Why is there a market for college prep books?

[IndianParent]

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iP, just out of curiosity. What % of Indian students have access to high school?

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<p>100%, as Govt schools are everywhere and free. Now, do kids go to the schools? Not always.</p>

<p>Now, I would like the stop the discussion about India as it is going to do nothing but induce negativity.</p>

[xrCalico23]

<p>IP- Or rather, more so than the student would in the classroom. :rolleyes:</p>

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All the schools have the exact same curriculum within a state, and pretty much across the states as well. The uniformity enables not requiring another examination.

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<p>While state implemented exams are also here in the U.S., and our schools do prepare the kids for them, the SAT is something meant only for people who want to apply to colleges that require the test. It is optional, and SAT prep has little meaning if you’ve decided that the SAT doesn’t apply to you.</p>

[IndianParent]

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the SAT is something meant only for people who want to apply to colleges that require the test. It is optional, and SAT prep has little meaning if you’ve decided that the SAT doesn’t apply to you.

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<p>Fair point, but I still don’t get why anyone would need SAT prep after years of English Lit and math in school. That should be preparation enough. If not, then I don’t know what the schools are teaching.</p>

[xrCalico23]

<p>(Also, something to be careful about if self studying for the APs is that sometimes, a high school may have some strange policy that doesn’t you take the equivalent course if you’ve already passed the AP exam.)</p>

[IndianParent]

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Also, something to be careful about if self studying for the APs is that sometimes, a high school may have some strange policy that doesn’t you take the equivalent course if you’ve already passed the AP exam.

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<p>Why would you need to take the course if you have already passed the exam?</p>

[sorghum]

<p>IP, you should know that any standard or standardized testing system whether in the US, India or elsewhere, results in a an organized for-profit industry of help to prepare for the tests. Preparing for a test with repeat, reinforcing, or additional material is perfectly normal. </p>

<p>You always seem to give this faux shock and surprise about how things are done in the US.</p>

[IndianParent]

<p>Dude, I have been in this country for many decades now. This is home. I am not shocked by most everything in the USA that I have experienced. In particular, I love the capitalist meritocracy. I am just new to the US K-12 and college education process. Give me time. I will get used to it.</p>

<p>But can we please not personalize this? I have a thick skin so I don’t care, but someone else will get upset and there will be an issue. I am happy to take all kinds of criticism over PM.</p>

[wjb]

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I still don’t get why anyone would need SAT prep after years of English Lit and math in school. That should be preparation enough. If not, then I don’t know what the schools are teaching.

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<p>SAT prep revolves around the development of specific problem-solving strategies and empathic strategy skills, not mastery of course content.</p>

[xrCalico23]

<p>Because unless it’s one of the special high school offering tons of APs, you don’t want to be shut out of the only rigorous courses available.</p>

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I still don’t get why anyone would need SAT prep after years of English Lit and math in school.

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<p>Exactly what wjb said. I don’t know how best to explain the difference, but are you familiar with the AMC competition? Someone who has taken higher level calculus may have a hard time with AMC questions meant for ninth graders, even though these questions don’t require concepts from higher math at all. The SAT is like that, a different styled test. A little practice and increased exposure to the type of question that the SAT asks can be very helpful.</p>

[IndianParent]

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Because unless it’s one of the special high school offering tons of APs, you don’t want to be shut out of the only rigorous courses available.

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<p>But if you have already passed the exam, why would you need the course again?</p>

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I don’t know how best to explain the difference, but are you familiar with the AMC competition? Someone who has taken higher level calculus may have a hard time with AMC questions meant for ninth graders, even though these questions don’t require concepts from higher math at all. Some of the math questions on the SAT are like that, to a lesser extent.

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<p>Dude, come on now.</p>

[sorghum]

<p>IP dude, don’t be naive. You know that if you want to prepare for a test you buy a book. It was like that 30 years ago in India, and still today, and everywhere else too. </p>

<p>As an exercise, why don’t you sit down unprepared and take a whole SAT reasoning test under timed conditions? I very much doubt you will get 800 for any section.</p>

[davidthefat]

<p>May be that would even out the playing field. How are low income students supposed to compete with kids who have parents that can get them coaches and classes?</p>

[bovertine]

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I have no idea GAMOM. I personally scored higher in verbal than in quant for both GRE and GMAT.

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<p>IP - the implication here is that you didn’t score 800 on the GRE Math. Don’t let ParentofIvyHope find out.</p>

<p>Edit: Unless you mean you scored at a higher percentile on the Verbal.</p>

[xrCalico23]

<p>Of course, if the option is there to be able to take other challenging classes that interest you, that’s great, but the reality is that at many high schools, a certain number of credits is required to graduate, and there aren’t many challenging, interesting classes offered. Most students I know would rather retake the Physics C they’ve self studied and learn something that they’ve missed than be stuck in the basket weaving class senior year ;)</p>

<p>Edit: It was merely a suggestion for something to be considered that I thought you may find helpful.</p>

[emeraldkity4]

<p>100%, as Govt schools are everywhere and free. Now, do kids go to the schools? Not always.</p>

<p>Why is that?
is the graduation rate really only 7%? ( out of the 15% who go on to high school).</p>

[IndianParent]

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As an exercise, why don’t you sit down unprepared and take a whole SAT reasoning test under timed conditions? I very much doubt you will get 800 for any section.

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<p>I am sure I won’t. I didn’t get any 800s in GRE and GMAT. Is a perfect score the passing grade these days? Besides, can we please stop with the personalizing? You will end up offending someone and I will be in trouble.</p>

[IndianParent]

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Why is that?
is the graduation rate really only 7%? ( out of the 15% who go on to high school).

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<p>Send me a PM, I will respond. No more India related posts for me.</p>

[IndianParent]

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Of course, if the option is there to be able to take other challenging classes that interest you, that’s great, but the reality is that at many high schools, a certain number of credits is required to graduate, and there aren’t many challenging, interesting classes offered. Most students I know would rather retake the Physics C they’ve self studied and learn something that they’ve missed than be stuck in the basket weaving class senior year

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<p>That is a good point. Didn’t think of that. But aren’t there college courses kids can take? Also, don’t you get credit for AP courses if you have already passed the exam?</p>

[IndianParent]

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IP - the implication here is that you didn’t score 800 on the GRE Math. Don’t let ParentofIvyHope find out.</p>

<p>Edit: Unless you mean you scored at a higher percentile on the Verbal.

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<p>Don’t remember what I scored but it was surely not 800. Think I scored even lower in GMAT math.</p>

[thumper1]

<p>What is the real question you have here…there is a market for college prep books because some students want to use them and therefore they buy them. That’s it.</p>