Students' Uses of and Reactions to Alternative Methods of Preparing for the SAT

A variety of courses, procedures, and materials are available to students to help them prepare for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). The sometimes conflicting claims and opinions of test sponsors, parents, teachers, and developers of test preparation resources pose a dilemma for students and their counselors. Consequently, students must decide which methods or materials, if any, are consonant with their preparation objectives.This article describes the uses of, and reactions to, various preparation resources and a large national sample of SAT candidates. Data suggest that, although students have a variety of attitudes about preparing for the SAT, most believe in the efficacy of some method of preparation. This belief translates into action; most students prepare in some manner, and a majority of them use more than one method of preparation.