Best SAT test prep. Kaplan, Huntington or something else? (college board, high school, pay)

[oldhousegirl]

Am prepared to pay arm + leg for the test prep. Plan on enrolling son in an online "deeper" math course this summer. He'll be a junior next year. Good student: A's, B's. Which have people preferred for test prep? Thanks!!!

[Mattie]

None of my kids took the prep courses, because they were satisfied with the online prep SAT, but I know many people who went through Kaplan, and were very happy.

[golfgal]

You don't need to pay an arm and a leg for SAT/ACT prep classes. Do the online preps on the ACT/SAT site or buy a book from the book store. They will be just as effective. I would also suggest having your child take the SAT the first time without prep, get the scores, find out what areas he/she needs to work on, concentrate on those areas and retake the test.

[oldhousegirl]

Originally Posted by golfgal

You don't need to pay an arm and a leg for SAT/ACT prep classes. Do the online preps on the ACT/SAT site or buy a book from the book store. They will be just as effective. I would also suggest having your child take the SAT the first time without prep, get the scores, find out what areas he/she needs to work on, concentrate on those areas and retake the test.

Yes, agree with this. He has taken the PSAT his freshman and sophomore years; he's a sophomore now. Just took a practice SAT sponsered by Kaplan at the library about a month or so ago. Just wondering if people could speak to their experiences with either of the heavily marketed companies.

[westsideteacher]

If you can, try to get him into Princeton Review's classes for the SAT. AMAZING!!!

I went through their training in order to teach an SAT class here on my campus using their materials and syllabus, and I'm tellin' you, they have an excellent program. Even my low-performing students have seen tangible gains!!! They have strategies for every ability level. Check them out.

[K-Luv]

There is nothing really over-the-top on the SATs. If you are taking basic high school level courses, you will be well prepared. Everything is pretty basic. A lot of what is out there just teaches you how to take the test, anyways.

Same with the SAT II subject tests.

If you want help, just buy a SAT prep book from the College Board, or just take their on-line practice tests.

[Momma_bear]

My son's school uses these people:

Teach America LLC - Home (http://www.tutoramerica.us/home - broken link)

He showed a 300 point gain after taking their class. It was offered at his school during class hours but they also offer off site classes.

[dspguy]

Short-term "help" are any of the classes mentioned. Some of what they teach you can get just by purchasing an SAT prep book. Some of the "tricks" they teach are when to "guess" and when to pass on a question. Things may have changed since I took the SAT (wow, its been a while), but I remember being told that if I could eliminate at least one answer from a multiple choice question, the odds were in my favor if I took an educated guess.

Long-term "help" is to read a lot throughout your childhood (at least that helps for the verbal and written portions).

[Coney]

Here on Long Island, home of the push 'em until they crack mentality, private tutors are very popular. One for the verbal and one for math. Whether they are worth it, I can't tell you as we didn't do it.

[checkmatechamp13]

I didn't study at all for the SAT and I got a 2150. My school was giving out little booklets (for free, so you could ask around) that had a few sample tests, but I never managed to get around to practicing, so I took the test cold. I mean, basically, a lot of it is simple concepts, but it's often very wordy, but if he can plow through that and just understand what the question is basically asking, he'll be fine.

I mean, there's really no need to pay an arm and a leg. Just get one of those basic review books and he'll be fine.

BTW, I'm going into senior year, but I took it at the end of junior year (Back in May).