Tutor Yourself #1: What are Your Options?
I’m planning a series of posts on SAT/ACT prep. COVID-19 has been challenging for everyone, including teachers, students, and tutors. I’d like to provide a breakdown of what SAT/ACT prep includes, from registering for a test, to deciding how to study, to all the ways I might break down a student’s score and analyze their strengths and weaknesses to devise a tutoring plan.
When it’s time to get started, there are so many options. Books. Classes. Tutors. All three? Each option offers benefits, and of course, costs.
Option 1: Books
Cost: $
Details: The best place to start is with the books published by the testing companies themselves (College Board or ACT) because they are certain to know all the details and their tests are closest to what students will see on test day (sometimes tests that have actually been given in the past). Students who have gaps in content would benefit from textbooks and content review books. Students who have high scores and are looking for higher scores can look at specialty test prep books that will help them identify specific areas of weakness and learn about patterns in the types of questions they’ll find.
Pros: Inexpensive and entirely flexible around the student’s schedule. The student can decide how much to study and when. No risk of COVID exposure.
Cons: Impersonal. Much of the information in books is found elsewhere on the internet for free. Strategies are general. Not good for low-scoring students to build content knowledge or high-scoring students looking to raise their score some more. Not good for students who need help with organization or motivation.
Tips: For content questions, classroom teachers are often happy to help out after class or during lunch.
(Edit 9/22/20: Students can also do an entirely self-directed study, for $0. Both tests offer free practice tests. Most of the general strategies can be found on sites such as Reddit.)
Option 2: Classes
Cost: $$
Details: Classes often include 2-8 sessions and a few proctored practice tests. Sessions range from one to three hours (longer if it’s a “crash course”).
Pros: Less expensive than personal tutoring. Some companies offer a discount for private tutoring for students who take their class. Some companies allow you to take the class again if you aren’t happy with your score (Why would you want to do this?). Students can take proctored practice tests in a fairly accurate test environment. The rigid schedule provides structure for students who need it. Many classes are currently being held online, which offers less COVID exposure.
Cons: Depending on the company and the class, teachers can range from recent college graduates reading straight from a manual (this is how I got my start, many years ago) to experts in test prep who have spent years analyzing test patterns and strategies. Much of the information offered in the big box classes (e.g. Princeton Review, Revolution Prep) can be found in cheaper books. The schedule is inflexible. The instruction is impersonal, so students may not get the attention they need.
Tips: Look for classes that are taught by test prep experts with an excellent reputation for private tutoring. The best way to get personal attention in a class is to ask questions.
Option 3: Private Tutoring
Cost: $$$
Details: The student will meet with a tutor in one- or two-hour sessions at a time that is convenient for the tutor or the student. Sessions are often once a week or once every other week. Sessions can be virtual, in a student’s home, in a tutoring center, or in a public space like a library. Some tutors get paid each session while others offer packages for multiple sessions.
Pros: Tutoring by an expert is the best way to prepare. A test prep expert is able to look at a student’s practice tests or PSAT score and identify the students strengths and weaknesses, for both content and test-taking skills. The student will receive personalized instruction. The tutor can make the most efficient study plan to help increase the student’s score in the time available.
Tips: While some tutors will take as much money as students have to offer, the most reputable ones will suggest a series of 6-10 one-hour sessions. Some big box test prep companies offer inexperienced tutors who are working from a manual, while other smaller companies or independent tutors have experts who have been tutoring test prep for years or decades. To find the right tutor for you, ask for recommendations or look at the individual tutor’s credentials. A good tutor will speak with you on the phone or communicate via email to determine a good fit.
Some students choose a combination of books and tutoring, or classes and tutoring, or books and classes. There is a huge range of cost and quality for all of the options described above and it might take a little research to find the best choice. Leave enough time to find the right tutor, class, or book before it’s time to get to work.
Next up: When Do I Take It?
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