If you had private SAT tutoring for your kid - how long did he/she do the prep?

[Anonymous]

Not us (we're poor) but a family friend has invited DS to take private tutoring with their son. This is an expensive, top tutor and there will just be my son and her son in the session. Neither the other mother nor I are sure about how long a successful SAT tutoring sessions should take in terms of weeks/months before the test. the kids will meet with the tutor once during the week for two hours and on Saturdays for four hours. And the kids will be responsible for doing daily SAT assignments.

How many weeks should this continue? DS and the other kid are both great students and dedicated.

Thank you! I don't want the tutor to talk my friend into more than is good for both boys.

[Anonymous]

My kid didn't do private...but for those I know who did, six hours per week with the tutor seems excessive for kids who are already great students.

[Anonymous]

That seems like a lot. My kids had a private tutor once a week for one hour starting about three months before the test. However, they took quite a few full length practice tests on weekends that the tutor then went over with them the next day. So, every other week - a practice test - but you don't need to pay the tutor to administer the test.

I am also not sure why you would want semi-private lessons - seems like your son and his friend might have very different things they need to work on.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone recommend a private tutor they have used?

[Anonymous]

Where are you? If in Northern VA, no one is better than Albert Silverman who teaches out of a commercial townhouse on Kilworth Lane in Springfield near TJ HS. Many TJ students go to him and his stated goal is for each of his students to be a National Merit Scholar and get 800s on each section. He was recommended by a friend whose child took the class and got a perfect score and is now at Stanford. My daughter actually enjoyed his twice a week classes and found them very worthwhile. She didn't get 800s but came very close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That seems like a lot. My kids had a private tutor once a week for one hour starting about three months before the test. However, they took quite a few full length practice tests on weekends that the tutor then went over with them the next day. So, every other week - a practice test - but you don't need to pay the tutor to administer the test.

I am also not sure why you would want semi-private lessons - seems like your son and his friend might have very different things they need to work on.

Op here. We cannot afford a tutor. My friend is being gracious in including my DS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are you? If in Northern VA, no one is better than Albert Silverman who teaches out of a commercial townhouse on Kilworth Lane in Springfield near TJ HS. Many TJ students go to him and his stated goal is for each of his students to be a National Merit Scholar and get 800s on each section. He was recommended by a friend whose child took the class and got a perfect score and is now at Stanford. My daughter actually enjoyed his twice a week classes and found them very worthwhile. She didn't get 800s but came very close.

National Merit is based on SAT scores? I didn't know that.

How long was his twice weekly class (one hour?) and how long did she take the class before the SAT? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

We followed the US News guidelines with a semiprivate tutor and they said that in total, students should plan to spend 12-15 hours a week on prep starting six to eight weeks before they plan to take the final test. The study course should offer practice at least once a week for four weeks.

DS did it with his girlfriend and DS got a 1540. Girlfriend got a 1500.

[Anonymous]

That is a helluva lot of time per week. At that pace I would assume a max of 6 weeks should have it covered. Do others agree?

[Anonymous]

OP - DCUM does not believe in prepping or does not admit to it..

Seriously though, get as much prep as you can without affecting your son's school activities. What's the worst that can happen?

[Anonymous]

Do your children have learning disabilities or did they go to public school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We followed the US News guidelines with a semiprivate tutor and they said that in total, students should plan to spend 12-15 hours a week on prep starting six to eight weeks before they plan to take the final test. The study course should offer practice at least once a week for four weeks.

DS did it with his girlfriend and DS got a 1540. Girlfriend got a 1500.

Seriously? That seems like a lot of prep. I am curious if your ds did a practice test before starting prep and whether he noticed a noticeable improvement in his scores after studying for so long.
I am planning to have my ds take a practice test on the Khan academy website a few months before the test to see if he actually needs to prep. He did pretty well on the PSAT without any prep (I think his total was 1460). If he gets less than 1500 on the SAT practice test, we will consider prep. Not sure whether it makes sense to sign up for a time consuming class. I might consider hiring a tutor for 4-6 hours to give targeted advice if it is not too expensive. Still a year away from needing to make these decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do your children have learning disabilities or did they go to public school?

OP here. No learning disabilities but yes, he is in public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We followed the US News guidelines with a semiprivate tutor and they said that in total, students should plan to spend 12-15 hours a week on prep starting six to eight weeks before they plan to take the final test. The study course should offer practice at least once a week for four weeks.

DS did it with his girlfriend and DS got a 1540. Girlfriend got a 1500.

Seriously? That seems like a lot of prep. I am curious if your ds did a practice test before starting prep and whether he noticed a noticeable improvement in his scores after studying for so long.
I am planning to have my ds take a practice test on the Khan academy website a few months before the test to see if he actually needs to prep. He did pretty well on the PSAT without any prep (I think his total was 1460). If he gets less than 1500 on the SAT practice test, we will consider prep. Not sure whether it makes sense to sign up for a time consuming class. I might consider hiring a tutor for 4-6 hours to give targeted advice if it is not too expensive. Still a year away from needing to make these decisions.

DS also did the same sort of prep - with the girlfriend - for the PSAT in the beginning of this year. I don't know if they did any practice test prior to starting, I assume they did to get base scores. It was just something that both always knew they would do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We followed the US News guidelines with a semiprivate tutor and they said that in total, students should plan to spend 12-15 hours a week on prep starting six to eight weeks before they plan to take the final test. The study course should offer practice at least once a week for four weeks.

DS did it with his girlfriend and DS got a 1540. Girlfriend got a 1500.

15 hours per week for 8 weeks? Crazy.