By the time a student completes their sophomore year of high school, they should be equipped with the necessary knowledge to take and pass the ACT or SAT. Unfortunately, the reality is that many high school students are not performing as well as they could on the SAT. This is puzzling, given that GPAs have risen since the 1990s while SAT scores have slightly declined.
While an online SAT prep course might sound like a waste of money and time, it can actually benefit students who are struggling to feel prepared. Some high schools do not offer school-wide SAT test preparation. However, a few schools have seen improvements after they began offering free assistance through an online SAT prep course. Of course, not all features are free, and this can be a deterrent to students from low-income households.
Wondering which SAT prep course is right for your student and their unique learning needs? The following are five of the best online SAT prep course options available for high school students.
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1. Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan Test Prep is one of the most well-known online SAT prep course websites. It offers many different options and is flexible with students’ unique needs. Private tutors are available for students who need extra help in various subjects. There are over 1,000 online practice quizzes and Kaplan’s own online quiz-builder that features over 300 questions.
The biggest downside to Kaplan is, of course, the price. The $299 starting price gets you some helpful features, but you will have to upgrade to one of the more expensive packages if you want more intensive features. The next package up is the SAT Live Online Essentials package, which offers over 30 hours of online live streaming at the cost of $599. While these options make Kaplan stand out from its competition, the price tag is difficult for many families to afford.
- Website: KapTest.com.
- Certificate: Yes.
- Exam: Yes (8 practice tests are available).
- Cost: $299 starting price.
2. The Princeton Review
Another one of the most well-regarded online SAT test prep sites is The Princeton Review. As with Kaplan, there is a starting price of $299 for the self-paced prep course. It, too, offers a number of study options, including assistance from highly-qualified private tutors. Even if you opt for the $299 package, you can get three hours of chat time with a teacher, which Kaplan does not offer in its starter package. If you go beyond those three hours, each additional hour costs $50.
The next package level is a whopping $1,099, which is twice the cost of Kaplan’s. Also, unlike Kaplan, each subject module is divided into four sections. Students are unable to view their overall results on the module’s set of practice questions, making reviewing progress a bit difficult. Also, the dashboard is not as user-friendly as it could be and simply directs students to the next learning module.
- Website: PrincetonReview.com.
- Certificate: Yes.
- Exam: Yes (4-5 practice tests are available).
- Cost: $299 starting price.
3. Khan Academy
One of the best things about Khan Academy is that it is free to use. Khan is non-profit and is partnered with the College Board. Among its global advisors is none other than Bill Gates. When students sign up, they take several diagnostic quizzes, which allows Khan to customize each learning program. Khan also offers a plethora of tips for how to mentally prepare for the SATs.
The videos aren’t as fancy as those put out by other websites, but they provide the same core content. Some of the user pages are lacking in content, and students cannot get a full glimpse at their progress to-date. Also, there are no live streaming connections with educators.
- Website: KhanAcademy.org.
- Certificate: Yes.
- Exam: Yes (7 total exams are available).
- Cost: $0.
4. Revolution Prep
Unlike other online SAT prep sites, Revolution Prep emphasizes the use of highly-qualified tutors to help guide students through their preparations. Prices range are set per hour and are based on each tutor’s rank. An Advanced Tutor is priced at $129 per hour. Semi-private tutoring is available for $39 an hour. Each tutor is listed along with their ratings, next availability, and educational background. Overall, students get more structure and personalized guidance.
This isn’t ideal for students wishing to work on their own. Also, you will be paying more if your student needs extra time with a tutor.
- Website: RevolutionPrep.com.
- Certificate: Yes.
- Exam: Yes.
- Cost: $39 starting price for semi-private tutoring.
5. Set For College
Set For College is an online SAT prep course that offers highly-personalized online courses that limit class size to eight students maximum. Every six-week course features 18 hours of instruction, and additional tutoring hours are available at discounted prices. Students are able to customize one-on-one tutoring. There is also an option for a one-day SAT strategy course that serves as a brief refresher.
The biggest downside to Set For College is that supplemental materials are lacking. Also, their website isn’t as comprehensive and lacks a user-friendly interface with informational content.
- Website: SetForCollege.com.
- Certificate: Yes.
- Exam: Yes.
- Cost: $179 – $449 (Additional tutoring is $50 an hour).
Summing Up
As you can see, there are many options to choose from when selecting an online SAT prep course. While many of them charge some hefty fees, these five prep course companies offer a substantial amount of guidance for students. Most of them also offer college entrance tips and other educational advice and insight. The right program is out there, and SAT success is possible.
Have you tried one of these prep course providers? If so, let us know how it worked for you.
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