Free and cheap ACT and SAT prep programs
Would you pay more than $1,000 for SAT or ACT prep courses?
Any parent knows that standardized test preparation can be key in your student’s life as he or she gets ready for college. But some preparation costs more than others (up to $1440 for some Princeton Review courses? Eek!).
There is some variation in the inherent value of these courses (Are they group practices? One-one-one studies? Do they feature real tests?), but it’s difficult to discern whether a $1440 course that much more valuable than a $12 SAT study book.
The eKnowledge Sponsorship Alliance is leveling the playing field this year by giving away free PowerPrep ACT and SAT programs to local high school students. The SAT and ACT programs come in a single DVD and include more than 11 hours of video instruction and 40 hours of student participation time, 3,000 files of supplemental test prep material, practice tests and graphic teaching illustrations. Students select the training they need and can study at their own pace.
Get the standard PowerPrep for free (reg. $199.99), the premium PowerPrep for $50 (reg. $299.99) or the PowerPrep premium bundle for $79.99 (reg. $524.99) by entering through the AJC page. (Be aware that there is a fee of $17.55 for materials, shipping, and customer support.)
NFL and MLB professionals including Atlanta’s own Chipper Jones have extended support to the national sponsorship alliance program since 2005 and have enabled it to donate more than 150,000 SAT/ACT PowerPrep Programs for free.
– By Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter
See a great deal I should know about? Email me at ldavidson@ajc.com. You can also follow me on Facebook or on Twitter @atlbargains.
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11 comments Add your comment
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February 17th, 2011
5:38 am
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SStanback
February 17th, 2011
7:30 am
Sylvan Learning offers free practice tests for the SAT and ACT (as well as the CRCT.) Go to http://www.dcpsylvan.com or call 888-789-7958 for more information.
Lauren Davidson
February 17th, 2011
8:21 am
Thanks, SStanback!
Self-Study
February 17th, 2011
8:50 am
Ms. Davidson,
Your article is very well written. I wish I had access to this information when I was a rising-senior. I agree that some prep classes are outrageously priced.
I also agree that the $12 dollar Collegeboard Blue Book is just as effective, if not better. I self-studied with the Blue Blue and a method I developed over the summer and increased my score from the 80th (1800’s) to the 97th percentile (2200’s) on the SAT.
barneyb
February 17th, 2011
10:40 am
Some high schools (like Pope in East Cobb) offer SAT Prep as an elective course. From experience, we can tell you that it was far superior to any course you would pay hundreds for!
Techmom
February 17th, 2011
11:00 am
@barneyb – you are paying thousands for that course, it’s just via tax dollars versus out of pocket.
MannyT
February 17th, 2011
11:51 am
Thanks, Lauren. This sounds like a great bargain on materials. Some home schoolers like the product. http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/reviews.php?rid=961
I’m not familiar with these free materials, but I do know that there is benefit for most (not all) students to have a small group recurring setting where they can hear others and are expected to do the work.
Giving a student a dictionary doesn’t give him/her a great vocabulary…just a tool that can help them to improve.
Maybe the most effective, value conscious option is to get the free materials and get together in small study groups of friends that are serious about preparing for these tests.
Not convinced
February 17th, 2011
12:07 pm
1. Pay attention in class. Do your homework. (free)
2. Read a lot of books, newspapers, and magazines (free at library)
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 from age 5 to 18
4. Borrow the test prep book from the library and do the sample tests, just in case.
I always told myself that if I really understood the material in any given course, then it would be unnecessary to “cram” for the final exam. (BTW, I got 620 verbal & 800 math without taking any test prep classes.)
Scott
February 17th, 2011
12:55 pm
Johns Creek SAT Prep is located off of Jones Bridge road at the intersection of Sargent Rd. Here is their website. http://www.johnscreektutoring.com/
I have heard really good things about this business and the owner is a respected local high school teacher.
Ole Guy
February 17th, 2011
1:14 pm
The very notion of these prep courses speaks volumes of the sad joke which is public ed. The very same tragedy can be found in the proliferation of Military entrance exam prep programs.
Despite the fact that I was never a scholar of note, I can remember when preparing for ACT/SAT involved 1) not drinking too much the night before testing and 2) getting home before midnight. As for the Military entrance exams…well, I just have to shake my head and wonder. What with HOPE recipients (with the presumed B average) having to take remedials at U, I’ve got to wonder how in hell we ever allowed this sad state of educational misadventure to become what it has. Who’s responsible? Who’s accountable? Who’s gonna step up to the plate and do the unpopular things which must be done?
We can continue to crow over educations’ psuedo accomplishments while political gurus forecast a day when America’s young scholars will achieve worldly goals…or, we can acknowledge our “bottom of the heap” status in education, stop fooling ourselves, and get serious.
Snapwizard
February 20th, 2011
10:32 pm
Snapwiz (http://www.snapwiz.com) offers free SAT prep with adaptive learning, 70+ hours of video, 6 full length tests and 1000s of practice questions. You need to tweet about it though.