Not everyone is sure what to expect when it comes to SAT online test prep. Probably the biggest two questions most students have are, “Will this really help me?” and “How much time will this take?” And the unspoken question many students have is, “Will this just be a waste of my time?”
The good news is that, as long as you put in even a moderate amount of effort, SAT online test prep classes won't be a waste at all! They'll help you improve your SAT scores, and by extension, your chances for getting into the college you want, and getting scholarships or other financial assistance.
Online classes will also help you study more effectively, strengthen your weak areas, and help you do a better job on all tests―not just the SAT.
1. Expect flexible study time.
Fortunately, test preparation via the Web is much easier than test preparation 20 or even 10 years ago. You can work your test prep times to fit your schedule, which makes it easy to have a part-time job or any number of extracurricular activities, and still prepare yourself for a test.
But perhaps even better than that is the fact that you don't have to sit through long classes after school (or on Saturdays) with a potentially boring teacher.
2. Expect to put out effort.
Even though SAT online test prep makes things much more convenient (and effective) than live test prep classes, that's not to say that you can get by without any effort. It will definitely make you better at taking tests, but it won't take the tests for you!
By the same token, it won't automatically improve your test-taking abilities unless you put forth a little effort of your own. Fortunately, “effort” doesn't automatically equal “difficult”. And in any case, it's only 10-15 minutes a day!
3. Expect to learn your own strengths―and weaknesses.
This can be more difficult than it might sound at first. After all, everybody loves to focus on what they're good at. But most of us would rather just skip over the things we don't do as well. After all, dealing with them takes extra effort, and it's just not as gratifying as focusing on our strengths.
Unfortunately, it's hard to get scholarships by ignoring these difficult spots. SAT online test prep is designed to strengthen the areas where you are weakest. Even if you don't attain stellar scores in your less-favored area(s) of study, the right SAT test prep can keep them from dragging down your overall score.
4. Expect to be challenged.
As you might guess, improving areas where you are weakest can seem challenging. One thing that some students don't expect, however, is to be challenged in areas where they are already strong.
This can come as a shock at first, especially if you are used to breezing through your strong areas. But the good part about it is that you will become able to score even higher in the areas where you excel. This kind of strength can boost your overall SAT score, and mean the difference between a pretty good scholarship, versus an all-expenses-paid ride through college.
5. Expect to change the way you study all-around.
SAT online test prep doesn't just improve the way you study for or take standardized tests. It will also change the way you study in general.
Don't worry―that's not a bad thing! In fact, you might discover that your retention improves, and that you are able to study more efficiently.
If taking tests in school is ever a problem for you (and for most students it is, some or all of the time), SAT online test prep will help you deal with them better. These improved study skills will carry over into college, where you are likely to need them more than ever!
Image Courtesy : CollegeDegrees360/Flickr
