When Delaney Cramp started preparing for the ACT, she didn’t know what to expect. She didn’t expect that she would laugh so much, and she didn’t expect that she would improve her score so significantly. But, she did.
After working hard throughout the winter and spring, Delaney was able to boost her ACT score by eight points on the June exam! A rising senior at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School, Delaney accomplished this impressive feat all while balancing her job and her schoolwork…and battling her nerves. Unsurprisingly, it was Delaney’s work ethic that verbal tutor Melissa Nash credits as “absolutely essential to Delaney’s success.” For Delaney, however, it was the help of others, like Melissa, and the promise of getting a step closer to achieving her dreams that inspired her to succeed. Wanting to reflect and celebrate, we recently spoke with Delaney and Melissa to better understand the process that made such progress possible.
A+: Let’s take a look back to how this all started. How did you find A+?
DELANEY: My college counselor, Tina Gregor from College Pursuit, led us to A+ Tutoring. She said we should have a conversation with the tutors before getting into it to see what test I’m stronger in. I’m very grateful that she referred us to A+ because they got me the help I needed and led me to something I never thought I could achieve.
A+: We’re so pleased you found A+ and so proud of what you’ve accomplished. What would you say was the key to your success?
DELANEY: The two factors were my dream to get into my top school and my mom pushing me to achieve it. I knew that a good score would be one of the only ways to get into many of the schools I would be applying to, so I had to perfect it. My mom was always on top of me finishing all my work and prepping for the test.
Delaney’s mother’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed. According to verbal tutor Melissa Nash, “Delaney was not only nice to work with, she also always completed her assignments and was a great worker in sessions.” It wasn’t all work, though. She can’t remember the reason, but Melissa recalls that “in a couple of sessions we laughed hard.”
A+: It’s great that you were able to have some fun while preparing for the ACT. However, was there anything you found particularly challenging about test prep?
DELANEY: My biggest challenge was finding the motivation to do the math ACT homework I was given. Math has always been a struggle for me so I dreaded it. On top of work and school work, it was difficult to find time to do it since it took so long.
A+: Was there any advice or strategies from your tutors that you found especially helpful?
DELANEY: To not think about how much time I have left or rush myself and to also check back on my work if I finish early. It calmed me down a lot and helped me fix my mistakes that would have cost me.
It’s natural to feel nervous about an important test like the ACT. To help ease Delaney’s concerns that “she would not be able to perform as well on the real test as she did on practice tests,” verbal tutor Melissa Nash talked to her about “some simple anxiety fighters—taking a short break, structured breathing.” That advice, along with the other skills and strategies Delaney learned during test prep, ultimately paid off.
A+: So, now that you successfully finished test prep with an 8-point score increase, is there any advice you would give students who are just starting the process?
DELANEY: Set a goal score for yourself and try your best to reach it. Let your future be your main motivator. You can’t achieve your dreams unless you work for them. It will all pay off sooner or later. Space out time to do your homework and time for your test prep; it will give you less stress about getting everything done.
A+: Okay, let’s look to the future. What colleges and careers are you interested in?
DELANEY: My goal is to get into my top school, Auburn University, in Alabama. I am also invested in several other southern colleges such as UTennesee, U of South Carolina, Clemson, etc. I am hoping to major in psychology, then attend grad school to become a clinical psychologist. I will use this career to help diagnose children with learning disabilities and advocate for them, much of what I went through as a child.
Congratulations, Delaney, on all of your success! We at A+ Test Prep and Tutoring are happy we were able to help you get one step closer to your goal of being able to help students of your own someday.
At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, our practices are based on the latest developments in educational theory and research. We have an excellent team of tutors who can help you with standardized testing, executive functioning, or achievement in any other school subject. If you want to find out more about our services, we can be reached at 215-886-9188 or email us at office@aplustutoring.com.
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