SAT Stategies for 2010s with the new "Score Choice"

NEW BRITAIN, CT (08/29/2008)(readMedia)-- SAT Strategy for 2010s now that the SAT is "Score Choice"

By Mark Greenstein, Founder and Lead Instructor, Ivy Bound Test Prep, August 2008

www.ivybound.net 877-975-1600

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The June 2008 College Board decision allowing SAT takers to withhold their scores from colleges has evoked relief, concern, and anger. The relief is widespread among students, and parents: this lets students show their best scores and not fear that their application is being denigrated by the presence of inferior scores. Some parents and counselors dislike the decision, fearing it means average students will have to test on more occasions in order to impress. And at least some parents have become angry: "the prior policy meant my child could have taken the SAT last spring and not had it count against her!" said the mother of a 2010 grad.

The negative comments stem from lack of knowledge. Almost every college was giving the benefit of the best SAT score all along, and the majority of competitive colleges have chosen to "cherry-pick", the best scores from different dates. Though College Board allowed colleges to see all SAT scores, colleges have routinely been choosing the better scores in assessing applicants.

Now there is no dilemma for a student deciding whether to "cancel" immediately following a test may or may not have yielded a strong score. Now, students and parents need not fear a bad one-day result.

And finally, there is no worry about whether taking the SAT a third time might blemish an application.

I think Score Choice is good. It lets colleges see students at their best. And it just may diminish some anxiety so that students can BE at their best.

The strategy students should follow is manifest:

TEST OFTEN.

I say this for four reasons:

A student who is diligently working at the SAT Vocabulary, Reading, Writing, Grammar, and Math skills is likely to have an improved ability in the first place.

A student can learn from the testing experience. Making the best use of time, knowing what to expect of the proctors, avoiding distractions can all incrementally help on the next test.

Even a student whose abilities have not improved from one test day to another may still see a better score owing to the vagaries of the test.

AND

Even a student whose abilities have not improved from one test day to another may still see a better score because of a difference in how that student approaches the test one day versus the next.

My students have always had the chance to take frequent practice tests (Ivy Bound pays for all our students to make maximum use of College Board's released tests). But now, most of the 2010s who have started with us this summer will be taking a REAL test November 1st. For some this will be as practice; for others it will be with the chance to NAIL one or more of the sections. Once one section is "bagged", it's good for life at most colleges, and thus the student might be able to end study on that section and concentrate on the other two sections.

The big lament - "now my student has to test more". That is true; average released test scores will jump precipitously with the Class of 2010, and thus the current score numbers for various colleges will be obsolete. My guess is that scores revealed by the Class of 2010 will be 20 - 40 points higher than the current numbers.

This may be a wake-up call to some, but knowledgeable parents have long demanded that their kids test a lot. (Colleges actually never penalized students for taking multiple SATs or ACTs). Savvy parents know what it takes in the modern era for competitive admissions, and their students are getting the coveted admissions and merit scholarship awards.

To ease the burden that lies ominously ahead, my prescription is: don't prep long, but prep WELL. Ivy Bound encourages only 3 - 9 months for SAT tutoring. When done well, no student has to be saddled with 12 - 24 months.

The final lament we've heard is "this means students have to pay more for multiple SATs". This is misguided. The College Board is very good at giving fee waivers for indigent students. For students with better resources but who may still be pinched, a great SAT score opens the doors to merit-based scholarships. An extra $180 to cover 4 additional SATs pales in comparison to the $20,000 award that can come from a 100+ point improvement. Finally, a great SAT score means there is less work for a private college counselor to do, and that saves time and money.

A few colleges would still prefer to see all scores, and at least one admissions officer (from USC) would like to require students to submit all scores. But it will be impossible for colleges to force students to show all their scores. Colleges that try this will see such a diminution in applications that the economics and the flack will make them rescind.

While forced revelation is not a realistic threat, I still don't like students taking the SAT "cold". Unless you can attain a score that will guarantee you admission to your cherished program, testing cold is a wasted opportunity. Do at least SOME prep. Get to a level where you can on a good day show a great score (for the colleges you aspire to attend) on at least ONE section, or at least study so that your use of an early SAT is meaningful practice. Plan to take the SAT 3 - 5 times. Since the SAT is only offered 7 times a year, plan to test early. Almost all my current juniors will take the SAT the first week of November and/or the first week in December. My sophomores (2011s) have the luxury of testing as sophomores and their final test will likely come early in the junior year. To the colleges that care, these early starters will appear to be "one-and-done".

So I conclude in old-Chicago style:

TEST EARLY and TEST OFTEN

Don't be put off by a mediocre early score. One thing that has not changed is that the SAT remains a very coachable test.