My boys are currently using Khan Academy to prep for the new PSAT/SAT. Anyone else? How much do you recommend they do each day? So far they have been doing one section from either Math or Reading and Writing and spending between 15 and 30 minutes a day. Any idea how long it will take to get through Khan’s SAT prep at this rate?
I’d like them to get through the Khan program by Oct. Is this realistic? I think I’m going to ask them to do two sections a day or about an hour a day. After they do all of the timed sections will the program prompt them to take a full practice test?
DD is doing an hour a day, but once the books come out next month she will probably switch to books. She doesn’t like videos.
I think it is hard to say how long it will take to get through the prep, since a) everyone is at a different level and b) it has only been out a few weeks so I doubt if anyone has finished it yet.
I was also wondering how people are using the program, are you going straight for the practice tests or doing the guided program? Do you like it? Are you getting anything out of it? Will you stick with it till the end?
Thanks for the reply @nw2this My boys are doing the guided program, I don’t know if they like it but they haven’t complained too much about it and the price is right;-) They did say they think it’s helpful.
I’m leery of jumping to the practice tests too soon since there are so few of them. I hope the practice tests in the new book will be different then the ones on-line.
My boys are signed up for a local PSAT prep class this August that will be using the new CB study guide book. The class offers proctored practiced tests and I’d rather them wait and take the practice tests in a testing environment then take them at home. If the guided program prompts them to take a practice SAT test I will have them take it online but if not I’d rather them finish the guided program before taking the practice tests. If the practice tests given at the testing center are the same as the ones on-line I plan to have the boys enter their answers in the on-line tests so they can get the explanations for they questions they missed.
We plan to stick with it to the end or at least to the end of the summer;-)
What is the name of the company that is doing the test prep? I’d like to find something like that. Thanks.
We use More Than A Teacher (www.morethanateacher.com) and have been very happy with them. I think they are local to the greater Austin area. It’s been a great deal for us, because my kids homeschool until high school they need to take a the PSAT in 8th grade for their out of district high school applications, my kids take their class the summer before 8th grade and again the summer before 10th grade for free they also get a sibling discount and ‘sign up with a friend’ discount so it’s very affordable. The free proctored practiced tests are a big perk!
My d16 took the SAT in March of 10th grade and got a 2150 the summer before 10th grade we moved on to PrepScholar and she was able to increase her score to 2310 (harsh math curved on that test, -50 points for missing one math question!)
Everyone is different but my kids need to start with a in person group class before they move on to more targeted, specific test prep.
S18 said he was frustrated with Khan SAT prep today. I asked why and he said, “because I missed a bunch of questions!” I asked him if he’d like me or dh to help him figure out the questions he missed but he declined saying he understood why he missed every question. He said some he over thought, some he under thought and some he did not read the question carefully. This is a good sign for me that Khan SAT prep is helping! S18 is bright boy and he’s used to just zipping through things, I’m glad Khan is making him work and he is learning what kind of mistakes he is pron to make and hopefully will be more carefully now that he is getting used to the type questions he will likely see on the PSAT and SAT!
They’ve switched to doing two sections a day and I think that’s good for us. S18 is a little vexed that S20 is getting ‘easier’ questions, well I’m sure S18 got a much better score on the initial diagnostic test! Brothers!!!
I don’t think prep scholar is offering anything for the redesigned PSAT/SAT or we might give them a go.
Is the numbering of your children based on their ages? If so, why are they taking the PSAT at 18 & 20?
The numbering of children is based on high school graduation year!
Prepscholar will be changing their program for the redesigned PSAT/SAT but I don’t know when they are making the switch. S18 won’t start Prepscholar until next summer.
You’re lucky you have lots of time. My D17 only has this summer with Khan Academy and whatever books are released.
If she makes NMSF and prep scholar has their new program going I’ll enroll her to prep the real SAT. If she doesn’t make NMSF then we will switch over to ACT (lots of solid prep options).