College Admission Test Preparation - Top 5 Options

Standardized college admission tests, the SAT and ACT, are an important part of the college application process, so getting the best score you can on these tests is vital.

While some students just walk in and take the test with no preparation whatsoever, more and more students are doing some type of advanced study to boost their test results. Consider the choices available and decide which works best for you or your child.

Standardized college admission test preparation can take these forms...

1) Studying from practice question books.
These are widely available in book stores and online, and include hundreds of questions from past tests. Plan a regular study session way in advance of the test. For example, work through one test per week starting one year in advance of the standardized test date. This is a very effective form of preparation and is the least expensive option.

Sign up for an ACT question e-mailed to you each day at their web site: http://apps.collegeboard.com/qotd/question.do?BannerID=ba_189496&AffiliateID=1

2) Sign up for a class offered through your high school.
This is great option for students who aren't quite disciplined enough to follow a study program on their own. The cost of the class is usually quite reasonable and may be waived in cases where the student can't afford it or qualifies for the free lunch program. These classes are offered on Saturday mornings or as a summer class.

3) Take a class offered by a private company, such as The Princeton Review.
In these live classes, there is coaching on the types of questions that will be encountered, how to answer them, and what to expect in general. At least four practice tests are given throughout the class session. This option is considerably more expensive, at a couple of thousand dollars or more for small group classes, but can be well worth the money if the student is aiming at admission to a prestigious university.

4) Live private tutoring and online private tutoring is frequently offered by the same companies that host live classes.

5) The company that administers the SAT offers an online test prep course. At $69.95, it's affordable and you can take a test drive before you pay for it.