SAT in the Recession

Parents of students who are taking the SAT test in May know that test prep can be an expensive proposition, limited mainly to affluent families who can afford expensive private tutoring sessions. Yet in a deepening recession that has forced families to cut back, the test-prep industry has responded by lowering prices, and business is diversifying. In addition to growing their online presence, test prep programs are expanding into an often subsidized arena: tutoring by public and private schools. Companies like Princeton Review and Kaplan are increasingly pushing their classes to high-end private schools and low-income public schools, while other tutoring companies choose to outsource their tutoring to India, lowering the cost while increasing the distance of student-tutor relationship.

As you decide what - if any - is the best recourse for SAT prep, be sure to consider price, but more importantly, how does your child learn best? In a class setting with a structured curriculum, with an on-line tutor for quick answers, or with a personal, in-home, one-on-one tutor? Answering these questions - while keeping perspective on the significance and relevance of SAT scores - will help prepare you and your child for the hyped-up exam.