- Personalized test reviews
- Up to 20 instructor-led workshops
- KD Student Portal access
What’s Included
Initial Diagnostic Test (DT1)
New students take an initial diagnostic test before their first lesson. This test helps establish a baseline score to track progress throughout the program, and sometimes helps place the student into a class section with similarly scoring students. In some cases, a student may use a recent national test score in lieu of taking the initial diagnostic test.
Recorded Student and Parent Orientation
Following registration, students and their families receive a phone call and an email confirming their registration details. A link to the on-demand Test Prep Essentials 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!
Math Lessons for the SAT Test
Core classes/lessons use KD’s proprietary curriculum, which is updated every year to reflect changes in the national testing environment.
The six lecture-style math lessons are two hours each and help students understand the general math content, question types, and formulas found on the tests.
- Math 1—General Strategies and Equations
- Math 2—Linear Equations and Algebra
- Math 3—Rates, Ratios, Percents, and Data Analysis
- Math 4—Advanced Algebra
- Math 5—Non-linear Equations and Functions
- Math 6—Geometry and Trigonometry
Verbal Lessons for the SAT Test
Core classes/lessons use KD’s proprietary curriculum, which is updated every year to reflect changes in the national testing environment.
These six lecture-style verbal lessons are two hours each and strengthen a student’s grammar and reading comprehension skills and provide a detailed overview of the passages and question types frequently found on the tests.
- Verbal 1—Craft & Structure
- Verbal 2—Information & Ideas
- Verbal 3—Standard English Conventions: Possessives, Pronouns, and Verbs
- Verbal 4—Standard English Conventions: Punctuation and Sentence Structure
- Verbal 5—Expression of Ideas and Pacing
- Verbal 6—Strategic Approaches: Section Order and Elimination
Free Makeup Lessons
We know student schedules are extremely hectic. There are going to be times when a family, school, extracurricular, or job conflict will mean a class is missed. Students simply call their KD campus and ask for a list of free, live-online makeup options for the class they missed. It’s that easy.
KD Student Portal
Essentials students will also have access to the KD Student Portal for homework explanation videos, workshop registration, and the test review process.
Homework Assignments
Each lesson contains ~15-30 minutes of homework for extra practice. Homework answers and explanations are found in the student portal.
Post-Lesson Diagnostic Test (DT2)
Students take this practice test after they’ve attended the 12 core lessons. This test is slightly harder than the initial diagnostic test. It’s designed to test the student’s knowledge of the content learned in the lesson sand how well strategies are being applied.
Final Lesson
The 14th (and final) lesson is focused on maximizing student success. This lesson reviews portions of the post-lesson diagnostic test, guides students through an interpretation of their score reports, explains the test review process, and provides a framework for identifying mistakes. Understanding why mistakes were made and how to prevent them in the future is a key strategy for all students.
Following this final lesson, students will need to complete the review process for the DT2.
Instructor-Led Workshops
Instructor-led workshops (with new curriculum each week) provide year-round, targeted practice for students to get help on the question types that occur most frequently and those that are the most challenging. The goal of a workshop is practice towards mastery.
From the beginning of their program, we recommend Essentials students attend at least two workshops each month. Students may attend up to a maximum of 20 workshops over the course of the program.
Practice Tests With Reviews
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 those that are more difficult, and personalized help sessions for the most challenging questions. The goal is to incrementally improve test-taking skills while learning from mistakes. Each practice test must be reviewed before taking additional tests.
Essentials students may take up to five practice tests over the course of their program, including the initial diagnostic test (DT1) and the post-lesson diagnostic test (DT2).
Advisor Support
Essentials students and parents have access to individual support from KD’s team of full-time advisors six days/week in person at one of our campuses, or through phone, email, or a virtual platform.
Program Fees & Payment Options
What payment options are available?
- Pay in full: $1,099
- Pay in installments: $599 down plus two monthly payment of $270
- Total Cost of $1,139
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).
Essentials students have the option to join our Complete™ Test Prep at the conclusion of their program. Contact us to learn more.
PROGRAM OPTIONS
Test Prep Essentials
9th-12th Grade-
(if paid in full)— Includes a nonrefundable $50 administrative fee
WE’RE ALWAYS READY TO CHAT
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