Knightly News

Masteryprep instructor Latrisha Jackson assists a student.

Saturday mornings this December are likely marked on the calendars of many Upper School students. Like others across the country, Episcopal students will tackle the ACT or SAT in a rite of passage well remembered by the majority of college graduates. While college entrance exam requirements are evolving, they have not disappeared altogether, making these tests a part of the high school experience. With three full-time college counselors, Episcopal students benefit from a wealth of resources and personal assistance. A longstanding partnership with MasteryPrep also provides students with an array of test prep opportunities. 

As part of Episcopal’s comprehensive college counseling program, all sophomores and juniors are taking part in a test prep course designed to help students succeed. The dedicated focus on test preparation complements the school’s academic rigor. College Counseling Director Justin Fenske says having that strong academic foundation is the root of the college admission journey. He also points out that the current approach to test preparation is designed to reduce stress on families and boost overall learning and strategy implementation.

The Benefits of a Test Prep Specialist

College Counselor Dr. Alan Newton says the new program alleviates one of the biggest obstacles to college entrance exam test prep – time. “We’re trying to respect that kids lead very busy lives,” he says. “Our program results in minimal disruption to their day.” Students meet with a MasteryPrep instructor once every seven school days during free periods. Dr. Newton says so far it works well with the school structure and it’s helpful to have a specialist available. That MasteryPrep specialist is Latrisha Jackson.

Jackson is on the Episcopal campus bright and early each day. The college counseling team has set up a classroom in the Academic Commons where Jackson coaches sophomore and juniors on test-taking strategies. Surrounded by banners celebrating the colleges that have accepted Episcopal students, Jackson prepares the next group for similar success. Originally in business, she loves her role as a MasteryPrep instructor. She says her favorite part is connecting with students and helping them accomplish their goals. “I’m impacting kids with information I wish I had had,” she says.

Jackson has ample experience in preparing students for test-taking success. She has taught students in other regional parishes for some time. During the pandemic, MasteryPrep was able to pivot to a virtual training component, which has resulted in significant expansion. As a result, Jackson also works virtually with students in New Iberia, Shreveport and even Connecticut and Miami-Dade. During the summer, she provides virtual boot camps for students as far away as Alaska and as close as Texas and Alabama.

Logic-Based Strategies that Reduce Testing Anxiety

Whether virtual or in person, Jackson says it is not uncommon for students to report an increase of five points after taking a test prep course. What are some of the strategies she provides to help students boost their scores? Many of the strategies are based in logic. Jackson advises students to use the process of elimination to narrow down possible answers. She also advises test takers to eliminate answers that look odd or different from the others. After narrowing down choices, students can plug in the remaining potential answers to work backward toward a solution. In addition, other tried and true advice is given, such as never skipping a question. “Make an educated guess,” says Jackson regarding those questions that leave students stumped.

MasteryPrep employs a team of analysts who look for patterns in tests. The data is used to develop the strategies that Jackson and her fellow instructors provide. Informed by that data, Jackson can advise students where to begin taking the test and how long to spend answering and reviewing questions. By implementing the strategies, students can avoid getting stuck on one question and reduce overall test anxiety.  

Episcopal faculty and staff place considerable emphasis on preparing students for the next step in the education process. Partnering with MasteryPrep and having Jackson available is a key component of that approach.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2024-2025 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.