What is SAT Prep

What is SAT prep? What is the full form of it? While reading about TOEFL on a certain site, I came across this course but not much information was given on that site. So came here hoping there might be some who may be pursuing or maybe having some info about this.

SAT prep is an abbreviated term for SAT preparation. The SAT is a standardized test, formerly called the Scholastic Aptitude Test and the Scholastic Assessment Test. The SAT is used by most colleges and universities in the United States to assist them in selecting incoming freshmen. The SAT is strictly administered by the College Board and offered several times each year.

Most students will take the SAT at least twice, and the first time will usually be sometime during their junior year in high school. SAT prep is helpful and necessary for anyone who intends to take the SAT. Many high school students have found that an SAT prep course will help them perform better on the SAT whether or not they are taking it for the first time, or if they have taken the test several times before. The SAT is made up of multiple choice questions including verbal and mathematics, and the entire exam lasts approximately four hours. In 2005, an essay writing section was added to the SAT, so SAT prep classes now offer suggestions and tips about how to write the essay.

While most students dread taking the SAT, it is a necessary evil and SAT prep can help immensely. SAT prep will help students prepare for the SAT in a variety of ways. First, an SAT prep course will encourage students to relax. Second, it will show them exactly what to expect on the exam. SAT prep gives students sample questions and shows them how questions are often worded to "trick" test takers, and students will have the opportunity to take one or more sample SAT exams.

An SAT prep course should be taken at least twelve weeks before the actual exam. Crash courses are available and can help minimally, but they often do more harm than good, by simply showing the student how much they do not know. SAT prep courses can be taken by individuals at home out of a book, in a classroom environment with an instructor, or online with an online instructor and discussion group. Countless books are available that provide many sample questions, suggestions, and facts about the exam.

The College Board states that the SAT measures critical thinking skills that are needed for academic success in college. They state that the SAT assesses how well the test takers analyze and solve problems—skills they learned in school that they will need in college. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. Specifically, the College Board states that use of the SAT in combination with high school grade point average (GPA) provides a better indicator of success in college than high school grades alone, as measured by college freshman GPA. Various studies conducted over the lifetime of the SAT show a statistically significant increase in correlation of high school grades and freshman grades when the SAT is factored in.

There are substantial differences in funding, curricula, grading, and difficulty among U.S. secondary schools due to American federalism, local control, and the prevalence of private, distance, and home schooled students. SAT (and ACT) scores are intended to supplement the secondary school record and help admission officers put local data—such as course work, grades, and class rank—in a national perspective.

Originally, SAT was an abbreviation for the Scholastic Aptitude Test. In 1993, the test was renamed the SAT I: Reasoning Test. At the same time, the former Achievement Tests were renamed the SAT II: Subject Tests. In 2004, the numerals "I" and "II" were dropped and the tests are now named the SAT Reasoning Test (or just SAT) and SAT Subject Tests. SAT is a simple and recognizable way of referring to the SAT Reasoning Test.