Advice: SAT prep

Ann McRae

So my son needs to write the SAT - for U.S. university consideration. Any advice on the best (and quickest) prep mechanism?

ann

JenGrace

I don't know if this is an option for you, but a lot of community colleges offer SAT prep classes. Books are good to give an idea of what the test is like, but I've known many people (myself included) who did no prep other than doing some actual learning in school and did very well on the SAT. One thing I learned from experience, take the night off from work before the test and get some rest!

Seefutlung

Ann McRae wrote:

So my son needs to write the SAT - for U.S. university consideration. Any advice on the best (and quickest) prep mechanism?

ann

There are free SAT study courses on-line. (In the US, government tries very hard to maintain an even playing field ... so it felt it wasn't fair that students with money could afford SAT study courses while those without were at a disadvantage... so it has sponsored free SAT study courses.)

If you have a problem finding them or if you can't decide which is the best email me and I send you a recommendation. I believe that Princeton Review is the organization which issues the SAT, I would start my search there. You know that one can take the test more than once without being penalized.

I don't know how colleges work in Canada .. but in the US admission is extremely subjective. A good SAT score and good grades are very important ... but they are not the only elements entrance boards look for/at. Also, check out the ACT, another standard test for college. Most schools use/accept ACT or SAT. My daughter found the ACT more to her liking.

Gary

marlinspike

Has he taken a sample test yet? If so, and he's a high scorer (1350+ on the old 1600 scale) I wouldn't waste time and money with a course, I would just get a book of practice SAT's and practice practice practice.

Ann McRae

Thanks Jen.

ann

Ann McRae

Thanks Gary - great info. I found the college board site, and it is a great starting point. Didn't know there was a choice of tests. And I didn't know that AP courses would be recognized by colleges - they aren't by Canadian Universities, AFAIK.

Ann

Ann McRae

No sample tests yet - I think we will get going on that. Do not really know how specifically American the tests will be - that will be the real issue. He'll be fine on math, sciences, writing etc. Worried about history, geography etc.

ann

marlinspike

Ann McRae wrote:

No sample tests yet - I think we will get going on that. Do not really know how specifically American the tests will be - that will be the real issue. He'll be fine on math, sciences, writing etc. Worried about history, geography etc.

ann

There isn't really any history or geography. Now that they've gotten rid of the synonyms portion (you know, that 1 is to 2 as 3 is to blank thing) it's totally an aptitute test so you don't need to bring any outside knowledge with you (well...except for being able to do math and being literate).

Even if there were geography and history, American students know less about American history and geography than students from other countries in my experience.

As far as the SAT versus ACT thing, I found that the east coast is much more SAT friendly and the west coast is much more ACT friendly. A few years ago pretty much everybody was taking the SAT, but the ACT has definitley picked up in popularity. I for one think the ACT is much harder.

Angelo

No offense but there's always this route

marlinspike

Angelo wrote:

No offense but there's always this route

For SAT (and other standardized tests) prep, the best two are Princeton Review and Kaplan.

Ann McRae

Hi

I had a short look at the Princeton REview book yesterday. Looks good. Am going to have the kid take a practice exam or two on line and then decide if he needs to study more. This thread has been helpful in coming to that conclusion. Thanks all

ann