When To Begin Test Prep
Many Connecticut parents receive generic advice about when to start preparing for the SAT. When parents ask certain advisors about SAT prep, the counselors often responds with a pat answer based on whatever strategy they think generally makes sense.
To be clear, many of the college counselors and guidance counselors Connecticut are very good. But, most are not expert in the area of test prep.
We do not respond until we ask questions about YOUR CHILD.
The initial question regarding SAT Prep relates to the student's college aspirations.
While precise answers are not necessary, parents usually have a general feel as to whether the student will aspire to selective, highly selective, or most selective colleges.
As a general guideline, Connecticut students applying to most selective colleges should start preparing for the SAT earlier than most.
The second question regards the student's current ability.
The PSAT from either sophomore or junior year provides a wonderful diagnostic test. Some, but not all, Connecticut schools provide the PSAT for the sophomore class. If the student has not taken the PSAT yet, then other standardized tests and perhaps general performance on big tests are useful in helping to assess the situation.
We then ask follow-up questions related to the student's mindset and schedule. It is certainly helpful if the student has started to think about colleges. In addition, the busyness of sports and other activities during certain seasons makes the question of when to begin SAT prep a logistical as well as pedagogical question.
The Gap
The issue of when to start SAT prep (and how much to prep) revolves around the "gap" between the student's SAT goals and the student's present SAT score, measured largely by PSAT results.
The larger the SAT score gap, the earlier to begin SAT prep.
The Double Jump
We have had great success with Connecticut students who start SAT prep before junior year or at least in the fall of junior year, rather than the more common start in the winter/spring of junior year.
For those who need substantial improvement, the process evolves as follows:
The student begins SAT prep prior to the junior year PSAT. During that period, the student has their first jump in SAT score as measured by practice SAT testing.
The student takes the PSAT in a more confident state and does better than expected (based on improvement from a sophomore PSAT or similar diagnostic testing).
The student now knows for a fact that SAT improvement is possible. This mindset is a significant positive as we move forward
In contrast, most students who do not like standardized tests do not prep for the SAT prior to the junior year PSAT.
They take the SAT cold. The following consequences naturally unfold: they feel confused and frustrated while taking the PSAT; they perform poorly; and they develop a negative mindset going forward towards the SAT.
The impact of that last fact cannot be underestimated. When students believe that they are "bad test-takers", they typically work less and create a self-fulfilling prophecy for the SAT.
Back to our initial student who began prep early...
Early success breeds confidence and confidence breeds motivational energy.
The student who improved prior to the junior year PSAT is now at least reasonably confident about preparing for the SAT.
This confidence helps create the energy to prep for the SAT.
While there is usually a bit of plateau in practice scores for a period of time after the PSAT, a second jump usually occurs prior to the first real SAT.
That second jump demonstrates the wisdom of the early start.
Instead of having the helpful single jump that test prep usually provides, the student bumps up their SAT score twice.
That often is the difference between a mediocre and a good SAT score.
But, everyone is different...
While we have had wonderful results with early starters, not everyone needs to start early.
Occasionally, we will meet students who have a PSAT score that is generally in line with SAT scores required by the highest schools of their interest.
They also might be busy in the summer and the fall.
For them, starting in the winter/spring is totally fine.
The issue revolves around you and YOUR CHILD.
Connecticut parents should avoid listening to generic advice about the SAT.
Ask questions that pertain to your situation.
YOUR CHILD is all that matters.
Another success story...
Several years ago, we engaged in SAT test prep with a student from East Lyme High School. The student had ambitious goals. He eventually wanted to head to medical school. His PSAT scores were far lower than those required by some of the schools required higher SAT scores for their pre-med programs.
The student created a customized test prep group for him and his buddies in East Lyme immediately after he had obtained his first set of PSAT scores. By January, he had jumped nearly 100 points in the Math SAT and roughly 50 points in Reading SAT based on his diagnostic tests from the College Board's released SAT tests.
He was happy with his score but wanted better results for the March, SAT. After his customized test prep group ended in East Lyme, he continued with individual SAT test prep in our offices in Old Saybrook, CT.
His March scores bumped up a bit from his January testing. Now, he was 100 points higher in the Math SAT and 70 points higher in the Reading SAT. We continued individual SAT prep. His May scores proved the double jump theory: his Math SAT was 130 points higher than his PSAT score and his Reading increased by 80 points.
While it makes us feel a bit older, we recently learned that he’s attending medical school!