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Can tutoring Improve SAT scores?
Improve SAT scores: Even while a thriving test-prep industry grew up on the idea that test preparation could dramatically increase SAT test scores, the College Board maintained for a long time that it couldn’t. Now, all of a sudden, the organization is stating that, in fact, coaching can assist increase scores, particularly for students using the online Khan Academy, a free coaching program with whom it has collaborated.
According to recent research, students who spend 20 hours practicing for the SAT on Khan Academy’s free Official SAT Practice tend to improve their scores by 115 points on average, which is nearly twice as much as those who don’t use Khan Academy. More than 16,000 test takers out of roughly 250,000 studied improved by 200 points or more on the SAT compared to the PSAT/NMSQT…
Shorter practice sessions also seem to be associated with significant score gains, in addition to the 115-point average score increase associated with 20 hours of practice. For instance, an improvement of 90 points on the official SAT practice test is correlated with 6 to 8 hours of practice.
A reliable indicator of college preparation is the SAT. Sal Khan, the founder and CEO of Khan Academy, remarked that it is encouraging to see the link between individualized practice on Khan Academy and improvement in college readiness. The dedication of many people, especially outstanding teachers, counselors, and school districts that used these practice tools with their children, made this possible.
Be aware that the nonprofit College Board claims that while students who do not use Khan Academy for SAT preparation do benefit, it is not to the same extent. Salman Khan founded the well-known nonprofit Khan Academy in 2006 with the goal of educating the public for free through the provision of online lessons in math, physics, and other areas.
According to a College Board spokesman, the impact of some test preparation has changed on student SAT performance in part because the newly revised SAT, which was first administered in March 2016, is now more in line with the content students are learning in school, and because the Khan Academy is skilled at coaching for maximum results, whereas other organizations may not be. In an email answer to a query regarding why the College Board now believes coaching, at least by Khan, could be beneficial, Zachary Goldberg, senior director of media relations for the College Board, stated:
The new SAT is a different exam. It is an achievement test that evaluates what high school students have already learned and what they must know to thrive in college and the workplace. There is no penalty for guessing on the revised SAT. For incorrect replies, students no longer lose points. “SAT words” are no longer used, and it is unlikely that they will ever be used again. Only pertinent mathematical ideas are tested. Students can more easily present their greatest work because to the SAT.
A disproportionate amount of commercial test preparation emphasizes test-taking strategies and looks for ways to “beat” the test. This strategy worked well with the SAT in its previous incarnation. Practice is important, and individualized practice that identifies learning gaps is something that both The College Board and Khan Academy strongly support. The same principles apply to preparing for college as they do for the new SAT.
The findings we published this week demonstrate that these free materials helped students succeed regardless of their gender, color, level of education, or income. Our collaboration with Khan Academy is creating possibilities for all students and leveling the playing field. We’d want to invite you and your readers to hear the experiences of students like Oak Ridge, Florida’s D’Andre and Diana. Even our most vocal detractors should be proud of what these students and others have done after putting in the necessary time and effort on Khan Academy.
The College Board continued to adamantly argue that the SAT could not be coached in any meaningful way. In its annual report from 1955, the College Board, for instance, stated that “if the board’s test can be consistently passed by coaching, then the board is itself discredited.” “The existence of the coaching schools is nothing more than the triumph of hope over reality,” William Turnbull, the president of the nonprofit Educational Testing Service, which administered the SAT for the College Board, was quoted as stating in a mid-1970s Stephen Brill New York magazine piece.
The victory of optimism over reality.
The news appears to go against a statement made in a paper titled “Effects of Coaching on SAT Scores” that can be found on the College Board website.
The benefits of SAT coaching are currently estimated by coaching companies to be far too great. Only marginally more coached students than uncoached students are likely to experience significant score increases. Additionally, around one-third of students report no score gain or reduction after coaching.
For verbal and 18 points for math, coaching typically results in a gain of points. With coaching, it seems that for every 25 to 30 hours of work, one more verbal question is answered correctly and for every 8 or more hours of work, one more math question is answered correctly.
The College Board’s admission that SAT tutoring can considerably increase scores exposes the testing industry’s duplicity once more. The College Board has abruptly changed its position after asserting vehemently for 60 years that SAT prep classes do not significantly affect test scores. Of course, the College Board only collaborates with the program they now claim has the potential to have a significant impact. Unsurprisingly, they did not research any test preparation company’s products, despite the fact that many of them claim to increase scores even further.
Schaeffer pointed out that the study by the College Board and Khan Academy did not analyze other test-prep businesses, and there isn’t much recent information on their efficacy. Approximately 30 points were gained on average by students who took these companies’ test-prep courses, according to a 2009 study of commercial test-prep programs published by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, but it was noted that this was enough to affect college admission decisions even though there was no concrete evidence to support this. Some test-prep companies claim that after multiple test administrations, scores frequently climb by more than 30 points.
According to this 2014 New York Times article about the SAT reform, the College Board was the one to approach the Khan Academy with a proposal to provide SAT coaching online a few years ago. The goal of the proposal was to increase the chances for low-income students who couldn’t afford pricey test preparation to perform well on the exam. In interviews, College Board President David Coleman frequently “referred to some test-prep services as predators that play on the worries of parents and children and give no genuine educational benefit,” according to the author Todd Balf. “A bad day for them,” he said of the College Board-Khan Academy collaboration on SAT instruction.
How to Study for the SAT to Achieve the Best Score?
Whatever method you choose to use to prepare for the SAT, academic experts concur that studying is the best approach to achieve a high score. High SAT scores make you stand out to college admissions committees and may enable you to qualify for academic scholarships to help with the expense of your education.
The following suggestions will help you raise your SAT score:
- Depending on the universities you plan to apply to, choose the score range you aim to obtain.
- To determine how much time you need to study, sign up for a SAT exam.
- Set up a study regimen that includes SAT practice tests that are more difficult each time.
- Keep to your schedule or hire someone to handle your study sessions if you can’t.
- Take at least one SAT practice exam that is the entire length so you can get used to the timing.
You should retake the SAT at least once to raise your score. - According to test publishers, with a little extra studying before the next test date, the typical SAT improvement is between 60 and 70 points.
Tutoring for the SAT
While you can pay a teacher, this is the priciest method of SAT preparation. The growth of online tutoring services has made it easier to control costs. Using video chat and online message boards, you can find a tutor for a single session or a series of scheduled sessions. Money is saved online, but not significantly.
The effectiveness of in-person tutoring may be improved, but the cost per hour is higher. Small-group tutoring sessions are another option, but they won’t save you much money.
Working with someone else to help you get ready for the SAT has a lot of advantages. Apostrophe Educational Center one of the best SAT courses in the world
Benefits: SAT prep teachers have experience taking tests. The greatest tutors go over your practice exams and look at the reasons your answers were incorrect.
This will assist you in learning crucial information for the exam and teach you how to decrease your likelihood of providing a wrong response, even if you are not immediately aware of it.
Cons: The most significant drawback of SAT tutoring is the price. Finding the ideal tutor can take some time.
Even if your initial tutor can teach you how to rule out answers, you might prefer someone who is an authority on a particular area of the test, like the math sections. According to certain surveys, 75% of tutors are not entirely helpful for their students.
SAT Preparation Courses
The value of online classes is growing, similar to tutoring. To study for the SAT, however, many students also choose traditional classroom instruction.
Working in a group allows you and your classmates to share knowledge while reducing the overall cost of instruction. Your teacher will assign you homework and group projects, just as in other types of classes.
Benefits: Just like with tutoring, you can ask questions and get study advice from your teacher. You don’t need to come up with your own SAT study strategy or gather your own resources because your teacher will propose them to you.
Cons: Although group classes are typically more expensive than tutoring, they are nonetheless pricey. Even if your high school offers a SAT prep course, it probably costs money as it is not often covered in the curriculum.
Additionally, unlike a one-on-one instructor, sessions do not adapt to the specific issues of each student. Instead, you can download or buy your own SAT study guides, which is excellent for those who like to learn independently.
SAT preparation by yourself
Online SAT practice exams are accessible. After that, you can study the necessary material at home at your own leisure. In the end, the SAT is meant to assess your knowledge from middle and high school. If you prefer to study alone, you might ask your teachers for information on the SAT.
Pros: This is the least expensive choice. There is no requirement for you to pay a tiny fee for some study guides or practice exams. You can work at your own pace and concentrate on the areas that are challenging for you.
Cons: Trying to study for the SAT can be daunting if you don’t know where to begin. You can better understand where you need to concentrate by having a teacher or tutor walk you through the procedures. It can be harmful to wait until the last minute to start because you might lose drive on your own.