Sylvan Learning Centers Offer Free SAT® and ACT® Practice Tests Over Presidents' Day Weekend

BALTIMORE, Feb. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- If George Washington applied to George Washington University in 2014, would he get in? The answer? Maybe not - and he's not alone. College application numbers are up nationwide but the national acceptance rate has been gradually declining over the past 10 years[i], making the road to a college education more competitive than ever before. To help give students an edge to overcome these worrying statistics, participating Sylvan Learning Centers are offering free SAT and ACT practice tests over Presidents' Day weekend, February 15^th through 17^th, perfect timing for students starting to prep for the April and May exams. These practice tests are designed to allow students to recreate test-day conditions, understand what subject areas they need to focus on during their continued test preparation and get ready for the day when their scores really count.

According to the College Board, only 43 percent of students who took the SAT were deemed academically prepared for college[ii]. Additionally, only 25 percent of students who took the ACT met readiness benchmarks in all four subject areas, according to an annual ACT report.[iii]  Getting students to practice early and often is the first step in helping them succeed. That is why it's imperative that even students as early as 8^th grade start taking advantage of practice test opportunities as a way to learn what they excel at and where their weak points are so they can seek the proper help before it's too late.

"With college acceptance rates declining, it has become more challenging for graduating seniors to get into their school of choice," said Jeffrey Cohen, Chief Executive Officer at Sylvan Learning. "Students and parents can no longer wait until the 11^th hour - or the 11^th grade - to look for resources that will give students a competitive edge and secure academic success for the years ahead."

To take the SAT or ACT practice test, which lasts about two hours, parents or students should call their local Sylvan Learning center to find out the exact date and time the tests will be offered.  These vital test results will be shared with students and their families, along with a personalized recommendation, based on the scores, from a Sylvan instructor.

"These practice test results give students and parents a foundation to build upon," adds Cohen. "With the help of our Sylvan staff, together they can start working on an action plan to help students get the results they need to get into their dream college."

To see if your local Sylvan is participating in SAT/ACT Practice Test Day, visit http://www.sylvanlearning.com/locations to find the appropriate contact information.

For more information about the SAT or ACT, visit www.sat.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org.

SAT and ACT are registered trademarks of College Board and ACT, Inc, respectively.

About Sylvan Learning, Inc.
With more than 30 years of experience and more than 800 locations throughout North America, Sylvan Learning is the leading provider of personal learning for students in grades K-12. As the leader in supplemental education, Sylvan is transforming how students learn, inspiring them to succeed in school and in life. Sylvan's proven tutoring approach blends amazing teachers with SylvanSync™ technology on the iPad® for an engaging learning experience. Sylvan programs include study skills, math, reading, writing and test prep for college entrance and state exams. Sylvan also provides educational services to public and nonpublic schools. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. For more information, call 1-800-31-SUCCESS, or visit www.SylvanLearning.com or Sylvan's Mom Minded blog at www.SylvanLearning.com/blog. 

[i] "The State of College Admission 2013" National Association of College Admissions Counseling January 30, 2014

[ii] "Stagnant 2013 SAT Results are Call to Action for the College Board" September 26, 2013 

[iii] "The Condition of College and Career Readiness 2013" August 21, 2013

Test names and other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with Sylvan Learning, Inc. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product. ACT is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc.


SOURCE Sylvan Learning, Inc.