Every summer starts with good intentions. But by August, many families realize their student didn't regress dramatically—they just didn't move forward. In competitive academic environments, that quiet stagnation is a problem. Summer learning loss isn't about losing knowledge; it's about losing momentum. Academic skills require consistent practice to stay sharp. When that practice stops, the skills don't just pause—they begin to atrophy. This guide explores why summer slide happens and how families can prevent it with a sustainable, low-stress approach.

Most parents don't ask, "Is my child behind?" They ask something quieter: "Are we on track?" In today's varied educational landscape, that question is harder to answer than ever. Grades look solid. Teachers say things are "going well." But academic standards vary widely across schools, districts, and classrooms. What looks strong locally may not always translate into competitive readiness later. So how can you evaluate progress objectively—without panic, and without guesswork?

Every May, a familiar debate begins in households across the country: should summer be a time for total relaxation, or should the academic engine keep running? The answer, backed by decades of educational research, isn't an either/or proposition.

A quiet but persistent shift is occurring in high schools nationwide. Despite immense dedication, many Gen Z students feel perpetually behind. This isn't about capability—it's about timing.

In 2024, the ACT announced they would be making a series of “enhancements” to the test in the year to come. These changes go into effect for digital test-takers in April 2025. Students opting for paper tests will see the new version of the ACT beginning in September. School-issued state and district daytime testing will begin offering the updated ACT in spring 2026. 

Staying on top of test updates is the best way to know how to target your study efforts so that you’re as prepared as possible when test day rolls around..

A Guide For High Schools about the best SAT & ACT practices to set their students up for success on tests and during college admissions.

The College Board SAT, a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States, is undergoing a significant transition from its traditional paper-based format to a digital format. Students now take the test on a computer rather than with pencil and paper. This shift to digital testing raises several important implications for students. For one, it requires them to adapt to new testing strategies and tools that may differ from what they are accustomed to with paper-based exams. Additionally, the move towards digital testing results from a broader trend towards incorporating technology into education and assessment methods.

Many families struggle to find the EXTRA time in their teen’s day for SAT prep when they have numerous extracurricular activities and regular studies to attend to. While we don’t recommend taking away sports, band, chorus, volunteer work and paid jobs, we do suggest that students carve out time for prep. Without a clear carve-out, SAT (or ACT) prep will fall to the demands of classes, extra-curricular activities, social activities, and sleep.

What is a Tutoring Club?

A tutoring club is where serious students gather to get their work done AND have a tutor’s expertise when they are stuck.

Some tutoring clubs are more pro-active – they enlist a tutor to teach a certain agenda from scratch, or review a certain subject. High School tutoring clubs allow students to get help with difficult academic work, with semi-academic work, and with standardized test prep.

On average, our students increase their SAT scores by nearly 150 points!

What is the secret to our success rate? When it comes to the SAT, we have one simple answer to help students send the best scores to the colleges of their choice.

NOBODY should be delaying an SAT based on this rumor. That’s because “easier” does not mean BETTER. An easier-for-all SAT means Revised SAT scores will be artificially higher. But colleges will be wise to that. If 1400 is easier to attain on the Revised SAT, then colleges will need 1500 to be impressed.

When the SAT was “recentered” in March 1994, high recentered scores were not as impressive as prior scores that were 100 points lower. (Recentering added 110 – 120 points to mid-range scorers.) Colleges could tell the difference, and they certainly will know the difference if the scaling is skewed next year.

Many parents ask us if a student’s SAT prep should be delayed until he or she has completed Algebra 2 in school. The timing of when you study for the SAT is really important. Kids’ schedules, whether during sophomore or junior year, tend to get filled up later in the year. While schedules are more hectic in the spring, students also have more math knowledge under their belts than in winter or fall. So, what should students do?

Many colleges make the award automatic based on a combination of SAT (or ACT) and GPA. Merit-based scholarships range from $500 to $200,000. Our students seeking scholarships report an average award exceeding $70,000 over four years.

As you might have heard, many students are disappointed with their June SAT scores. Students who answered more questions correctly on this SAT compared to a previous exam saw very minor score improvements. Our founder, Mark Greenstein, offers advice to these students to combat their surprisingly low test scores.

Mark Greenstein of Ivy Bound offers test day hints to Ivy Bound students taking the SAT or ACT.

The score, officially called the Environmental Context Dashboard, is calculated with several factors that take into account a student’s home conditions, their community and school system. Also factored in are the student’s local crime rate, poverty rate, if the student has only one parent, the families median income and more.

During winter and early spring in New England, an SAT date may be cancelled due to weather. Parents and students who might be fretful about a cancelled SAT should know there is no downside to a test that’s rescheduled! Our founder, Mark Greenstein, explains how this can actually be beneficial for students.

There is recourse, in mindset and action, for students who receive SAT scores that are below where they need for likely admission to their choice university.

The makers of the SAT demand scrutiny when someone’s score has increased by what they believe to be an inordinately high amount. When a student scores 250 points higher than a previous test, they are required to investigate for cheating.

TEST OPTIONAL AND TEST BLIND HAVE TWO DIFFERENT MEANINGS:

Test Blind: colleges wont see test scores at all.

Test Optional: Students who withhold scores are still included for consideration but with one less credential