Does Test Prep Work? A week ago I happened to be interviewed by Chapel Hill school that is high counselor, Kristen Hiemstra.

You can listen to the complete interview by clicking 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 believe test prep works. Among the many topics we talked about had been:
- Various kinds of test prep, which work and just why
- Commercial test prep
- Indications of good vs bad test prep
- How exactly to encourage a teen
- Just What the faculty Board is testing
- The most readily useful time to tour colleges
- Lessons I learned about the SAT
- Lessons I learned as a mom
We also talked about my book that is upcoming Perfect get 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 lots more than colleges will acknowledge 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 determine it for many students.
Do not miss these Kitchen Table Math comments, which add more insight, including one commenter whom discovered a (somewhat old) College Board report that offers all sorts of information on the decision techniques used by many colleges.
[snip]The part that is first based in your SAT scores, the next component is predicated on your SAT II scores, additionally the third component is dependant on your GPA. The link above talks about a GPA dining table provided to the eight universities, but it does not explain how a GPA is calculated. It appears to use a weighted scale where the most effective score is 4.3. I haven’t discovered just how this number is calculated. The spreadsheet then proceeds to select the higher rating related to each of the two GPA figures. It’s constantly struck me that the SAT scores make up two-thirds of this index. Universities might come with a fudge element if they know something of a school that is high but no option for that shows up into the example spreadsheet.
Quadruplets’ Mom Needs SAT Advice
Dear Ms. Stier:
I recently discovered your site and i enjoy it! Thanks for doing it.
I could actually use some advise on how best to approach test that is SAT for my quadruplets. [me: OMG]
I have 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 from me learning from my errors so I hope to obtain this as right as I can.
Do you would imagine I should have them study as 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 separately; or send them to a test prep center that is SAT? Or even a mix of all of these? I need to view my costs too.
How can I find a tutor that is good? What is the test prep company that is best?
If these are concerns you can help me with I would appreciate it. If it really is not at all something that you’ll help me then that is okay and I appreciate you taking your own time to read my email.
Thanks again for the info that is website
Sincerely,
Multiple Mom
Dear Multiple Mom,
My gut says to together do some work along with four (e.g. lots of vocab, full training tests, and they can explain answers to each other because that is a great way to learn), and do some preparation separately. Whenever you can find an affordable tutor(s), that’s the most efficient means.
Listed here are a few questions to ask a potential tutor (or test prep company):
1) can you modify your approach and, if so, how?
2) What’s your score that is average gain student? Numerous shmoop essay writing service tutors will not respond to this question because there are incredibly many variables that it’s nearly maybe not fair to ask. That said, an excessive ‘average score gain’ should be described as a flag. e.g., 200 points in a month.
3) the length of time do you advise students to prepare for the SAT and how much does it cost? The right solution will be individual and depends on where the student begins and what the target is.
4) What test prep materials do you use? ( whether it’s not College that is official Board, 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 first rung on the ladder is to own all four kids take an official College Board practice SAT. You need to use one from the College Board’s Blue Book, or a practice is had by the College Board test on its website.
You will need to determine just what they should work on and whether they need foundational work or more traditional test prep polish. My guess is they need foundational work, as most kids do (and as I did!). Make sure you select a test or tutor prep business who can assess that well!
Regarding test prep companies, we’d avoid anyone whom doesn’t primarily utilize College Board product (that would include most/if not all large, brand-name test prep companies).
