Small SAT Gains Can Make Big Difference

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An article released this week by the National Association of College Admission Counseling shows an interesting "paradox."

While SAT test prep often only lead to modest gains, as little as 30 points can be enough to raise the chance of admission to select colleges.

Of course, just taking the SAT a second time can create those types of increases.

Any thoughts?

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Parent Replies to "Small SAT Gains Can Make Big Difference"

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The role that SATS have come to play in our society are unhealthy but if the question at hand is whether the prep courses are worth the money or not - the answer to that depends on the affluence of families. There are no reliable statistics - the test companies will of course claim that there is definitive research to 'prove' that test prep is worth it.

I would never let any student go into any test 'blind' - I would at least purchase or borrow a test prep book from a public library so the student knows what the format of the test is. Familiarity breeds confidence and confidence is a good thing when it comes to taking a standardized test.

The cost of taking a test prep book from a library and sitting down with it is nothing. Many of the test prep classes I've seen are rote and students sleep through them for the thousand dollars their parents paid.

I do find it interesting that the National Association of College Admission is saying that 30 points higher makes a difference in where a student is admitted. That makes little sense to me - a score already has to be fairly high for 30 points to matter. And if I'd spent the 1,000 dollars charged by the test prep companies and then got only a 30 point boost from it, I'd think I'd feel it wasn't worth it.
I like the growing list of colleges at www.fairtest.com that refuse to take SAT scores and I love a book called The College Admissions Mystique that suggests we take a broader view on college.

My son never opened a single "study guide" or enrolled in any test prep courses. He simply retook the ACT a couple of times, and increased his composite score. In his case, I think it helped to increase the scholarship offers from schools that he would have been admitted to regardless...

I've often heard the spring tests are harder and the fall ones are easier. Although, I assume since most kids take it first in the spring, it would seem easier in the fall.

It's so simple to sign up for the Question of the Day starting in 8th or 9th grade, and get exposed to the questions they will be using and how to use logic to answer (SAT doesn't go past Algebra II and can often be solved with logic rather than active memory of Algebra II).

And I really think that borrowing books from the library or college center at school can serve a valid purpose--especially practicing the timed essays. Kids try so hard to write perfectly when they need to practice going with a thought and following through (there's no time to change their mind and rewrite).

I've also heard that the prep companies like to use the "hard" test to pretest the kids and then after they get their $2000 they retest them with a decidedly easier version. I always thought the same $2000 could be better spent elsewhere with a little free prep.

While I don't know the cost difference is between SAT test prep and retaking the SAT, I may opt for just taking the SAT a second time. My daughter took the SAT a second time, and did a bit better than the first time.

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