SAT prep tutoring - find SAT prep help online

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is a rite of passage for most high school juniors and seniors who plan on going to college. Colleges usually require the SAT or the ACT as condition of admittance, and many schools take your SAT score into consideration when evaluating your admission application. The buzz about the SATs usually starts sometime in the middle of the junior year, but preparation for the test can and should start earlier.

What to expect

The SAT is divided into three sections: math, critical reading and writing. The critical reading portion tests students on passage-based reading comprehension and sentence completion. The math portion consists of multiple-choice and student-produced responses in numbers and operations, algebra and functions, geometry, statistics, probability, and data analysis. The writing portion tests grammar and word usage through exercises in improving sentences, improving paragraphs, identifying sentence error, and writing an essay.

You'll have 3 hours and 45 minutes to take the SAT, which is administered seven times a year. Once your test has been evaluated, you'll receive three scores on the SAT: one for writing, one for critical reading, and one for math. Your combined score is what most colleges will take into consideration when evaluating you for admission. The national average SAT score is 1525, while a perfect score is 2400.

Not surprisingly, it's imperative that students have been receiving quality instruction on these subjects well before they take the SAT. To build upon that knowledge, it helps to know you have access to a myriad of resources as you prepare for the test.

Where to go

Your first stop when planning to take the SAT should be the official website of the SAT, CollegeBoard.com. This is where you'll not only find info on testing dates and locations, but you'll also register for the test and find out your scores once you've taken it. The site offers a wealth of information on and tools for taking the test, including:

• SAT subject tests practice questions, which are real SAT questions
• Study guide in book form (extra charge)
• Online course (extra charge)
• Tips for critical reading
• A personal study plan tool

You can also sign up to receive the Official SAT Question of the Day™ via email. It's a good way to stretch your brain every day as you do other things to prepare to take the SAT.

How to prepare for SAT success

How you prepare for the SAT depends on several factors, perhaps most importantly, how you learn. How you prepare will also depend on how many times you've already taken the test and how far in the future your test date is.

Online SAT test prep, private tutoring, group study, workshops, classroom courses and even iPhone apps are available to help you do your best on the SATs. A combination of several approaches could be a good way to prepare for the test. Options include:

• Your local college: For example, the University of Nevada offers tutoring from undergraduate and graduate students at the university for members of its Upward Bound program. Qualifying students can receive free tutoring in subject areas and SAT and ACT, as well. The university also offers a list of student tutors and tutoring services in the community for students of all ages, including those preparing to take the SAT.
• Look online: Search for a tutor by subject, location, or grade level with our Tutor Finder or another tutor-matching database.
• Take a workshop: RMASS Educational Seminars conducts five-hour SAT seminars throughout the nation.
• Watch videos: Khan Academy offers an extensive library of free SAT prep videos.

What SAT prep tutoring can do for you

A tutor, whether online or in person, can:

• Teach you creative approaches to answering SAT questions
• Give you strategies to rely on while taking the test
• Help you come up with a timeframe for studying
• Evaluate you to find your weak areas and help you improve
• Supply motivational instruction
• Help you become familiar and comfortable with the format and style of the test
• Determine your unique aptitude and strengths
• Customize an SAT study plan for you

The SAT could be one of the most important tests you'll ever take. However you decide to prepare for it, one thing remains certain: Don't try to take the test cold. Sharpen those number 2 pencils and do your SAT test prep.