Do students really need to spend $500, $600, $700 or even more on classes to prepare to take the SAT? No. Most students can master the skills taught in these “professional test prep” courses WITHOUT spending the vast sums.
Education as a Product: Test preparation companies are businesses, NOT schools. They have a bottom line to meet. The big companies such as Kaplan and Princeton Review produce outstanding preparation materials. No question–the books, sample tests, and computer programs they offer are excellent. However, very few students really need to use anything beyond these materials. In short, the actual courses offered aren’t necessary. There are better alternatives.
What are you really paying for? Let’s look at the cost for the average SAT prep course. Approximately $600 for 30-35 hours of classtime. You pay $17 to 20 for each hour that each, individual student is in the class. Could you find a private tutor who would give an individual student specialized tutoring for $17 to $20 per hour? Absolutely. In most test prep courses offered by testing businesses, classes range in size from five students to twenty. Yes, there can be as many as twenty students in a class–although the promotional marketing never mentions this fact. The testing company is making $17 to $20 from each student sitting in the class. If 12 students attend, the company grosses $204 to $240 per hour–and probably pays the teacher only $12 to $16 per class hour.
So why do people take the courses? Because Kaplan and Princeton Review, and other large test preparation businesses have excellent marketing staffs. They focus much of their spending on educational research and marketing. Most promotional material explains how students raise scores by 120 points, 170 points, etc. And parents and students, worried about college, hoping for scholarships, or aiming for elite schools, find hope in using the services offered by these companies.
The reality–yes, students can increase their scores using these expensive courses.
Students can also achieve higher scores by receiving more individual attention, spending less money, and achieving a greater sense of self-reliance and understanding.
I’m writing this from experience. In 1988, I was a National Merit Scholar. I scored very well on the PSAT and replicated the high score on the SAT. I’ve taught at Carnegie Mellon University, Kent State University, and The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. I’ve voted on Admissions Committees for colleges, and organized Orientation programs. I currently work at Harvard Law School as a Faculty Assistant.
But why listen to me? Because I taught SAT preparation courses for one of the two “big companies” and I became disillusioned by their teaching process. Let me reiterate: the materials produced by these companies are excellent. I highly recommend using their books, tests, and computer materials. However, students can benefit to a greater degree by NOT taking the expensive courses offered by these businesses.
Here’s how:
Have you considered buying a testing preparation book? Kaplan, Princeton Review, Barrons–all offer excellent books on how to prepare for the SAT. The best include sample tests and a CD-ROM. The $25 to $30 you spend for one book is a far better price than $600 for a prep course.
Some students can sit down with the book and go through it, step by step, and derive trememndous benefit. Others need more guidance–hence the growth of testing preparation courses.
Rather than spending so much money on test prep courses, consider the following: there are two key teaching resources that most parents and students don’t think about: local college students and parents (or other family members).
College students: Virtually everyone lives within a short drive of a local college. Draw up a flyer, advertising that you’re hiring an SAT tutor for your son or daughter. State that you’ll want someone to tutor two to four hours per week, at a rate of $10 to $15 per hour (or scale it to your community’s standard of living). Offer plenty of money to attract the best students. Contact the Education Department at the college–many students who are majoring in Education would love some direct teaching experience. For links to colleges, click here.
Make it clear that you want someone who scored over 1300 on the SAT (a minimum goal–if your son or daughter is aiming for a higher score, then request a higher score from your potential tutor).
Conduct the interviews on campus, or in a convenient, neutral location (don’t interview at your home). Request proof that they scored a 1300 (or whatever limit you place) on the SAT–many people claim to have achieved high scores, but few live up to their claims.
Have your son or daughter present for all interviews. THIS IS CRUCIAL. If the student doesn’t like his or her tutor, then he or she will not learn well. The goal of this process is to enhance the learner’s experience.
Once you’ve selected an appropriate tutor, arrange the following:
1. Meeting times. Have the tutor meet with the student for two hour sessions. Many prep courses are offered in three hour sessions–this is too long for the students to absorb everything. Try not to schedule more than two sessions per week–it’s overwhelming for the learner.
2. A payment schedule. The best way to pay the tutor is after every session.
Meeting location. It’s best NOT to have the tutoring sessions in your home. Parents will be tempted to hover, which can be counterproductive. Call you local library–they may have small study carrols available for tutoring. Or, arrange to have the tutoring done at a friend’s house. Be careful–although you’ve interviewed this tutor, you always want to use general precautions about leaving the learner alone with the tutor.
3. Tutoring schedule. Buy two copies of whichever SAT preparation book you choose (click here for more information). Give one to the tutor and go through the book, deciding when each chapter will be completed. Agree on testing schedule times as well. Will the tutor be asked to have a special session with the student for three hours, to administer a practice test? Or will the parent, or an older sibling give the test?
The goal of this process is to give the student the best one-on-one attention possible. And, of course, to save paying the exorbitant fees to testing prep businesses. For instance, if you pay a private tutor $12 an hour for 30 hours of testing prep, you pay $360 for one-on-one, individual attention, versus $600 for generic, group prep. Overall, a good deal.
Parents or other family members: Sometimes the answer is right under your nose. Did you score well on the SAT? If, yes, consider tutoring your son or daughter yourself. Perhaps you scored well on the verbal section, and your older son scored well on math. Consider anyone you know–neighbor, uncle, soccer coach, sister–who performed well on the test, and ask them to tutor. Some people may willingly tutor for free, others for a modest fee. If you ask someone who might want to be paid, follow the guidelines listed above. However, if you’re lucky enough (or can call in some favors) to have the tutoring done by a family member (or yourself) for free, here are some guidelines:
1. If you do not have the ability to be a patient teacher, don’t even think about tutoring your child. Remember teaching him/her to drive? If you and your son or daughter have a relationship that can handle the new role of academic teacher and student, then by all means, take this opportunity to expand your relationship. However, when you mention the idea to your son or daughter, if they groan or argue even slightly, don’t try it.
2. Follow the guidelines listed above concerning schedules. Create a learning timeline with your student. Set clear goals and expectations. “We’ll do Chapter One by February 4th, Chapter Two by February 10…”
3. RESPECT EACH OTHER. Make it clear from the beginning that you are now teacher and student–not parent and child. At least for those two hour sessions. If your son chews his fingernails while he concentrates, don’t admonish him. If your daughter brings up the idea of buying her a car for her 17th birthday during a lesson, tell her you’ll discuss it later–right now, you’re teaching. If you set structured guidelines, and clear roles, you’ll not only see your child in a new light, they’ll be able to respect you as their teacher.
Don’t identify your success with your child’s higher score. This is important. Don’t become an “SAT Dad,” like “Football Dads” who place extreme pressure on their children. If you try to live through your child, and create unfair and unrealistic SAT score expectations, the whole process will be counterproductive.
4. MAKE IT FUN! Enjoy yourself. Use real world examples to supplement the book. View this as time to bond, to share with each other.
