WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	SAT: How can kids improve their scores (WTNH) _ They're the three most dreaded letters for any kid planning to go to college: S-A-T. The Scholastic Aptitude Test is a long, grueling exam that can make or break a college application. But there are some ways to help your child improve their score. News Channel 8's Darren Kramer has some tips on mastering the SAT. Millions of college hopefuls would love to have what Michelle LaQuerre has - her SAT score sheet. The Plainville senior took the test earlier this year and nailed a perfect score. 800 math. 800 verbal. What's her secret? Michelle LaQuerre, Perfect SAT Score: "I just came prepared that day. Got a good night's sleep. Good breakfast, and just showed up. Well most of us need more than a good breakfast to score like that. There is help. One way is by hiring a tutoring service, like the Sylvan Learning Center. By hiring a tutor students get the structure of having an assigned time and place to study. It's not cheap. 28 hours of SAT tutoring at Sylvan costs about $700, but they guarantee results. -Rita Gould, Sylvan Learning Center: "We usually get a boost of between 100 and 125 points in both the math and the verbal." Tom LeFave is hoping to go to the Naval Academy to become a computer programer. Tom LeFave, Notre Dame HS: "I feel its really helping me a lot in the analogy aspects, and now we're going into completing sentences, which is really helping me a lot and hopefully over the long run." Here's a cheaper alternative; There are literally hundreds of books you can buy that will prepare students for the SAT. Some are gimmicky -- one promises to teach a list of the hot words that will probably be on the test. Most give practice tests. Some even come with a CD Rom version of the test that corrects and scores itself. Most cost between $20-50, but there's no tutor prodding to get the work done. There are some good free alternatives too. Some high schools, like New Haven's Hill Regional Career High, offer elective SAT prep classes. Taylor Allen is in one. She wants to be a nurse. Darren: "Is the class going to help you when you go to take the test do you think?" Taylor Allen, Hill Regional HS: "A lot, 'cause he gives me stuff that's going to be up there." Richard Shaw, Yale Dean of Admissions: "Any student who prepares for something, will probably do better at it." And he should know. Richard Shaw is the dean of admissions at Yale. He says the best way for students to get ready for the test is to take some practice tests so they know what they are up against. Shaw: "If they work at that, and practice at it, they are probably going to be more successful at it. If you go in cold without that kind of preparation, then my sense is you may not be as successful." If your kid takes the test and you think he or she could do better. Here are a couple of things to think about. First you can always take the test again. A lot of kids take it more than once. And remember the SAT is just one of the factors colleges look at when you apply. Things like grade point average, extra curricular activities, and even an interview can all make a big difference when in comes to getting into the college of your choice. Here's an SAT test tip. The experts say beware of the "A" answer on the test. The answer usually isn't "A". If you think it is that's ok, but be sure to read all of the other answers carefully, before making your choice. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

SAT: How can kids improve their scores
(WTNH) _ They're the three most dreaded letters for any kid planning to go to college: S-A-T. The Scholastic Aptitude Test is a long, grueling exam that can make or break a college application. But there are some ways to help your child improve their score.
News Channel 8's Darren Kramer has some tips on mastering the SAT.

Millions of college hopefuls would love to have what Michelle LaQuerre has - her SAT score sheet. The Plainville senior took the test earlier this year and nailed a perfect score. 800 math. 800 verbal. What's her secret?

Michelle LaQuerre, Perfect SAT Score: "I just came prepared that day. Got a good night's sleep. Good breakfast, and just showed up.

Well most of us need more than a good breakfast to score like that. There is help. One way is by hiring a tutoring service, like the Sylvan Learning Center. By hiring a tutor students get the structure of having an assigned time and place to study. It's not cheap. 28 hours of SAT tutoring at Sylvan costs about $700, but they guarantee results.

-Rita Gould, Sylvan Learning Center: "We usually get a boost of between 100 and 125 points in both the math and the verbal."

Tom LeFave is hoping to go to the Naval Academy to become a computer programer.

Tom LeFave, Notre Dame HS: "I feel its really helping me a lot in the analogy aspects, and now we're going into completing sentences, which is really helping me a lot and hopefully over the long run."

Here's a cheaper alternative; There are literally hundreds of books you can buy that will prepare students for the SAT. Some are gimmicky -- one promises to teach a list of the hot words that will probably be on the test. Most give practice tests. Some even come with a CD Rom version of the test that corrects and scores itself. Most cost between $20-50, but there's no tutor prodding to get the work done.

There are some good free alternatives too. Some high schools, like New Haven's Hill Regional Career High, offer elective SAT prep classes. Taylor Allen is in one. She wants to be a nurse.

Darren: "Is the class going to help you when you go to take the test do you think?"
Taylor Allen, Hill Regional HS: "A lot, 'cause he gives me stuff that's going to be up there."

Richard Shaw, Yale Dean of Admissions: "Any student who prepares for something, will probably do better at it."

And he should know. Richard Shaw is the dean of admissions at Yale. He says the best way for students to get ready for the test is to take some practice tests so they know what they are up against.

Shaw: "If they work at that, and practice at it, they are probably going to be more successful at it. If you go in cold without that kind of preparation, then my sense is you may not be as successful."

If your kid takes the test and you think he or she could do better. Here are a couple of things to think about. First you can always take the test again. A lot of kids take it more than once.

And remember the SAT is just one of the factors colleges look at when you apply. Things like grade point average, extra curricular activities, and even an interview can all make a big difference when in comes to getting into the college of your choice.

Here's an SAT test tip. The experts say beware of the "A" answer on the test. The answer usually isn't "A". If you think it is that's ok, but be sure to read all of the other answers carefully, before making your choice.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.