It is impossible to go through the college admissions process without considering the submission of standardized tests. As a school where preparing for this process is central to our education, there is no denying that the SAT and ACT are relevant to all students at Holy Trinity. Although the school provides a practice SAT and ACT each year, some students choose to get a tutor specifically to improve their scores on these tests. However, these tutors can be expensive, leading many to question: Should I get a tutor for these tests, and if I choose not to get a tutor, what methods can I use to improve my score?
For most students, preparation begins at Holy Trinity. Academic advisor Beverley McHenry explains that the curriculum at Holy Trinity is the most important form of test preparation.
“What students often don’t realize is that by focusing on their core academic courses, math, English, et cetera, they are actually doing test prep, because what you’re learning is what is in those standardized tests,” McHenry said.
The timed atmosphere of these tests typically is a stressor for many students, impacting their performance. This is why Holy Trinity offers opportunities for students to get used to taking tests in a timed setting. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are offered a practice SAT each fall, and sophomores are given a practice ACT in the spring. These annual trials give students an idea of what test day will be like while also providing a benchmark for what areas they may want to improve on. Another way students can gain experience taking timed assessments is on AP exams. Holy Trinity offers several different AP courses in a variety of subjects. “You’re going to feel more comfortable taking the SAT if you take AP courses,” McHenry said.
Additionally, college planning days teach students tools that they can use to help them succeed both on standardized tests and in life. College planning days are days when students adopt a schedule with different sessions to help them prepare for their future. Some of the things taught in these sessions include organizational skills and time management. “Those organizational skills are key in getting ready,” McHenry said, “say you’re going to study for the SAT, having a study plan mapped out for you is crucial to your success.”
“There’s not a magic formula, much of it is spending the time to take practice tests in real-time,” McHenry suggests. These tests have been central to many students’ study plans. Senior Sage LaGala has utilized these resources. She explained that she would take the practice tests on Bluebook and anytime she had questions she would ask Dr. Herntier, a classmate, or her SAT tutor. “My tutors have helped me learn some strategies to save time on the test and how to recognize patterns in questions,” LaGala said.
For many, tutors can be very beneficial for improving test scores. A popular destination for tutoring in previous years has been Ingram College Testing Prep Center in Cocoa Village. However, the high price of $90 an hour for a private session has made it a controversial decision among students and parents.
“It really bothers me how much money families have to pay for test prep when we attend a school surrounded by greatness,” Lagala said, “I am someone who the SAT did not come easy for. I am not one of those natural test takers but I worked really hard and got myself to the score that I never thought I could ever get.”
In LaGala’s student body presidential campaign, she is suggesting free SAT preparation opportunities for all Holy Trinity students where students with a 1400 and above tutor others for volunteer hours. “This way students can get the advice from the pros and get their questions answered without all of the money, time, and gas it takes for your standard SAT prep,” LaGala explained.
The choice to hire a test preparation tutor depends on each student’s needs. However, Holy Trinity has many resources to help each student reach their standardized test score goals.
