10 Misconceptions About SAT Prep #6 - #10

6: SAT prep programs provided by the “big name” companies are better than those offered by the smaller providers or the private tutors.

FACT: The SAT prep programs provided by the “big names” only mean higher program fees due to the heavy company operating costs but do not necessary mean better program qualities.
Smaller provider also could offer better SAT prep programs which are able to provide you more personal attention, more online tools and resources, better SAT instructors, and more customizable programs to address your specific needs.

7:  I could get into my dream university or college if I put all my efforts into preparing for the SAT and get a perfect or nearly perfect SAT score.
FACT: The SAT is only one of the many factors that the admission officers are going to evaluate in order to make a decision on your application. Your GPA, extracurriculars, leadership experience, AP scores, recommendation letters, and application essays also are important factors on your college application. Thus, while you prepare for your SAT test, you also need to allocate enough time for other tasks such as studying for good grades in school, writing application essays, and taking leadership roles in clubs or student organizations. Therefore, in order to maximize your chances of getting into your dream school, students should take the most productive and efficient approach in preparing for the SAT, and apply superior learning methods and time management techniques for their school courses.

8: I have to spend a lot of money to do well on the SAT.

FACT: Although some SAT prep courses cost from $2000 to $5000, with the help of the Internet and mobile technology, students have more options and could do much better at relatively low cost.  First, online learning tools that are integrated with good learning method are available at less than $100, and online SAT prep courses are also available for less than $500. Even an online complete SAT self training kit, which works like a private SAT tutor, is available for under $400 from NorthStar Learning Express. Moreover, students have the access to more online resources to learn SAT vocabulary and tips/strategies, review content, and do online SAT practices. As each SAT test generally has the same recurring patterns, as long as the students learn these patterns, decode the SAT questions, review required content, and learn SAT words, they should be on track to get their best SAT scores without spending a lot of money. But students do need to know what they want or need, so they could shop around and compare different options in order to select the best and most affordable solution.

9: I am a motivated student so I could prepare for the SAT by myself, get my best SAT score, and maximize my chances for college admission.

FACT: If you are exceptional talented and have good time management skills, you might be able to get a good SAT score by self-studying.
But if you are not very talented or do not have great time management skills, this is not the best and most productive approach as you will spend a lot of time on routine tasks such as planning your study, analyzing your practice results, tracking your performance, and isolating your weaknesses, which could be done easily by available online tools (e.g. “SAT I: identify weakness” and “SAT self training kit” from NorthStar Learning Express) within minutes. This will lead to less time for school course work, leadership roles, college admission essay, etc. Therefore, although you may not realize this consequence at the first time, it does decrease your chances to get into your dream school. We always recommend the students to take the most efficient and effective approach in preparing for the SAT – take the advantage of online resources such as learning tools and low-fee courses to maximize your chances for college admission.

10: All the SAT practice questions are the same. The more SAT practice questions I do, the higher SAT score I will get regardless where the SAT questions comes from. 
FACT: First of all, all the SAT practice questions are not the same. While some are relevant to the real SAT tests such as those in the “Official SAT Study Guide” from College Board, others may not be relevant to the real SAT questions at all. While your SAT score may be higher if the questions you practice are relevant to real SAT test, your SAT score may be lower if the questions you practice are misleading or inaccurate.

As each SAT test generally has the same recurring patterns, students do not really need to do a lot of practice questions as long as they can learn and recognize these patterns and know how to decode SAT questions for each pattern from a limited number of SAT practice questions, and they should spend time learning the knowledge and skills in order to solve these decoded questions correctly in a timely manner.

For more information, please visit StarCatcher SAT