Has anyone had any experience with tutors for the ACT test, i.e. Sylvan, Princeton, etc.?
Thanks.
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I don't have any experience with any of those groups, but my high school offers a program each year for like 4 or 5 weeks every Monday night for 2 hours they would have teachers work with groups of students are the different sections taking like practice tests and such. It was alright. I took the ACT right after that program ended and then about a month later and scored higher the second time. Did the class help? Probably...
We didn't use one for ACT but used a service for the SAT.My son thought it helped a lot.I have heard the Kaplan is good.
It is money well-worth spent and can make a major difference. All programs can be good. Depends on the individual franchise and what the student needs. The more individualized programs are more expensive but can pay off. Here in Scottsdale, Huntington Learning Center at Shea and the 101 is particularly effective.
We did private tutoring with Kaplan for the SAT testing - my oldest son's scores stayed the same - a $1000 we could have spent towards his education. If he could have raised his math score 10-20 points he could have qualified for some academic money - didn't happen. Took it three times....."it is what it is" is the lesson we learned from that.
The student also has to put in the time studying - apart from the tutoring. (Neither one of my sons has been good with that).
My youngest son this past year did do some private tutoring before the first ACT - helped him learn the format and any tricks of the trade. He did okay on the test - improved a point the 2nd time he took the test.
The youngest son is not a good test taker and is dyslexic. He qualified for extra time on the test - very helpful. We were told the ACT would be a better test for him than the SAT.
Check around your area and talk with other parents - some tutors will click more with your son than others no matter which service you use.
Good luck and don't stress to much about it!
The student also has to put in the time studying - apart from the tutoring. (Neither one of my sons has been good with that).
My youngest son this past year did do some private tutoring before the first ACT - helped him learn the format and any tricks of the trade. He did okay on the test - improved a point the 2nd time he took the test.
The youngest son is not a good test taker and is dyslexic. He qualified for extra time on the test - very helpful. We were told the ACT would be a better test for him than the SAT.
Check around your area and talk with other parents - some tutors will click more with your son than others no matter which service you use.
Good luck and don't stress to much about it!
The boy had prep locally for the ACT and did well. With the results in hand the counselor suggested all you could really hope for is an increase of maybe a point or two regardless of how many times you took the test.
Our ACT story...
We had junior working with a local highly regarded ACT tutor. The first time in a group setting, the second time in one on one sessions. He showed next to no improvement in scores from the first time he took the test with no tutoring.
When West Point came a calling, the coach told him that everything was good, except the ACT score in one subject, English, and he needed that to come up to gain admission. I talked with Junior and asked him who was the best English teacher in the HS. He told me that his freshman English teacher was really great.
I called this teacher and lo and behold, she does ACT tutoring on the side. The results were dramatic. He increased his English score by 5 points, which in ACT terms, is HUGE!
My point is, that for all the tools and resources out there, I have become a firm believer that it's about connection with the student to be able to get through to him in a meaningful way. There are some that can connect with mere words and formulas and instructions in booklets and online, my son isn't one of those. My son needs someone that engages him, and when that happens, the learning hurdles come crashing down.
I would suggest a talk with Junior to find out the teachers that he most connected with in HS, and then contact them to see if they tutor on the side.
JMHO's from my limited experience.
We had junior working with a local highly regarded ACT tutor. The first time in a group setting, the second time in one on one sessions. He showed next to no improvement in scores from the first time he took the test with no tutoring.
When West Point came a calling, the coach told him that everything was good, except the ACT score in one subject, English, and he needed that to come up to gain admission. I talked with Junior and asked him who was the best English teacher in the HS. He told me that his freshman English teacher was really great.
I called this teacher and lo and behold, she does ACT tutoring on the side. The results were dramatic. He increased his English score by 5 points, which in ACT terms, is HUGE!
My point is, that for all the tools and resources out there, I have become a firm believer that it's about connection with the student to be able to get through to him in a meaningful way. There are some that can connect with mere words and formulas and instructions in booklets and online, my son isn't one of those. My son needs someone that engages him, and when that happens, the learning hurdles come crashing down.
I would suggest a talk with Junior to find out the teachers that he most connected with in HS, and then contact them to see if they tutor on the side.
JMHO's from my limited experience.
It is very individual as to the results gained by using a tutor. One of the reasons the SAT's are so controversial is because with good tutoring scores can be raised. Not everyone can afford tutoring, hence the controversy. The CA UC system has talked about not using the SAT scores for entrance requirements.
That said, our son had a tutor for about 6 weeks @ 2 hours/week. He then had studying during the week. He did raise his score by about 270 points so we thought it was well worth the money spent.
However, if the student is self-motivated there are books or study guides on-line that can be just as beneficial. My son was just not motivated enough to do it on his own. The money spent was a drop in the bucket compared to the academic scholarship money he received, in part due to his SAT score.
That said, our son had a tutor for about 6 weeks @ 2 hours/week. He then had studying during the week. He did raise his score by about 270 points so we thought it was well worth the money spent.
However, if the student is self-motivated there are books or study guides on-line that can be just as beneficial. My son was just not motivated enough to do it on his own. The money spent was a drop in the bucket compared to the academic scholarship money he received, in part due to his SAT score.
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I'm not sure I could have passed the BAC test without my tutor...
...he was like a Drill Sergeant!
I'm not sure I could have passed the BAC test without my tutor...
...he was like a Drill Sergeant!
If sat is is good enough to get into 90percent of colleges then is anACT even necessary. Son says its not needed. Help
quote:Originally posted by azallan:
If sat is is good enough to get into 90percent of colleges then is anACT even necessary. Son says its not needed. Help
No, the SAT and ACT are interchangeable for admission requirements.
Not all schools may accept the ACT
TR is right- not all colleges accept the ACT. It is worth checking though because for many students they may score higher on the ACT than the SAT. The ACT is more straight forward and some think it's a better assessment of what a student really knows.
We suggested to my son focus on one test, since he felt more comfortable with the ACT he stuck with that.He took the test,didn't have scores that reflected his high gpa. We enrolled him in a test prep and he scored slightly lower.After doing some research it seems to be very common problem with kids--worse or no improvement.He took the test again,this time studing on his own w/ books and online help. He scored much better.( we also made sure all his college choices accepted the ACT)
It all depends on your child and his learning style.My younger son will most likely take the SAT because it fits him.
It all depends on your child and his learning style.My younger son will most likely take the SAT because it fits him.
quote:Originally posted by CaBB:
TR is right- not all colleges accept the ACT. It is worth checking though because for many students they may score higher on the ACT than the SAT. The ACT is more straight forward and some think it's a better assessment of what a student really knows.
Are you aware of schools that denied admission because the applicant had taken the ACT and not the SAT?
The overwhelming majority of schools accept both ACT or SAT (some like Wake Forest do not require either). Some schools require that the ACT with writing portion be taken.
I know of no schools that do not accept the ACT w writing and, instead, require the SAT be taken.
Can someone identity a school that requires the SAT but does not accept the ACT (with writing)?
(S only took the ACT with writing.)
I know of no schools that do not accept the ACT w writing and, instead, require the SAT be taken.
Can someone identity a school that requires the SAT but does not accept the ACT (with writing)?
(S only took the ACT with writing.)
Exactly. Daughter made 1490 (M+V) the first time. Determined to beat her brother's 1560 she studied one of the books on her own for several weeks. Must have worked, she got the 1600 her brother should have gotten. :-)
quote:Originally posted by CaBB:
However, if the student is self-motivated there are books or study guides on-line that can be just as beneficial. My son was just not motivated enough to do it on his own. The money spent was a drop in the bucket compared to the academic scholarship money he received, in part due to his SAT score.
Papi, I believe in SAT/ACT prep so much that my baseball club sponsors a course with Kaplan that is geared exclusively to our players and friends of our program. We have a total of 51 hours of PSAT/SAT tutoring, broken up into 15 hours of PSAT tutoring in September/October, and then we take a break until the New Year. In early January, we resume our course, and the students take an additional 36 hours of tutoring for the March SAT. We strongly advise our players to take the SAT in March, and again in May.
The deal we have with Kaplan works pretty well. We get our own classroom, our own schedule, our own instructor, and everyone gets a very substantial discount from their regular tuition fee that a single student would pay. We average around 12-14 players per year who take this course, and it makes a big difference in their SAT scores.
Of course, big differences in their SAT scores make a big difference in their college opportunities.
The deal we have with Kaplan works pretty well. We get our own classroom, our own schedule, our own instructor, and everyone gets a very substantial discount from their regular tuition fee that a single student would pay. We average around 12-14 players per year who take this course, and it makes a big difference in their SAT scores.
Of course, big differences in their SAT scores make a big difference in their college opportunities.