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canaus

Do you have any verifiable information to back up the claim that test prep doesn't improve scores?

I have a handful of sources that disagree.

https://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/R171...

https://collegefinance.com/college-admissions/does-sat-prep-...

https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/12/04/why-should-...

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Your second link clicks thru to Slate which links to this: https://nepc.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/Briggs_Theeffe...

"Powers and Rock concluded that the combined effect of coaching on the SAT I is between 21 and 34 points."

clearly parent commenter was hoping no one would actually read the "handful of sources" with the "verified information" that the scores are improved. you literally could improve your score more by getting a good night's sleep. i really cannot empathize with the level of self-delusion necessary to be that intentionally misleading.

Your third source summarizes the common knowledge that has already been stated here: anyone can practice on their own with cheap or free materials to achieve the same benefit of those expensive classes.

"Anyone can practice" is pretty meaningless. The largest component of benefit of expensive classes is how they motivate students. Motivating students (unless they are already self-motivated) is very difficult and skill and resource intensive, that's why the service is expensive.

In a class what is it that finally motivates the unmotivated? Fear of failing the exam. You already got this scary motivator with standardized testing. If you're talking about self-study versus a taking a college class to learn something, then I'd agree with you. Also of course, preparing for a general test is easy review material you don't need a skilled teacher to coach you through.

I used to teach a free SAT prep for underprivileged high schools in Southern Cali. I found it amazing how much I could improve scores of kids who were engaged. Unfortunately, only about a third of the kids were really engaged. But going from 800 to 1100 I felt like I could do for almost any engaged student. And 1200 to 1400 was harder, but I think if you give me a year -- I could do that for a lot of students too.

If you're at 1550 I probably can't help you -- at least if you're like me -- you sometimes just read a question wrong.

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