Summer 2005 SAT I study: Oct 05 or Jan 06 SAT I testing?

Test Preparation
1

<p>Based upon my son's jam-packed schedule, summer is the best time for him to take a prep course for SAT I testing. He's a rising junior. However, we've had strong advice from his school to wait until the winter (e.g., Jan 06) test time to take the test, rather than fall 05 (Oct). Biggest reasons.....a bit more time to develop & keeping the stress under control.</p>

<p>Worried about him losing his summer prep-class edge by January if he waits, but if there's a way he can stay polished, wouldn't mind waiting.</p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

2

<p>dude ... chill ... everything he learned won't "fade awaY"... .this is just a test just tell him to take it and do his best... take it on both dates... its not very expensive...! he won't do significantly better or worse on either date... i've taken SATs there all the same its no big deal really... i took it as a junior and got 1460 combined ... trust me studying doesn't help... i wanted a 1540+ i studied for like 4 freakin hours and my scores DId NOT go up ... i went basically from a 1420 to a 1460 :(</p>

3

<p>Truthfully, prep classes don't help as much as they are made out to. In my case, the only thing that helped me was pure good old practices tests. Lots of them. I started studying around the end of December 04 for the Jan 05 sat (the last old sat). I did about two practice tests a week plus a ton of practice questions. I used the 10 real sats book. On the first test, I scored a 1310 and steadily went up and average of 30 points or so on each subsequent practice test. By the time I hit the last test in the 10 reals, I scored a 1530. On test day, I scored a 1520. The moral of the story, do plenty of practice tests. Classes aren't that big of a factor.</p>

4

<p>thanks Icy...helpful advice.</p>

<p>Any other perspectives anyone?</p>

5

<p>Doing the actual practice tests is the best way to go. I got 189 (1890) on my PSAT & ended scoring 2180-2260 in the practice book. While I haven't got my test back, I assure you it's a major improvement. Everyone who took all the tests in those practice books would tell you the same thing.</p>

<p>The general rule I think is that prep courses help you more the lower your starting score is (ie someone w/ a 1540 will not improve to a 1600 w/ an SAT course...only through their own effort).</p>

<p>However, I know many gifted kids who took classes (I took them too) & we found them to be beneficial.</p>

<p>If you have the money, I say go for it (some kids have a hard time studying on their own as well). But if you choose one or the other, def go for the practice books.</p>

<p>The key is consistency. Study for at least a month, 2 or 3 would be better.</p>

6

<p>Don't take a prep course. Well, if you're going to take a prep course, go the whole nine yards and take the (very costly) Princeton Review one...I can't say for sure that it's good, but I can say that 3rd party cheap prep courses are a rip-off. $400 for a month's worth of prepping, and what did they do but run through the Barron's SAT book? They knew less about the new SAT than I did, entering the course.</p>

<p>As icyfire said before, practice tests. Lots, and lots, and lots of them. As much as Barron's was wonderful for the Math IIC, I don't recommend taking their practice tests, because they don't even have the right amount of sections. Princeton Review has the right idea, and they've also got a book that has just tests - eleven of them (one being the PSAT). </p>

<p>Also, whatever you may choose to buy, get the official College Board book. No book will help you like that one. No practice tests will help you like the eight in the book.</p>

<p>I'd say prepare in the summer, and while it's fresh and in your head, and while you haven't got a lot of other stuff on your mind, take it in October. If he's applying EA anywhere, Jan 06 is too late, anyways. This way, though, if he bombs the October test, he'll still have November, December, and January, if he's not taking anything then.</p>

<p>Also, write essays. All of them. Every SAT essay you can get your hands on. Time every single one. I can do most math, writing, or critical reading sections with five or more minutes to spare, but I cut it incredibly close on almost every essay. I don't know anyone that sits around idly more than five minutes before time is called...there might be, I don't know. But 25 minutes is an incredibly short amount of time. Best bet is to learn to think and write awful quick.</p>

7

<p>Thanks again all, to a newcomer like me, this discussion is helpful.</p>

<p>Let me clarify a few things:
1. my 10th grade son is a smart kid, 'A' student,etc, but not nearly the self-motivated kid like I presume just about any kid who joins in on this chat board is.
2. Therfore, he will definitely be taking an SAT 1 prep course. It just won't happen (as well) on his own. Like many of you, he is totally consumed with a heavy 6-course honors/AP load, interscholastic sports, and other extracirriculars, so when he does have spare time, he gravitates to listening to music, playing the guitar, or otherwise having a good time with his friends (which of course is all good) rather than diving into more academics.
3. And, IMO summer is the best time for him to take the course because of the reduced academic pressure & availability of time.
4. The course he is signed up for is more of a small-group, quasi-tutoring thing. 30 or 40 hours of class time with 4 compatriots, with significant "homework" which I presume includes practice test taking, vocab & more.
5. His school college advisors (a prep school with a fairly deep & established advisory program) defintely urges students to wait to take their first SAT1 until the winter or spring of their junior year, rather than the fall of their junior year. Reason-- don't heap on more pressure any earlier than necessary & give each student ample opportunity to develop.<br>
6. Also, we are going the proactive test prep route, i.e., before he starts taking SAT1's rather than wait to see how he does, because, frankly, we'd rather get that pressure over with as soon as possible. Therefore, waiting until his pre-senior summer to do the summer prep thing as a remedial measure if needed is too late IMO given my son's situation.
7. So, given he is definitely taking the summer course this summer before he starts 11th grade, and the school's fairly adament opinion, I am weighing whether to say heck with the school & have him take the SAT1 in October (the week before he takes the PSAT) so he is still "fresh" from his summer schooling, or to wait until January 2006 for the first SAT1 as the school advises. I wouldn't mind him waiting for the reasons the school cited as long as he won't lose what he learned, and from what I believe I have gleaned from responders thus far is that perhaps revving back up on practice test taking might be a great way to stay sharp. (I think he can stay that self-motivated!) </p>

<p>SO, its this choice I invite further discussion. Thanks!</p>

8

<p>It is a good idea to take the test prep in the summer. I took it in the spiring of my sophomore year. It helped with my PSAT score in junior year.
Right before the PSAT test, it's good to take a few SAT timed practice tests at home.
I don't think it is a good idea to take the SAT before march of the junior year.</p>

9

<p>Depending upon where you live, taking the test in January is a little problematic - a snowstorm can easily turn the convenient January date into an inconvenient one. </p>

<p>I think that the other thing your son needs to consider is whether he has already covered the math being tested. If so, the summer course will sharpen his skills, and he should do well in the fall. He will likely do better on the writing section on the second sitting. That's important to remember because, that except for the UC's and some other state schools, the best composite score is viewed. If he can nail a section or two on the first sitting, he can concentrate on just one (or two) sections when he retakes.</p>

<p>One of the problems with all these tests is that you start running out of time, especially if you have to take multiple SAT II's, or have to retake anything, or get sick, or have a heavy EC schedule. </p>

<p>If you kid has good stamina, taking the SAT first will be excellent practice for the PSAT/NMQT. Make sure he gets enough sleep for the 2-3 nights before each test. </p>

<p>BTW, saying to heck with the HS's suggestions is pretty common on CC!</p>

<p>One other thing - as these kids take and retake these tests they really do get pretty good at it if they have enough time to tweak the necessary areas between tests. By starting a bit early, your son will have this time, and also be able to take SAT II's one or two at a time, and have time for a retake.</p>

10

<p>Papa Chicken, I won't repeat what most people have said in detail. This is , however, what I think:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The SAT Prep classes come in all kind of shapes and flavors. It is however easy to segregate the bad from the good ones. Ask how many tests will be taken at the school in so-called testing conditions. If the answer is more than ONE, you need to find another one. There is ZERO reason to pay a program for the right to take a test at the center, especially is the test is not an official test released by ETS. Obviously, this eliminates Princeton Review, Kaplan, Sylvan from being good choices: their general classes are not recommended. It does not get simpler than that! </p></li>
<li><p>You seem to have a good choice for your son's program. However, you may consider paying HIM, by giving him the money dedicated to the SAT class. I made a similar arrangement with my parents, nad that the best saved $1000 ever. Spending 40-50 dollars on two strategy books will give you all the test awareness you need. The rest is practice. </p></li>
<li><p>There is ZERO reason to wait until January. I am not sure how much development your GC expects to see in four months! To me, it just reflects that your GC might believe that the HS curriculum has anything to do with the SAT. I've heard the argument before and it is simply ridiculous. Your son should master all the potential questions of the SAT by the end of his sophomore year. The test used to be a 7th to 8th grade level; now it has become a 9th to 10th grade test for less than 20% of the test, and the rest is still 7-8th grade material. </p></li>
<li><p>The preparation to the SAT is a long term preparation based on getting better via practice. There are no quick fixes and magical classes. You will simply be better after taking 20 practice tests than you were after 4 or 5. No secrets there! </p></li>
<li><p>When practicing, there is no need to carve out 4-5 hours at a time. It is better to take a 20-25 minutes session every day than sitting at the kictchen table for 4 hours. </p></li>
<li><p>When it comes to the PSAT and SAT, the worst advice comes from within the walls of your HS. :)</p></li>
</ol>

11

<p>This is good stuff.....</p>

<p>So, if my S has a big sports & EC load in the fall of 05, and he delays taking the SAT1 for the first time until Jan 06 after he's had a month of brushing up on practice-test taking over the holiday break, sounds like the summer 05 test prep course will NOT be for naught, from what I am hearing. Right?.....thanks again, Papa Chicken</p>

12

<p>well seeing as he is a sophmore... why take so early... if he is taking Junior AP english it will help a lot more than any test prep trust me... the books show you how to take a test thats it while my english teacher taught me a lot more than that ... like actually analyzing the reading...i'd say janurary is pretty good date because he'll have a chance to learn some more indepth test taking skills prepping for the AP test ... and he will learn more about essay writing... The Junior AP Eng is teaching me SO SO much about timed writing...</p>

13

<p>yes, SalikSyed, good point on letting more writing skills soak in. His 11th grade required English is not AP, but heavy on lit Hamlet through American authors, with big dose of paper/essay composition & writing process. So I agree that there's potential for him to improve through January 06 to help his SAT1 writing out. He's probably got all he needs now for Math & Verbal, but a little extra vocab probably wouldn't hurt also in holding off til January.</p>

14

<p>The advangtage of taking the summer prep course will be for the PSAT, which means its worth it. However, I disagree strongly with waiting on the SAT after your son has prepared for for it. Particularly if he is not motivated to work on it himself during winter break, and will not have time to prep for the spring administrations. If you haven't done so, I would encourage you to try a section of each (math,cr, writing) of the SAT. The beastly thing isn't just a test ... its a mindset. There is such a thing as striking when the iron is hot.</p>

15

<p>Salik, you may have a teacher that is well aware of the requirements of the AP English and SAT tests. Some schools are indeed teaching to the tests. </p>

<p>But, let me repeat that it is a mistake to believe that what is taught in 11th grade is very important for the SAT. The requirements for the SAT essay are very different from what should constitute a HS curriculum. </p>

<p>The SAT requires a very specific preparation that has little correlation with HS work, except that it tests math and verbal skills.</p>

16

<p>The essay, in particular, needs to be written to the SAT Essay spec, which is not necessarily what you would write in AP class (although writing AP essays doesn't hurt). My son went from a 9 to a 12 by doing nothing more than reading princeton review's tips and writing to that spec. He is a very good writer, but the essay graders aren't looking for ageless prose.</p>

17

<p>For what its worth, just learned that my S's GC recommends taking the SAT1 for the first time in 11th grade January if October PSATs look OK (~>125 for V&M) or waiting until spring to allow more study if PSATs don't look as good.....</p>