D28 is self studying for the SAT using a structured plan created by me with input from various online sources. Registered for the real SAT in August. Her score is creeping up from the baseline test we had her take in January with zero prep. Although she is a very strong student, she keeps getting tripped up on the same types of questions on RW and Math. Math especially the last half dozen hardest questions in Mod 2. Having an initial list of schools she might be interested in, we know the target score she should try to hit.
If your child was initially self studying at what point did you flip to a tutor and did it help? She’s using a combo of College Board, Khan and just added in UWorld if it matters.
If it’s the same questions tripping her up, she doesn’t need to be drilling….she needs to actually learn the missing math. Once she has nailed the concepts and the operations, doing the problems quickly and accurately will be a snap.
It sounds like you are at that point. A good tutor can identify the source of mistakes and teach what’s needed to fill in the gaps.
Finding an effective tutor is the trickier part though. A merely adequate one will do what you have done, which helps and raises the score, but doesn’t address the most damaging pitfalls.
I’m a tutor. I’d say at least 50% of my students come to me after self-studying and realizing that they are making the same mistakes again and again. If attaining a certain score in order to secure scholarships is a must, it’s time to get a tutor. It may seem obvious, but I don’t recommend group tutoring because it isn’t able to help an individual work out their weaknesses. Your child might need just a few sessions. If it’s really important, just go for it.
One daughter used a tutor, after first doing some self-studying. I think that it helped two ways. One was that her score was a bit higher. Also, I think that it made her feel more comfortable and confident going in, so that her stress level was a bit lower.
She did only need a few sessions. First they gave her a practice test. Then they focused on the areas where she needed help the most. It was a very positive experience and did not cost all that much given the general scale of university costs.
Yes. I’m frankly aways amazed when people will spend thousands on mass group tutoring programs such as Kaplan, in which it’s impossible to cater to an individual student’s needs. It is probably less expensive to pay for private tutoring and get individualized attention. If one needs to secure a high score for scholarship purposes, it pays off.
Thank you for the quick input, everyone. Her next at-home practice test is Thursday. If we don’t see a good jump in scores, with marked improvement in her two primary weak spots sounds like we need to find a tutor without delay! Her current score on the practice CB tests is pretty good but still about 70pts from where it needs to be, and I’m convinced that with some cleanup of repeated errors that can happen.
There is another issue, which comes to mind reading the phrase “where it needs to be”.
The big goal of university admissions might be to find a college or university that is affordable, and that is a good fit for the student. Please note “good fit for the student” and “highest ranked possible” are very definitely not the same thing. Also, there really are a very large number of very good universities.
I guess that I do not think that there is any such thing as “where it needs to be” for an SAT test. Basically it is what it is. Tutoring can bring it up a bit, and may make the student more comfortable with the process. However, whatever a student ends up getting, assuming that they put in the effort and tried, is what you work with.
I like the idea of tutoring. I don’t like the idea of having a specific goal for an SAT score.
Thanks. To be clear, this is not chasing prestige. Right now her first choice school is actually a state school. Current practice SAT score now puts her in the bottom end of their 25-75% band. Ideally that school could be a strong target or likely if she cleans up some repeated mistakes in prepping. Definitely not talking top 20 school, but a strong and well respected state school.
Has your daughter taken the ACT? It was my experience with my kids that one did better on the ACT and one did better on the SAT. Perhaps the ACT might give your daughter a better route to getting admitted to her preferred school.
You might consider engaging a tutor for ACT prep as well as SAT prep. I’m sure that the guidance counselors at your school (or other parents) could give you information about potential tutors.
I found the best was word of mouth (even if it’s a local parents page). Our tutor was great, and I could see how many parents I knew used him based on Venmo. I will always put his information out there if someone in my area is looking.
It’s chasing something. He’s just stating - it’s too much pressure to have an exact target. You are what you are. If it becomes, as an example, UCF instead of UF, life goes on.
I agree - although I think it’s good to have a goal - but I wouldn’t want their self confidence to depend upon it. Nothing is a must.
Agree that focused tutoring in the specific areas of weakness, combined with some assistance with test taking strategies can be very helpful. Also agree that she should try the ACT, especially if she is having difficulty pulling up her SA score. Here is a table comparing the two: ACT vs SAT: 10 Key Differences to Help You Pick the Right Test to Take
If she keeps making the same mistakes, it is possible that she just doesn’t understand whatever area of math those questions are covering. So test taking strategies may give her a short term boost- but why not actually have her learn the math?
I had my tonsils out in the 4th grade, back in the day when it meant several nights in the hospital and then two weeks recovering. I didn’t realize until graduate school (when I had to pass a remedial math class that covered first grade math through calculus) that I had never properly learned percentages. I was a savvy guesser- which got me through SAT’s and GMAT’s– but learning the actual math was much more helpful for me long term!
I haven’t read this thread but using a tutor to work with her on her weaknesses is why we used one. Sometimes it’s just pointing something basic out. Also they tend to have decent strategies on “how “to take the test. Also having a tutor watch your child taking part of the test can uncover time wasters. Looking at subset scores and working on those and also strengthen your strengths.
One thing I read about years ago was to take the practice tests on the same day (like a Saturday) that she is scheduled for. Get up, shower, eat breakfast. Do everything you would do on the same day. Some will drive their kid’s to a library to mimic driving there “Then “take the practice test. I have read do this like a few weeks prior to the real test. Lots of theories.