How Mathchops and Grammarchops are designed to raise your SAT and ACT scores

[Today we’re delighted to repost a blog from Mathchop’s Substack written by Mike McGibbon that explains WHY Mathchops and Grammarchops are so good at raising Woodlands Test Prep students’ scores. Every student with Woodlands Test Prep gets access to Mathchops and Grammarchops because we know that, in conjunction with excellent tutoring, excellent practice resources are crucial. Take it away Mike!]

Here are 10 theories that have been really helpful in building Mathchops and working with students.

I will start with the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), which I think of as “finding tasks that are at the level of the student.” Students learn faster when things are at the right level, and they enjoy it more, which helps them practice more, which helps them learn more. Think of a 6-year-old trying to learn how to shoot a basketball. A pro-sized basketball and 10-foot hoop won’t be productive – it will be too hard for the kid to make a shot. But with a smaller ball and shorter hoop, you can introduce basic shot mechanics, then work towards NBA conditions over time. The same is true of math – questions are king. But finding the right questions is not easy. And that’s where Item Response Theory has been particularly helpful. I wrote a lot more about it here, but the idea is that you can design systems that rate both the questions and the students. If a question has been answered thousands of times by students with known ability rankings, you can get a very good idea of how difficult that question is. And if you have a pool of questions that are rated very precisely, you can use those ratings to estimate the abilities of students very precisely as well. Precise question rankings have allowed us to make accurate score predictions in Mathchops, which make the games much better for students.

Unfortunately, finding the right questions doesn’t matter if the students don’t learn how to answer them correctly. And that’s where learning a little cognitive science has been helpful. All of the terms I’m about to mention fit nicely into one model of how people learn, although I’m not aware of one universally-accepted name for the model.

At its center is the concept of working memory. It’s a sort of mental scratch pad with very limited capacity – there’s not much space on the pad, and anything you ‘write’ (think of, focus on) disappears after several seconds. If I ask you to remember the digits 2, 7, and 4, you probably won’t have any difficulty. But if I start to rattle off 50 digits, you probably won’t remember them all.

It is thought that we can only process a very limited number (maybe 4 or so) chunks of information at a time. But these chunks can take many, many different forms. They can be dance steps, melodies, speeches, parallel parking skills, smells…really anything at all that you can think of. And if you make sophisticated chunks, then you can do a lot more with your working memory. For example, if you’re just learning to sing Happy Birthday, you may have trouble focusing on anything else. But if you’ve sung it for 40+ years and are attending a 5 year-old’s birthday party, you can quite easily sing it and simultaneously think about whether it would be rude to check your fantasy football stats (this is completely hypothetical). That’s because the whole song is now one extremely efficient chunk – it can exist on the scratch pad while leaving lots of room for other chunks. Developing automaticity in this way allows you to work on more complex tasks. For example, a well-prepared SAT student can see the following question and draw upon chunks like completing the square, the Pythagorean Theorem, and graph translations.

But how do you create sophisticated, flexible chunks? How do you develop automaticity? Many of the best techniques are related to the concept of desirable difficulty, which refers to tasks that are irritating to the student in the moment but very helpful in the long term (and not so difficult that they are impossible to complete). You want something highly relevant and very difficult…but still doable.

One of my favorites is retrieval. The very act of attempting to recall something will help you remember it better, and the more difficult it is to recall it, the better you will remember it. For example, if I tell a student the definition of ambivalent and then ask her what the definition is two seconds later, she’ll probably remember (if she was listening!). If I ask again and again – five times in the span of one minute – I’ll probably get fired, but she will easily recall the definition.

But that’s not particularly useful. It would be much better to ask her a minute later, then ten minutes later, then later in the day, then the following day, then a few days later, etc. This spaced repetition will force the student to work a little harder to remember the definition, but she’ll ultimately remember the definition for much longer. If she also interleaves this practice with other work, working on tasks ABCDABCDABCD instead of AAABBBCCCDDD, she’ll learn all of these tasks much more quickly and durably.

Another term, borrowed from Ericsson’s studies of highly skilled performers, is deliberate practice. It’s the idea that you should actively seek out your weaknesses, analyze them, then practice repeatedly. This is probably the term that best captures what Mathchops is trying to do (it’s essentially a ‘deliberate practice’ app).

All of these concepts have deeply affected the design of Mathchops. For example, we don’t offer multiple choice math answers – you have to work hard to retrieve the answer (or the skills you need to solve the answer). Every score-related game is timed to encourage automaticity. Students never practice the same question multiple times in a row – spaced repetition and interleaving are baked into every game students play. And when a question does repeat, the numbers are different. Mathchops also provides immediate feedback after every retrieval attempt in the form of brief explanations, so that students understand (and don’t repeat) errors.

Great News for Families: 529 Plans Now Cover Tutoring and Test Prep!

by Susan Powers From the Author News

We’re excited to share an important update that can make a real difference for families planning their educational journeys. With the newly signed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” 529 college savings plans now offer expanded benefits—including coverage for tutoring and test preparation services!

What’s Changed?

As of July 4, 2025, families can use their 529 plan funds tax-free for a wider range of K-12 educational expenses, such as:

Tutoring services (not just tuition)
Standardized test fees (SAT, ACT, AP exams)
Test prep classes and materials
Curriculum materials, books, and online educational resources
Educational therapies for students with disabilities

And there’s more good news: you can withdraw up to $20,000 per year for these expanded K-12 expenses!

When Can You Start?

These new benefits are available for distributions made after July 4, 2025, so you can use your 529 funds for tutoring and test prep starting with the 2025–2026 school year.

Expense Type	Covered Under New Law?	Effective Date
K-12 Tuition	Yes	Already allowed
Tutoring (K-12)	Yes	July 4, 2025 onward
Test Prep (SAT, ACT)	Yes	July 4, 2025 onward
Homeschool Materials	Yes	July 4, 2025 onward
Educational Therapies	Yes	July 4, 2025 onward

Please check with your accountant for advice on how these changes affect you personally. Also, check your state’s 529 plan administrator, as some states may need to update their rules to match the new federal law.

Helpful Tips

Check State Rules: While the federal law is now in effect, some states may take a little time to update their own regulations.
Save Your Receipts: Keep documentation for all tutoring and test prep expenses paid with 529 funds in case you need them for tax or state purposes.

We’re Here to Help!

If you have questions about how these changes can benefit your family, or if you’re ready to use your 529 funds for test prep, reach out to Woodlands Test Prep. We’re committed to helping students achieve their educational goals—and now, your 529 plan can help too!

Let’s make the most of these new opportunities together!

Can We Fix It? Yes We Can!

by Susan Powers Daily Notes From the Author Inspiration Tests Uncategorized

Remember Bob the Builder saying “Yes we can?” Well it’s true! By changing the way we think about challenges, we can change the outcomes we create! This way of thinking is called a “growth mindset.” Adopting a growth mindset can be a game-changer for test prep … and for life. Instead of seeing abilities as fixed, a growth mindset encourages you to believe that intelligence and skills are developed with effort, practice, and perseverance. This simple shift in thinking transforms challenges from intimidating obstacles into exciting opportunities to learn and improve.

When preparing for the SAT or ACT, it’s easy to fall into the trap of negative self-talk: “I can’t do this,” or “This is too hard.” But changing your words can change your outcome. Replace “I can’t do this” with “I am still learning. I will keep trying.” Instead of fearing mistakes, remind yourself: “Mistakes are how I learn and grow.” This approach not only boosts your confidence but also helps you bounce back from setbacks, making studying less stressful and more effective.

As Graham Weaver explains, when we’re ready to learn something new or make a positive change in our life (or improve our SAT or ACT score), we’re almost always going to be worse first. We’re changing and we still need to practice! Continuing on through that dip into the giant gains that follow is the key to improving!

A growth mindset doesn’t just help you academically –it builds resilience, grit, and a lifelong love of learning. Students who embrace this mindset are better equipped to handle transitions, develop new skills, and even experience greater happiness and self-esteem. They see others’ success as inspiration, not competition, and are more likely to seek feedback and use it to improve.

Ultimately, test prep is about more than learning “tips and tricks.” It’s about believing in your ability to grow. With a growth mindset, every challenge is a stepping stone toward success-not just on test day, but in every aspect of your life.

Empowering Educators: Insights and Innovations from the NTPA Winter Workshop

by Susan Powers From the Author News SAT vs. ACT Tests

Susan Powers, founder and CEO of Woodlands Test Prep, recently participated in the National Test Prep Association (NTPA) Winter Workshop held in Nashville, Tennessee, on December 16 and 17, 2024. As a member of NTPA’s Board of Directors, Susan plays a pivotal role in the organization by leading and contributing to the test prep community.

Attendees at the 2024 NTPA Winter Workshop in Nashville, Tennessee

The NTPA is a professional association dedicated to supporting test prep professionals, upholding the highest ethical standards, and promoting best practices in the test prep industry. Its mission focuses on fostering collaboration among test prep providers and sharing best practices to enhance the quality and effectiveness of test preparation services.

At the Winter Workshop, Susan led a panel titled “Goal 1600: Strategies for High-Scoring SAT Students,” where she shared her extensive experience in guiding students to achieve top SAT scores. Other panel members were Brooke Hanson of Supertutor TV, Kate Fisher of Kate Fisher Tutoring, and Leia LeMaster Horton of Horton Test Prep. The panel delved into advanced techniques and personalized approaches tailored for students aiming for a perfect score, providing valuable insights and resources for educators.

In addition to leading the “Goal 1600” panel, Susan served as a panelist in the “Efficiency Hacks” session. This discussion focused on optimizing study methods, time management, and resource utilization to enhance both teaching efficacy and business performance. Susan’s contributions highlighted practical strategies to streamline back office processes, benefiting educators seeking to have more time to hone their instructional methods.

Susan’s involvement in these panels underscores her commitment to advancing the field of test preparation and her dedication to supporting students in achieving their academic goals. Her leadership within the NTPA and her active participation in events like the Winter Workshop reflect her passion for education and her drive to promote excellence in standardized test preparation.

For more information about Susan Powers and Woodlands Test Prep, visit woodlandstestprep.com. To learn more about the National Test Prep Association and its mission, visit nationaltestprep.org.

Preview where you’ll be accepted in Texas!

by Susan Powers From the Author News

Simplify College Applications with My Texas Future’s Direct Admissions

Texas students can now see which of the state’s public universities would accept them before submitting college applications. Wow!

My Texas Future’s Direct Admissions program is opening doors to higher education for Texas students. This innovative program offers eligible middle and high school students direct college admission based on their academic performance, and, while no test scores are required to participate, students with solid SAT or ACT scores can enhance their applications and expand their options at participating colleges.

This program is ideal for students seeking a stress-free, straightforward pathway to college. First-generation college students and those from underserved communities especially benefit, as it removes traditional barriers like application complexity.

Whether you’re a high-achieving student or simply exploring your options, this streamlined process helps you get a step closer to your college goals.

Visit the My Texas Future website to learn how to leverage this program for your college journey!

When Should I Start Test Prep?

by Susan Powers Uncategorized

The return of PSAT scores in November gets lots of families thinking about college admissions testing. Deciding on when to start taking the SAT or ACT is an individualized decision. Many factors can influence when to start.

If your student is a sophomore or younger, you have time. The earliest that students should start testing is early in their junior year, making summer between sophomore and junior year the perfect time to prep for those students.

If your student is a junior and hasn’t yet set up a testing plan, now is the time.

Let’s start with what you should consider.

Math level: What math class you take as a sophomore is the most important factor in deciding when to start testing. Both the SAT and ACT cover math up through Algebra II. Students who take Algebra II as sophomores can start testing in the fall of their junior year. Students who take Algebra II as juniors will benefit from waiting to start testing in the spring so they have a more solid foundation in Algebra II.
Schedule: Essentially all students will take the SAT or ACT multiple times. Test prep takes time; students are learning mostly learning new skills, rather than new content. Students should prep for every “on the record” administration, so they should plan to do the most prep before their first test date. We suggest allowing at least 8 weeks prior to your first test date to get ready. Therefore, aim for your first test date when you’ll have a less busy time for the couple of months prior to your first test date, balancing with keeping plenty of room for re-testing dates.

Typical testing schedules include:

Summer prep/fall test dates:
- Students who have completed Algebra II as sophomores and who have (relatively) lighter schedules in the fall can start prepping in the summer and take either the August SAT or September ACT dates, leaving room for subsequent re-testing dates in the fall.
- If you or your student plays football, is a cheerleader, or marches in marching band, this schedule might not work for you because fall is exceptionally busy.
- If you or your student is aiming for National Merit recognition, you MUST plan to prep for the SAT over the summer. The PSAT and SAT are essentially the same thing. You’ll prep over the summer, take the August and October SAT dates and take the October PSAT which serves as the criteria to advance in the scholarship competition. We focus on National Merit preparation in the summer; check out our Goal 1600 class if you are interested.
Winter prep/spring test dates:
- Students who are taking Algebra II as juniors can start prep right after the holidays, aiming for either the March SAT or April ACT date.
- Students who took Algebra II as sophomores but were too busy at the beginning of the fall semester can start prepping a bit earlier, say November, for the February ACT if the ACT is a better fit for them. (Want more advice on how to choose? See our blog post here.)
- If your starting prep in the winter, be sure to leave enough time for re-testing. Early Decision and Early Admission deadlines are typically November 1st of a student’s senior year, so test dates up through August and October for the SAT and September and (sometimes) October for the ACT are also opportunities to re-test.

What if I’m a freshman/sophomore (or my student is a freshman/sophomore), and I really really want to do something this year? Here are some great ideas!

Focus on grades. It will be much easier to raise your SAT or ACT score in a (relatively) short period of time versus changing your GPA or class rank by the time you get to the end of junior year. You will apply to college on a 6-semester transcript, so freshman and sophomore year grades matter.
Focus on getting super solid on grammar rules (comma rules are surprisingly strict and few in number), math content, and reading comprehension skills. The SAT and ACT test things that everyone has learned; there’s really nothing new content-wise. Take the opportunity to get confident with the material while you’re learning it.
Focus on non-fiction, higher-level reading. Many Language Arts classes emphasize fiction rather than non-fiction; whereas the SAT and ACT test almost exclusively non-fiction writing. Use freshman and sophomore years to develop a regular non-fiction reading practice. We’ve even created a great list of online periodicals to choose from! Your phone is already in your hand so let’s read something good!

We’re always happy to set up a free consultation to help you think through your testing plan. Let us know how we can help!

Congratulations Class of 2025 National Merit Semifinalists!

by Susan Powers Digital SAT From the Author Inspiration Uncategorized

Woodlands Test Prep congratulates all students who have achieved Semifinalist status in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. All of these students have worked hard to reach the top levels of the scholarship program. The Company especially congratulates the EIGHT students with whom it has worked with as they prepared for this scholarship competition including Charles Hadzic, Egan Hansen, Sarah Kath, Nicholas Langkamp, Jaxon Luddeke, Nawaporn Phasuk, Allison Wang, and Lily Woolf. Semifinalists will go on to compete for Finalist standing, and from there, become National Merit Scholars. Woodlands Test Prep wishes these students all the best as they continue on in the competition.

The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

Woodlands Test Prep hosts a “Goal 1600” class each summer to help National Merit hopeful students to prepare for their junior year PSAT.

Woodlands Test Prep, a Texas-based company, was founded in 2011 to help students and their families reach their full potential on college admissions tests. The Company has helped over 43 students over the last eight years achieve Semifinalist status. The Company believes that taking these tests is a skill that can be learned and honed. Woodlands Test Prep provides tutoring for academic subjects (all levels of math, science, history, and language arts) as well as the PSAT, SAT, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE in both a one-on-one setting and in a small class setting. The Company’s philosophy can be summed up as “We teach. You Relax.”

You want details about the ACT changes? We got you!

by Susan Powers From the Author News SAT vs. ACT Tests

We’ve been busy making sure we have all the up-to-date information about the big changes coming to the ACT. We have another blog post if you want the highlights or recommendations for each grade of high schoolers. If you, however – intrepid soul – want all the nitty gritty, we can hook you up! Read on about the “Enhanced ACT.”

Format

Fewer questions, shorter passages, more time per question, less time per section will characterize the new English/Math/Reading (Core EMR) sections.

	Current Section Time	Enhanced ACT Section Time	Current Section Questions	Enhanced ACT Questions	Current Time per Question	Enhanced ACT Time per Question	Increase in Time per Question
English	45 min	35 min	75 Q	50 Q (10 Exp.)	36 sec	42 sec	+ 17%
Math	60 min	50 min	60 Q	45 Q (4 Exp.)	60 sec	67 sec	+ 11%
Reading	35 min	40 min	40 Q	36 Q (9 Exp.)	53 sec	67 sec	+ 27%
Science	35 min	40 min	40 Q	40 Q (6 Exp.)	53 sec	60 sec	+ 15%
5th Section (Experi-mental Ques-tions)	20 min	NA	12 – 28 Q	NA	NA	NA
Writing	40 min	40 min	1 Q	1 Q
Totals	195 min 235 min w/ Writing	125 min 165 min w/ Science 205 min w/ Science & Writing	227 Q – 243 Q (excluding Writing)	131 Q 171 Q w/ Science (all excluding Writing)

Science will be optional and will NOT be included in the composite calculation beginning as soon as a student takes a test in the “Core EMR/Enhanced ACT” format (see timing below).
- PREVIOUS composites WILL NOT be recalculated.
- Superscores AFTER an Enhanced ACT/Core EMR test attempted only include EMR data.
One passage in English (10 questions), one passage in Reading (9 questions), one passage in Science (6 questions), and 4 questions in Math will be experimental. The former 5th section will no longer exist. (And the crowd goes wild!)
Paper will continue to be offered for the foreseeable future. No guarantees forever though.
The Enhanced ACT will continue to be linear; it will NOT be adaptive in any way. Both digital and paper will be the same test, just different formats.
English will have question stems for ALL questions, leveling the playing field for many accommodation types.
English will now have an argumentative essay rather than the current all non-fiction feast.
Math will only have 4 answers choices instead of the current 5 answer choices.
Math will have proportionally fewer lower level questions and lower the overall word count in questions.
Reading will have a more diverse set of passages.
Science will now always include one passage addressing engineering and design topics.

Timing and Cost

April 2025 – First offering of the Enhanced ACT for national test dates DIGITAL format only.
September 2025 – All national test dates, PAPER & DIGITAL, will be in the Enhanced ACT format.
Spring 2026 – State, District, and School Day testing will finally be in the Enhanced ACT format. If schools require both Science and Writing, they will be able to opt for 2-day testing for everyone. NOTE: Composites for all testing will start to be calculated based only on EMR starting in September 2025 even though the test’s format won’t change until Spring 2026.
Expected pricing for Enhanced ACT will be less than current four section ACT.

What do colleges think?

ACT has been working with colleges (including test blind colleges) to understand how they use composites in their processes.
ACT’s research shows that the EMR-only composites closely track overall composites, supporting their move to make Science optional.

Practice material updates?

ACT has issued the new “Preparing for the ACT Guide” so you can check out the new format. (The content here is old though – just recycled questions from previous tests.)
ACT has also issued the new “red book” The Official ACT Prep Guide with four tests which are also chopped up old tests shoehorned into the new format.
We are eagerly awaiting new material directly from ACT. Check back for updates!

If you’d like to see how these changes might or might not mean anything for you, please let us know. We love helping families develop a testing plan. Always at no charge.

Changes are coming to ACT!

by Susan Powers From the Author SAT vs. ACT Tests

Updated July 8, 2025

Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water, now that the Digital PSAT and SAT are old news, here comes ACT with changes of its own!

Our hot take:

Students will appreciate – strike that – love that the ACT is shorter and has more time per question.
In the near term, selective colleges will likely require Science. Plan to still take Science.
So much uncertainty! We’re buckling up for a bumpy ride with ACT until at least January 2026.

Here’s the short summary on what’s changing and when. (Click here for WAY more details!)

What’s Changing?

Significantly more time per question.
- English and Math questions get 12% and 17% more time, respectively.
- Reading and Science questions get 28% and 27% more time, respectively.
- Shorter passages —> less text to process.
Science is OPTIONAL.
Shorter overall timing for the test, especially if the student opts out of the Science section —> now shorter than the Digital SAT timing!
Experimental questions (formerly Section 5) will now be part of the regular sections: reduces overall testing time AND improves data.
Composite scores will now be calculated ONLY on the English, Math, and Reading scores.

What’s NOT Changing?

Scoring will remain the same: each section ranges from 1 – 36 and the composite is an average of the English, Math, and Reading sections.
Students can choose between paper and digital formats. ONLY take paper. Click here for why!
Writing is still optional.
Students will still NOT be able to use their own device for digital testing (BUT that is coming soon).

When is this happening?

The changes above were introduced first in April 2025 in the digital format ONLY.
The changes above will be incorporated into PAPER beginning in September 2025.
The changes will be incorporated into School Day testing in “Spring 2026.”

Our current recommendations by class year:

Seniors (Class of 2026)
- If you took the old format of the ACT, the new one will have different pacing, and math will feel much different. Be SURE to only take the ACT on paper. Note that once you take the “enhanced” format, your composite and superscore will ONLY be calculated based on your English, Math, and Reading scores.
Juniors (Class of 2027)
- Still consider the ACT by taking a practice test of both SAT and ACT. Evaluate the impact of the availability of practice materials (essentially no new materials in new format). Students for whom the ACT may still be the better choice for Fall 2025 testing are:
  - Students whose practice tests scores for the ACT are significantly better than their SAT practice scores.
  - Below-average scoring students whose ACT and SAT practice scores are equal.
  - Below-average scoring students who have extra time accommodations for the ACT.
- Plan to take Science.
- Do NOT take the digital version of the ACT.
Sophomores (Class of 2028)
- Wait and see. We will learn a lot between now and when you need to start making choices on which test to take.

Want to see how the new “enhanced” format ACT or the SAT works for you? Try taking one at home! If you’d like to see how these changes might or might not mean anything for you, please let us know. We love helping families develop a testing plan. Always at no charge.

Perspectives on the Digital SAT

by Susan Powers Digital SAT Tests

Susan Powers, our Founder, recently served on an industry expert panel about the Digital SAT at the National Test Prep Association’s Winter Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 13th. The panel included Mike Bergin – Chair of the Board of the National Test Prep Association, co-host of the popular college admissions podcast Test and the Rest, and President and Owner of Chariot Learning based in Rochester, New York; Lori Tofexis – SAT curriculum expert and Owner of Circle Test Prep based in Hollywood, Florida; and Brenna O’Neill (moderator) – President of Test Innovators, a leader in digital test preparation curriculum.

Below are a few of the important takeaways from the industry panel.

Desmos is changing the way students will approach the math modules. It is the biggest change in decades.

2. But the biggest changes on the Digital SAT lie in the verbal modules. Check out how the verbal modules are structured and what that means for how you need to allocate your time!

Here at Woodlands Test Prep, we’ve been preparing for the Digital SAT for the last year: analyzing every aspect, building a world-class curriculum, and finding the best ways for students to approach it. We’re here to share what we’ve learned with you!

Test Prep and Academic Tutoring

Author: Susan Powers