How much does SAT prep help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Junior did the Princeton Review 1400 course online. DC had a 9th grade PSAT score of 1220. DC got a 1430 (750 verbal and 680 math) on the SAT at the end of the summer and then a 1440 on the PSAT this fall, which equates to commended level. DC is redoing the Princeton Review course (it is no cost because of their satisfaction guarantee but I rebought the books so DC could start fresh) and will retake the SAT in March. This was DC's choice and having a class is much better for DC's temperament than self study would be.

We had a similar experience with my DS. He had PSAT scores of 1210 in 9th grade and 1220 in 10th grade. He took the Princeton Review in-person course and got 1460 (680 V/780M). As the DC gets older, the bump-up from PSAT to SAT should shrink, but a 250 point gain is still great.

I do agree that it is a matter of motivation and discipline. Some kids can do all of this online or using books. However, interacting with a teacher (and interacting with fellow students/victims) helps.

We will do this again for my younger DS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1150 on the PSAT as a junior may not translate to a higher score on the SAT. If you DC was a freshman with an 1150, I think you might see a steep climb in the SAT by the time they are a junior.

I think test prep would help-- it's not so straightforward as "my child is not a good test taker." I recall many, many years ago on the GRE that *how* you take the test (e.g. prioritize which questions to answer) makes a lot of difference. The skill and underlying knowledge has to be there, but if the foundations are there, taking a test is a skill that can be taught and learned.

this this this. so much here is on how to take the test. took a test prep class for GRE - the best $900 I ever spent. once i figured out how to take the test, i put most of my time into augmenting my lagging math skills. For DC2, once he learned *how* to take the ACT, he devoted his time into locking down his math skills, which was the weakest section for him. Scores went from low to mid 20s across all four sections to a 34 on the first sitting with no section below 30. DC opted to not sit again to see if score could pop to 35/35, mainly b/c DC thought there had been a degree of luck in that sitting and may not be able to replicate again.

OP, has your DC taken a diagnostic to see if the SAT really is the best test for them?

Not yet. I’m ignorant. Where would we find a diagnostic? With a test prep company?

Good news!! I confused 8th grade and junior scores. Yeah, big mistake!! Score shows 99th percentile for reading BUT mat is not good. I see where we need to do work!

OP

Our independent offered a diagnostic for all juniors (a good number of students were already into test prep so skipped the school test) as did the test company. DC mentioned above was diagnosed as being better suited for the ACT. Had great verbal score, but only so-so for math on SAT. Test prep said his chances for improving were probably limited on SAT, so DC studied for ACT. Really was able to raise his math score. He also had just an amazing tutor who really inspired him as if he were a competitive athlete.

[Anonymous]

My child got 1460on first practice test then prepped with khan academy (thoroughly) and 2 months after that practice test got 1540 and was done. Khan academy is an amazing and free resource but it does require the kid to do it including reading the explanations of what they got wrong and some kids simply won’t do that without a tutor right next to them.

[Anonymous]

It's worth it...my kid improved 180 points after taking class. He wanted to score a little higher (to break 1500), so did some work on his own with books/Khan Academy to focus on weaker areas and ended up going up another 60 or 70 points.