<p>My D scored 2040 (690W, 690M, 660M) on SAT in December. She’s 10th grade. Other than doing some sample tests, she didn’t really study for it. As you know, the last couple hundred points are much harder to improve. Does she need a prep course for the real test in Jr. year? If so, when would be the best time to prep and test? If you have actual, similar experience, please advise. BTW, she took this to apply to a private school.</p>
<p>My kids never took prep courses, but based on what their HS college counselor said, these courses are much more helpful for low-scoring kids. The kids that score high are much better off self-studying by using the “real SAT” book (doing sample tests, and maybe looking up some concepts if their mistakes happen to be in a specific area)</p>
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<p>Or at any rate, those courses are designed for low-scoring kids. I’m not sure they are helpful for anyone. A child who has a 2040 in tenth grade mostly just needs to read a lot for fun, keep learning inside and outside of school, and take the practice sample SAT under actual test time limits before taking the SAT “for keeps” again. That should be enough preparation. </p>
<p>Here’s my FAQ on test prep: </p>
<p>READ, READ </p>
<p>To learn how to score well on a standardized test reading section, the number one piece of advice is READ, READ, READ, and READ. Read about what you like to know more about. Read things that are fun for you. Find books and magazines about interesting topics and read them. Turn off the TV and read. Put away the video game controller and read. Read hard things, and read easy things. Read a lot. </p>
<p>For years, I wondered why it came so readily to mind to write “READ, READ, READ” in all capital letters like that when I give advice on this subject, as I have frequent occasion to do. Recently, I reread the section “Suggestions for Study” in the front matter of John DeFrancis’s book Beginning Chinese Reader, Part I, which I first used to learn Chinese back in 1975. In that section of that book, I found this passage, “Fluency in reading can only be achieved by extensive practice on all the interrelated aspects of the reading process. To accomplish this we must READ, READ, READ” (capitalization as in original).</p>
<p>I agree with above posters – most prep courses are designed to get student to the level your D already reached. Tokenadult’s approach is what we encouraged our D to do. That worked out well. (She rejected prep courses categorically.)</p>
<p>As for prep that might actually help, I can highly recommend the Xiggi Method. It works especially well for bright students like your D.</p>
<p>I agree too. The courses aren’t very useful for high achieving students which your child clearly is. There’s a good chance for a fair amount of improvement in the natural course of things. (My younger son’s PSAT scores went up almost 100 points in math and almost as much in writing - his reading score was already reflective of the amount of pleasure reading he does.) Which brings me to my agreement with Tokeadult is that the best way to improve a reading score is to read - a lot. It doesn’t have to be great literature. Both my kids read mostly sci fi and fantasy with a smattering of non-fiction aligned with their interests. Computer manuals and math theory for the oldest, Air and Space magazine and history for the youngest.</p>
<p>These scores are pretty good for a 10th grader.
I agree to both reading and the xiggi method. The math score will most likely go up on its own as a result of more math in 10th grade.
As mathmom states, any kind of reading helps. My S’s reading consisted mostly of math/science and sci-fi and fantasy fiction.</p>