How much does SAT prep really help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The randomized-control trials usually find that tutoring helps about 0-50 SAT points on average.

The biggest predictor of an increase in scores is that your kid WANTS to get better and will study hard.

You can't force-feed studying. (At least most people can't).

Billions of Asians can and do force feed studying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Currently working with a tutor, summer before 11th. Started at 1280 and last practice was 1470. Hoping for more gains before summer ended.

Exact same

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally start no more than 3 months before the test. "Years in advance" is too much, they'll get burned out.

You might get 100 to 150 points, but that may not be the tutor so much as the fact that using the tutor forces the kid to take lots of practice tests. If the kid practiced constantly with tests available online, that would usually provide the same benefit as a tutor.

Yes to this. I'm a former Kaplan tutor. You can absolutely get someone up by 100-200 points with a few months of tutoring (which mostly consists of learning strategies, and taking tests, going over every problem they get wrong to figure out why, and making sure they know how to get it right next time.)

Don't start in 9th, it's a waste of time, but DO encourage them to read challenging material and be aware of vocabulary/learn Latin and Greek roots.

Latin Greek root is antiquated advice. The test has changed so much since when you were a tutor. Vocabulary is hardly a thing anymore.

NP: not since the digital test started…vocab is back.

[Anonymous]

31 to 35 with ten one hour sessions on strategy and reviewing practice tests. January to March of junior year, then took the second official test. Great to have it out of h to r way before starting essay/apps over summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The randomized-control trials usually find that tutoring helps about 0-50 SAT points on average.

The biggest predictor of an increase in scores is that your kid WANTS to get better and will study hard.

You can't force-feed studying. (At least most people can't).

This.

And SAT isn’t weighted as heavily as it used to be.

Has your kid taken it once yet?

I purchased test prep for my kid because he was an anxious mess when it came to taking standardized tests. He knew the material but was nervous. Test prep is most helpful for students like this.

[Anonymous]

Well, yes and no. My kid e took PSAT in his 9th, 10th and 11th grade. Linking collegeboard account and PSAT scores with Khan Academy, gave him a very good idea of what and how he needed to study for SAT. He practiced on real past SAT exams on Khan academy and improved from that.

To begin with, my kid is a strong student and he excelled in Math and English at school. So there was no knowledge gap academically. The SAT practice on Khan Academy just allowed him to become familiar with the format and the types of questions. So the self prep helped.

Paying for SAT prep is an utter waste of time imho. BUT, paying for tutors to make your kids master the content that is taught at school is worth the money.

But, it does help students to practice on the free resources that are available online on Khan Academy.

[Anonymous]

Tutor got my daughters score up more than 200 points.

[Anonymous]

My DC went from a 26 to 33 with an ACT tutor. I think it was 10 hours of tutoring plus 3 or 4 practice tests.

[Anonymous]

Test prep is good for three things:

Discipline: a weekly tutoring session and homework ensures your kid will actually do the prep.

Efficiency: the prep your kid is doing will be appropriately targeted, so they should be able to spend less time on it.

Tips and tricks: Even for a kid with a strong knowledge base, there are lots of shortcuts that will help them with time and picking the right answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone commented on another thread: "I’m an SAT tutor. You can’t tutor a mediocre kid into a 1500+ kid. Sorry, but don’t waste your money."

So how much does it really help? And when is it useful to begin tutoring? For example, if you hired a tutor for your 9th grader and have him work with the coach weekly for a couple of years, is your 9th grader going to do worlds better than he otherwise would have due to the prep?

What might really help for the verbal scores is subscribing to the Washington Post or Washington Times print subscription when your kid’s in middle school and encouraging your kid to read it every day and write letters to the editor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Currently working with a tutor, summer before 11th. Started at 1280 and last practice was 1470. Hoping for more gains before summer ended.

Exact same

Pls don’t base your prediction on the practice tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Currently working with a tutor, summer before 11th. Started at 1280 and last practice was 1470. Hoping for more gains before summer ended.

Exact same

Pls don’t base your prediction on the practice tests.

Yes the real world result will usually be lower than when you do a practice test in the kitchen at home.

Last November DS came out of the test grumbling that some other fscking kid in the room had been coughing constantly throughout the test. Improved the experience for everyone!

[Anonymous]

Khan Academy worked wonders. An hour a day for two months

[Anonymous]

I have a DD who ranks in the top of her public high school, gets straight A's in rigorous classes and 5's in her AP exams.

We hired an expensive, one-on-one tutor to work with her on SAT practice. Her actual exam grade was only something like 30 points higher than her first practice exam.

It was a total waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a DD who ranks in the top of her public high school, gets straight A's in rigorous classes and 5's in her AP exams.

We hired an expensive, one-on-one tutor to work with her on SAT practice. Her actual exam grade was only something like 30 points higher than her first practice exam.

It was a total waste of time.

What were the before and after scores?