Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

What is the Future of the ACT and SAT?

Questions abound about the future of the SAT and ACT in the process of college admissions: 

  • Will testing sites be open in the fall for seniors to take the tests? 
  • Since so many schools, like the entire University of California system and all Ivy League schools, “temporarily” adjusted requirements to make the SAT and ACT “optional” for the next admission cycle, will this change be permanent? 
  • If test scores are tied to financial aid and scholarship, how will aid and scholarships be determined in absence of the tests? 
Truthfully, there are more questions than answers. Uncertainty is the current state of affairs. 

Nevertheless, there may be some certainty about the future of testing.


First and foremost, the College Board (maker of the SAT among other things) and ACT, Inc (maker of the ACT among other things) are sure to fight for their lives. These are multi-million dollar companies whose financial future is tied to the relevance of these tests. Both companies will surely lobby, work and make a major effort to keep their business models in tact as long as they can. 

Secondly, with respect to aid and scholarships, there may be a place for these tests after all. Considering the vast discrepancy in GPAs across schools in the United States, testing may be the only standardized approach to differentiate students. 

Admission teams at universities have the resources to shift away from weighing test results heavily and instead approach admission decisiones more holistically (weighing other elements like GPA, course load, essays, recommendations, etc. more). But can the same be said for financial aid offices and scholarship programs? Since aid and scholarship are so closely tied to tests, like the PSAT, chances are these tests may stick around for a while until another standardized, scholarship-identifying model is established. 

So in the near term, the changes may not be much. As long as schools are test-optional (and not test-blind) then test scores will continue to matter. 

In the long term, however, major changes may be likely. 

If you are focused on the near term and want to book a solid test score, either for admission reasons or scholarship ones, contact CROSSWALK today. Since 2003, CROSSWALK has been the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for test prep and academic tutoring. 
  
Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Summer ACT & SAT Test Prep Program

CROSSWALK is proud to announce a new Summer Test Prep Program starting June 8. This program is perfectly timed for students gearing up for the SAT or ACT in the fall of 2020. 


Students will meet Monday nights online for twelve weeks and dive into all aspects of the SAT and the ACT. From strategy to score analysis, this course will provide direct instruction on how to maximize test scores in order to achieve greater college admission opportunities. 

By signing up for this program, students will receive:

  • Twelve weekly online classes from 6-7:30pm
  • Step-by-step strategies for each test section
  • Two personalized full-length test score analyses 
  • One private tutoring session with Instructor and Test Expert Brooke Higgins
  • Access to class videos, handouts and practice tests
  • Unlimited SAT or ACT essay grading 
To keep the instruction personalized and individualized, there will be a maximum number of students allowed. So reserve your spot today. 

Change is in the air for all testing formats as universities are adjusting admission requirements. This program will prepare students for these changes, help them understand why test scores still matter and guide them towards their goal score. 


Sign up right here or contact CROSSWALK with questions. This sign up form also includes pricing information. Please note that financial aid is available for those students who qualify. 

Take advantage of your summer by learning how to get the SAT or ACT score you need to get into the school of your choice. This program is your ticket to mastering the SAT & ACT so that you can get admitted to the college of your dreams.

Questions or need more information? Contact CROSSWALK today. Call 831-70-TUTOR, email mail@crosswalkeducation.com or find us on Instagram and Facebook. 

Since 2003, CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for test prep and tutoring. 
Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

June SAT Cancelled: How to Adjust

Because of COVID-19, the College Board recently announced the cancellation of the June test. 

Many colleges are responding to this pandemic by adjusting their admission requirements. Submitting a test score, for many schools, is not a requirement for current juniors. 


So what does that mean for your test preparation plan? Should you just abandon ship altogether? 

Here are five adjustments you can make with these new changes:

1) Stay the Course

Let’s face it: with fewer tests scores and weird spring GPAs for many high schools (pass/fail anyone?), colleges will be struggling to find meaningful and measurable data to compare applicants in 2021. Test optional does not mean test blind. So, stay the course, get a good ACT or SAT score on the books, and improve your chances of admission. 

2) Reduce the Stress 

A stress brained does not perform as well as an unstressed brain. So don’t stress about the test cancellation. Instead, consider this an opportunity to spend more time getting comfortable with the testing format, the questions, the time allowed and the overall experience. With more experience comes more comfort and less stress. 

3) Register Early

As of today, the ACT test in June is still open for registration. But this is the only test available over the next several months. This means many will rush to register for the fall tests. So register early to avoid the mad dash. 

4) Take More Full-Length Practice Tests

Now that you have more time to prepare for test day, use the time to take more full-length practice tests. In all honesty, the hardest part of my job as a test prep instructor is to have students develop the stamina needed to sit for three or four hours and take a test. With the extra time you have until the fall test dates, schedule full-length practice tests every several weeks. Practice sitting and focusing for long blocks of time so that your brain can remain fresh and focused for the whole time. 

5) Read

Reading is the path to better scores. After all, this is a reading test. For those of you saying, “well, it’s a math test too,” then I would like to remind you that the math section is mostly reading. Word problems, the ways the questions are worded and answer choices are all set up as reading challenges. You may need math to get the solution, but you need to read to understand the question first. So really, the ACT and SAT are simply reading tests. And to get better at a reading test, read more! 

All in all, despite these new changes to test dates and potentially test formats (the ACT says they will have an online test ready for fall/winter), the message is to stay the course, reduce your stress, register early, take practice tests and read. 

If you need help with any of these, contact CROSSWALK today. CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for test prep and academic tutoring. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

SAT & ACT Not Required for UCs: What That Means for You

Big news: in response to COVID-19, the University of California system just announced adjusted admission requirements for 2021 applicants. Most notably, the SAT and ACT are not required. 

This presents a major opportunity for many families. This decision will reduce the stress around college admissions for many. 


Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean the SAT and ACT are going away. First, this is a temporary decision just for 2021 applicants. 

Second, students who still choose to take these tests this summer and fall, assuming that is even possible, may have an opportunity to differentiate themselves from other applicants. After all, with the adjusted admission requirements, colleges will likely want to know how a student spent their time during the stay-at-home order. Students who perform well on the SAT or ACT can show colleges that they spent their time studying, learning and preparing. Evidence of motivation and productivity might be the path towards more admission opportunities in 2021. 

Furthermore, since the test is optional, there is no stress in taking it! As CROSSWALK students know, stress is the enemy of test performance. So remove the stress, and see your score go up!  

With this new landscape, how is CROSSWALK responding? With FREE test prep and a new (free) podcast! 

Here are the details: 

1) Free Test Prep: 

CROSSWALK continues to offer its six-week test prep program on Monday nights from 6-7:30. It’s online. And it’s free. Contact Brooke Higgins directly for sign up information at mail@crosswalkeducation.com. 

2) Free Podcast (English and Spanish available!) 

CROSSWALK and InspirED have taken their partnership to the next level with the “Plan for College Admission” podcast. Find us wherever you get your podcasts or right here. These are crazy times but Brooke and Marisela offer the latest news and changes so you stay informed, prepared and inspired. 

Y para los hispanohablantes, el podcast está disponible en español también. Busca el “Plan para Admisión Universitaria” en tu lugar favorito para podcasts o aquí. 

Stay connected with CROSSWALK on Facebook, Instagram and on the web. CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for test prep. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Spring ACT & SAT Prep: Going Online

Good and not surprising news: the Spring ACT & SAT Prep Series, starting Monday, March 16th at 7pm, will be conducted online. 

Instead of meeting at the Stevenson School, you can log in from the comfort of your home.


It is not too late to sign up. Sign up here.

This six-session program runs on Monday nights from 7-8:30pm starting March 16th and wrapping up April 27th (note: due to the long weekend at the Stevenson School, there is no class April 20th). 

Conducted by CROSSWALK founder and lead test prep instructor Brooke Higgins, this program is a highly efficient and effective way to get ready for test day. High school juniors and sophomores learn the ins and outs of both tests and how to achieve their goal score. Students walk away with an individualized game plan and a detailed study plan to maximize success. 

Each week of the program targets a different component of the tests. Students have the option to attend the class(es) they need or they can sign up for the whole program. 

CROSSWALK Test Prep & Tutoring is the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for academic tutoring and test prep for the SAT®, ACT®, SSAT®, PSAT® and more. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Spring Test Prep at the Stevenson School

Spring is here and that means CROSSWALK’s spring test prep series is about to bloom.

Reserve your spot today for the Spring SAT® and ACT® Prep Workshop Series at the Stevenson School. 

The six-session program runs on Monday nights from 7-8:30pm starting March 16th and wrapping up April 27th (note: due to the long weekend at the Stevenson School, there is no class April 20th). 

Conducted by CROSSWALK founder and lead test prep instructor Brooke Higgins, this program is a highly efficient and effective way to get ready for test day. High school juniors and sophomores learn the ins and outs of both tests and how to achieve their goal score. Students walk away with an individualized game plan and a detailed study plan to maximize success. 

Each week of the program targets a different component of the tests. Students have the option to attend the class(es) they need or they can sign up for the whole program. 

Stevenson students get a special price and financial aid is available to all who qualify. For more information and to sign up for the Stevenson program, click right here. 

CROSSWALK Test Prep & Tutoring is the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for academic tutoring and test prep for the SAT®, ACT®, SSAT®, PSAT® and more. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

The Sunset of the ACT® and SAT®?

The writing may be on the wall for the ACT® and SAT®. It seems the University of California system is considering dropping ACT® and SAT® scores in its process of admission.

This is big news. 


Or is it just the same old story?

Forgive my cynicism but I’ve heard the talk now for some time. For years, The National Center for Fair and Open Testing has led the charge to remove standardized tests from the college admission process. It has cited various studies that show how the ACT® and SAT® are only marginally effective in predicting student performance in college. 

So why are these tests still a big part of college admission process for many universities? 

Because—arguably—large, competitive and selective universities need a standardized measurement to identify those students more qualified to succeed at large, competitive and selective universities.

Some universities are considering the Smarter Balanced test as an alternative. Perhaps this test will offer a better assessment or maybe it will just be more of the same: those with access to test resources will perform better than those without. 

The cynic in me says the sunset of the ACT® and SAT® is still far off in the distance. Too much is at stake for everyone involved, most notably the companies behind the tests. The College Board (SAT®) generates about $1B annually, about half of which comes from the SAT®. ACT, Inc. (ACT®) generates about $350M annually. With so much money at stake, odds are these two organizations will fight to hold onto their tests as they have for years. 

But if the UCs indeed drop ACT® and SAT® scores in the admission process, perhaps the National Center for Fair and Open Testing will have pushed the entire U.S. university system to a tipping point. Maybe the end is near for the ACT® and SAT® and the future is the Smarter Balanced test. 

In which case, CROSSWALK will start working on how to prepare students for the Smarter Balanced test in an effort to do our part to help students achieve their academic goals. 

In the mean time, feel free to contact CROSSWALK for your ACT® and SAT® preparation and other academic tutoring. CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for test prep and academic tutoring. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

SAT® & ACT® Test Day Horror Stories

With Halloween around the corner, I figured it was a good time to remind students of the horrors that can come with SAT® and ACT® test day.

The following stories are true. Only the names have been changed. 

They are not meant to scare students or create more test anxiety. On the contrary, these stories provide real life examples of what can happen on test day so students are prepared to face the tricks and treats that may come their way. 

Miniature Desks:

Grace is a dancer. Standing at 6’0″, Grace is long and elegant. When she arrived at the elementary school that served as the test site for the ACT®, she found herself in a 3rd Grade classroom with, you guessed it, desks designed for smaller people. Needless to say, she was pinched into a tiny desk, and after just two hours of the test, she started getting back cramps.

The Waiting Game:

Due to overbooking a site, students had to wait two or three hours to start their test. As some students started their tests, many students waited outside for hours just to start. The last group of students didn’t start their test until 10:30, nearly three hours after they originally arrived.

Power Washing:

Ivan settled into his SAT® ready to rock and roll. The proctor started the test and he got to work. Not fifteen minutes into the test, a loud whirring noise echoed throughout the room. As it would turn out, the school was power-washing the building next door. Every fifteen minutes, the machine whirred, sprayed and then stopped. Then it fired up again, whirred, sprayed and stopped. This went on for the entirety of the test.

Exchange Student Drama:

Danielle was hosting an exchange student from Germany who arrived the day before the test. When Danielle woke up, she told her exchange student that she had to take a test and she would be back in the afternoon. The exchange student was eager to explore her new home, so the exchange student asked if she could tag along. Danielle didn’t feel that it was safe for the exchange student to be all alone in a new place so Danielle asked the exchange student to stay behind. The exchange student pressed, “Can I come?” Danielle responded, “I don’t think it is a good idea.” The exchange student got aggressive, “You have to let me go.” Danielle dug in, “No, I will be back soon.” Needless to say, Danielle had to ditch the student in a mad huff and scramble out of the house. She arrived to the test center late, frazzled and stressed out.

All of these stories come from directly from the experiences of former CROSSWALK students. Even though they are real, don’t let these stories scare you. Just be sure you are ready and prepared for test day. Tricks and treats are part of test day so make sure your mindset is ready for everything.

And if things are totally wacky, don’t forget that there are ways to appeal a test score.

If you want to make sure that your test day is not scary, contact CROSSWALK today.

CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula’s local tutoring and test prep service with private tutoring, boot camps, small groups and school workshops for SAT®, ACT®, PSAT®, SSAT® and more. We also offer academic tutoring for all subjects. Contact us today.

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Summer Test Prep Options 2019

And just like that, it is summer. Good vibrations are here! 


And so is a summer full of test prep options at CROSSWALK. After all, summer is the best time to work on your testing game. With no academic commitments, summer is the time to commit to test prep. 

Here is a partial list of the summer test prep options at CROSSWALK:

  • SAT® & ACT® Summer Test Prep Series at the Stevenson School starts 6/25. Sign up and get more information right here. 
  • SAT® Workshop Series with Upward Bound at CSUMB. Contact Upward Bound for more information. 
  • Summer SSAT® Test Prep at the Stevenson Summer Camp. Contact Stevenson Summer Camp for more information. 
  • SAT® Boot Camp with CAL-SOAP at Gilroy High School. Contact CAL-SOAP for more information. 
CROSSWALK also offers face-to-face or Skype tutoring for those seeking a more personalized approach.

Summer is here and so are the test prep options. Contact CROSSWALK to learn what the best plan is for you! 

Since 2003, CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula’s local solution for standardized tests like the SAT®, ACT®, SSAT® or PSAT®. CROSSWALK also offers academic tutoring in a variety of subjects. Learn more here. 
Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

How Rare is a Perfect ACT® Score?

Perfection on the ACT® is rare. So rare that only 0.2% of all test takers achieve a perfect score. 

Over the past year, roughly 1,900,000 students took the ACT®. Of those students, only 3,741 students achieved a perfect score. 

And one of the students was a CROSSWALK student! 

We at CROSSWALK are humbled to be a part of a perfect score. And truth be told, the student did not set out to achieve a perfect score.


This student had already experienced success on the PSAT so a good score was the goal. After a handful of private sessions at CROSSWALK, the student then took one of our popular small group six-week classes. 

The student then followed a consistent study schedule. Note: the schedule was not rigorous or stressful, just a consistent routine. Then, the student took the test. 

When scores came out, the student was overjoyed to receive the letter shown here. 

Amazing! 

We at CROSSWALK can take little credit in this perfect score. It was truly the student who put in the work. 

Nevertheless, we are proud to play a small role in this amazing and rare accomplishment. 

If you wish to learn how to achieve your goal score, contact CROSSWALK today.