Classes offer tips for taking the SAT

Students who want to prepare for the College Board's SAT exam may sign up online for classes offered by College Connections Hawaii, and qualifying students are eligible for partial tuition waivers worth $250.

Between now and May, College Connections Hawaii will teach classes on five islands to help students raise their scores for the college entrance exam. The state Department of Education provided a $48,000 grant to the nonprofit organization to help cover the cost of tuition for the first 190 qualifying students.

"A quality SAT class can help students increase their scores by 100 points or more," said Wren Wescoatt, executive director of College Connections. "That can make a huge difference in where they can attend college."

The classes meet for four hours per week for nine weeks, on weekday afternoons or weekends. Students may apply online at collegeconnections.org, by obtaining applications from school counselors or by calling 737-8955 on Oahu or 866-233-0777 on the neighbor islands.

Classes are open to students from any school. To qualify for tuition waivers, however, students must attend a public school and be eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

Here are the locations and dates for the classes:

Oahu:

» Campbell High School, Feb. 25 to April 29

» Kailua High School, Feb. 25 to April 29

» College Connections Hawaii office (Kaimuki), March 5 to April 30

» McKinley High School, March 20 to 31

Kauai:

» Island School, Feb. 25 to April 29

» Waimea High School, March 18 to May 27

Maui:

» Hana High School, Feb. 24 to April 28

» Maui High School, Feb. 25 to April 29

» Lahainaluna High School, April 1 to May 27

» Baldwin High School, April 1 to May 27

Molokai:

» Molokai High School, Feb. 25 to April 29

Hawaii:

» Kamehameha -- Hawaii Campus, March 4 to April 29 and April 1 to May 27