USA CURRICULUM Courses
Standardized Tests for College Admissions:
SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing:
Reading Test:
Comprehension passages from U.S. and world literature, history/social studies, and sciences.
Skills taught: Reading comprehension, interpretation of evidence, understanding words in context, and analysis of author's choices.
Writing and Language Test:
Passages with grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetoric errors.
Skills taught: Grammar and usage, sentence structure, and paragraph organization.
Mathematics:
Algebra: Linear equations and inequalities, word problems, and systems of equations.
Problem Solving and Data Analysis: Ratios, percentages, proportions, statistics, and data interpretation.
Advanced Math: Quadratic equations, polynomials, exponents, and non-linear expressions.
Additional Topics: Geometry, trigonometry, and complex numbers.
Essay (Optional):
Analyze an argument presented in a passage, focusing on evidence, reasoning, and persuasive elements.
ACT (American College Testing)
English:
Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, rhetorical skills, and strategy.
Mathematics:
Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, Plane Geometry, and Trigonometry.
Reading:
Reading comprehension passages from prose fiction, humanities, social studies, and natural sciences.
Science:
Data representation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints in biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth/space sciences.
Writing (Optional):
Essay that requires the student to take a position on a given issue and support it with evidence and reasoning.
Graduate Admissions Tests
GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
Analytical Writing:
Two tasks: "Analyze an Issue" and "Analyze an Argument."
Skills taught: Critical thinking, argument construction, clarity, and coherence.
Verbal Reasoning:
Reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence.
Topics: Vocabulary, logical thinking, and understanding of complex texts.
Quantitative Reasoning:
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis.
Skills taught: Problem-solving, quantitative comparison, and numeric entry.
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
Analytical Writing Assessment:
One essay: Analysis of an Argument.
Skills taught: Critical thinking, argument evaluation, and coherent writing.
Integrated Reasoning:
Multi-source reasoning, graphic interpretation, two-part analysis, and table analysis.
Quantitative:
Problem-solving and data sufficiency questions.
Topics: Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and word problems.
Verbal:
Reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction.
Skills taught : Grammar, understanding complex texts, and evaluating arguments.
LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
Reading Comprehension:
Passages that test the ability to read, understand, and analyze complex texts, typically from law, social sciences, and humanities.
Analytical Reasoning:
Logic games that involve determining relationships and drawing logical conclusions from a given set of conditions or statements.
Logical Reasoning:
Critical thinking questions that assess argument analysis, evaluating evidence, and identifying flaws in reasoning.
Writing Sample:
Essay that presents an argument based on a given prompt.
MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems:
Topics: Cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, physiology, and biochemistry.
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems:
Topics: General chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry.
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior:
Topics: Psychology, sociology, and related biological concepts.
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS):
Passages that test comprehension, analysis, and reasoning across a wide range of disciplines.
Exams for Professional Certification:
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Exam
Auditing and Attestation (AUD):
Planning and supervision of audits, internal controls, procedures, and audits of financial statements.
Business Environment and Concepts (BEC):
Corporate governance, economics, financial management, information technology, and operations management.
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR):
Topics: Financial statements, accounting standards, governmental and non-profit accounting.
Regulation (REG):
Ethics, federal taxation, business law, and tax procedures.
USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination)
Step 1:
Basic sciences such as anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, and behavioral sciences.
Step 2 (CK - Clinical Knowledge):
Clinical sciences including medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics/gynecology.
Step 2 (CS - Clinical Skills):
Standardized patient examinations to assess communication, physical examination, and clinical reasoning.
Step 3:
Advanced patient management and diagnosis with a focus on clinical scenarios and decision-making skills.
NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination)
Client Needs:
Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety, infection control, and management of care.
Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and development, prevention, and early detection of disease.
Psychosocial Integrity: Coping and adaptation, psychosocial adaptation.
Physiological Integrity: Basic care and comfort, pharmacological therapies, and physiological adaptation.
School Level Exams:
AP (Advanced Placement) Exams
Subjects Covered:
Over 38 subjects such as AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP English Literature, AP U.S. History, AP Psychology, and more.
AP Biology:
Topics Covered: Evolution, Cellular Processes (energy and communication), Genetics and Information Transfer, Ecology, and Interactions.
Skills Assessed: Interpreting data, forming hypotheses, designing experiments, using models, and connecting biological concepts across different scales and contexts.
Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions, free-response questions that require writing and problem-solving based on scenarios, lab work, or data analysis.
AP Chemistry:
Topics Covered: Atomic Structure, Molecular and Ionic Compound Structure and Properties, Intermolecular Forces and Properties, Chemical Reactions, Kinetics, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Acids and Bases.
Skills Assessed: Experimental design, quantitative problem-solving, conceptual understanding of chemical processes, and data interpretation.
Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions, free-response questions including calculations, essays, and laboratory-based questions.
AP Physics (1 & 2):
Topics Covered (AP Physics 1): Newtonian Mechanics, Rotational Motion, Work, Energy, Power, Mechanical Waves, Sound, and Simple Circuits.
Topics Covered (AP Physics 2): Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electricity and Magnetism, Optics, and Modern Physics.
Skills Assessed: Mathematical modeling, data analysis, laboratory investigations, and application of physics concepts to real-world scenarios.
Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions and free-response questions, which may involve calculations, lab data interpretation, and conceptual questions.
AP Calculus (AB & BC):
Topics Covered (AB): Limits, Derivatives, Integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
Topics Covered (BC): All AB topics plus Parametric, Polar, and Vector Functions, Sequences, Series, and more advanced integration techniques.
Skills Assessed: Mathematical reasoning, solving real-world problems using calculus, graph interpretation, and communication of mathematical arguments.
Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions and free-response questions, involving analytical, numerical, and graphical methods.
AP English Literature and Composition:
Topics Covered: In-depth analysis of prose, poetry, and drama from various periods and genres, close reading and interpretation, literary criticism.
Skills Assessed: Critical thinking, analytical writing, synthesis of ideas from multiple texts, interpretation of literary devices and themes.
Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions on reading comprehension, literary analysis, and three free-response essays (literary analysis of a poem, a prose excerpt, and a thematic question).
AP U.S. History:
Topics Covered: Nine historical periods from 1491 to the present, including colonization, independence, industrialization, world wars, and contemporary America.
Skills Assessed: Historical thinking skills, analysis of primary and secondary sources, making historical connections, argumentation, and synthesis.
Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, a document-based question (DBQ), and a long essay question.
AP Psychology:
Topics Covered: History and Approaches to Psychology, Research Methods, Biological Bases of Behavior, Sensation and Perception, Learning, Cognition, Developmental Psychology, Motivation and Emotion, Personality, Psychological Disorders, and Treatment.
Skills Assessed: Analysis and interpretation of psychological research, application of psychological concepts, data analysis, and critical thinking.
Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions and free-response questions, requiring students to design experiments, interpret data, and apply psychological concepts.
PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test)
Reading Section:
Passages: Four single passages and one pair, drawn from U.S. and world literature, history/social studies, and science.
Skills Assessed: Reading comprehension, analysis of text, vocabulary in context, identifying main ideas, and understanding relationships between parts of a text.
Types of Questions: Multiple-choice questions based on passages, including some that require interpreting graphs or data related to the text.
Writing and Language Section:
Passages: Four passages with various topics (careers, history, science, humanities).
Skills Assessed: Identifying grammatical errors, improving sentence structure, understanding punctuation, enhancing word choice, and organizing paragraphs.
Types of Questions: Multiple-choice questions that test understanding of standard English conventions, expression of ideas, and word choice.
Mathematics Section:
Content Areas:
Algebra: Linear equations, inequalities, and systems of equations.
Problem Solving and Data Analysis: Ratios, percentages, proportional relationships, statistics, and data interpretation.
Additional Topics: Geometry and trigonometry.
Skills Assessed: Mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, data interpretation, and application of concepts.
Types of Questions: Multiple-choice and grid-in questions, some requiring the use of a calculator and others that do not.
SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test)
Verbal Section:
Topics Covered: Synonyms and analogies.
Skills Assessed: Vocabulary, word relationships, and logical reasoning.
Types of Questions: Synonym questions test understanding of word meanings; analogy questions assess the ability to relate ideas and concepts.
Quantitative Section (Math):
Content Areas: Arithmetic (basic calculations, number operations), Elementary Algebra (simple equations, variables), Geometry (properties and measurements of shapes), and Basic Statistics (mean, median, mode).
Skills Assessed: Mathematical computation, problem-solving, logical reasoning, and understanding of basic algebraic and geometric concepts.
Types of Questions: Multiple-choice questions that require arithmetic operations, algebraic thinking, and geometric reasoning.
Reading Comprehension Section:
Passages: 6-7 reading passages from fiction, poetry, or humanities and social studies.
Skills Assessed: Identifying main ideas, determining the author's purpose, drawing inferences, and understanding literal and figurative language.
Types of Questions: Multiple-choice questions based on passages that test comprehension and interpretation skills.
Writing Sample:
Task: Students are required to write an essay on a given topic.
Skills Assessed: Organization, coherence, grammar, creativity, and ability to express ideas clearly.
ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam)
Verbal Reasoning Section:
Topics Covered: Synonyms and sentence completions.
Skills Assessed: Vocabulary, logical reasoning, ability to understand and analyze sentence structure.
Types of Questions: Synonyms to test vocabulary, sentence completions to assess understanding of context and meaning.
Quantitative Reasoning Section:
Content Areas: Algebra (equations, variables), Geometry (properties of shapes, measurements), Data Analysis (interpretation of graphs, charts), and Problem Solving.
Skills Assessed: Identifying the main idea, understanding details and structure, drawing inferences, and interpreting vocabulary in context.
Types of Questions: Multiple-choice questions based on reading passages that test comprehension and interpretative abilities.
Mathematics Section:
Content Areas: Number operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis.
Skills Assessed: Mathematical skills typically taught at grade level, including arithmetic operations, understanding of mathematical concepts, and solving mathematical problems.
Types of Questions: Multiple-choice questions that require application of learned mathematical concepts.
Essay Section:
Task: A short essay response to a prompt.
Skills Assessed: Writing skills, including clarity, organization, grammar, and creativity.