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Wednesday, February 2, 2005
SAT Prep: Get It While It’s Free!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So what does everyone think about Gov. Perdue’s request for $1 million to fund three online practice SAT exams (and other “meaningful SAT preparation” according to Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox) for every high shool student in the state?
There’s no question Georgia’s average needs a lift. Even though it’s been rising steadily for the past decade, Georgia’s 987 average is only a nose higher than South Carolina’s, which is last in the nation. But is free SAT preparation going to address the root causes of Georgia’s low ranking?
I downloaded a free practice test over the winter break, and I was blown away by how hard the SAT is. Much, much harder than I remembered. Many students will need much more than test-taking skills to do well. They’ll need to have read some challenging literature and have a strong foundation in math.
The great news is, for kids who need or want SAT prep, it’s already available for the low, low price of free. It took me 15 minutes of Web surfing to find three free practice tests available: The Princeton Review, the College Board and Kaplan. Each offers one free practice test. Kaplan’s is at an actual testing center and appears to include some free pizza and a workshop on how to master the essay.
I’m sure there’s also a free sales pitch included, but these might be good options for kids looking for a cheap way to prepare for this test.
