Should I take an SAT Prep Course?
It's March, and many students are starting to think about the SAT and ACT examinations. Reader Timothy P. wants to know some ways to get prepared:
My GPA isn't as high as I'd like it to be, so I really want to do well on the SAT. I have some friends that took a prep class and really liked it, and other friends who took a class and said it didn't help them at all. I sort of want to take one just in case, but all of them are really expensive. Could I just buy a book and practice on my own, or do I have to take a prep course? Or maybe hire a tutor? And which company is the best to use?
Hi, Timothy. The answer to the question, "do you have to take a prep course" is easy: No, you definitely do not need one. But "should you" is a different question entirely and is based on you personally.
Everyone responds differently to test preparation. Students who score in the mid-to-low range of test scores prior to class sessions tend to benefit the most from classes. Students in the highest and lowest score ranges tend to benefit the least, but can still get help from one-on-one tutors. Larger test preparation companies like The Princeton Review and Kaplan have guaranteed score increases, often about 200 points. But remember that some of this score increase comes simply from practicing the test. You might also increase 200 points on your own.
It's important to evaluate yourself as a student. Do you tend to be strongly self-driven and can easily commit to spending at least 8 hours a week working on the SAT without slacking at all? If not, helping you to overcome this is one of the biggest advantages of an SAT prep course. Because you have a teacher, a specific meeting time, and assigned homework, you're much more likely to keep up with your practice. But if you feel that you can be self-motivated, you may be fine without paying for a class.
The best thing to do is to pick up a book like the College Board's own Official SAT Study Guide
If you run through a few of these tests and you don't see yourself improving, or if you are finding it difficult to maintain focused and to set aside time to study, then you're probably a good candidate for a prep class. You don't necessarily need to spend thousands on one of the big names; a small, local company will work as well since they'll also keep you on track. But if you need help, the largest names tend to offer the best -- or at least the most consistent quality -- service.
Again, you never have to take a prep course. If you can study on your own and see improvement from your repeated practice tests, the $20 booklet will be enough. Scour the net for SAT tips (like those found right here on my own site: standardized test tips) and you should be fine. But if you ever feel like you need extra help, prep courses tend to be good investments for most students. Good luck!
Have a question or comment? Leave me one.Why You Can’t Buy ‘10 Items or Less’ and Other SAT Grammar Errors
Reader Carly F. wrote me in response to the article, Top 11 Grammar Mistakes the SAT Hopes you Make to ask about another common error:
I heard that when grocery stores say "10 items or less" that that's actually wrong. Is that true? And if so, what should it be?
Great question, Carly. And believe it or not, this is a grammar question that I have seen pop up on the SAT writing section several times. The correct answer is that the sign should say, "10 items or fewer."
The general rule is that if you can count the things you're talking about, you should use the word 'fewer'. If you can't count them, use 'less'. Since we can count 'items', we should say "10 items or fewer." The same is true for the opposite words 'greater' and 'more'.
Don't be confused by the rule about counting. The distinction is this: we may be able to count cups of coffee, but we can't count 'coffee' itself. So we say, "you should drink less coffee" or "you should drink fewer cups of coffee." Likewise, while we can count grains of sand, we can't count 'sand' itself. "This beach has less send" or "this beach has fewer grains of sand" are both correct.
This rule also applies to 'amount' and 'number': "If the amount of studying you do is high, you will score better on your SATs and get into a larger number of colleges."
'Fewer' and 'number' are words that we use so infrequently in the English language that they may as well not exist. But while these distinctions are now archaic and known only by the staunchest of grammarians, the SAT will expect you to know the differences. Earn those easy points by remembering these rules.
Thanks again, Carly. This grammar rule has been added to the common SAT grammar errors article.
Have a question or comment? Leave me one.Top 10 Most Common SAT Grammar Errors
Do you know the difference between a compliment and a complement? What about when it's appropriate to act discreetly versus discretely? Do you know whether to ask a counselor or a councilor about the correct usage of who and whom? The SAT will expect you to know all of these grammatical distinctions, and studying a quick list of the 10 most common errors is a great start and will help you to earn a few more points on the multiple choice writing section.
For the list, explanations for each term's correct usage, and tips on how to remember which word is which, proceed (or is it precede?) to my newest article, Top 10 Grammar Mistakes the SAT Hopes You Make.
A New De-emphasis on SATs in the Ivy Leagues?
There appears to be a new trend emerging at elite universities to focus less on SAT score and more on an applicant's general academic context.
While the top Ivy League schools -- colleges like Yale, Harvard, and Stanford -- don't seem to be changing their admissions standards just yet, the trend to de-emphasize the SAT is working its way upward. Smith College, for example, known for its students' economic diversity, has switched to a system of evaluating students in the context of the opportunities available to them in high school. Dean of enrollment Audrey Smith explains that SAT scores are more a reflection of a student's family income than actual merit or potential. In fact, the College Board reports that in 2007, the median SAT score for students with incomes greater than $100,000 was 1637, while students with incomes less than $50,000 had an average score of only 1462.
This certainly makes sense when considering that students from more wealthy financial backgrounds can afford college luxuries like standardized test tutors and high-priced admissions consultants.
Common acceptance of the ACT was born out of a growing distaste for the SAT at many universities. If the trend of analyzing test scores within a greater economic context becomes more common (which I believe it will), we will in all likelihood see a de-emphasis on SAT scores in the top Ivy Leagues.
Have a question or comment? 3 people do.How to prepare for the SAT essay
The essay is dreaded by almost every SAT taker. Writing a polished persuasive piece in only 25 minutes seems like a nearly impossible task at first glance. Fortunately, there are some ways to make it easier.
This website has several tips for maximizing your essay score. You should first read some general points at the SAT writing section article, then read the specific strategies you will need in 25 Minute Miracle: How to earn a 12 on the SAT essay.
Before you sit down to start practicing, though, you should read sample essays. The College Board website has nine sample essays that you can read, one example each of essays scoring 1, 2, and 3, and two examples each of those scoring 4, 5, and 6. You should read all of them to get a good idea of what the graders are looking for. Focus primarily on the difference between a score of 4 and 5, and especially on the differences between a 5 and 6.
I am willing to help out with your essay. Just head over to the contact page and paste an essay you have written. I recommend writing it in pencil first and then typing it, otherwise you won't get an accurate view of how much you can actually write in 25 minutes.
Have a question or comment? Leave me one.SAT Answer Plan: How to optimize your score
The SAT is a game of trying to be a smarter test-taker than ETS, the company that makes the SAT, is a test-maker. Self-identified "bad test takers" can learn to beat the SAT simply by practicing better testing habits.
For tips on how to outsmart ETS and optimize your SAT score, including specific strategies for each section, click here to read the full article
