Ephemeral2

Too bad I already have a summer job for June and will be on a hiking trip the month of July. I would not mind getting paid $14-$20+ an hour teaching kids to take the SAT or ACT.

doubleAA

i believe that the sat prep course helps for the wrong reasons... rather than actually teaching you stuff (which as said before can be relayed in $30 of books), by biting you in the wallet for $1000+, you feel the need to do better on the actual SAT.... soooo a bit of motivation on that part

bluebayou

Colleges don't care how you earn the high score, just earn it (so they can report it to the press).

AspiringInSalem

Both of my children took a relatively low-cost SAT prep class, and raised their scores significantly. The comparison points here were real SAT scores. My son attended a weekend course in August before his senior year offered through a program affiliated with USC for about $400. His score on his 2nd SAT was 110 points higher than on his 1st (out of 1600 possible). My daughter took a prep class from a local high school teacher for about $400 in July before her senior year. She saw a 320 point increase out of 2400 possible. Both of my kids took their first SAT in June of their sophomore year, having done the PSAT the previous October. Both spent their junior year studying abroad. It was a great experience, but neither was challenged in math, English or writing during their junior year. Still, they did have nearly a year and a half to grow and mature between tests, so perhaps part of the score increase was due to maturity. I don't think either would have spent as much time preparing on their own. I felt it was money well spent, as both kids were awarded good merit scholarships, due in part to their SAT scores.

MOMH20

The problem with these kinds of stories is that it is very difficult to gather reliable data. There are lousy courses, lousy tutors and kids who don't study even with good courses and tutors. In my case, my daughter studied on her own for PSAT and was disappointed with her results (around 200). I asked around and got a recommendation for a Princeton Review tutor who had gotten good results for two children of a friend of mine. I called Princeton Review and asked specifically for that tutor. My daughter worked hard with that tutor and was disappointed to get around 2100. I persuaded her to take the test again and just focus on one section where she had done poorly. She did a little studying on her own, reviewing her Princeton Review notes, and got around 2300. She said the tutoring helped enormously but she needed to be more relaxed to do her best. Having the 2100 under her belt really helped. Going from 2100 to 2300 put her in the driver's seat for college admissions. I'd do it again. She tried the Kaplan on-line course before I hired the tutor and didn't like it at all. Every kid is different. But it clearly worked for her (eventually). As for their practice exams, I had the same suspicion as other people. The first practice exam seemed harder to her than the later ones but, in general, the practice exams correctly spotted her strengths and weaknesses.

gthopeful

Part? My PSAT score went up by over 40 points (from barely above average to being a national merit finalist in my state) between freshman and junior year simply by going through high school. I never made any attempt to study for the SAT until my senior year when I wasn't satisfied with my score.

Mesquite_girl24

having prepped myself for the SAT using practice tests and watching my friends take Karen Dillard's expensive prep courses, i did FAR better than them: 1550 compared to 1200 and 1300s. they just felt that by going to prep, they had to put in no work of their own.

lockn

Seconded.

9th grade: 199
11th grade: 234
11th grade: 2350

Never gave any tutor a red cent.

Colleges00701

In my opinonon, Prep courses are a waste of time......I took Princeton Reivew in 10th grade and my score went from a 1800 to a 1850(on their tests)...I took National Merit Reivew(its a local test prep) and my score went from 1850 to 1830(on their tests)...I took Testmasters(its also local) and my score went from 1850 to 1930(1930 was my first real SAT).........Then I studied on my own, actually using my own techniques and my score went from a 1930 to 2170(actaul SAT)..........


Prep courses end up confusing kids, its best if kids discover how to do well on the SAT using their own techniques......The only way kids can do that is if they work every problem THEIR way...not some predetermined way a test prep course made for the masses......

milessmiles

Do all the tests in the Blue Book and you're ready! That's it.

Ego

The article says a new version of the blue book is going to be released this summer with 3 actual tests? Any date on this release?

tokenadult

It looks the second edition Blue Book is slated for publication in July:

Amazon.com: The Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd edition: The College Board: Books

Ego

Thanks Tokenadult! I will definitely pre-order it. I was going to sign up for these 2,000 dollar classes, but it is seriously too much for my family. I think I might just buy this book and study off of it. If I get it in on July 21, will I be able to complete the book with practices and all by the October SAT? I have no SAT experience and I am going to wing it this June. Is that bad?

lockn

There are a two free tests published online by the collegeboard. If somebody has the link, you could print those off. You really ought to practice a few times, even if it is just to get a sense of the timing.

Ego

Thanks for the input lockn. I am absolutely clueless about the test. Anyone have the link?