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Get High Scores. Keep your Summer.

Improve your SAT/ACT test scores in one week with prep courses taught by brilliant instructors from elite institutions.
Our next Boot Camp will be August 12-16 at Trinity School in Manhattan.
We've helped hundreds of high school students get into the colleges of their dreams. Find our students at Ivy League and top 10 universities.

Raising your scores = Fast-paced and fun

Whether it’s your first test prep class or your final sprint before the exam, these multi-day intensives re-wire your brain for higher scores on test day. Whether you take in-person classes or an online course, our inspiring instructors make prep courses fly by as your confidence surges.

“Zinc invested in my daughter as a person and a student. The instructors quickly understood her personality and learning style and tailored their approach to bring out the best in her. Zinc believed in her and she knew it. Truly remarkable. ”
– Stacey K., Parent of ACT Boot Camp Participant

Our instructors are self-proclaimed nerds who inspire students to develop a love for learning. Zinc's instructors teach cognitive skills that help students in school and beyond.

Claire Dunnington
Tutor, Writer, Harpist
Dan Lerman
Director of Intensive Studies, Tutor, Teacher
Nico Krell
Tutor, Theater Director, Hiker
Francesca Capossela
Tutor, Teacher, Writer
David Rothschild
Tutor, Teacher, Musician
Claire has been tutoring with Zinc since 2010 and is now a mentor to new tutors. She graduated from Brown University with honors in English and creative writing and was named to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior. After teaching English in Thailand for a year, she moved to New York for graduate school. She received her MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University, where she taught undergraduate writing courses. Claire has published in both print and online magazines and is currently working on a nonfiction manuscript and a novel. In addition to writing and tutoring, she performs as a harpist and plays the drums.
Dan has been tutoring and teaching for over twelve years. Dan attended Duke University, where he majored in neuroscience and won an award for stage acting. Dan also holds an MS degree from Georgetown and is working on his PhD at Columbia University. He started his teaching career at St. Paul’s School in London, where he was surprised to find out that everyone called him “sir.” Dan currently lives in Brooklyn, teaches science at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn Heights, and dabbles with improvisational comedy.
Nico graduated from Princeton University, where he created a major in Performance Studies: a blend of anthropology and critical theory. His research held American media practices to political account; for his work, he was awarded Princeton’s top honor in the arts, the Lewis Suddler Prize. Now, he collaborates with universities to institute radical new artistic pedagogies that promote equity and accessibility. He is from Montevideo, Uruguay and has been a private tutor since 2016. Using his lifetime of international experience, Nico customizes his neuroscience-based curriculum to empower students into their intellectual independence.
Raised in Brooklyn, Francesca is a graduate of Saint Ann's school, Pomona College, and Trinity College Dublin, where she was awarded the Constantina Maxwell scholarship. Her undergraduate thesis focused on female agency within Nabokov’s Lolita, and she has written about the novel for several publications. Francesca has been teaching and tutoring for over seven years, and she is passionate about helping students find a sense of wonder in reading challenging texts and solving complicated math problems. Francesca is also a poet and fiction writer, and her debut novel will be published in the fall of 2023. She is passionate about queer issues and has a dog named Lyra.
David is a musician, writer, and tutor born and raised in New York, having graduated from Edgemont High School magna cum laude. At Duke University, David majored in English and Biology with minors in Chemistry and History, and was awarded the Anne Flexner Prize for Creative Writing upon graduation. After school, David worked in the corporate world for a few years first as a Management Consultant at PwC and then in marketing roles at two different tech companies before realizing his passions lay elsewhere. As a singer-songwriter and band leader, David has released two albums of original music, with a third record on the way. The son of a high school teacher who led after school classes throughout high school and college, David has been tutoring since 2016.

What sets our boot camps apart?

Teaching
Our ACT/SAT prep course instructors know what it takes to get a perfect score. By pairing years of experience in standardized test prep with cutting-edge software backed by cognitive science, Zinc instructors provide students with critical thinking skills that earn higher scores and last long after test day.
Skills
Our ACT/SAT prep programs prepare high school students for all content areas of standardized tests while also teaching problem-solving skills that help reduce test anxiety. We give students a head start with a practice test that prepares them for the testing experience. Our boot camps provide test strategy and momentum that data analysis shows will lead to higher scores.
Experience
Our popular prep programs have proven results. We use gamification to engage students in exciting ways that motivate them to raise their scores in verbal, science, and math sections. Our SAT and ACT boot camps have helped hundreds of students gain admission and secure academic scholarships at elite institutions across the globe.
Schedule
Don't trade your entire summer for higher test scores. Our bootcamps are tailored to match how teenagers operate and will prepare them for test day in not much time. College admissions boards look for more than just perfect test scores, so we design our prep classes to teach only on the essential test techniques students need, leaving them time to focus on other areas of their high school career. Summer 2024 Dates: August 12-16 (in-person).

Why students and parents love Zinc

"I was in the Math ACT/SAT boot camp last June and took my final SAT in June: 1550, including 780 in Math! I remembered a few of Dan's tricks (including the "root love move") the day of the SAT test and wanted to send a quick note of thanks! I was pouring over the packets we used in class the day before and now have something to show for the week we spent together! The teaching was involved and really stuck with me."
- Henry H., Harvard Class of 2024
“I just want to thank you for helping Megan so much with the ACTs. Of course we were thrilled with her score and that she raised it so much in a short period of time, but mostly, we are so happy that she didn't give up on this test. As you know, she was having a hard time but whatever you did to help her worked! Her confidence came back, thanks to you!"
- Wendy S., parent of ACT boot camp student
"Zinc brings the intensity of a great football coach to test prep. They always give you honest feedback, which is crucial to improving in this game. Their ACT/SAT prep course teachers are simply the best I’ve ever worked with, in any subject. Their technology makes homework and practice tests a breeze. Working with them made the SAT test process so much easier and brought my score up nearly 200 points."
— James C., Boot Camp Participant
"As Connor’s mother, I am full of unspeakable pride. I feel that, despite the outcome, numbers, and the knock downs, he had an experience with you that he will take with him forever. You were the silver lining in it all for Connor. Sometimes we get the most valuable learning and skills and are forced to grow through the hard stuff...In the end, I thank you for your leadership, mentorship, and gift of efficiency..."
- Jill N., Parent of Boot Camp student
"Alex did so well!! He should be your poster child for that ACT boot camp. English went from 25 to 31 (!!). Math from 26 to 27. Reading from 31 to 35 (!!!). Science from 27 to 30. Composite from 27 to 31!!!! It's really fantastic. He is feeling so much more confident about his ability to crack this test especially as he views math and science as more learnable. Thanks so much for all your help."
- Silvia Campo, Parent of ACT Boot Camp student
“The June Boot Camp was fantastic and got me acquainted with the ins and outs of the SAT in ways I had never been before. I saw more material in the two weeks of Boot Camp than in all my other preparations. Thank you, Zinc!”
-Violet, Boot Camp Participant
"Our son participated in the SAT boot camp and loved the program. The facility was great, customer service superb, and his teacher OUTSTANDING. Highly recommend."
-Constantine, Parent of Boot Camp Participant
“The Boot Camp really helped in each section. I was mostly challenged with how to stay focused on the reading, but my instructor taught us how to focus and how to practice this focus. I now have three books that I want to read, and before this, the last time I read a book outside of school was way too long ago.”
-Aidan M., London Boot Camp Grad
"We give students the critical reading and thinking skills to turn passing interests into passions, developing switched-on learners who excel and make their voices heard."

We prep you for higher scores

100% of Zinc students experience test score improvements. Check out how our recent students boosted their scores after attending our Boot Camp.
Student College Starting Score Ending score
Martin W. NYU 28 ACT Reading 34 ACT Reading
Michaela T. Duke 27 ACT 33 ACT
John T. Columbia 28 ACT 32 ACT
Ethan N. Brown 630V/600M 760V/780M
Alex S. Michigan 600V/670M 690V/740M
Daniel B. Dartmouth 27 ACT 33 ACT
Luke B. Penn 28 ACT 34 ACT
Student College Starting Score Ending score
Martin W. NYU 28 ACT Reading 34 ACT Reading
Michaela T. Duke 27 ACT 33 ACT
John T. Columbia 28 ACT 32 ACT
Ethan N. Brown 630V/600M 760V/780M
Alex S. Michigan 600V/670M 690V/740M
Daniel B. Dartmouth 27 ACT 33 ACT
Luke B. Penn 28 ACT 34 ACT
Student College Starting Score Ending score
Martin W. NYU 28 ACT Reading 34 ACT Reading
Michaela T. Duke 27 ACT 33 ACT
John T. Columbia 28 ACT 32 ACT
Ethan N. Brown 630V/600M 760V/780M
Alex S. Michigan 600V/670M 690V/740M
Daniel B. Dartmouth 27 ACT 33 ACT
Luke B. Penn 28 ACT 34 ACT
25 Boot Camps
500+ Students
4 Cities

Upcoming Programs

Our next Boot Camp will be held in NYC in Summer 2024. Please reach out to find out more!
Zinc is committed to providing our students with meaningful educational experiences. We plan to offer in-person boot camps this summer. Please contact us with any questions!
Summer 2024 In-person Boot Camps
Boot Camp — SAT Section
August 12 - 16
The Trinity School, Manhattan
Boot Camp - ACT Section
August 12 - 16
The Trinity School, Manhattan
  • Boot Camps meet Monday – Friday, 9 am – 3:30pm, with nightly homework
  • Boot Camp concludes with a full-length practice test
  • Following Boot Camp, meet with your instructor for a personalized family meeting to plan next steps
  • You’ll have access to Zinc’s online learning platforms even after Boot Camp concludes!

FAQ for Parents

How often do you offer Bootcamp?
Our ACT/SAT prep bootcamp is offered in-person during the summer. Depending on interest and availability, an online section may be offered. Our camps are designed to help students get a high score on standardized tests required by college admissions boards. Zinc also offers tutoring to high school students throughout the school year.
Do you offer other services besides ACT/SAT prep?
Zinc Educational services offers prep classes and one-on-one tutoring services throughout the school year. Based in New York City, we offer course options and tutoring services designed to guide and empower students to academic success. Additional information about our educational services can be found here.
Who can attend your prep classes?
Our prep programs are designed for rising 10th, 11th, or 12th graders preparing for common standardized tests required by college admissions boards. Our summer prep classes prepare students for all content areas of the exams.
Does my high school student need supplemental materials to prepare?
We provide materials for our students to complete our prep course, but there are many ACT/SAT textbooks available for students, including free materials available online. One of the College Board’s missions is to reduce test-takers’ reliance on expensive, private test prep by providing high-quality, online preparation for free. Visit our Zinc Guide to College Entrance Exams for a list of free resources.
Is it better for my high school student to take an online course or in-person class?
Students learn in different ways, and virtual prep may be a better option for your student depending on their learning style or their schedule. For other students, going to a classroom with other students and a live instructor will be the best option. Our teaching philosophy and focus areas remain the same across our virtual and in-person ACT/SAT prep bootcamps.
Do you offer refunds if my student can’t attend?
Due to the limited availability of our bootcamp courses and high demand, we can not offer full refunds.
Want to learn about our one-on-one services? Contact us to learn more.