Getting your child ready for the SAT exams?

School is back in session, and with that starts a new mindset of helping your child be successful.  Getting accepted into a "good" college is becoming more competitive with many students and parents feeling the pressure of taking challenging courses in high school, having a strong GPA on their high school transcript and the increasingly competitive SAT score.  Parents ask themselves "how can my child achieve their best score and when should my child take the exam?" The answer to when your child should take the exam depends on your child and their plans about when they are applying to college.  

The SAT is given by the College Board and is offered seven times a year: October, November, December, January, March, May and June.  Seniors who are looking for another opportunity to raise their score will take the exam in the fall as well as Juniors who are looking to play college sports since college recruitment starts in the Junior year.  The next SAT date is October 6 with a late registration available until September 21.  The other exam dates in the fall are November 3 (register by October 4) and December 1 (register by November 1).  Most students take the exam more than once, however, test scores do not always go up.  In more situations than not, students tend to do their best on their second time taking the exam although each student is different.  How can they increase their score?  Certainly the longer they prepare for the exam, and the more familar they are with the types of questions asked the more likely the student is to increase his or her score.

 Although there is free test preparation available, many students take test prep classes and/or work with tutors.  If your child is able to work on their own and has the motivation to do so, they may be successful studying alone using study guides such as the College Board Official Study Guide.  However, many students find it difficult to find the time to study on their own or need help by an experienced tutor or instructor.  There are many courses available and finding the right program includes factors such as cost, location, size of classes, and when the classes are given.  It's important to make sure the class fits your child's needs, schedule and budget because the objective is to have your child attend the class as much as possible and be comfortable in the class setting.  With the right course and practice, your child can feel more confident when sitting for the exam and achieve their best score.