<p>DS is a sophomore who takes pre-ap classes at a not too special HS. He'll have 2 AP's next year/ He does well in school but isn't super motivated to study. He does not write well but seems to do pretty well on reading and math tests. He is a fully involved athelete doing varsity sports in all three terms. We are discussing a SAT prep class for just writing or for all subjects during this summer because we see how little time he has during the school year. The break between sports is often only a week. So, would you recommend a prep class during summer and take the exam in October of Junior year or is it better to prep and take it only in fall of senior year. The concern is that fall of senior year will be too late to do much improvement before the results must be reported. Opinions and other suggestions, please!</p>
<p>don't bother with the prep class.
buy the college board sat book (blue) around 19.95 8 tests
college board sat online prep 59.95 6 tests
take practice tests
review each question
he should easily score over 2200. Time it takes is around 80 hours total.
3 and 1/2 hour for a test
14 tests
a few hours of review for each test</p>
<p>Get the CB blue book and see if he can commit himself to doing that every now and then. Also buy a book like RocketReview. If his score gets to where he wants it then just continue taking practices tests until the SAT.</p>
<p>If this doesn't work, a private tutor is most likely more useful and more flexible for test prep than a class.</p>
<p>Take the PSAT in October...it seems a bit soon to take the SAT then. He'll get his scores back in December or early January. Use these results to do more specific prep if needed. Then officially take the test in January or March/April. Then play it by ear from there.</p>
<p>good luck! my son was in pretty much the same situation--always three sports, always the post season--i think the most time off ever in high school between sports has been four days (over the course of a weekend, no less)</p>
<p>he did not use any course work, tutors or preparation for the ACT, and did fine. i agree though, that one shoud take some time to prepare for the exams--even if it's just taking the practice tests. </p>
<p>for a kid as busy as yours is, i know it is almost impossible to find the time, so i suggest a private tutor as well. if you don't make a commitment to it and block out some time, it just won't happen!</p>
<p>i personally would not wait until fall of the senior year. prep now, take it early--and often if need be! that's my 2cents!</p>