Does Test Prep Work? The other day I became interviewed by Chapel Hill senior high school guidance counselor, Kristen Hiemstra.

You can listen to the complete meeting by pressing here.
We covered lot of subjects anything from why I think they ought to leave the vocabulary regarding the SAT as is, to whether I genuinely believe that test prep works. Among the topics that are many discussed were:
- Various kinds of test prep, which work and exactly why
- Commercial test prep
- Signs of good vs test prep that is bad
- Just how to encourage a teenager
- Just What the faculty Board is testing
- The most readily useful time to tour colleges
- Lessons I discovered the SAT
- Lessons I learned as a mother
We also talked about my book that is upcoming Ideal Score Project: Uncovering the Secrets of the SAT and what it’s all about.
How Much Does the SAT Count in the Admissions Decision?
So how much does the SAT Count in the Admissions choice?
SAT counts for more than colleges will admit to much less than students think.
The Academic Index the AI Calculator should shed light on ‘how much’ the SAT counts. Although AI was developed for athletes, they calculate it for all students.
Do not miss these Kitchen Table Math comments, which add more insight, including one commenter whom discovered a (slightly old) College Board report that provides a wide range of details on the decision techniques used by many universities.
[snip]
The first component is based in your SAT scores, the next part is according to your SAT II scores, and also the third component is dependant on your GPA. The link above talks about a GPA dining table provided to the eight universities, but it doesn’t explain how the GPA is calculated. It generally seems to use a scale that is weighted the most effective score is 4.3. I have not discovered exactly how this number is calculated. The spreadsheet then proceeds to select the higher rating connected with each of the two GPA figures. It’s constantly struck me that the SAT scores make up two-thirds with this index. Colleges might come with a fudge element if they know one thing of a senior school, but no option for that shows up in the example spreadsheet.
Quadruplets’ Mom Requirements SAT Advice
Dear Ms. Stier:
I recently discovered your internet site and it is loved by me! Thanks for doing it.
We could actually use some advise on the best way to approach test that is SAT for my quadruplets. [me: OMG]
I’ve 3 girls and 1 kid. They took the PSAT in sophomore and they will take the PSAT again this October year.
Certainly one of the disadvantages of having all my children the same age is that any mistakes I make affects all four. None of them benefit so I hope to get this as right as I can from me learning from my mistakes.
Do you think I should have them study as being a tiny group together under my guidance (from experience it is like trying to herd cats); get a tutor for the four of these in a small group; have someone tutor them independently; or deliver them up to a test prep center that is SAT? Or a mixture of all of these? I must watch my costs too.
How can I find a tutor that is good? What’s the best test prep business?
If these are concerns you can help me with I would appreciate it. If it is not at all something that you are able to help me then that is okay and I appreciate you taking your own time to read my email.
Thanks again for the web site info
Sincerely,
Multiple Mom
Dear Multiple Mom,
My gut says to do some come together along with four (e.g. plenty of vocab, full practice tests, and they can explain answers to one another because that is a smart way to learn), and do a little preparation separately. When you can find a tutor( that is affordable), that’s the most effective means.
Here are a couple of questions to ask a potential tutor (or test prep company):
1) would you customize your approach and, if so, how?
2) exactly What’s your average score gain per student shmoop papers writers? Many tutors will not respond to this question because there are incredibly numerous variables that it’s almost perhaps not fair to inquire of. That said, an excessive ‘average score gain’ should be a flag. e.g., 200 points in 30 days.
3) How long do you advise students to prepare for the SAT and how much does it cost? The answer that is right be individual and depends on where the student begins and what the goal is.
4) What test prep materials do you use? ( whether it’s not formal College Board material, be wary.)
5) how homework that is much there be between sessions? (A great tutor will have students do as much work as possible off the clock, such as vocab and practice tests.)
The step that is first to own all four kids take an official College Board practice SAT. You need to use one through the College Board’s Blue Book, or the university Board has a practice test on its website.
You’ll want to determine exactly what they have to work on and if they need foundational work or more test prep polish that is traditional. My guess is as I did!) that they need foundational work, because so many kids do (plus. Make sure you pick a tutor or test prep business who is able to assess that well!
Regarding test prep companies, we’d avoid anyone who does not primarily make use of College Board material (that would include most/if not all large, brand-name test prep companies).
