The Keystone School · grades 6–12
Exam Prep & College Readiness
The practical scaffolding around the tests that gatekeep the next step — strategy, timing, and steady nerves.
The math those tests actually ask, and the shortcuts that save you the minutes you need.
Syllabus · 3 units · ~24 hours
Unit I — Heart of Algebra
Linear equations and inequalities · Systems and word problems · Graph interpretation · Common algebra traps
Unit II — Problem Solving & Data
Ratios, rates, and percent · Statistics and data displays · Probability · Units and conversion
Unit III — Advanced Math & Geometry
Quadratics and functions · Right triangles and trigonometry · Circles and coordinate geometry · Pacing and calculator strategy
How to read a passage under a clock, and how the grammar questions repeat themselves once you see the pattern.
Syllabus · 3 units · ~22 hours
Unit I — Reading
Reading actively under time pressure · Main idea and author's purpose · Evidence and inference questions · Vocabulary in context
Unit II — Writing & Language
Grammar and usage rules tested · Punctuation questions · Concision and style · Organization and transitions
Unit III — The Essay & Strategy
Analyzing an argument · Structuring a timed essay · Question order and skipping · Managing test-day nerves
The habits that make studying stick — spacing, retrieval, and note-taking that earns its keep.
Syllabus · 3 units · ~14 hours
Unit I — How Memory Works
Spaced practice · Retrieval and self-testing · Interleaving subjects · Why rereading fails
Unit II — Taking Notes
Note-taking methods that work · Summarizing and paraphrasing · Organizing materials · Reviewing effectively
Unit III — Managing Yourself
Planning and time-blocking · Beating procrastination · Focus and the study environment · Sleep and performance
How the pieces of an application fit together, and how to write an essay that sounds like a person.
Syllabus · 3 units · ~16 hours
Unit I — The Landscape
Types of colleges and fit · Building a balanced list · Timelines and deadlines · Understanding cost and aid
Unit II — The Application
Transcripts and course rigor · Recommendation letters · Activities and their presentation · Standardized-test decisions
Unit III — The Essay
Finding a true topic · Drafting a personal statement · Revising for voice · Supplemental essays
How AP exams are scored and what the readers reward — the strategy layer on top of the subject.
Syllabus · 3 units · ~18 hours
Unit I — How AP Works
The exam format and scoring · What college credit requires · Building a study calendar · Using released exams
Unit II — Free-Response Craft
Reading the prompt precisely · Structuring a free-response answer · Document-based and data questions · Earning every rubric point
Unit III — Test-Day Command
Pacing multiple-choice sections · Educated guessing · Managing time across parts · Staying calm under pressure