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After you have calculated your score from your first
practice test, check to see where your score stands
relative to your target college. (Your target college is your most
favourite college. For most students it is the Harvard's and Stanford's of
the world. I'll explain more about target colleges and how to find
info on colleges in next week's article). Now read the case below that best
describes your situation. These are the same recommendations I will be giving
to my students this year.
Case A: 100+
Points Above School's Average Score (2+Points for ACT)
Congratulations! You
don't need much preparation. Periodically, write a practice test to stay sharp.
Your focus should now be on the subject tests.
10 Real SAT's / Getting into the ACT - $14
Total
Cost = $14
Case B:
Within 100 Points of School's Average Score (Within 1 Point for ACT)
Buy The Princeton
Review's Cracking the SAT (or ACT) and give it a good read. Then
try another real practice test. If your score doesn't improve enough to
put you in Case A then long-term preparation is what you need. Barron's How to Prepare
for the SAT (or ACT) is perfect for that. As you read the book pay
particular attention to the vocabulary building exercises and math review
sections. If you spend 2 hrs each day on those sections you will notice
dramatic score increases in 8-12 weeks.
You could also sign up
for an SAT/ACT prep course, but I don't think its necessary. As long as you
are a self-starter and follow the long-term study plan you should see the
results you desire, not to mention save a lot of money in the process. On
the other hand, if you're worried you will slack off then you should enrol
in a course. Read Case C for which courses to take.
10 Real SAT's / Getting into the ACT - $14
Cracking the SAT (or ACT) w/ CD-ROM - $22
Barron's How to Prepare for the SAT I (or ACT) - $11
Total Cost = $47
Case C: More than
100 pts below School's Average Score (More than 1 point Below for ACT)
This is where most
students stand including myself, years back. I decided to sign up for
Kaplan's SAT Classroom Course which eventually helped to get my score up
to where I wanted it. I would advise you to take a similar step. Most
students agreed Kaplan's course is better than The Princeton Review's because Kaplan
teaches you effective strategies that they don't divulge in their prep
books. On the other hand, you can get all of The Princeton Review's strategies in their
book. i.e. taking the course won't do you much more good.
I would suggest buying
Cracking the SAT (or ACT) and signing-up for Kaplan's SAT (or
ACT) Online as opposed to the actual class. You get all of the materials
and live teaching as in class with the extra benefits of convenience and
low cost. 2001-2002 was the first academic year that I referred my
students to Kaplan's SAT/ACT Online Course instead of the Classroom Course.
And their score increases were just as impressive as in past years. In sum,
you should buy Cracking the SAT (or ACT) and sign up for Kaplan's
SAT/ACT Online. Find out how to register for a Kaplan course.
10 Real SAT's / Getting into the ACT - $14
Cracking the SAT (or ACT) w/ CD-ROM - $22
Kaplan SAT Online - $350
(or Kaplan ACT Online - $300)
Total Cost = $386 ($336)
Note: If you've
already begun studying for your test try to recall your score on the very
first time your ever wrote the SAT or ACT. Use this score to find your
case above. Here's an example. If your first SAT score was 1100 and your
target school's average score was 1300 then you are in Case C. Let's say
you've already used several prep books to help increase your score to
1250. You would need to take Kaplan's SAT Online to get over the hump.
Next:
Test
Prep Timetable |
