May 20, 2025
45 min

Episode 237 | Jeff Eisenberg - Part 2 | Long Island Test Prep | The Knowledge Entrepreneurs Show

Learn More About Jeff Eisenberg

Explore Jeff's expertise through the following links:

  • LinkedIn: Connect with Jeff Eisenberg and his decades of test preparation experience
  • Long Island Test Prep: Discover his comprehensive SAT/ACT tutoring services and educational approach
  • SSAT Preparation: Learn about his expertise in private school entrance exams and classical test formats

Key Takeaways

Episode Description

In this conversation, Jeff Eisenberg discusses the transition to digital testing for the SAT and ACT, sharing his insights on the changes in format, the importance of the Desmos calculator, and the adaptation required for both students and educators. He reflects on the smooth rollout of the digital SAT, the challenges posed by new reading passages, and the implications of adaptive scoring.

Key Topics Covered

  • The Fifth Format Revelation: Why a 30-year veteran who's survived five different SAT versions considers the digital format his best yet, and the specific technological resources that revolutionized his teaching approach
  • The Enhanced ACT Chaos: How ACT's scattered rollout strategy—with different versions launching at different times on different formats—is creating unprecedented confusion compared to College Board's smooth transition
  • The Shorter Passage Trap: Why condensed reading sections are actually more demanding than lengthy passages, requiring students to extract dense meaning from every sentence rather than skimming for answers
  • The Geographic Testing Divide: How generational habits from when schools only accepted certain tests still drive regional preferences, and why 80% of students in some areas choose SAT while other regions remain ACT-dominated
  • The Desmos Mastery Gap: Why students who don't learn this calculator properly leave significant points on the table, and the specific YouTube resources that supplement professional tutoring

Conclusion

This conversation challenges assumptions about digital testing while revealing the hidden complexities behind seemingly simple changes. Jeff's enthusiasm for the digital SAT—despite being a veteran who could easily resist change—demonstrates how the right resources and mindset can transform challenges into opportunities. His critique of ACT's rollout strategy exposes the importance of clear communication in educational transitions.

The most surprising insights center on reading comprehension evolution. Shorter passages haven't made the test easier—they've made it more demanding, requiring deeper analytical skills rather than endurance. This shift toward density over length reflects broader changes in how students must approach modern standardized testing.

Which specific resources transformed Jeff's teaching approach after 30 years? How do geographic testing preferences actually limit student opportunities? What makes shorter reading passages more challenging than lengthy ones?

Listen to the complete episode to discover Jeff's exact resource recommendations, his predictions about the Enhanced ACT's impact on regional testing patterns, and the specific skills students need to master denser reading formats. The full conversation reveals insights from someone who's adapted successfully to every major testing evolution since 1991.

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