<p>Many of us subscribe to the Xiggi method of self-study. You can purchase the collegeboard SAT practice books for $30, and practice as little or as much as your D wants. The good news is that you have a couple of years. For the verbal portion, read, read, read. Math is just progressing naturally thru HS.</p>
<p>But, to answer your question, many of the public companies (kapland, princeton review) have tutors available, as well as prep courses costing $900. Some HS also offer less expensive programs. In SoCal, we also have other competitors, including Kumon, IvyWest, etc. you might check with your HS guidance counselor for recommendations. </p>
<p>One hint about the SAT II's - the vast majority of colleges do not require them. This is where taking the PSAT in tenth grade comes in handy. It can give you an approximate idea of where your child may fall in terms of SAT scores in 11th grade and can give you a heads up in terms of what level of selectivity he/she may be aiming at in terms of college. You can then do a bit of research in terms of test requirements and determine if your child would be better served by merely concentrating on the SAT test, instead of the SAT II.</p>
<p>In my daughter's case, none of the colleges that she is interested in require the SAT II's so she is not going to bother with them. This has given her Guidance Counselor some heart palapations since a large percentage of students at her school apply to the UC's. (She is definitely NOT interested in the UC's!) But, I think in the end, it will give her a better chance to do well on the SAT and perhaps take the ACT as well.</p>
<p>Tututaxi - Ask at your daughter's school for leads on tutors and prep classes. My daughter has weak math skills. After investigating various tutoring options, we decided to just hire a math tutor to prep her for the SATs. We found the tutor through her math teacher. This is a much less expensive route. She will be taking a general SAT prep class - very brief - offered by her school and prepping for the verbal/writing on her own.</p>
<p>Don't forget the ACT in all this SAT blitz. Many colleges will take the ACT without SAT scores of any kind. The beauty of ACT is that you can designate the specific testing date score to be sent. Collegeboard sends every single SAT and SAT II score taken to date. And some kids do much better on the ACT. I think the PLAN is supposed to predict ACT performance much as the PSAT does for the SAT. S's ACT score was equivalent of 110 points higher than his SAT, which he took twice, so we sent the ACT score.</p>
<p>My son took some book called "10 real SAT". You do not need tutor. Just read a lot of books and do the problems, you may find it is more than enough to score 1500+</p>
<p>About the PSAT - our public high school never explained to kids that they could take it in the 10th grade as practice for the 11th grade, when it does count towards National merit designation, so don't rely on your school to give you that info. Some might, but some don't. The PSAT is also given nationally, I believe, in one week in October. Some schools do it on Saturday and others on a Tuesday. You cannot decide you want to take it in December, or the springtime, in other words. </p>
<p>Re: the NYS regents (I'm no fan). Check with your local public high school re: graduation requirements for someone transferring in. I can't imagine anyone taking ANY of these tests if they don't have to. Colleges outside of New York state (and private ones within) couldn't care less about NYS regents exams. (Well, I'm exaggerating, but they don't count for much). If your child might go to a SUNY, then it would make sense to prep and take as many as she can. It simply doesn't matter out of state or to most private colleges if your child graduated with honors regents or just regents (I believe in order to graduate now, every student has to pass a certain no. and distribution of regents exams. Of course, if that doesn't work, they'll change the standard or re-score the exam. Both have been done, and that's why I'm not a fan. Set a standard, sure, but then don't wave it around so that enough or more people pass.)</p>
<p>lefthandofdog - nice name and thanks so much for addressing both the PSAT and the never ending and ever changing "Regents" situation. As a youth, I transferred in to our local public high school for one grade and out the following year...having then gone on to attend a school that was not even accredited at the time (Simon's Rock College) and from there transferred into a regular 4 year college, I should know that things like Regents do not end up being very important...but, somehow, it's too easy to lose sight of the big picture sometimes.</p>
<p>As for the changing rules on these NY State Regents exams, I got the impression that they were about to change again! I wonder if the "No Child Left Behind" concept has something to do with all of this? Forgive me for my ignorance on this one if it only applies to elementary schools.</p>
<p>Again, thanks for reminding me of reality when it comes to all of this! I got a nice laugh of relief when I read your post. ;-)</p>
<p>Thank you all for the info. I am heading to our local bookstore to look for 10 Real SAT. We live in the Washington State, which has their own mandatory test (WASL). Our No Child Left Behind standard - I wont explain the test now, except to say the students are given as much time as they need, Im very concerned about D taking the SAT and ACT test. </p>
<p>The suggestion to find a local tutor has given me a nice starting place. We live in a rural area but near a university. Thanks to this forum Im aware of the PSAT for 10th graders and will make sure she gets signed up. </p>
<p>Question: Are the PSAT scores (10th and 11th grade) sent to the colleges along with all SAT scores? Again thanks for the help.</p>
<p>mooses41, thanks for the suggestion re the "10 Real SAT2's" another book to check out!</p>
<p>TutuTaxi, no PSATs are not sent to colleges. MomofWildChild has describe their use quite nicely in post #2 on page 1. It's a good thing this board is here to help.</p>
<p>ANother thing about transferring into a public high school in NY state - math is currently taught in two one and a half year courses, "A" and "B". Kids take the regents' exam at the end of each 1 1/2 yr. course. A and B cover algebra and geometry and some trig, I think, but not in the usual one year of algebra, one of geometry sequence. I've been told by our school that the state is going to switch to the more common yr. long courses (algebra, geo., etc) in the fall of 2005 or, if they can't manage it/people complain they need more prep time, they'll make the switch later. You might find more on this on the NY state ed. website. I don't know what this would mean for your child if she transfers in and has been taught in the traditional way and NY state is still doing the A and B courses. Something else to look at. </p>
<p>PSAT scores are not sent to colleges and only 11th graders are 'counted' in the national merit business. If your child checks the box allowing schools to contact her, it will start an avalanche of direct marketing from schools that won't let up until she graduates.</p>
<p>lefthandofdog, yes, we discussed this unusual sequencing of Math A and B...mine had Algebra in 8th and is now in Geometry...the public high school talked about her taking a placement test... We shall see.</p>
<p>Ah, interesting about the 11th grader aspect. And thanks for that warning shot about the direct mail, too!</p>
<p>I think PSAT scores are sent to colleges but only if the student checks off the box that s/he wants to participate in 'college search'. Essentially, colleges buy a data tape from cb, with name, address, test scores, grade, and any other demographic info the kid includes on the reg materials, including ethnicity, gpa, etc. Taking the test as a Soph guarantees and earning a good score, guarantees that your mail person will be making stops at your house daily. S received several letters that began with: Congratulations on your fine score..... yada, yada, yada</p>
<p>Of course, the PSAT scores mean nothing in the admissions game.</p>
<p>PSAT scores can mean a great deal in the "admissions game." A semi-finalist qualifying score can generate numerous merit scholarship offers.</p>
<p>If the 10th grade PSAT shows there is any chance of a qualifying score, and merit money is an issue, studying for the 11th grade PSAT is worthwhile.</p>
<p>Nope, not taking a single one. No SAT IIs either. Every school she wants to go to takes the ACT, which now includes a writing test and also substitutes for BOTH the SAT and SAT II, and some like Bowdoin don't requires the SAT. We see way, way, WAY too much time, energy, and money spent prepping for this ridiculous test.</p>
<p>This isn't because she is a bad test taker - her PSAT scores indicate she'd get in the mid to upper 700s.</p>
<p>This is her decision - she wants to stand against the tide. She took the ACT exactly one time, did very well, and she's FREE from an entire high school career spent obsessing....</p>
<p>EDIT: this wasn't original with her. Five other students have done the same at her high school in the past two years, all of whom are now in top ten LACs or top ten universities.</p>
<p>nedad, good for your daughter and the others! </p>
<p>I'm still in the begininning of the learning curve here. I do have to believe that you are correct where you've written: "We see way, way, WAY too much time, energy, and money spent prepping for this ridiculous test."</p>
<p>I appreciate reading everyone's input on all of this. Standardized testing always seems to generate a real mixture of opinions - and that's a good thing. All grist for the old mill - now if only we could get the powers that be to hear all this, but that's for another thread.</p>
<p>I am one who thinks that hiring a tutor is a god idea, if that tutor specializes in SAT taking. Reason: there's more than one way to skin the SAT. One strategy on increasing yur score is to know which questions to skip....to cover more ground on the questions you know well. </p>
<p>Asking the school for recommendations is one route. Another would be to call/email your local educational consultant, as we did. These are the guys who get paid the big $$ to get kids into top rep schools, etc....and I find that the one up the street from us is great about answering quick and easy questions at no cost. The benefit to him is that he gets more feedback on the recommendations he makes, as opposed to only hearing it from his paying clients. So don't feel badly about calling on these guys for recommendations.</p>
<p>I would skip the group SAT classes. We spent $500 for one and it was a waste. The private tutor gave us what we needed. Our private tutor was around $1800 for SATI tutoring, in home, 12 sessions - 2 tutors (1 math, 1 verbal - 6 sessions each). 240 point increase - well worth the $. You don't have to pay the $3k-$5k I often hear about. That's ridiculous.</p>
<p>I think the March date is a good starting point. A low score can be improved by the June sitting.....even with SAT IIs mixed in for May. This will give you a solid sense of what needs to be done in the fall.....to take the third try or not. Many are of the midset that three tries should be the limit.</p>
<p>Momsdream,
When did your son start in SAT tutoring? Before or after his junior year PSAT?
How much did his score appear to increase due to the tutoring? What were his scores
My Ss' SAT scores were within 10 points of each other. Their PSAT scores were one point apart, National Merit commended level. Older S studied on his own using prep books and a computer program. Younger son had about 8 sessions of a free group course offered at his h.s., plus had about 7 sessions of a $50/session private tutor in our city, who is reputed to be excellent. </p>
<p>If younger S had been willing to prep on his own, we wouldn't have bothered with the private tutor.</p>
<p>Both sons took a very rigorous academic curriculum, plus read extensively. My thoughts are that even without prep, they probably would have done very well since course rigor and reading are big factors in SAT scores.</p>