How much does SAT prep really help?

[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?

They say about 150 points if first test was below 1400.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind the increases are often from a single sitting 10th grade practice test to a super scored one by start of senior year. It’s not surprising to see a 150 point increase with effort, time, and superscoring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I left those out. You can ask or assume, but that's private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I left those out. You can ask or assume, but that's private.

But it matters. If she was at 1470, the room for growth is pretty narrow, and 30 points got her to 1500, which is an important threshold for some schools. If she was at 1270, yes, 30 points is disappointing for all of that work.

[Anonymous]

My dc had a 1050 psat, and were hoping to get to 1200-1300. She struggles with test taking, anxiety and some of the math thought processes.

We’re in session 2 of 8 summer sessions w a tutor so we’ll see how she does in August.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I left those out. You can ask or assume, but that's private.

But it matters. If she was at 1470, the room for growth is pretty narrow, and 30 points got her to 1500, which is an important threshold for some schools. If she was at 1270, yes, 30 points is disappointing for all of that work.

So you understand, without my needing to supply those details.

[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.

I assume her scores were already very high with stats like that. So maybe she hit a wall? Most kids do. Despite all prepping there is a natural stop point.
If she was 1490 to start, and ended at 1520 then that may be as high as she can get.

[Anonymous]

This is why the SAT and ACT are such a joke. The more money and time you spend on test prep, the higher the score. Sure, free Khan Academy can help. But parents with money and ambition are doing classes, one-on-one coaching and prep, with 250/hour tutors. A farce to say this measures intelligence or college readiness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why the SAT and ACT are such a joke. The more money and time you spend on test prep, the higher the score. Sure, free Khan Academy can help. But parents with money and ambition are doing classes, one-on-one coaching and prep, with 250/hour tutors. A farce to say this measures intelligence or college readiness.

the more time NOT money, but yeah money helps with lack of motivation but it doesnt really with lack of IQ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why the SAT and ACT are such a joke. The more money and time you spend on test prep, the higher the score. Sure, free Khan Academy can help. But parents with money and ambition are doing classes, one-on-one coaching and prep, with 250/hour tutors. A farce to say this measures intelligence or college readiness.

Guess what else involves a commitment of time and money? College.

Maybe trade school placement is a more suitable option for individuals who cannot perform to certain levels on standardized tests, which ARE predictive of college preparedness and readiness.

[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.

My kid started at 1330 with true practice test. 4 hours of targeted individual tutoring. Next "real practice test" (ie a real SAT from 1-2 years before) put them at 1500. They did 3 more practice tests with 1 hour of tutoring in between to go over tricks and identify areas of mistakes. Every practices test (4) after tutoring started was around 1500. first Real SAT was 1490. 2nd and final Real SAT was 1500.

Key is the practice tests and baseline were started at 8/9am. You need to simulate real test situations (which was key for my kid as they are a go to bed at 3am and sleep until 1pm as their natural sleep cycle). But for us, the practice tests were spot on.

[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.

Where did she start?

It's much easier to raise a 1200/1300 than a 1500.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I left those out. You can ask or assume, but that's private.

Then why post on the anonymous forum? It's relevant. 30 points from a 1300 starting point is low. 30 points from a 1500 starting point is excellent and expected

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dc had a 1050 psat, and were hoping to get to 1200-1300. She struggles with test taking, anxiety and some of the math thought processes.

We’re in session 2 of 8 summer sessions w a tutor so we’ll see how she does in August.

The key is to do 1-1 tutoring along with practice tests weekly. You need to simulate real test situations (start the exam at 8am not noon). You need to do it exactly as the real test goes, with the limited breaks.

[Anonymous]

Didn't help in our case. Kid attended every class and no major improvement. In retrospect, they needed accommodations though.