Free Online SAT Prep

Partnership between Baltimore City Public Schools and Yleana Leadership Foundation

About Yleana’s Free Online SAT Prep Program

The Yleana Online SAT Prep program provides free, high-quality SAT prep to all eligible Baltimore City Public School students in grades 9-12. This eight-week program is designed to prepare high school students to take the SAT. Students will learn content and strategies for each section of the exam in small group classes. Class takes place on Zoom, after school from 5-7pm. Students are able to choose to participate in the program 4 days a week (Monday to Thursday) or 2 days a week (Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday). The Spring 2023 program will take place from March 4 - May 4 (see dates below). We will be opening the application for Summer 2023 in early 2023. Check this page then for more information or email onlinesat@yleana.org with questions.

Online SAT Prep teachers are Baltimore City Public Schools teachers. Teachers are extensively trained in Yleana’s exclusive test-taking strategies, as well as our question-driven, student-centered approach.

For questions or more information about Yleana’s Online SAT Prep, email onlinesat@yleana.org.

Why SAT Prep?

Even if you only apply to test-optional colleges, the SAT may still impact your outcomes.

  • Students who submit SAT scores are up to 2.3 times more likely to be accepted to college than students who don’t submit scores.

  • Most HBCU’s and many other colleges still require SAT scores to award merit aid/scholarships.

  • Scoring a total SAT score of 1000 or more can help you place out of remedial college courses, saving you time and money.

Who Should Sign Up?

You should sign up if:

  • You are interested in taking the SAT

  • You want to apply to college and want to give yourself the most options

  • You want to learn test-taking strategies and better understand the SAT

  • You are able to commit to at least 2 days per week of SAT prep after school from 5-7pm for eight weeks

    • Note: All classes are synchronous. If you are interested in signing up for the program, make sure that you are free for the class times!

You should consider not doing this program if:

  • You already have a lot of other extracurricular activities or will start other activities during the program

  • You have a lot of work to make up, or you are afraid of falling behind in your regular classes

  • You are a freshman or sophomore and haven’t started thinking about college yet

    • Note: All grades 9-12 are eligible for the program, and we have had many freshmen and sophomores who have been successful in our programs. It’s also true that the transition to high school can be challenging. Since most students do not need to start thinking about the SAT until junior and senior year, we especially encourage 9th and 10th grade students and families to consider if they are able to commit to the program.

We strongly encourage all students and families to think carefully if they have time to do this program. Your schoolwork comes first. If you are concerned about having enough time to complete all your homework and do this SAT prep program, you can consider taking this program in the summer. Contact onlinesat@yleana.org for more details.

 
“I am less stressed since attending this program because I know my capabilities and how to put them to use. I really like the teachers and the tips that have helped me tremendously.”
— A.W., Student, Spring 2021

Spring 2023 Important Dates

  • February 22-23, 28-March 2: Material Pickup

  • February 27, 7-7:30: Acceptance session for all accepted students/families (optional, on Zoom. Email onlinesat@yleana.org for details)

  • February 28: Student Application Deadline -NEW!! DEADLINE EXTENDED

  • March 4: Diagnostic SAT Practice Test (Required, on Zoom)

  • March 6 - May 4: SAT Prep Class, 5-7pm

    • No class during Spring Break

    • Students will choose to take SAT Prep Class 4 days per week or 2 days per week.

      • 4 days per week: class Monday to Thursday

      • 2 days per week: choose Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday

  • March 25, April 15, April 29: Students will take 3 additional practice tests on these dates. All practice tests are required and take place on Zoom.

  • May 6: Official SAT Administration

How to Sign Up

High School Students and Caregivers

This is a completely free, fully online program that is open to Baltimore City Public Schools students in grades 9-12. Please read the following requirements carefully before applying.

In addition to completing the required forms, we require every student to agree to the SAT Prep Program Expectations (more on that below).

Eligibility Requirements

This program is open only to Baltimore City Public Schools students in grades 9-12. Priority is given to students in their junior year, who attend one of our target schools, and who have not taken one of Yleana’s Online SAT Prep programs in the past. We will consider all other applicants on a first come, first served basis up to program capacity. Students do not need to have taken an official SAT to apply, and there is no minimum GPA to enroll.

Target Schools: In an effort to expand the reach of the program, we will give priority to applicants from schools who attend a Baltimore City Public School that has had fewer than 10 students attend one of our SAT prep programs historically.

Chart of schools and the number of students who have attended SAT prep. Students at schools where fewer than 10 students have attended SAT prep will get priority in the application process.

Yleana Online SAT Prep Program Expectations

All students will be required to commit to the following expectations in the application.

As a participant, I acknowledge and agree to the following expectations.

  • I will email onlinesat@yleana.org if any of my contact information or my caregiver’s contact information changes.

  • I will attend all the scheduled practice tests and all scheduled classes unless I am sick or have a family emergency. Classes are synchronous and will not be regularly recorded. Students are expected to be both present in the Zoom meeting and participate when called on by their teacher. 

  • I will email onlinesat@yleana.org if I will be absent. Failure to do so may affect my ability to remain in the program.

  • I will arrive on time for each scheduled class, no more than ten minutes late. 

  • Continued lateness or unexcused absences without response to communication from Yleana staff may result in removal from the Online SAT Prep program. No student will be removed from the program without at least two emailed warnings.

I UNDERSTAND THAT FAILURE TO ABIDE BY THESE TERMS MAY RESULT IN MY REMOVAL FROM THE PROGRAM.

Application Timeline

Applications for the Spring 2023 program will be accepted until February 23, 2023 at 5pm or the program reaches capacity, whichever comes first, so please submit your application as early as possible. We will monitor all applications as they come in and follow up with students/caregivers who are missing either of the required forms (see below). Students who have successfully completed both required forms will receive an email notification on February 24, 2023 (or earlier, if the program reaches capacity) confirming their spot.

NOTE: Please make sure that both the student and caregiver’s contact information is correct and all emails are allowed to receive outside email. Add onlinesat@yleana.org to your email contacts to ensure that you will receive our emails. If you do not respond to our emails, you may lose your spot in the program. While Yleana Leadership Foundation makes every effort to reach students and caregivers, we are not responsible if you do not receive or respond to our emails.

Required Forms

The Application Form and Caregiver Registration Agreement must both be completed in order for a student to participate in the program. Failure to complete both forms will result in the student not being able to participate in the program. Your application will not be considered complete until both forms are completed. Students will be accepted depending on the date and time their application is complete.

NOTE: completing the required forms does not guarantee a spot in the program. We will follow up via email with participants who are accepted to the program.

  1. Complete and submit the Online SAT Prep Application Form

  2. Primary caregiver (parent/guardian) complete and submit the Registration Agreement

  • No. You can choose to take the program as practice. However, the program is designed for you to take the official SAT on May 6. We recommend that you take it on that day to maximize your chances of getting your goal score. If you wait, you may forget what you learned in the program.

    All students are responsible for registering for an official College Board SAT on their own. Yleana cannot register students.

  • Register online through the College Board website. You will need a free College Board account. Students are responsible for registering for an official College Board SAT on their own. Yleana cannot register students.

    If you need a fee waiver, your school counselor will be able to help you get it.

    Yleana has a limited number of scholarships available for SAT registration costs. If you have used up your fee waiver or checked with your counselor and are not eligible for a waiver, but still need help registering, contact onlinesat@yleana.org.

  • No. You will be responsible for registering for an official SAT on your own.

    If you need help registering, including financial help, contact us at onlinesat@yleana.org.

  • We have 3 different program options:

    • 4 days a week (Monday to Thursday)

    • 2 days a week (Monday and Wednesday only)

    • 2 days a week (Tuesday and Thursday only)

    When considering which program to sign up for, consider:

    • Do I have time for the program?

      • If you have other commitments throughout the week, you should sign up for the 2 day program that doesn’t conflict with your other commitments. If you have a conflict with a specific class period (for example, you have a commitment until 6pm), contact onlinesat@yleana.org and we’ll do our best to work out a schedule that works for you.

      • Your schoolwork comes first. If you are concerned about having enough time to complete all your homework and do this SAT prep program, you can consider taking this program in the summer. Contact onlinesat@yleana.org for more details.

    • How much SAT prep do I want?

      • While we saw similar score improvements across all programs in the fall, the 4 days per week program will give you more time to practice and develop your skills with the strategies and concepts. If you’re a junior looking to take the SAT only once, the 4 day program might be the best fit for you.

  • You are welcome to. We have had students from grades 9-12 participate and succeed in the program.

    If you want to get a head start on prepping for the SAT, we would love to have you. You might consider registering for one of the 2 days per week programs which is less of a commitment and will go less in depth than the 4 days per week program.

    We recommend that all students have taken Algebra I at minimum. If you haven’t yet taken Algebra I, we recommend you apply for a future program.

  • All classes and practice tests will take place on Zoom. Students should have access to a computer, ideally with a webcam, that can access Zoom. Students should also have access to high speed internet that can sustain Zoom meetings for 2 hours at a time. We recommend that students use a computer to access Zoom rather than a phone.

    If you do not have access to both a computer and high speed internet, you can check out Chromebooks and mobile hotspots for free from the Enoch Pratt Library. We don’t want any student to miss out on the program due to tech concerns. Please reach out to us at onlinesat@yleana.org if you need help getting a computer and/or high speed internet.

  • Before classes start, you will receive an email with a personalized class schedule. This schedule will include your teachers’ names and Zoom links. You will be able to click the Zoom link directly from the schedule to go to your class. Your schedule will update if you have a sub or if you switch classes. You should bookmark the schedule once we send it so you can refer back to it.

    We recommend that you have the Zoom app downloaded if possible rather than accessing your classes in a browser.

  • No. The practice tests you take in the Yleana Online SAT Prep program are not official scores and cannot be sent to colleges. However, the practice tests are representative of what you will see on the actual test. You can also add this program to your resume or extracurriculars on your college applications.

Teachers

We are recruiting teachers for future SAT prep programs. All applicants must be current Baltimore City Public Schools staff. However, you do not need to work at a high school in order to apply.

Reach out to onlinesat@yleana.org with any questions.