If you want high SAT and ACT scores, you need to prepare. While the material within might be familiar, the styles and formats of these exams are different from anything you're used to - this is where the myth of the "bad tester" comes into play: students who do very well in algebra class bomb the SAT, and think it's because they're simply "not good at testing."
In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is simple: these tests present material in their own "language" - if you want to get high scores, you need to learn how to speak it. Most students and parents assume that, because they have high grades in math and English, these grades will translate into high test scores. They're shocked when this isn't the case, but they shouldn't be - the SAT is far from a simple math test. It combines esoteric wording, material from multiple mathematical disciplines, logical reasoning, and time pressure to create an entirely new testing experience.
If you want to get good SAT and ACT scores, you need to prepare for the SAT and ACT - NOT for the isolated material that's tested by these exams.
In other words: it doesn't matter how good your math, vocabulary, reading, and grammar skills are if you've never applied them to the SAT / ACT.
A good analogy: a man spends years and years studying Russian vocabulary words in school. Every day, he learns a few more, and every week he's tested on their meaning. He's a straight A+ Russian student. Then, one day, he's flown to Russia and asked to speak to a bunch of Russians in their native tongue...and what happens? He'll have no idea how to do it. Sure, he might have all the vocab words down, but he doesn't have the grammar, the ear for the language, the rapidity of comprehension, the idioms...the list goes on. And so, even though this student has the material mastered, he still can't speak Russian.
Does this mean the student is "bad at Russian?" No. Does this mean the student "just can't do Russian?" No. It means that he has never spoken Russian before, so OF COURSE he isn't good at speaking it AT THAT MOMENT!
If you want high SAT / ACT scores, you can't just know the material - you need to be good at taking these tests. And these tests are unlike anything that you're probably used to. While tutoring and self-study programs are both good options, classroom courses are the absolute worst way to prepare for the SAT, the ACT, and any other standardized test.
Why?
Classroom SAT and ACT courses replicate the EXACT errors in instruction that prevent students from getting good test scores in the first place!
In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is simple: these tests present material in their own "language" - if you want to get high scores, you need to learn how to speak it. Most students and parents assume that, because they have high grades in math and English, these grades will translate into high test scores. They're shocked when this isn't the case, but they shouldn't be - the SAT is far from a simple math test. It combines esoteric wording, material from multiple mathematical disciplines, logical reasoning, and time pressure to create an entirely new testing experience.
If you want to get good SAT and ACT scores, you need to prepare for the SAT and ACT - NOT for the isolated material that's tested by these exams.
In other words: it doesn't matter how good your math, vocabulary, reading, and grammar skills are if you've never applied them to the SAT / ACT.
A good analogy: a man spends years and years studying Russian vocabulary words in school. Every day, he learns a few more, and every week he's tested on their meaning. He's a straight A+ Russian student. Then, one day, he's flown to Russia and asked to speak to a bunch of Russians in their native tongue...and what happens? He'll have no idea how to do it. Sure, he might have all the vocab words down, but he doesn't have the grammar, the ear for the language, the rapidity of comprehension, the idioms...the list goes on. And so, even though this student has the material mastered, he still can't speak Russian.
Does this mean the student is "bad at Russian?" No. Does this mean the student "just can't do Russian?" No. It means that he has never spoken Russian before, so OF COURSE he isn't good at speaking it AT THAT MOMENT!
If you want high SAT / ACT scores, you can't just know the material - you need to be good at taking these tests. And these tests are unlike anything that you're probably used to. While tutoring and self-study programs are both good options, classroom courses are the absolute worst way to prepare for the SAT, the ACT, and any other standardized test.
Why?
Classroom SAT and ACT courses replicate the EXACT errors in instruction that prevent students from getting good test scores in the first place!
In other words: the reason that great math and English students don't do well on the SAT is because they haven't applied their knowledge correctly. All their skills are used to listen to a teacher, then regurgitate the teacher's lessons onto a piece of paper every few weeks. But that's not how these tests work. If you want high SAT or ACT scores, you need to get your hands dirty - you need to work with real tests, apply your knowledge directly to them, and force your brain to conquer these exams in a way that only your brain can. Knowing the math and vocabulary words isn't enough - you need to know how those math concepts and words are applicable to these tests (and their bizarre logical reasoning elements).
When you sit in a classroom test prep course, this doesn't happen. It's like trying to get better at speaking Russian by sitting through another year of Russian vocab lessons - it didn't help you beforehand, and it's not going to help you now. Students are initially "bad" at the SAT and ACT because of classroom learning, which does not prepare them for these tests. Classroom learning will never fix this problem.
Whether you decide to sign up for an SAT self-study course, or you decide to go with a one-on-one tutor, be sure that your prep is focused on the test itself, and not on the isolated material concepts involved. Otherwise, you're simply adding to the problem that already exists.
Whether you want to work with me 1-on-1 , use my self-study course at www.GreenSATsystem.com, or find another tutor or self-study course, that's up to you - but please, please do not sign up for a classroom SAT or ACT prep course. You won't just be wasting your money - you might actually be making the problem worse!
Have any questions, comments, or ideas? Don't forget to share them in the comments section below! If you'd like to download a free copy of my book, Test Prep for Parents, you can sign up for my free newsletter and get a free copy here.
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