Do SAT prep courses actually work?

Test Preparation
1

<p>Despite the outrageous 300 point score increases one can see daily on College Confidential, the real evidence says that SAT prep courses increase scores on average 10 points per section. Why then is everyone on College Confidential so insistent on studying for the SAT? </p>

<p>"the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) released an analysis in 2009 that showed that test-prep courses had minimal impact on improving SAT scores - about 10-20 points on average in mathematics and 5-10 points in critical reading. View the NACAC research."
College</a> Board SAT and SAT Subject Test FAQs</p>

2

<p>I took Princeton Review, it certainly helped, but u also have to study vocabs by urself and get the college board offical guide. From my experience, it raised 200 points for me.</p>

3

<p>Good ones do.</p>

4

<p>It really depends on the kid. If the kid has very little self-discipline and needs the structure to work on the SAT two to three times a week, a prep course can be very helpful. The down side of many prep courses, is you have to spend a lot of time reviewing stuff you already know because someone in the class may not know it. For the disciplined kid who is willing to put an hour or two into practicing the questions he has gotten incorrect - and do it 4 to 6 times per week, the benefit of a prep course is likely not worth the cost.</p>

5

<p>nah, the best is to do lots of practice tests</p>

6

<p>I think it depends on the place that you choose to take them. For me, just practice tests helped.</p>

7

<p>I did Princeton Review once. Smart teacher with smart class. Started out with 1900’s, ended with 2300’s. </p>

<p>Also self studied out of blue book, though.</p>