PREPARING FOR THE SAT® I: REASONING TEST—AN UPDATE

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Abstract
To document the extent of special test preparation for the SAT® I: Reasoning Test, we surveyed a stratified random sample of some 6,700 students who registered to take the SAT I in 1995–96. A smaller companion survey sought information about special preparation programs from a stratified random sample of secondary schools whose students take the SAT I. The objectives were to: determine the availability, and incidence of use, of a variety of programs and resources designed to prepare students to take the SAT I; describe some of the salient features of these resources; and estimate the amount of time (and money) that students spend on preparing for the test. Though the surveys differed slightly from similar surveys conducted in 1986–87, they were designed generally to enable comparison with the results of the earlier surveys.The student survey found that prospective SAT I takers participate, to varying degrees, in a variety of preparation activities. Taking the PSAT/NMSQT for practice and using the test familiarization materials provided by the College Board are the most frequently used strategies. Other commercially available books and texts used in regular courses are also consulted relatively frequently. Engagement is much less frequent with such resources as test‐preparation software, special programs given either at school or outside school, or private tutoring. When particular programs or resources were available, cost was cited less often than some other factor as a reason for not using the resource. This was true for each of several resources, including coaching courses. About 12 percent of all students in the survey said they had attended preparation or coaching sessions outside school, where this minority of students paid, on average, about $400.On average, students currently spend a total of approximately 11 hours preparing for the SAT I, about the same amount (10 hours) that students reported in the 1986–87 survey. Currently, about 10 percent of all students report spending 54 hours or more preparing for the test (about the same as the 58 hours reported in 1986–87). Now, approximately 3 percent of test takers say they do not devote any time at all to SAT preparation (compared with 9 percent in 1986–87).The results of the school survey revealed that a slight majority (52 percent) of all secondary schools now offer programs to prepare students for the SAT I, about the same proportion (49 percent) as in 1986–87.

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