Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-442-6062

Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-925-2803

You've heard the ads before: "Our  

SAT test prep

  is customized to fit your needs." Basically, that means if you answered most of the analogies wrong in the verbal section, you'd have to gear up for some serious vocabulary drills. So it was with skepticism that

I logged onto Peterson's new Online SAT Test Prep course, with Ben Paris, the company's director of test preparation, walking me through it. Here's what I found out...There is real customization built into the course. Not only does the diagnostic you take at the start determine your strengths and weaknesses, but through a lot of programming and mathematical mumbo jumbo analysis, it determines why you answered questions the way you did, and what specific concepts you need work on. If that's not enough, the software then customizes your program based on your score goals. And, should you decide to go for higher goals, the coursework will adapt accordingly.

"Not everyone is aiming for or capable of a perfect score," explains Paris. So why study the same way a 1600 hopeful would when you're shooting for a respectable 1200? Along those lines, to my amazement, the course recommends some takers completely skip the tough set of questions toward the end of the exam (questions are in order of difficulty), and forget about memorizing word lists altogether. "Hard questions lower scores in two ways: By wasting time, and because there's a penalty for wrong answers," says Paris. In other words, your goal should be to achieve as many right answers as possible, instead of trying to answer every question.

On the other hand, if a concept is within your reach, the course will provide you with different ways to learn it. Depending on your needs, you'll be given either a 'quick review' to refresh skills you already have, or a 'fundamental' lesson to teach and explain new concepts in detail. There's even something called the "I still don't get it" option, which you can click to have something explained in a new way.

In short, explains Paris, "anytime a course tells you up front how many hours of SAT test prep it provides, it's not customized." Each person is different, he adds, so each course should be, too.

You can afford it! While the software is only currently being offered in schools (ask your guidance counselor), Peterson's promises a home edition of the course later this year that will be priced hundreds of dollars below other test prep options. "Money should not be a barrier for students," says Paris.

Sound Off! Post Your Comments