What was your experience with SAT prep?

Parent Cafe
1

<p>My soon-to-be high school junior just took a “mock” SAT (offered by a SAT prep company).</p>

<p>Her results were 680 Verbal, 630 Math.</p>

<p>She went into this cold (no pre-test studying). Based on her high school grades, I actually would have expected her to do better on the math than the verbal.</p>

<p>Given the reach schools on d’s list, I’d like d to shoot for 700 on each section.</p>

<p>What option would you recommend?</p>

<ol>
<li>Self-study?</li>
<li>Expensive one-on-one tutoring, tailored to d’s learning style and areas of weakness?</li>
<li>Cheap group tutoring? (We are getting flyers in the mail about group study costing in the $280 range for multiple sessions.)</li>
</ol>

<p>If you have gone the premium route, did you think it was worth your money?</p>

<p>Or perhaps the scores are what they are, and coaching will not make that much of a difference?</p>

2

<p>There are two factors to keep in mind: your child’s motivation level and learning approach. Some kids are more productive one on one, others do fine in a classroom situation and others are so self motivated they do well just with self-study. My d took one of the major prep company’s classroom classes, did all the associated homework and improved significantly from her PSAT scores and got into her first choice school. It helped that she took the prep class with a friend.</p>

3

<p>Look in the SAT Prep threads. I think they have “pinned” the thread on the Xiggi method.</p>

<p>We paid $1000 for D to take a Kaplan class. It was a waste of money. She took it because she said she didn’t have time to self-study. But she didn’t have time to do the homework either. And she said their “tricks” for the exam just slowed her down and made everything more confusing. In the end, her math SAT was 100 points higher than the PSAT predicted, but her verbal score dropped 30 points.</p>

<p>I think the SAT prep companies purposely make the “pre” test harder to convince you that you need their training. Just a hunch.</p>

4

<p>niftydesign, do you mind sharing the prep company name? Also, what was the nature of the class work and homework?</p>

<p>Lafalum84, I kind of agree with you about prep company’s scoring to convince you to use their services. It seems especially true of their scoring on the essay section, where they have the most leeway.</p>

<p>However, with our older daughter, her mock SAT scores, PSAT score, SAT score and ACT score were pretty much in line.</p>

<p>I didn’t encourage paid-for SAT prep with our oldest because I felt she got the scores she needed to get into her targeted schools, and she also was not the type to wrap her mind around test tricks, test taking strategies, etc</p>

5

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/763933-new-feature-best-sat-prep-forum-faqs-please-read-before-posting.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/763933-new-feature-best-sat-prep-forum-faqs-please-read-before-posting.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>That’s the link to the new CC feature - it puts together all the most helpful previous threads on SAT prep, including the “xiggi method” threads (he probably could have funded his entire education if he’d sold his method instead of sharing so generously - thanks, xiggi!).</p>

<p>My youngest two kids made major gains through self-prep, the youngest one particularly (from a 200 PSAT to 2210 in a second SAT during junior year). What helped her most: doing 2 sections a week from the “10 Real SATs” book; doing the daily SAT e-mail question from the College Board (which takes a minute or less each day but familiarizes the student with the question formats); going over her PSAT booklet to analyze her errors; checking out the College Board website to read different essays that scored 4, 5, 6, etc. She did one entire test under actual timing conditions from the “10 Real SATs” book, which made for a dreadful Sunday - but later she thought it had really helped her learn to manage her time.</p>

<p>The middle d made about a 100 point gain, most of it in math, in her 2nd and last attempt. She’s a strong math student and knew she should be able to get an 800 with enough review. I’ve heard that it’s easier to make a strong improvement on the math than in the other sections.</p>

<p>My oldest (who actually scored the highest of the three of them) took the test only once and didn’t prep at all, other than taking the PSAT a few months earlier. She too thought she could improve her math score, but her GC told her sternly that she was more likely to decrease her score on a second attempt, and warned her not to try it. I’d never suggest following that advice today, but live and learn.</p>

<p>If your d is pretty self-directed and willing to put in the time, she might find that self-prep is more efficient and manageable than giving up another day or afternoon each week for a prep class.</p>

6

<p>fendrock – it was PR, and each day they did strategies for either math, CR or writing. Homework was more problems in their workbook. It worked for my d, but I’m not going that route with my s.</p>

7

<p>D needed help with only the Math portion of the SAT, so the general classes would have been a waste. If she had gone the self-study, we would have been battling constantly over whether she had done what she was supposed to do. She met with an independent coach on a free trial basis and we both rolled our eyes when her left the house. He was a poor communicator, very rigid and had a plan that really didn’t address D’s needs–so glad we tried before committing! We then tried Chyten. To be honest, I picked them because they were very new to our neck of the woods and I felt that they would be highly motivated to help D, since word of mouth means a lot in our area. They matched her with a math tutor (a high school teacher) with whom she had great chemistry. I think this was the key–she wanted to please him by doing her assignments well. He gave her a diagnostic test and was able to then focus on just the areas where she was weak (in addition to teaching the usual tips and tricks). I think she had 6 2-hour sessions, and she significantly increased her math score. It was a little hard working the sessions into her busy life, but her tutor was able to be flexible, another advantage over a class with a fixed schedule. One-on-one tutoring is pricey, but was the best route for D’s particular needs.</p>

8

<p>D2 self studied using the Blue Book and the Xiggi method. She did one retake and raised her score 270 points, which in turn raised her sights from mid-tier UCs to the Ivy League.</p>

9

<p>We went for the whole 10 yards, a 10 day residential course at Berkeley. They actually only did SAT prep 3 hr/day, and 3 days were taken up with pre/mid/post testing so actual instruction was 21 hrs. And I think they were on a trip one day so maybe even less. However, on their assessment, he went from 1900 to 2300 range. We’ll see if this translates to anywhere near reality in October. </p>

<p>I really liked not having to fuss at him and pry him off the screen to study. They also did college counseling and application prep which I wanted him to get. And it was a great chance for him to be on his own, checking out the fine local cuisine (the cafeteria that we paid for just didn’t cut it).</p>

<p>Best part? His comment “I met three muslims here, and they’re just like Christians.” Priceless. (can you tell we live in very white, white part of America?)</p>

10

<p>S refused to take any SAT prep & self-studied using the REAL SAT prep book. He has always been great at standardized tests & did great (just below 1570 out of 1600 on 1st try). He also later self-studied for several APs & got 5s (very self-sufficient).</p>

<p>D took the SAT prep course offered over the summer by her private HS. She isn’t as self-motivated & found it helpful for boning up on the math she hadn’t previously been exposed to (her vocabulary was great already because she loves reading). The course was at her HS & she took it with friends so that made it more “fun” for all of them. She isn’t as good at self-study as S & much more social. She boosted her score over her practice tests somewhat, particularly in math & said it was fairly worthwhile.</p>

11

<p>All 4 of mine took Studyworks SAT prep course that was local and could do a little customizing for them. S2 took one level of reading/writing and the highest level for math for example. They all did well the first time out and we satisfied by their results for what they wanted to accomplish. They were not particularly tuned to self study and this course had times when we could squeeze it in around other activities. None of them studied particularly hard and probably would have gotten better scores had they done so, but definite improvement between the pre-test the HS gave and the final SAT score.</p>

12

<p>Between my two kids, we’ve tried Kaplan (totally agree with Lafalum in that it was a waste of time, but they did give us our money back because S did poorly and proved he did the homework), a private ACT tutor (the most expensive ), classes held at two different high schools (marginal), self-study (cheap, but they just wouldn’t dedicate the time) and a math tutor from the local university. The latter was fairly inexpensive, but we won’t find out the results until after the Sept. ACT. Universities all seem to have “help centers” and you can get names of tutors who want extra hours. I bought a study guide, The Real ACT, and paid the guy $20/hour. D met him several times in the university library. It’s also helped her get a taste of what a college campus is like. I think this may have been our best use of time and money.</p>

13

<p>FWIW, in my long experience in education, not to mention as a parent of two very different styles of students with very different test performance histories (both standardized & non-standardized), any student who struggles with test performance and who has tried/failed with self-study, will not be helped by simply MORE self or informal study – regardless of who advises it, how it is advised, how earnestly and “differently” it is advised, or who considers himself some authority on self-study.</p>

<p>At some point, with such students, intervention is the only way. Intervention does not guarantee a score increase, but here’s what professional test prep can do, if done right: </p>

<p>(1) teach strategies of test-taking, which are not necessarily understood well or implemented well when done without guidance from someone who has more experience or is more of an expert</p>

<p>(2) provide strict time parameters (i.e., controlled conditions) in which to practice such instructed strategies. It is easy & natural to fudge on time parameters when practice-testing alone.</p>

<p>(3) compile a statistical analysis of incorrect answers. You can do that on your own, but again, few testers do that in some systematic or disciplined way, and then apply merely the areas of weakness to their <em>further</em>, narrow self-study.</p>

<p>(4) instruct efficiently in the areas of consistent weakness. You would be surprised how many high school juniors & seniors cannot identify certain grammatical rules because they were never taught them and DO NOT APPEAR IN ANY SELF-STUDY BLUE BOOK.</p>

<p>(5) many students have received insufficent mathematics instruction, particularly in the area of concepts and applications (vs. computation), as well as recognition of what category of mathematics is being asked & thus what approach to use. Most of my students have a very disjointed mathematics curriculum which does not link across platforms in a way which would encourage adequate performance on the SAT math section. For those students, professional instruction designed for the SAT math section in particular, is essential.</p>

<p>That said, not all professional test programs are created equal. Some have a much better track record of success than others, because of methodology employed, as well as their training of teachers used and the background expected of those teachers.</p>

14

<p>The way I view SAT prep, is like taking a class. Someone assigns you homework, and you do it. If you have enough motivation do assign and do your homework by yourself, then self-study by all means.</p>

15

<p>^ That is a simplistic understanding of what works differentially. If it were all, and only (or even mainly) a matter of “motivation,” than what you say would cover it. But for thousands of students, motivation is not sufficient. That’s what my reply was addressing.
:)</p>

16

<p>^ I personally know people who charge $50/hour, who themselves self-studied and are basically selling their self-studying plans. You can pay all the money you want, but when it comes down to it, it’s whether or not you do the work. </p>

<p>I view SAT prep as more of a placebo, if anything. You feel like you’re automatically going to do better just because you invested money in it. You may be less nervous and less likely to second guess yourself because of that, but you don’t need to pay to get that feeling.</p>

<p>Edit: I don’t know your children and what style they have of learning. If professionals did it for them, then that’s fine.</p>

17

<p>It’s not just “my children.” (First child fell into category most students do on CC, and most responders on this thread are discussing.) It’s my many students over many years in education. Those were not helped by motivation or placebos, but by professional intervention only.</p>

<p>Many people on CC have a very narrow experience when it comes to learning styles & testing histories. Including people on this particular thread apparently, who believe One-Size-Fits-All. (Not.)</p>

<p>EDIT: When describing professional intervention, I am <em>not</em> talking about group classes. The statistical analysis of group classes has found them to be unreliable for the vast majority of enrollees (vs. other methods). I’m speaking strictly of one-on-one instruction, which has been the only thing proven to have score-increase value for most, I say most, of those enrolled. The warning to this is that even 1:1 instruction is only effective when students do their SAT homework between instructional sessions. All students who have talked to me regarding any ineffectiveness of 1:1 instruction – & whose before/after scores I had access to – were the ones who failed to study their vocabulary & do the other related assignments. For those people, professional test prep (I agree) is a complete waste of money. In short, those students just don’t want to work. In the end, the student himself will determine the score, not his or her instructor.</p>

18

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</p>

<p>How does this not prove my point? :stuck_out_tongue:
One-on-one instructors basically sell their self-studying plans.</p>

19

<p>No. Not at all within “your point.”</p>

<p>It’s important to have wide knowledge of a field if you want to have any credibility about it. The instructors do not sell “self-studying.” Self-studying is an adjunct of 1:1 test prep instruction AFTER THE STUDENTS KNOW WHAT AND HOW TO STUDY, which is precisely what they did not know, and were never formally instructed on, prior to such enrollment. Furthermore, the instruction is personalized to that student’s individual needs, strengths, weaknesses – which will be different from yours or mine.</p>

<p>Second, self-study (in the area I am talking about, homework applying the targeted instruction received, which guaranteed is not locatable in a test-prep book) is only one aspect of 1:1 instruction. The other aspects you conveniently glossed over are the garbage mathematics curiculum and teaching methodology experienced by millions of elementary, middle, and high school students in this country (as opposed to some of the superior overseas methodologies), as well as the minimalist grammar instruction, minimalist critical reading instruction & opportunities to practice that, not to mention almost absent writing instruciton in many typically middle-class suburban high schools.</p>

<p>“It worked for me” or “it worked for my child” is not an argument for or against professional test prep in particular situations. It answers the question on the thread, which requested personal experience. That’s all it does. You have limited world experience in which to make a judgment about educational experiences you are clearly not acquainted with.</p>

20

<p>Undoubtedly professionals do to a certain extent tailor to a student’s needs, and I’m not opposed to professional help, I’m only of the opinion it is not so much as needed as wanted. </p>

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<p>Self-studying in no way can make up for substandard teachers. I do agree that I have “conveniently glossed over” that possibility, but professional help in particular for the SATs would not help with that. Only tutoring the actual curriculum would help with that.</p>

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<p>I thank you for entirely discounting my opinion, and I would like to end this argument.</p>