<p>" I’ve been out of college for a few years, and what I do day-to-day has little to do with algebra or geometry; I can still probably do reasonably well on the test if I took it today. "
-Maybe you, but most kids do not. They do not teach math correctly. If you were lucky to have taught this subject correctly, I agree, there is nothing to remember, you will know it for the rest of your life. But it is not the common case. Many very advanced kids fail to prep. and they got punished by that. Anybody could score 33 - 34 in ACT math (and whatever corresponding SAT) if they only spend few hours of preparation for math section. Unfortunately, it is not true for Reading and English. If you are a big reader, then most likely than not, your Reading score will be high, if you are a good writer, than most likely than not, your English score will be high. One needs to know own strenghts and weaknesses to develop customized prep. program.</p>