- Posted by Atlanta SAT Prep in Uncategorized |
- January 7th, 2012 |
This website provides a wealth of resources related to individual SAT prep tutoring in and around Atlanta, GA. Its goal is to furnish Atlanta parents and students with information about the SAT and to make recommendations regarding effective strategies for SAT preparation and for selecting a private SAT tutor or SAT prep company in Atlanta, GA, or one of the surrounding suburbs.
- Please see below for a discussion of the role of the SAT in college admissions and for statistics on the average SAT scores for High School seniors admitted to universities in Atlanta and Georgia, including Emory, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, and the University of Georgia.
- Click on the links to the right for Atlanta SAT tutoring resources.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SAT IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
According to Marlyn McGarth Lewis, director of admissions for Harvard, SAT scores are an important component for admissions committees when deciding which students to accept or decline. “Because they’re a test taken by a large pool of people, they provide some external reality,” Lewis says. “In general, they help us understand the rest of the academic credentials.”
Two Examples–SAT scores at Stanford University vs. The Ohio State University
College SAT score requirements differ greatly, depending on the prestige of the university. For example, more than 50% of students admitted to Stanford University have a score of 700-800 on both the math and verbal sections. In comparison, the average student admitted to The Ohio State University scored in the 500-599 range. Here are some SAT score statistics for the mid-50% of students admitted to various Atlanta-area colleges.
EMORY UNIVERSITY (Average GPA and SAT Scores, Freshman Class 2009)
Average GPA: 3.71–3.98 / 4.0 unweighted scale
SAT verbal: 640–730
SAT math: 660–750
SAT writing: 650–740
SAT total: 1950–2220
ACT: 29–33
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (Average GPA and SAT Scores, Freshman Class 2009)
GPA 3.67 – 4.04
SAT 1920-2160 (1310 – 1470 Critical Reading/Math only)
ACT 29
GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY (Average GPA and SAT Scores, Freshman Class 2009)
GPA 3.35
SAT 1080 (Math and Critical Reading)
THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA (Average GPA and SAT Scores, Freshman Class 2009)
GPA: 3.8
SAT 1263
Sources:
http://www.collegeview.com/articles/CV/application/sat_act_scores.html
http://www.emory.edu/admission/counselors/student_profile/freshman_class.html
http://www.admission.gatech.edu/quickfacts/
http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwexa/news/archive/2009/09_0819-enrollment.html
http://www.uga.edu/profile/facts.html
- Posted by Atlanta SAT Prep in Uncategorized |
- January 6th, 2012 |
This article addresses the perennial question: Should Atlanta students seeking to improve their SAT scores take an SAT class or study with a private tutor? Which SAT prep method is most effective?
This article, written by Sam Herzog and originally published in The Paly Voice, provides an excellent discussion of these questions:
The most detested and stress-inducing standardized exam, the SAT reasoning test, has generated a market full of stressed out parents and students who are willing to pay anything for a perfect score.
SAT preparatory courses and practice test books that guarantee score improvement actually manipulate the already vulnerable students. The widespread belief among students is that an SAT prep course is a ticket to a 2400, when in actuality, the courses prove to be mildly helpful, if at all.
According to an article the Wall Street Journal, “SAT Coaching Found to Boost Scores,” published on May 20, of this year, about two million students and their parents spend a total of $2.5 billion a year on SAT test preparation and tutoring. Most students who take the test expect to see their scores rise due to the time, effort and money they put into these preparatory classes.
However, the only effective method to prepare for these tests is to study with private tutors. While tutors typically cost more than a class or a book, their expertise and personal catering to each student provide a real advantage and will result in higher scores.
“My SAT tutor taught me how to approach the test and to notice the nuances of the SAT reasoning test,” junior Hanna Brody said. “We didn’t just go over practice tests; he taught me the techniques to raise my score.”
Students in prep classes often work at different paces, so logistically, the classes cannot cater to every individual.
Therefore, the classes are typically comprised of a few practice tests and reviews of those tests, implying that the student improvement is entirely based on personal initiative.
According to the article previously mentioned, some SAT classes make their practice tests harder so that when students take the actual SAT reasoning test, their scores improve. As a result, students automatically assume the prep class was the source of score increase.
“There was no increase in my score when I took the SAT after the prep class,” Cornfield said.
Another problem with large prep classes is that each student needs special attention in certain areas.
In a big class, it is impossible for the teacher to help each individual in problem areas.
However, special attention in problem areas is the biggest benefit of hiring a private tutor.
Laurence Bunin, the College Board senior vice president, says the board’s own research shows a limited amount of beneficial progress from test prep courses.
Bunin says that the first step to take as a student preparing for the SAT is to take a practice test to familiarize his or herself with the test in general.
For further preparation, beyond a basic understanding of the test, the best course of action would be to hire a tutor. Prep classes are as beneficial as buying a prep book to study from individually. While the cost per session may be higher, a lesser amount of time with a tutor yields better results than copious hours spent in a group prep course.
“I took 12 SAT prep classes and was unsatisfied with the results in my score,” Cornfield said. “Then I met with a private tutor. Four meetings with the tutor did more for my score than the entire course ever did.”
It is hard to find a student who has had a negative experience with a private SAT tutor; however, there is something to be said for finding the most reputable tutors.
Most students find that their learning ability is at its peak when they are tutored individually.
“My tutor helped me raise my score 300 points,” Brody said. “I could not have been happier with my SAT prep experience.”
- Posted by Atlanta SAT Prep in Uncategorized |
- January 6th, 2012 |
This article provides a listing of prices charged by various Atlanta-area test prep companies for private SAT tutoring.
According to
- Posted by Atlanta SAT Prep in Uncategorized |
- October 3rd, 2009 |
- Read all the time. Reading is the best way to prepare for the SAT reading comprehension questions. The SAT usually uses passages from novels and texts that are on high school reading lists.
- Read the whole SAT reading comprehension passage. Do not skip ahead and try to answer the questions before reading the passage. Reading the questions first will lessen your capability to focus on the reading passage.
- Make notes on scratch paper as you read. Write down the writing style, main topic and key points.
- Write down the beginning words of sentences or paragraphs that contain main points. This will provide you with quick reference points within the passage for the questions to come.
- Refer back to the reading comprehension passage when choosing an answer. Do not rely too heavily on your memory.
- Answer practice reading comprehension questions or take practice SAT tests. Practice questions can be found in SAT study guides and online. SAT practice tests will allow you to practice under test-like conditions.
Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_2050198_prepare-sat-reading-comprehension-questions.html