According to a study conducted by the International Journal of Social Welfare, students who take SAT preparatory classes score (on average) 56 points higher on their exams than their peers who did not take the preparatory course. While test preparation courses can improve your SAT or ACT scores, the improvements are usually minimal. Most of the statistics that state that the scores are very high are carried out by tutoring agencies that seek to improve their reputation and attract customers. Many of those results are exaggerated and promise to increase test scores by hundreds of points.
The most likely improvement result is that they approach an additional 30 points on the SAT and one or two points on the ACT. In addition, SAT preparation courses lead to improved scores. When you get an impressive score on the SAT, universities take notice and offer more scholarships. The two hundred dollars you spend now on an SAT prep course can translate into thousands of dollars in the future. According to the College Board, which is the manufacturer of the SAT, just 6 to 8 hours of personalized SAT preparation can mean an average increase in test scores of 90 points.
The SAT and ACT may not be as important in the future as they are now, and test preparation may not be as valuable. While taking an SAT preparation course may cost more up front, it will save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars down the road. On the one hand, taking an SAT preparation course will help you prepare for the test and learn all the information you need to do well. For many years, the College Board asserted that test preparation could not significantly improve SAT scores, even though a lucrative test preparation industry flourished around the premise that it was possible. Working with experts who can teach you the ins and outs of the test, help you learn from your mistakes, and make sure you have enough practice with the official SAT questions will make a big difference in mastering the SAT.
This is one of the most attractive statements that exam preparation organizers make and something that makes exam preparation seem very valuable. More than improving test scores, strategies for taking tests are one of the most valuable things that SAT and ACT preparation courses can teach you. Without a class with deadlines, classmates, and a teacher to motivate them, many students end up delaying their preparation for the SAT until it's too late. SAT preparation courses give you access to the tests and practice questions you need to prepare for the SAT, and are led by experts who will help you review your questions and learn from your mistakes. Keep in mind that the statement from the College Board, a nonprofit organization, says that children who don't use Khan Academy to prepare for the SAT also get some benefit, but not as much as if they use Khan Academy, which is a favorite. So do SAT prep courses really help improve your test results? The answer is yes! Taking an SAT prep course can help you get better scores on your exams and give you access to resources that can help you understand how to take tests better. It can also save you money in scholarships down the road.
However, it's important to remember that while these courses can help improve your scores, they won't guarantee perfect results.
