Most higher education institutions require students to take some kind of standardized test to gain admission; The most common of these tests is the SAT. There are as many SAT preparatory courses as colleges and universities to choose from, so finding the right preparation course requires a lot of attention.
The course you ultimately decide to take must be affordable and individualized to suit your study habits and needs. To help you choose the right path, here are some tips to help you compare programs.
Qualified instructors
The instructor can make or break a SAT preparation course, so it is important to find one that knows the materials and adapts your teaching style to the student. While there is no specific certification that a preparatory course instructor can get, you can look for instructors who have a lot of experience in teaching the courses and a history of rising student scores with whom they work. If necessary, ask the instructor to provide a resume and find out what they have qualified in their own standardized tests. Another option is to work with a professional SAT preparation company that has strict guidelines for hiring and retaining qualified teachers.
Effective teaching methods
Most SAT prep course instructors will tell you that they can probably teach you effective strategies for taking exams and preparing for the exam, but the real test is in your students. Find out what kind of story they have when working with other students and whether their methods have resulted in higher scores. In fact, many companies today have worked so hard on proven strategies that are willing to guarantee that they will increase their results. If you work with a tutor or company that does not guarantee the same results, you may think twice before hiring them. In any case, make sure you get the written guarantee for a refund if the promised results do not occur.
Accessible courses
Even the best SAT preparation course won’t help you increase your tests if you can’t afford it, so cost will also be a deciding factor in your decision. Depending on your needs, you may find a tutoring program that offers weekly or monthly fees or a short-term preparation course that lasts a couple of weeks and charges a flat fee.
Individual or group review
Some SAT preparation courses have options for one-on-one group learning models. Deciding which one to choose will mostly depend on your needs. If you can learn well in a group setting, you can save some money by doing the course that way, but if you prefer to have individualized attention and course materials specifically tailored to your needs, opting for individual tutoring may benefit you the most. Some prep course programs may also allow you to create a “hybrid” program in which you do some instruction as part of a group, but also get a number of personal sessions to answer individual questions.
Whichever program you choose should be tailored to your individual needs, provide hands-on experience in exams, employ qualified instructors, and use proven methods to increase your score. Finding the right one is a matter of comparing each program and determining which one best suits your needs.