On Big Companies and Free Practice Tests

Big test prep companies offer free practice tests because it's a great way for them to make money.

They pay marketers, proctors, graders, administrative staff, bondholders, and shareholders - not to mention real estate costs - so you can get a score for free.

In exchange, you've become what salesmen call a warm lead: someone who's demonstrated interest in their product.

There's nothing wrong with this as long as you understand how the process works. Test prep companies offer practice tests, which are valuable to you, so they can get your attention, which is valuable to them.

They pay for this by charging $125-250 an hour for tutoring, ten sessions at a time, paid up front. Their tutors typically make $25-40 an hour, and the difference ($100/hour or more) is used to pay administrative costs and provide investors with a profit.

The breakeven point between teaching at a public school and working as an independent tutor is around $90/hour. Tutors who accept less than half of that amount typically have SAT scores of around 1400-1500. Those are good scores, but if you're paying $150/hour, your score target is probably already at or higher than 1500.

This is not going to change, as these tutors aren't being exploited. Test prep companies have large expenses every month that aren't going to go away if there's a recession. Most workers, including tutors, accept lower pay in order to have their employers shoulder that burden.

If you have time, it's best to take responsibility for your own education. Practice taking the SAT and ACT yourself, then compare the two scores. You can then choose SAT or ACT prep books and study on your own.

If you need a tutor, you have lots of options, including highly qualified independent tutors like myself. Go in with your eyes open, and you'll make a great choice.

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SAT Math Level 2: Seven Key Strategies

Here's a list of strategies to get your Math Level 2 score into the 750-800 range.

1. Skip questions as often as possible. If you can't figure out how to solve a problem within 10 seconds, skip it and come back after you've finished question 50. Remember that there's a 0.25-point guessing penalty, so you can miss 5 questions or skip 7 and still get a perfect 800.
    
2. Start by eliminating choices that are clearly wrong. If you can cross of three or four choices, don't bother to solve unless you see a very quick 30-second solution. Smart guessing is faster than solving.
    
3. The extra time you gain from guessing will keep you from feeling rushed near the end. Don't rush on questions. It's better to skip two and do two carefully than to rush on four.
    
4. Remember to use your calculator's functionality. Most graphing calculators can do inverse trig functions, imaginary numbers, absolute value, systems of equations, and conic graphing.
    
5. Use your calculator to store numbers into x and then regenerate complicated expressions so that you don't have to keep typing those expressions over and over. Storing into x also eliminates having to use parentheses when you plug in negative numbers. (In order to re-create an expression you've already typed in, click the up arrow until the expression is highlighted and then press Enter twice.)
    
6. Because you skip questions on this test (but not the SAT), hold off on bubbling until either the proctor calls, "5 minutes left!" or you finish question #50. That keeps you from making bubbling mistakes after you skip questions. It also ends up saving time. You can always go back and check the skipped questions after you bubble.
    
7. The week before the test, focus on re-doing the practice tests you've already taken. Using the strategies above, you should start to get scores in the 750-800 range.

If you have time to study, check out my list of the best Math Level 2 prep books!

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From the Preposphere: March 18, 2017

Here's the linkfest for this month! Read your heart out.

ACT

The ACT will offer a new July test date starting in 2018. (ACT.org)
This complements the SAT's new summer test date, which will start in August of 2017.

The ACT evolves: harder science and math arrive with May update. (Applerouth)

The national average for the ACT is a composite score of 20. The ACT publishes a list containing all of the percentiles. (ACT.org)

Here's a list of the best ACT books to prep for a perfect score. (SuperTutorTV)


SAT/ACT GRAMMAR

Dangling modifier grammar problems can seem harder than they actually are. (Erica Meltzer)


SAT/ACT ESSAY

Essay tip: Find alternatives to the word "say." (Erica Meltzer)


AP TESTS

Here's a look at the new and updated AP exam offerings for 2017. (Compass)

AP scores have changed as the tests have been updated. (Compass)


COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

Make the most of your college visits with these ten tips. (Applerouth)

What should you do if you're waitlisted? (Applerouth)

MATH

Remember the definitions of sine, cosine, and tangent. (Mathwords)


LIFE

Make the most of the summer while doing what you love. (Applerouth)


LOL

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