Q - How much weight do college admissions officers give to the new SAT Writing Section?
A - The general answer by most universities is this - “We do not yet have enough statistical evidence for this part of the test so we tend not to give it much weight.” This has been the patent answer since this section was introduced in March 2005. However, for those applying to college in the fall of 2008 and beyond, please realize that admissions officers will have at their disposal over 3 years of data on the writing section.
Therefore, this part of the SAT will inevitably be integrated into the college decision-making process. Do not take the writing section lightly! Colleges may look at your SAT essay and compare it to the essay (or writing sample) submitted with your application for admission. This would make it easy for a shrewd admissions officer to tell whether you actually wrote the essay on your application or whether you hired someone to write it for you! By preparing for the writing section, the student will become a better writer, and this is a skill, which is essential for success in college and in the work force.
Q - What are the advantages of a private tutor vs. SAT prep courses? Should I just prepare on my own?
A - Private tutors and prep classes are often expensive, but many feel that it’s money well spent. Private tutors who travel to the student’s home are beneficial to the child who has an irregular schedule because of sports or other extra-curricular activities.
Some students prepare better alone while others prefer group study, which prep courses provide. Both prep courses and tutors expose students to the nuances of the test including strategy and time management. It is important that the student reinforce what he or she has learned by studying an additional 2 hours for every one hour of tutoring.
For example, if the student is tutored for 1.5 hours per week, he or she should practice an additional 3 hours before the next session. If the student is unwilling to do this homework, then all the tutoring and all the prep courses in the world are a waste of time and money.
On the other hand, a well-disciplined motivated student can prepare for the SAT by his or herself by starting at least 3 months prior to the test date and alloting at least one half hour per day, every day leading up to the test. There are many wonderful home study aids available online, at your local library or your local bookstore.
Q - Is there an experimental section?
A - Yes. The SAT is scored on nine sections, three math, three reading and three writing. The actual test has 10 sections because one of those sections is an experimental section and is not counted towards the score. The experimental section is used to collect data for future exams. Because it is impossible to know which section is the experimental section, the student should put forth her best effort equally for all 10 sections.
