Please click on any of the questions below for the answer.
How does Taming the SAT differ from other SAT prep courses?
The most striking difference in our workshop versus others is the quality of our teachers. We hire professional educators who have extensive teaching experience in the area that they teach. This means we have a college or high school math teacher conduct the Math day of the workshop, and a college or high school English teacher conduct the Verbal day. These teachers have extensive teaching experience and rapport with high school students. They are rigorously trained and paid three times (or more) the industry average. As a result there is very little turnover in our instructors; most have taught for us for eight, or more years. Other SAT prep courses typically hire non-professionals to teach their workshops. As a result they can offer little more than an environment for students to "practice", very little "teaching" is achieved.
Our workshop is far more rigorous and demanding than other workshops. We accomplish a great deal in a short period of time. Our Basic workshop is two days in length, typically on a Saturday and Sunday. Our Writing workshop is one day in length, most often on a weekend day.
Our workshop is affordably priced.
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What are the qualifications of the workshop teachers?
Our teachers are professional educators. We hire teachers based on their experience, professionalism, and rapport with students. These teachers typically have advanced degrees (Masters or Doctorate level) in the subject they teach. They love to teach, and it is evident.
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What is the role of the Assistant Instructor?
The assistant instructor has a variety of functions. The main duty is to provide one-on-one help to students during the workshop. Throughout the day the assistant is readily available to answer questions. The assistant also checks students into the workshop, and helps maintain a comfortable learning environment in the room. Furthermore, assistants are a good source of information regarding college admission and college life. Workshops with more than 20 students have an assistant instructor.
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How can a workshop provide meaningful test prep in one weekend?
We have organized our workshop around a series of "strategies." These strategies are useful for certain commonly occurring SAT questions. We teach the students a strategy by example, after which the students will practice the strategy in a short, timed exercise. The students are given immediate feedback following the exercise. The workshop has given the students a "toolkit" of strategies for the SAT. Further reinforcing of the strategies occurs after the workshop by student practice. The combination of professional teaching and carefully crafted study materials makes this method very effective. On the "old" SAT (prior to March, 2005) for 23 years we had an average increase of 180 points (on a 1600 point scale.) On the "new" SAT we are, so far, averaging well over 200 points increase.
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What does the Basic workshop cover?
On the first day students learn general strategies that pertain to all sections of the SAT Reasoning test, including "when to guess", and the general construction of the test. (The goal throughout the workshop is to teach students to think like the test-makers.)
The rest of the first day is devoted to the Mathematics section of the SAT. Students learn extensive strategies for SAT arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and all other areas of SAT math. We consider several examples of both multiple choice and grid-in problems.
The bulk of the second day of the workshop is devoted to the Critical Reading section of the SAT Reasoning test. We cover Sentence Completion questions, and (more extensively) Passage-based Reading questions. We also prepare students for the Writing section of the SAT. This includes strategies for the multiple-choice grammar and usage questions as well as the 25-minute Essay.
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What does the Writing workshop cover?
The Writing workshop is an optional workshop that provides extensive practice in composing the 25-minute Essay required of all students. Approximately 4.5 hours of the 6 hour workshop is spent on the Essay (the other 1.5 hours is devoted to the grammar and usage questions.) Students learn about working with essay prompts, pacing the essay paragraph-by-paragraph, acceptable writing styles, and much more. We teach the students to score an essay accurately using the College Board grading rubric. This is very empowering for the students. In the course of the workshop students write two complete essays. One essay is written a paragraph at a time in order to help students with pacing. The second essay is written at the end of the day. Two professional readers score this essay, and the results are emailed to students. At the same time, the students receive a username and password that enable them to write two additional, timed essays on our website. Two readers score these essays as well.
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What materials do the students receive in the Basic workshop?
On the first day of the workshop the students receive a Study Guide book (a reference of strategies for the entire workshop, and a source of new examples not seen in the workshop), a Math Exercises booklet, and a pencil. On the second morning of the workshop the students receive a Verbal Exercises booklet. At the end of the workshop the students receive a Practice Tests book, and an Answer Key for all the exercises. The Practice Tests book is unique in that it explains not only why the correct answer choice is correct, but also why the incorrect answer choices are incorrect.
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What is unique about our Practice Test book compared to other books available to students?
Our Practice Test book provides detailed solutions to all questions. What's unique about the book is that it explains not only why the correct answer choice is correct, but also why the incorrect answer choices are incorrect. This is extremely important information for students practicing alone after the workshop. Many incorrect answer choices are "distracters", designed to fool students. Explaining these incorrect answer choices is extremely empowering for the student; they "get into the head of the test-maker."
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What materials do the students receive in the Writing workshops?
In the one-day Writing workshop the students receive a Writing Study Guide book (a reference of strategies and resource of supplementary information), a Writing Exercises booklet, and a pencil. In addition, after the workshop students are emailed a password that allows them to compose two additional, timed 25-minute essays online. These essays are each graded by two readers.
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For what type of student does the workshop prove beneficial?
The workshop proves most beneficial for students willing to commit to a sustained effort both during the workshop and afterwards. Our workshops are thorough and effective; yet, at the same time supportive. For attendees who have previously taken the SAT Reasoning Test we are most effective with students whose previous score was between 1400 and 2100 (combined score from Writing, Critical Reading, and Math.) Students with scores below 1400 tend to find the workshop too demanding; students with scores above 2100 will only show incremental increases in their score. Since an integral part of our workshop is the Practice Test book used by students at home, students need to be disciplined enough to spend an additional 10 to 12 hours with this material. Instructors conduct the workshop as if it were a college class; we are aware that these are college-bound students.
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For what type of student is the workshop not beneficial?
[Also see the question above.] The workshop is intense and rigorous. Although the instructors are very supportive, some students feel that six hours of instruction, practice, and reinforcement is too much to handle in a day. We are concerned about not wasting any of the student's time at the workshop; we cover a great deal of material. We also need students to commit to self-practice time after the workshop using our materials – this requires some level of self-discipline.
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How are students treated in the workshop?
Students are treated with respect at all times. Students are always encouraged to ask questions of the instructors or assistant instructors throughout the day. On the other hand, the instructor will ask no individual student a question, in front of the group. Instructors conduct the workshop as if it were a college class; we are aware that these are college-bound students.
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What is the size of our workshops?
This is difficult to answer – it depends on the time of year, and the location. Most of workshops are conducted in rooms that hold 50 students, so this would be a maximum number in these locations. Workshops can range from 10 students to 50, or occasionally more. When workshops have more than 20 enrolled students there is an assistant instructor in the room. Writing workshops tend to be smaller than the Basic workshops. Workshops tend to be larger in September and the first weekend in October.
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What is the average increase in scores for students attending the workshop?
For the first 23 years of Taming the SAT's existence the average increase was 180 points. This was based on the "old" SAT-I, which had a maximum-scaled score of 1600. As of March 2005 the "new" SAT has a maximum-scaled score of 2400. Based on the data we've collected to date average increases are in excess of 200 points.
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Do you offer refresher courses?
No. We feel that the Study Guide and the Practice Tests books are ample reference for the students to refer to. If the student insists on attending another workshop we'll charge the minimum amount ($190.) We do try to discourage this. Another good approach to review the workshop is for the student to purchase The Official SAT Study Guidebook published by the College Board, and use our strategies on the questions.
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How soon should students take the workshop before the SAT date?
Although most students (and parents) feel that the workshop should be taken just before the SAT test date, this is not the optimal time. Please keep in mind that in the Basic workshop the students receive a book to review after the workshop, and before the SAT; this will require approximately 10-12 hours. For the Writing workshop there is an internet follow-up where students will write two, timed essays online. Two readers grade these essays, and email the student the scores and comments. This process may take up to two weeks per essay. In summary: The Basic workshop is best taken three to eight (or more) weeks prior to the SAT. The Writing workshop is best taken four to ten (or more) weeks prior to the SAT.
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Does our workshop cover the "new SAT"?
Yes. When the SAT changed in March 2005 we had a revised workshop in place. The educational strengths remained intact, but we added, deleted, and modified workshop content as needed.
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How long has Taming the SAT existed?
Taming the SAT has been in business since 1982 in California. In 1999 we expanded to the Pacific Northwest, and in 2003 we started offering workshops in Las Vegas.
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What is the connection of Taming the SAT to USC?
Taming the SAT was developed at the School of Education at the University of Southern California in 1982. The educators combined their efforts with the Nova Group (an educational media company) to develop a pedagogically sound, and, at the same time, stimulating workshop.
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Is our workshop useful as a PSAT prep course?
Yes, with some provisions. The PSAT is a shorter, somewhat less difficult version of the SAT-I. The PSAT does not include the 25-minute Essay. We often have students attend our Basic workshop for the purpose of preparing for the PSAT. These students feel that by attending a workshop that prepares for the more rigorous SAT they will be especially well prepared for the PSAT. Since the PSAT is also used for National Merit Scholarship screening this is an important test for students.
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Is our workshop useful as an ACT prep course?
No. The tests are very different. Although the ACT is a multiple-choice test, it bears little resemblance to the SAT-I. The ACT consists of 4 parts (English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science) plus an optional Writing part that parallels the high school curriculum. It is more similar to the SAT-II's, Subject tests.
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Do we offer prep classes for the SAT-II's (Subject Tests)?
No. Both of our workshops (Basic and Writing) only prepare students for the SAT Reasoning test (SAT-I.) There are over 20 SAT Subject Matter tests. These multiple choice tests parallel the high school curriculum.
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Do we offer scholarships, or fee waivers to the workshop?
We do not have any formal provisions for this. On occasion we do consider individual cases, we'll speak with parents and counselors at the student's school regarding the earnestness and need of the student.
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Do we offer discounts for multiple registrations?
Yes. We encourage multiple registrations to help make our workshop affordable for everyone. For the Basic workshop the fee is $220. If two students register together the price is reduced to $205 per student. If three (or more) students register together the price is further reduced to $190 per student. For the Writing workshop the fee is $185. Here the "two-student" price is $170 per student. The "three (or more)-student" price is $155 per student. For the "Combo" workshop (Basic plus Writing) the fee is $375. The "two-student" price is $345 per student. The "three (or more)-student" price is $315 per student.
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Do we allow teachers, or counselors to attend our workshop?
Yes, however, they're charged just like a regular student.
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Are parents allowed to observe the workshop their son or daughter is attending?
Yes, under the following conditions:
The instructor agrees.
The parents do not interfere with the workshop in any way.
The parents do not sit with their son or daughter.
There's sufficient space available in the room.
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Why don't we have a workshop at [______________]?
We carefully study the demographics and demand in an area before we establish new workshops. Our resources are finite, especially outside of California. However, we always appreciate hearing about potential new sites. Another possibility is to do a "site workshop" at a local high school. This enables us to have special pricing for students, and reach areas we otherwise would miss. We urge parents to speak with their child's high school counselor regarding this opportunity. The counselors can then contact Taming the SAT to set up a site workshop.
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Is it possible to sign up for just the Math (Verbal) portion of the Basic workshop?
No. Currently, the Basic, two-day workshop cannot be "decoupled" into math and verbal days. Although one day is basically math and one day is basically verbal (critical reading and writing) the workshop, and materials, are too integrated to allow this. Remember we do have a separate, one-day, writing workshop that is independent of the Basic workshop. So someone can sign up for just the Writing workshop without taking the Basic workshop.
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Do students take a Practice Test during the workshop?
No. Spending 3 hours and 45 minutes taking an entire practice test during the workshop is a waste of both the students and teachers time. Instead student's complete strategy based exercises of 3 to 15 minutes. Afterwards the students receive immediate feedback on their performance. After the workshop the students can consolidate what they have learned by completing the two tests in our Practice Test book. Our Practice Test book provides detailed solutions to all questions. What's unique about the book is that it explains not only why the correct answer choice is correct, but also why the incorrect answer choices are incorrect.
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What is the cancellation policy?
To cancel a workshop we need at least 24 hours written notice. A $20 processing fee will be charged. Money is returned in the form of a check payable to whoever paid for the workshop. If you have signed up for the Combo (both the Writing and Basic workshops), and you withdraw from one workshop, you'll be charged at the non-discount rate for the remaining workshop. Cancellation also affects multiple registration discounts. For example, if one member of a group of three students cancels a workshop, the remaining students would be charged at the "two-student" rate.
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Students may withdraw from a workshop up until the first two hours of the first day of the workshop. If they withdraw they must return the workshop materials to the assistant. A check for the full amount paid is mailed to the payer within three weeks. If a student who signed up for the Combo (Basic plus Writing workshop) withdraws from one of the workshops they will be charged the full price for the remaining workshop, their discount will be lost.
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