<p>Momsdream "clouds" means when we know whta the new SAT 1 will look like. How the score distribution looks etc?</p>
<p>NSM, tutoring started in April after receiving the results of the March sitting, which was in the 1200 range. This was surprising because his PSAT was (I really can't recall exactly) in the 210 range - I know it was over 200, I think maybe 205-206. Thus, we expected a more competitive SAT score. He took SATIIs in May - and his SAT II Math (which was his problem area - very lopsided) was identical to his SATI Math. So, I assumed that the Math score wasn't just a case of "a bad day". Funny thing is that he's an A student in math classes...so these test were just stumping him.</p>
<p>I do have to assume that the tutoring was a help because he took the SATI again in June and that's when we saw a 230 point jump. Peopel always say how much kids grow, mature, learn from Jr. year testing to fall of Sr. year testing..and that the score will likely boost without any prep. But, this was a 230 point jump from March to June.
He prepped SATII Math (again, tutor) after the June SAT I...and re-took the SAT II Math in the fall (I forget when) and increased SAT II Math by 100 points. Then he re-took the SATI for the third and final time....hoping for an even bigger boost in Math because of the additional math prep from the SATII turoting. But, instead, his verbal increased another 10 points. His score is lopsided, with verbal being more than 100 points higher than math - verbal being close to perfect.</p>
<p>He likes to think that this is why he feels good about Penn...because Ben Franklin (Penn's founder) was a poor at math ;)</p>
<p>I am wondering if what happened is that he had forgotten the math that is on the SAT I. If he was taking precalculus soph year, calculus junior year, he would have been long past the math on the SAT I. Thus, he may have needed to review that math, which is how the tutoring may have helped.</p>
<p>Otherewise, I can't think of any reason except for perhaps having a bad day that would have caused his SAT I scores to be so far below what his PSATs predicted. </p>
<p>From what I have read, the math score is the easiest one to raise by tutoring.</p>
<p>NSM..Yes, that was his math class history. </p>
<p>P.S. The tutor did use "10 Real SATs" as the foundation for the prep.</p>
<p>momsdream and Northstarmom, thank you for your suggestions regarding a private tutor. I live in rural Washington State and the closest Kaplan or Princeton review course is in Seattle (300 miles away). Private tutoring is my only option. How to find a qualified tutor or tutors????...maybe one to help with test taking skills and others for specific testing areas. Unfortunately D has had very little experience (3rd and 6th grade - Iowa Basic) with standardized testing. </p>
<p>momsdream, what exactly does an educational consultants do? Are they listed in the yellow pages in major cities as educational consultants? I assume they would give you a list of previous clients for references. I think Ds highschool counselor would be of very little help.</p>
<p>Honestly, I don't think S's private tutor did anything more than I woudl have done with S. The tutor had S take practice tests from 10 Real SATs, then went over them with S, showing S how to organize his time better and how to avoid errors.</p>
<p>The only reason I paid money for this is that S became sullen when I tried to help him. He also wasn't willing to go through the book himself. IMO, though, students who are willing to help themselves or to work with a parent can do as well as those being tutored professionally. The books really do contain plenty of tips.</p>
<p>I located the tutor by asking parents of high scoring kids. It ended up that the best tutor in our part of the state lived on the street behind my house. </p>
<p>You also can try asking at regular tutoring centers. Some may have SAT tests and practices on CD roms (the same practice things you can buy). Ask how the tutors work, and ask what their own SAT scores were and how students have done (including how the students improved) after tutoring. Once, when I was looking for a SAT tutor, I called a regular tutoring center for homework help, and a college student said he could tutor the SAT. When I asked what his SAT score was, it was lower than my S's was in 8th grade. Thus, beware.</p>
<p>I personally wouldn't pay the $800 or so that Kaplan charges.</p>
<p>How old is your D? Remember that she can take the PSAT for practice in Oct. Afterward, she'll her answer sheet back so she can see what mistakes she made. For most students, the PSAT is only a practice for the SAT, so tutoring is not needed to prepare for it. Tutoring only is important for students who might be National Merit (top 1%), National Merit commended (top 5%) or National Achievment (black students) or National Hispanic scholars. Placing in any of those categories can lead to scholarship money. That's even true for Commended students, something many people don't realize.</p>