Are SAT and ACT Prep Classes Worth It?

Students who are applying to college, are faced with taking either the SAT or ACT. Many also worry about getting the highest scores possible on these tests, and may turn to SAT and ACT prep classes to help them. The question is: are these classes worth it?

Why Take SAT or ACT Prep Classes?

Sometimes, your student looks at the rankings of colleges, and panics. They decide that the SAT or ACT scores of their incoming students are too high for them. They believe they just aren’t as competitive as they need to be. Understand first though, that the scores reported are a general range, not a baseline score requirement. But your student presents more than an SAT or ACT score to an admissions officer. These include their grades, co-curricular activities, service activities, and other great achievements. But they and you may still want to consider SAT or ACT prep classes.

What Are the Classes Like?

US News and World Report provides a primer on what SAT and ACT prep classes are like. These classes are offered through several means, such as individual tutoring, group classes or virtual classes. If you’re considering SAT or ACT prep classes, find a method that you think will work for your student.

The content of the classes themselves often includes drills and supplemental instruction in the areas on the tests. These include writing ability, reading comprehension, mathematics and reasoning. For the ACT, the classes may offer instruction in science as well. Your student should be prepared to work hard, regardless of the mode of instruction!

Another method prep classes use is to have students take the practice tests that are offered either online or in the prep books available at bookstores or through Amazon. They give your student a good idea of what to expect. The PSAT which many students take in the 11^th grade also does this.

How Else do the Courses Help?

College Express believes that one of the benefits of SAT and ACT prep classes is that they can help students learn testing strategies. This may be a great comfort for students who don’t want their first time taking a high-stakes test to be one that counts for admissions. Better to prepare themselves beforehand. That what the PSAT offers students—though students often want even more practice than that.

SAT and ACT prep classes also give students practice in an environment that simulates the conditions of the tests themselves. For example, some SAT and ACT prep classes are offered on the college campuses where the students will eventually take the regular tests. Some are even in the same rooms. College Express even suggest that the practice tests SAT and ACT prep classes administer in these conditions—with silence and in the similar environment, prepare students far better than taking the same practice test in their home or bedroom. That makes sense. Further, the classes offer students specific tips and tricks. These include how to divide their time for each section of the test, and what to do when they become panicked by a question they don’t know. For some students, these tips may be worth the high cost of the classes themselves.

Evidence Matters

ThoughtCo outlines some of the claims made by SAT and ACT prep classes and the companies which offer them. The companies suggest that using their SAT and ACT prep classes results in higher scores. This may be important for more competitive colleges. ThoughtCo looked at the results of several studies and believes the reality of the score change is inconclusive. They site studies conducted ten years apart that say that SAT prep classes raise total SAT scores by about thirty points. While this may not be a tremendous result, for some students, a thirty point raise is just what they need to be competitive. These classes might be quite valuable for students whose anxiety about the tests may be reduced by participating in the prep class.

What About Cost?

Given that the designs of the classes varies, the costs vary as well. According to Prep Scholar, costs for online programs might vary from $100 – $2800, while in-person classes could cost as much as $3,600 for forty hours of instruction. That’s a chunk of change for many families.

Behind the scenes, there are many—including myself—who worry that SAT and ACT prep classes simply exacerbate the already huge divide or chasm between the haves and the have nots in our society. Slate concedes that the courses work, but also questions the cost. One reason the classes work, they say, is that students are encouraged and required to practice much more than they might without the courses. Perhaps just taking practice tests is good enough, they suggest.

Alternatives

In fact, the old method of preparing for the SAT or ACT was to purchase prep books and take tests over and over to become familiar with the format. A newer alternative that is gaining ground is to take SAT and ACT prep classes through Khan Academy. Khan Academy offers simple-to-follow and easy-to-access tutoring online. They’ve been praised for this as well. Even college students routinely turn to Khan Academy instruction to help them when they hit a wall in college courses. The advantage of this method is clear: it’s free!

The Bottom Line

Only you and your student can make the final decision about SAT and ACT prep classes. Many would say if you can afford it, try them, particularly if your student is uneasy about test taking and the school they want to attend requires the SAT or ACT. On the other hand, many students might benefit from the Khan Academy free course, and avoid the cost altogether.

Time for a family conference!