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[quote=Anonymous]Here's the rest of what I have said to my kids:

[quote]A kid with the drive and work ethic to have the GPA in the right courses [b]may benefit from some sample tests and some reading about test strategies, but that kid does not necessarily need extensive (and expensive!) prep courses or private tutoring that goes on for months. [/b]You can take these tests as many times as you want, so it doesn't matter if you mess up one day. Scores go up just by taking the test again anyway. And no matter how much prep is done, a kid who is scoring in the 500s on each section is not going to raise the score to the 700s by prepping, except maybe in math since that is the easiest section to prep for. [/quote]

It's not leaving the score to chance at all, in my opinion.   A student who works hard in tough courses is learning a [b]lot[/b] every day.  If a kid is getting a score in the 200s on the PSAT as a ninth grader, he is not likely to score lower on the SAT two years later as an eleventh grader, and will likely score higher. He's had two more years of learning to draw on! That kid's college prospects can benefit more from pouring time and energy into an outside activity that he loves than from spending that same time in a test prep course.  On the other hand, a kid who doesn't score so well on the PSAT probably will need some extra help. It's a matter of making choices and making the wisest use of time and resources for each family's circumstances.

I don't really care what other families choose to do in respect to SAT/ACT prep. For some kids, some time spent prepping/reviewing at home is enough to get great results. They have no need to spend a large amount of  time or money on long courses or tutors. Other families find courses and/or tutors to be useful or even necessary for some kids who have difficulty with standardized tests. Different people make different choices that work for them.

In any event, the SAT and ACT are not the be all and end all and they do not have determinative power over a teenager's future. If one had to choose between a test prep course or studying tough courses in school and achieving a high GPA, I would prioritize the GPA and the rigorous high school curriculum. A great GPA in the highest level courses shows colleges a four year record of hard work and achievement that demonstrates that a student is capable of success in college.

(I did not go to JMU nor have any of my children, but it is a good choice for many people and they have many successful graduates. Most people would consider it to be on a different level than NOVA.)

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