Online SAT Computer Preparation
Online preparation for the SAT Reasoning Test provides convenience, privacy and immediate feedback for high school students hoping to earn high scores on the college readiness exam. Many, however, fear that they will score poorly in one or more SAT subtests: reading comprehension, vocabulary, math, essay writing and tests of Written English. Numerous online resources, both free and "fee" sites, can provide a comprehensive approach or target areas of weakness.
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Comprehensive Free Sites
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Many free sites offer assistance. According to Consumer Reports: Your Personal SAT Companion, ranks high as a free site, offering tutorials and the ability to adapt to your skill level as you test. In addition, the College Board, creator of the SAT Reasoning Test, offers online practice tests, sample practice questions and questions of the day. Internet4Classrooms recommends I-Need-A-Pencil a site dedicated to helping students who cannot afford to pay for SAT preparation. (See resources).
Specialized Free Sites
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If you wish to focus on one subtest, such as vocabulary, additional free sites can assist you. Smart Teaching's Ultimate Guide to the SAT refers to Vocabulary, a site offering the 100 Top SAT Words and visuals with synonyms. The Guide also lists a more extensive site, Vocab Test, offering quizzes with synonyms, antonyms and vocabulary in context. The Abacus site, focusing on English skills, provides clues to common grammatical errors on the SAT. For math, the Guide suggests the Algebra (Homework Help) site, to provide math reasoning tests (See resources).
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Fee Sites
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Smart Teaching refers to many well-known sites that charge a fee for their extra services. For example, Kaplan offers a money-back guarantee if you do not achieve higher scores, as well as a "live online" component. Similarly, the Ultimate Guide lists the Princeton Review, offering online private tutoring, a "live online" feature and interactive features without a live presence. All such sites offer a range of pricing options. (See resources).
Novel Approach Fee Sites
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Some fee sites, such as Wilson Daily Prep, have created a new twist, according to the New York Times. If students do not complete SAT lessons according to schedule, they receive e-mail warnings. If the warnings prove ineffective, students receive a phone call, reminding them that real people are watching their progress. Smart Teaching refers to e-Prep's novel approach: offering videos for each teaching segment.
Evaluation of Sites
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Numerous online options exist for SAT preparation. Consumer Reports' Webwatch states that some free online SAT sites can compete with expensive test preparation sites. At the same time, it has exposed flaws in other sites, including technical problems and grammatical errors. Explore the online options carefully before deciding upon your approach to SAT preparation.
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References
- "Consumer Reports WebWatch"; WebWatch Tests Give SAT Prep Sites a Mixed Report Card; May 25, 2006.
- "Internet4Classrooms"; ACT Test and SAT Test: Free resources to Help Students Practice; January 27, 2010
- "Smart Teaching.org" The Ultimate Guide to the SAT: 100 Helpful Sites and Resources; 2011.
- New York Times"; SAT Pressure Is On, and Even Online Prepsters Noodge"; November 16, 2008.
Resources
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