Princeton Review has used score increase claims on their advertising for years. Kaplan (a competitor) registered complaints asserting that “Princeton Review had no basis to talk about score gains because the start point for measuring gains was generally determined by diagnostic tests, while the end point was a live test. Critics have said that they believe test-prep companies’ initial tests yield low results, encouraging people to sign up for courses and to credit the companies for large gains later”. This information comes from an article in USA Today.
These exaggerated claims don’t come as a surprise. I always discuss these claims with families and explain that they are either a bit…grandiose, shall we say….or the point averages are meaningless. If a student gains 30 points on the SAT, does that really make a difference? Usually not. The only way a student can improve their score is by putting in alot of practice. Sometimes students can use some one on one tutoring. It is best if students know what to expect before they walk into the testing environment. I have never been an advocate for prolonged tutoring though.
The truth is, if a student works their heart out and doesn’t improve much, it can be a devastating to their self esteem. If a student works hard and does significantly raise their score (a rare occurence) it may or may not be that beneficial. I would rather see a student put the majority of that hard work into their high school classes.
I am not against all tutoring for standardized tests. I think it can be beneficial for some students. But beware of gimmicks and exaggerated score increases. Ask yourself: why does my student need a higher score? To get into a more competitive school? To be eligible for National Merit or for scholarships? Because their scores are very low? Be realistic. Most students improve an average of 30 points on the SAT after tutoring with standardized test prep companies. Remember that everything depends on the student, and on how much time that student is willing to put in.
