Panel of Experts

SAT test preparation can be confusing and expensive. If you’re motivated, you can prepare yourself well for under $25. (See video post entitled “How You Can Prepare for the SAT on a $25 Budget”) If you are not super motivated or are willing to spend some more money, there are plenty of options. Below is my take on the options currently available. I hope my thoughts help you make informed decisions about how you can best prepare for the SAT.

The SAT Self-Help Book:

For between $15 and $30, a student can purchase a book that contains practice tests, answer keys and answer explanations.

• Positive Aspects: Self-help books are relatively inexpensive and, thus, very affordable.
• Negative Aspects: Self-help books tend to be dry (i.e., boring) and working through them is typically a very labor intensive process. The answer explanations contained in self-help books are static in nature, they often fail to offer adequate solutions and, for practical reasons, they typically present only one solution to each problem (even when multiple approaches are valid). An obvious shortcoming of self-help books is that they do not offer parent feedback.
• Conclusions: Self-help books are best suited for students who are extremely talented academically and extremely independent and motivated.

The SAT Prep Classroom Course:

For between $800 and $2,500, a student can participate in a classroom preparation course.

• Positive Aspects: Students typically take practice tests under conditions that closely simulate the actual test-day environment. Instruction is dynamic in nature and instructors can answer student-generated questions. Students can interact socially with their peers. Most classroom preparation courses offer some parent feedback.
• Negative Aspects: Classroom preparation courses are expensive. They are typically only offered in densely populated regions. They require the otherwise busy student to make a long-term and regular time commitment (e.g., every Saturday morning or weekday evening for several consecutive weeks). Students often miss classes due to illness or unexpected schedule conflicts. Practice tests may be of substandard quality. Instructor quality is difficult to regulate. (Many instructors have little or no teaching experience.) To maximize profits, classes are often overcrowded. Classroom preparation courses are typically populated with students who vary greatly in academic ability, forcing the top students to sit through answer explanations that benefit only the less capable students in the classroom. Lower-achieving students are typically reluctant to ask questions in a group setting. Finally, because classroom time is typically used for both testing and review, the number of practice-grade-review cycles completed is typically insufficient.
• Conclusions: Assuming a qualified instructor and quality practice tests, classroom preparation courses are best for below-average students with sufficient financial resources and manageable schedules. From an educational or time-management point of view, classroom preparation courses are not well suited for average, above-average or advanced students.

The Private SAT Tutor:

For between $100 and $350 per hour (aggregate $5,000 to $15,000), students can receive one-on-one private tutoring.

• Positive Aspects: Assuming a qualified master teacher, private tutoring affords a test preparation experience that is personal, dynamic and uniquely tailored to maximize the individual student’s test scores and academic potential. The personal relationship between the private tutor and the student often enables the tutor to inspire the student to practice with enthusiasm and, ultimately, to test with confidence. Private tutors typically offer detailed feedback to parents.
• Negative Aspects: Private tutoring is very costly. Furthermore, depending on the locality, it may be difficult or impossible to find an experienced and qualified private tutor. Unlike self-help books, once a given tutoring session is over, access to answer explanations is no longer available without payment of additional fees.
• Conclusions: Assuming a qualified instructor, private tutoring is a great option for students of all ability levels with sufficient financial resources.

Online SAT Preparation Products and Courses:

For between $30 and $1,000, students can purchase online preparation products and courses.

• Positive Aspects: Online products and courses offer (i) a wide range of products and services, (ii) a wide range of prices, (iii) programs that offer diagnostics and (iv) programs that cater to the various and changing ability levels of students. Most importantly, however, properly designed online products and courses offer convenience. Properly designed online products and courses hold the promise of time-shifting education in the same way that pay-per-view and TiVo have begun to time-shift home entertainment in America. These products can offer students around the world rewarding educational experiences when it is most convenient and beneficial for them as individuals.
• Negative Aspects: The range of products and prices can make choosing the right product difficult for consumers. Some online preparation products are not very interactive or dynamic. In fact, a few are not much more than an internet-delivered self-help book. Students sometimes experience frustrating technical difficulties when using online products. Many online courses have students practice and review online; this is problematic because simulated practice conditions require that students practice offline with pencil and paper. Some of the companies that offer online products share the private information collected from students with third parties. Such third parties, in turn, often direct-market their unrelated products and services to users. Finally, while a few online products include audio files containing spoken instruction, most online preparation products lack important personal interaction.
• Conclusion: Online preparation products and courses are well-suited for busy students who have internet access and possess average to above-average computer skills. Since most teenagers are busy, have internet access, and possess at least average computer skills, it is no surprise that the online educational product have become extremely popular.