Squiddy

Yikes, now that's a can of worms. I know DD resents the occasional insinuation that her high SAT's were due to her (non-existent) SAT prep course, or tutors. Her SAT prep course was some workbooks checked out from the public library and some used practice tests from Amazon -- but no one wants to hear that - not those that sell courses, nor those who benefit from being assumed "victims" who couldn't afford SAT Prep courses.

I suspect most of us know that a prep course is only useful for forcing a student to focus on the test for some number of hours a week, and for the benefit of taking simulated tests, neither of which are the exclusive province of paid prep-course peddlers - a student (self-directed) can do just as well with some borrowed (or bought used) prep course materials.

Taking practice tests are useful for getting used to the way questions are asked, pace, etc, but I suspect taking a prep course doesn't decrease anxiety on test-day, in fact, it may increase it, as it piles new expectations on the result ("You mean I paid $4000 for *this*?!? A bad score would've been free!".) That's just me, others probably see it differently.

But as others have pointed out, in some cases, a 10- or 20-point increase in a section can be the difference between admission and waitlist, honors or not, or in the case of the PSAT, Commended or Semi-Finalist. And with what's riding on an SAT score (for some), I'm not going to criticize those who spend their money this way.

Caveat Emptor, of course.