Anyone Not having their High School Junior do an SAT Prep Course this spring?

[luvmarypoppins]

Well dh and I have talked this over and dh and ds seem not to want to do this. Also older ds chimed in that it didnt really help him, it would be the same course. Middle ds is definetely Not motivated to do this. He just did the PSAT and it was average, not bad, not fantastic. Also other factors are timing, its over 9:30 pm, very late, very far away and he said there might be 2 kids in the class who are just a total distraction to everyone else. I think he should take the class. I also offered him another option of a place closer to home, he didnt like the hours, sunday afternoon, o.k. he works all day sat., church sun. morning and he said he would not be able to do his regular homework. He also said, oh I wont know anyone there. I said, this is not social, its learning. DS 19 tells us to just borrow an sat book his other friends parents have because they paid alot of money for it and it covers everything. Hmm. I just dont know what to do at this point. The class starts in march but I dont want him to be closed out etc. TIA.

 

[Barb D]

We'll be making this decision soon, too. I've heard that the "blue" SAT prep book is supposed to be really good, FWIW. I'll have to find out what that means. I'm sure someone will be along to tell me.

 

[NDAMomX2]

Sign him up on collegeboard.com and he will get a question every day. Also buy the SAT prep book at Barnes and Noble. The prep book does cover everything, have him do the tests in a quiet room and time him. This will help with concentration and give him some structure. Prep courses are great, but if your DS wont be motivated in the class you have to decide if it would be worth it.

We'll be making this decision soon, too. I've heard that the "blue" SAT prep book is supposed to be really good, FWIW. I'll have to find out what that means. I'm sure someone will be along to tell me.
__________________

My DD has the SAT "blue" book and it did wonders for her PSAT score. Very helpfull!

 

[Sandy V.]

DS isn't because we just didn't think it made a significant difference on DD's scores when she took the prep course two years ago.

I would recommend going to collegeboard.com and doing the daily questions as well as buying a practice book or CD-Rom for him to do at home.

 

[missypie]

When collegeboard.com gives you the question, does it later give you the answer?

 

[shirleyb]

My DS will not be. Like me, he's very good at standardized tests, so I don't feel the need. I will have him check out collegeboard.com, I had not heard of that.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My son, who is a junior, has not done the course yet and does not want to do it. He just took the test for the first time on Saturday. He's been studying (or so he says ) and I'll look into the "question a day".

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

At this point we are not planning on my DD taking a prep course. She aced the PSAT and does the word of the day from the CollegeBoard web site and she seems to do really well on standardized tests.

Her school is having an information night next week for parents of Juniors and since she is our oldest and it is our first time going through all of this, we are going to the Info Night. My answer to the Prep course may be different after next week.

 

[Hedy]

I didn't, and I got into a top notch college. If you're happy with their PSATS, why waste the money?

 

[luvtogo12]

We are still debating if DD will take the prep class or not. I have received mixed reviews. Some say it helped, others say it did not help.

Collegeboards.com is a great source for information. I have the question of the day e-mail to me and to my DD as well. I do pretty well on them.

 

[becka]

I guess I am older than I thought but aren't these tests supposed to be aptitude tests and not necessarily based on what you know like a chapter test would be in school? I can see wanting to take some practice tests just so a student is comfortable with the sections and the types of questions that will be asked but to spend lots of money on those courses just seems like a waste. I would imagine that they don't improve scores by much more than a 100 points at best. I would think some basic standardized testing tips and a few practice tests would accomplish the same thing for most kids.

 

[Barb D]

When collegeboard.com gives you the question, does it later give you the answer?

DS and I both get the "SAT Question of the Day" by e-mail. We signed up for it on the college boards web site after he got his PSAT scores back. You click on your answer, and it takes you to a web page that tells you if you got it right or not, and explains the right answer.

I'm not sure if just anyone can sign up for this, or if you have to have the code they give you with your PSAT scores.

ETA: Here's a link:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/prep_one/prep_one.html

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I guess I am older than I thought but aren't these tests supposed to be aptitude tests and not necessarily based on what you know like a chapter test would be in school? I can see wanting to take some practice tests just so a student is comfortable with the sections and the types of questions that will be asked but to spend lots of money on those courses just seems like a waste. I would imagine that they don't improve scores by much more than a 100 points at best. I would think some basic standardized testing tips and a few practice tests would accomplish the same thing for most kids.

I agree..

The biggest thing that helped me was vocabulary drills.

I did the test booklet pre-test the night before my SAT just for kicks...

If your student has test taking issues, a course would certainly be helpful...they can always retake it at a later date and IIRC, the schools take the combo of best scores (so for me it was the highest math/highest verbal).

 

[christineann]

The courses I've seen advertised are really expensive. Get a good night sleep and eat breakfast.

I agree with the other posters about Collegeboard.com.

 

[disneymom3]

I guess I am older than I thought but aren't these tests supposed to be aptitude tests and not necessarily based on what you know like a chapter test would be in school? I can see wanting to take some practice tests just so a student is comfortable with the sections and the types of questions that will be asked but to spend lots of money on those courses just seems like a waste. I would imagine that they don't improve scores by much more than a 100 points at best. I would think some basic standardized testing tips and a few practice tests would accomplish the same thing for most kids.

That was my thought too. I am confused why these would even be offerred let alone be expensive. What is the point?

 

[Snowysmom]

My older DS took a SAT prep course and it really did not help him at all. So, we did not make younger DS take it. DH worked with DS a bit before the tests with math problems and vocabulary. DS also took some practice tests in a SAT book we got at Barnes and Noble. DS did well on his SATs, scoring higher the second time he took them. He got in early action to both schools he was interested in so not taking the prep course did not hurt him. The library I work at has a database that includes practice SAT tests. Ask at your library to see if they subscribe to this database. It has all kinds of standardized tests. Practice tests do help.