ACT Prep Class – Learn about the Curriculum and Instructors

Being accepted at leading undergraduate programs has become about so much more than high grades and extensive involvement in athletics and other extracurricular activities. In order to make your college application receive the attention your hard work deserves, you need to stand out from other eager applicants with an impressive standardized test score.

Standardized test scores continue to be a critically important part of the college application process. This means that taking the ACT is not just about completing a test—it's about reaching a pivotal point on your path to collegiate success. In order to be accepted at the most prestigious colleges and universities, you will need to demonstrate a very high ACT score. For those students seeking to obtain such a potentially life-changing ACT score, Manhattan Review offers meticulously crafted prep classes designed to not only meet but exceed your academic ambitions. 

Expertly-Designed ACT Curriculum

Our curriculum is one of the most important parts of our ACT prep classes, built upon a rigorous academic foundation. With carefully selected materials that reflect the most current ACT trends and questions, our teaching approach ensures that you're receiving the most up-to-date and cutting-edge preparation available.

Experienced Instructors

An instructor can turn a good preparation course into an extraordinary one. That's why at Manhattan Review, we pride ourselves on only hiring instructors who are not just gifted teachers but who have also achieved their own extraordinary ACT scores. These experienced mentors bring with them a wealth of practical insights certain to motivate your study and improve your learning process. They also know the most effective teaching strategies that can be used with real-life testing scenarios, and they each have a genuine commitment to helping their students succeed.

Flexible Learning Options

We understand that our students come from varied and diverse backgrounds, and every learner has unique responsibilities and commitments to juggle. Your current schedule does not make it impossible for you to prepare for the ACT. To accommodate your schedule, as well as your specific learning preferences, we offer a variety of class formats, including in-person sessions, live online courses, and private tutoring options, providing the perfect fit for everyone's needs.

Why Choose Manhattan Review for Your ACT Prep?

Here are some of the reasons why Manhattan Review is the first choice for many students' ACT prep needs:

• Personalized Learning Approach:
  We recognize the uniqueness of each aspiring college student. Our courses offer customized study plans tailored to your individual strengths and weaknesses. This personalized approach ensures that no time is wasted by focusing your efforts where they are needed most, making your ACT prep both efficient and effective.
• Comprehensive Support Materials:
  From comprehensive question banks that mimic the actual ACT to carefully crafted study guides and real-time practice tests, our materials are designed to give you a complete prep experience. These resources perfectly complement our teaching, allowing you to deepen your understanding of test concepts and refine your test-taking techniques at your own pace.
• Beyond the ACT:
  At Manhattan Review, we believe in seeing the bigger picture. Our courses are designed not only with the goal of helping you score high on the ACT but also to prepare you for the challenges of college and beyond. We instill critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills that will be incredibly beneficial to your future career endeavors.

Our Success Stories

Our confidence is born out of the numerous success stories that began just like yours. From high school graduates just entering college to seasoned professionals seeking new challenges through changing their careers, our alumni network is a testament to the efficacy of our approach. Our graduates not only conquered the ACT but have since gone on to lead successful careers, regularly making impactful decisions on global stages and living a life they once only dreamed of. You, too, can create the life of your dreams, and the first step starts by contacting Manhattan Review to learn how we can support you throughout your ACT prep process.

For Parents/Caregivers:

We understand that you want to give your child the best chance of achieving their highest score on the ACT. Here are two of the most important reasons why Manhattan Review stands out from other test prep companies:

• Expertly Crafted Curriculum:
  Our ACT Prep courses are intentionally constructed by a team of experts who have thoroughly mastered the ACT. This means students aren't just preparing for an exam when they work with our instructors …they're being guided by the best minds in the industry. Our curriculum is constantly updated to reflect the latest ACT trends and changes, ensuring students are equipped with cutting-edge test-taking strategies certain to lead to high score success.
• Unmatched Instructor Excellence:
  It's true our instructors obtained their own impressive ACT scores, but more than just being skilled test-takers, our instructors are mentors who have walked the very path your child is currently on now. They bring real-world expertise from a variety of industries and offer insights that go far beyond textbooks. Their knowledge, empathy, and dedication are the cornerstones of our instructional approach, providing an academic and emotional support system unmatched in the test prep industry.

We are proud of the reputation we have developed for our very selective hiring process of instructors and tutors. Since Manhattan Review is a boutique test prep company offering customized ACT preparation, we have the ability to dedicate more resources than most firms to our hiring process. We expect two things from our instructors: a great ACT score and a passion for helping students obtain their own high ACT score through consistent progress and ongoing, personalized feedback. Ultimately, we only hire those instructors with both superb test-taking and teaching skills, ensuring our students receive the highest quality instruction, setting them up for their own ACT success. 

We have learned a great deal from our extensive experience in the test prep industry. Specifically, we understand that taking an exam and teaching others how to take it are two separate skills. Our instructors are skilled at tailoring the information they teach to each student's learning style, and the quality of our instructors is simply another reason Manhattan Review stands out from other test prep companies. 

To truly understand what makes Manhattan Review so unique, it helps to consider the origins of the firm. Manhattan Review was conceived and started at an Ivy League business school, specifically, Columbia University Business School in New York City. Manhattan Review's Founder was not only pedagogically trained but went on to become a leading academic, eventually accepting a position as a professor at a prestigious business school in Europe. The experience the founder gained by being an active member of collegiate hiring committees, as well as evaluating the teaching potential of countless applicants, cannot be overstated or acquired through other contexts. That is why Manhattan Review's preparation options are widely considered the best choice for serious ACT students.

Given the highly selective hiring process conducted by Manhattan Review, our instructors are more than capable of teaching all aspects of effective test preparation. This includes administering diagnostic tests, planning the most useful lessons, and guiding students through applicable test content. We strive to make sure each student receives the attention and expertise they deserve when preparing for such an important exam as the ACT.

What About Test-Optional Colleges?

As academic institutions attempt to move beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, many colleges are once again requiring students to submit standardized test scores—from the ACT or SAT—as part of their application. Some colleges, however, have chosen to remain test optional for another year or two. What does that mean for students preparing their college applications?

Simply because a college does not require a student to submit standardized test scores as part of their application does not mean test scores shouldn't be submitted. Test scores can make a big difference when it comes to scholarships. At many colleges, even those where admission is test optional, test scores may be required for certain scholarships or for admission to specific majors or honors programs. Private institutions or organizations that award scholarships may require test scores as part of their scholarship application. It is critically important to verify scholarship and financial aid requirements when applying to colleges, because even though the college itself might be test optional, applying for specific financial awards may require the submission of test scores. 

Test optional colleges do not require the submission of ACT or SAT scores, but should a student submit a score, it can and most likely will be considered. And this is a good thing! Consider the college applications of two high school students. The applications demonstrate nearly identical data as far as classes taken, grades received, volunteer hours completed, and the number and quality of extracurricular activities. Even though this particular college is test optional, one student chooses to submit her ACT score while the other student does not. 

Which student do you think has a better chance of being accepted? 

The one who provided more information to the admissions committee. Research from the College Board consistently demonstrates a correlation between standardized test scores and college success: students with higher test scores achieve higher college grades and they are more likely to return for their second year of college. College admissions officials know this, and when considering who to offer acceptance to, they will always prefer having as much information about a student as possible in order to guide their decision-making.

The bottom line is that as long as standardized tests exist, there are benefits to taking them. And given that standardized tests can be mastered with the guidance of skilled professional educators, there is no reason not to take this potentially life-changing exam and ultimately gain acceptance (and perhaps financial support) at leading undergraduate programs.