Test Preparation

There is currently some controversy about whether or not attending special prep classes helps raise one's score on the SAT. There are a number of people who offer such courses, and we have seen students improve their scores after having taken a prep class. But we have also seen scores stay the same. Two factors are most important. First (and this is the official position of the College Board), if the student is willing to spend a great deal of time on preparation, the equivalent of at least one academic course, the scores tend to rise somewhat. But taking the course without doing the work makes little or no difference. Second, if the student is feeling panicked about the tests, a prep course, because it familiarizes one with the tests (taking the tests over and over), may be helpful.

It boils down to this: the tests measure aptitude and, to a certain extent, preparation. (For example, taking the math SAT without having had geometry is ridiculous; and if a student has a poor vocabulary, the verbal tests will reflect that.) If a student really works hard on verbal preparation and increases his/her vocabulary remarkably, then his/her score will undoubtedly rise. But that will take a great deal of time, and the chances of a student's having that much time, in addition to that required by his/her studies, are slim. Familiarization (strategy and timing) may be helpful, but even so, to expect a huge increase in scores is probably unwise. A 30 point Standard Error of Measurement variation in score is normal for the tests, anyway, so be careful about courses that claim they raise scores 30 points.

In all cases, we advise students to do some kind of review. It is always helpful to get into the rhythm of the test and to know what kinds of questions are likely to be asked. If nothing else, it will give you more time to do the test itself rather than trying to figure out the directions. Familiarity can also relieve some test anxiety.