<p>So before I ask my question I just want to take a little time to give you a little background of my situation. I am a really motivated student, I give everything my all, and generally things do not come very quickly to me. If I don't study for something I do miserably but generally I study a lot for all my classes so I do O.K. So, now my question. I have spent a lot of time roaming these forums and the web trying to find out the best way to go about studying for the SATs. I didn't want to study in any way that was remotely inefficient. So based on what I read (Xiggi, Silverturtle, other high scorers on and off cc) I decided what I was going to do. My Mom and Dad don't nag me about school really because they know I try hard. BUT my dad thinks (and is correct) that the SAT is one of the most important tests I will probably take in my life and he wants to make sure that I do well on it. He wants me to get tons and tons of tutoring and wants me not to study on my own. Now let me just tell you that he has done NO RESEARCH on the SAT and to prepare me a few months ago he simply went on Amazon, typed in SAT and bought the first few books that popped up. Furthermore, I do not learn from adults in person and am not an auditory learner. In school I absorb virtually none of the material because the only way I can seem to grasp the material is studying from the textbook at home. I have a busy schedule with AP's, tennis, etc.. and tutoring would really take a toll on my time. I have told all of this to my Mom and my Dad and they don't trust me enough with this because it is too important. I know they want the best for me but the fact is that their approach is completely wrong. What do I do?</p>
<p>P.S. let me just summarize my approach and theirs.
My approach to studying for the SAT:
From this book (which I have already read):
Learn all of the grammar rules tested on the SAT
Learn all of the best strategies tested on the SAT
Take all of the practice tests in the Blue Book in the method Xiggi outlined. (Take test untimed and correct your errors and slowly shift to taking the test under actual timed conditions)
Take all of the tests on the College Board's online course and do the same thing in the previous point</p>
<p>My Dad's and My Mom's Approach:
Find the best tutor they can find (my Mom will probably be the one who looks for the tutor and will find him or her by asking all of her friends who they think is the best tutor. As far as I am aware my Mom has virtually no friends who have kids who have gotten a high score on the SAT)
Make sure I do everything the tutor says (homework the tutor assigns, etc...)</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post.</p>
<p>Please tell me what you think I should do</p>
<p>P.P.S</p>
<p>In your answer please say if you are a parent or a student</p>
<p>Well do you think you need it? Like have you taken the PSAT ACT or SAT before? Cause if they arent good scores then tutoring would help. Ask them for tutoring for like just 12 hours. It actually will help set your base so you can then study on your own. Remember they are just trying to help.</p>
<p>Okay. Your approach is the correct approach for a self motivated student who is able to formulate their own study plan. I commend you for you clear thinking and proactive planning. </p>
<p>What your parents need is objective data to indicate you are in fact progressing with your plan which is why they want a tutor to monitor your progress. I think you might be able to calm them with a combined approach. </p>
<p>Most tutoring, class or private for the SAT is 12 weeks. Start by taking an entire practice test to show your parents your baseline. Write out your plan for them so they can then relay your plan to a tutor they contact which will help them learn that you do in fact have a solid practice procedure. They will also have your baseline score to tell a tutor.</p>
<p>Let them search for a tutor in the meantime who really must be someone you can learn from so the tutor must meet you first before any tutoring could be put in place. When you meet the tutor explain your plan and specifically ask how they would be able to contribute to your learning. What do they have to offer that you cannot get yourself from your books? </p>
<p>If your parents are diligent to find “the right” person, the tutor may in fact be able to offer you some help but try to get your parents to agree that you will let a tutor come in the final 4 weeks to help stream line what you have missed yourself in the previous 8 that you will do on your own. Take a self given repeat SAT practice test before you would work with this person so both of you can see where you have improved and where not.</p>
<p>So you can do the most on your own. Your parents will get feedback from a tutor with some weeks to spare about how strong your skills are. And, sometimes it is helpful for someone else to take a look at just you and give you some pointers on the common problems they see many students struggle with.</p>
<p>I’m a student and I’m preparing for the SAT exam in the future.
If you think you know all the materials and the tactics that you have to use during the test, then don’t take any tudors because they will basically teach you the same thing that you went over before in the book.</p>
<p>Op, I’m not sure what year you are in (paragraphs are our friends) but I think there is nothing wrong with your self-guided approach. DS was not self motivated, but had the “mom will nag you there” approach and scored 2210 on one sitting. No tutors, but lots of self-study of the topics, vocab, practice tests, etc… </p>
<p>Maybe you can flatter your mom or dad a bit and tell them you think they are the best guide for you. Then you sit down with mom or dad with the idea (in your head :)) that you are minimizing their time involvement, and spend just a few minutes aka “ok, this week I think I should focus on xyz” and “let’s review some vocab words for 15 minutes or so”. That way, you keep them involved (but not enough to be obnoxious) and you also keep making progress, which can be hard with all the other stuff going on in your life. And if they think they are in control, then they feel lots better. Meanwhile you forge ahead and be sure to do lots of practice problems.</p>
<p>Since you seem to be able to work by yourself without someone watching over you, the best thing you can do for yourself is self-study for the SAT. Just do practice questions and practice tests and you’ll be fine. You don’t have to stick to Collegeboard material as Princeton’s 11 (well 10 really) practice tests and Kaplan’s workbooks are good resources for drilling individual sections. A tutor is really only useful if there is a concept you don’t get and need someone to explain it, but you have stated that you learn more by reading than by listening, so it’s probably going to be just as helpful to ask someone on here.</p>