LI Regents Prep will be at Suffolk Spring College Fair on May 5th

Long Island Regents Prep is excited to be participating in the Suffolk Spring College Fair, sponsored by Western Suffolk Counselors’ Association. The College Fair will take place on Monday, May 5, 2014,  from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Students will be able to visit representatives from dozens of colleges and register for SAT and Regents review courses offered by Long Island Regents Prep. In addition, we'll be offering on-site registration discounts and raffling off a free SAT Crash Course and Regents Review Course!  Please stop by our booth to find out more about our courses! Here are the details:

Suffolk Spring College Fair

Monday, May 5, 2014

5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Huntington Hilton Hotel, Melville NY

Directions: Take Long Island Expressway East to Exit 49S (Rte 110 South / Broadhollow Rd.) Turn Right at end of ramp onto Rt. 110 S / Broadhollow Road. Proceed 2 miles to the corner of Spagnoli Rd and Broadhollow Rd and the hotel is on the right.

Are SAT Review Classes Worth the Cost?

It's easy to get carried away with SAT test preparation, and it's not unusual for a typical family to spend over $1000 per child on SAT review. So, is it worth it? In other words, do costly tutors, review books, and review classes result in better test scores and, thus, admission into elite colleges? This question is difficult to answer.

The best research indicates that "test preparation efforts yield a positive but small effect on standardized admission test scores," according to a report released in 2009 by the National Association for College Admission Counseling. In fact, although many of the best-known test prep companies (e.g., Kaplan, Princeton Review, and Sylvan Learning) claim to increase test scores by over 100 points, the "average gains are more in the neighborhood of 30 points." 

The College Board, which creates the SAT exams, has conducted its own research, which shows that test preparation courses offer limited benefit. In fact, Laurence Bunin, senior vice president for the College Board, "recommends free and low-cost College Board Materials, including a $22 study guide," according to the Wall Street Journal. 

Moreover, SAT prep companies like Kaplan and Princetown Review reap billions of dollars in profits annually, while charging students thousands of dollars to enroll in their comprehensive review courses. This may put students from lower-income families at a disadvantage. According to a Washington Post survey, students who come from families earning over $200,000 a year have an average SAT score of 1714, while students whose families make less than $20,000 a year have an average score of 1326.

Unfortunately, these figures sometimes force families to spend beyond their means in hope of sending their kids to better colleges, and the results can be disheartening. According to long-time SAT tutor Allison Kade, expensive SAT tutoring and review courses aren't for everyone. She says, "you may not need to fork over tons of cash for test prep if: 1) Your kid is extremely self-motivated, already understands all the core concepts and has been successful with self-study for other standardized tests like AP exams or the PSAT; 2) Your kid doesn’t care, won’t put in the work and will potentially be a distraction to the rest of the kids taking the test." On the other hand, she writes, you may want to spend a few bucks if "your kid cares about her score, but may not be self-motivated enough to do the studying on her own; your teen is a nervous test-taker...; or your child is struggling with core concepts and would benefit from extra help."

But there is an alternative to the expensive tutors and review courses. Long Island Regents Prep, a teacher-owned and -operated company, offers one-day SAT Crash Courses the weekend before each SAT Reasoning Test. These courses, held at Farmingdale State College, offer students confidence, skills, knowledge, and strategies they need to excel on their SATs, all at a fraction of the cost of tutors and other courses. For more information and to register for upcoming classes, visit www.liregentsprep.com.

Long Island SAT and ACT Prep

Over the years, many students and parents have asked us why we don't offer SAT and ACT review courses.  The answer is pretty simple.  As full-time high school teachers, we work with the New York State Regents material everyday.  So we focus on what we're good at: we take the Regents course content and skills that we teach throughout the school year and create intensive, one-shot, six-hour review sessions.  We leave the SAT/ACT prep to those who specialize in that type of tutoring.  That being said, if you're looking for a local, experienced tutor and are not interested in wasting thousands of dollars on Kaplan or Princeton Review, then check out these Long Island companies:

Long Island Test Prep with Gregg - For the past 8 years, Greg Zehentner has tutored hundreds of students from all over Long Island.  Here's what he has to say about his services: "My specialized approach and experience enable me to target any student's weaknesses and provide the strategies, tips, and tricks that will help raise his or her score to the level it should be! In addition to the many students I have assisted over the years, I have also developed content for SAT and ACT review websites, written an SAT study guide for a national review company, published an SAT book and taught prep classes across Long Island. I know the SAT and ACT inside and out!  Rather than a teacher who moonlights as a tutor, I am a full-time standardized test tutor who has cultivated his targeted methods over years of practice. You can check out my website at www.litestprep.com."

SAT, ACT, and GRE Tutoring with Mr. Eisenberg - Jeffrey Eisenberg has been tutoring students for over 20 years.  In addition, he is a social studies teacher at East Meadow High School.  Jeff says, "I help students in Long Island to succeed on the SAT, ACT, and GRE and work with students to demystify the exam, lower stress levels, and apply real-world strategies for mastering the test.  Students who embrace my techniques and practice them as assigned typically improve their scores significantly.  I look forward to discussing with you how we can work together towards this goal."  Visit his site at www.longislandtestprep.com.

Tips for dealing with test anxiety

For many students, the end of the school year brings a combination of excitement and anxiety. As the days grow warmer, students look forward to their two-month summer break.  But, before fleeing to the beaches or to summer camp, they must first pass their finals, Regents exams, and, perhaps, take the SATs and ACTs. School can be stressful enough without the added pressure of standardized exams, but test anxiety is becoming increasingly widespread in our test-obsessed age of accountability.

According to the Penn State University Learning Center, symptoms of test anxiety can include insomnia, loss of appetite, panic, confusion, hopelessness, anger, and depression.

There are ways of dealing with these symptoms. Georgetown University's Counseling and Psychiatric Service website lists helpful tips for reducing test anxiety. Before the exam, students should get a good night's sleep, eat a modest meal, avoid other students who are stressed, and arrive early for the test.  During the exam, students might consider budgeting their time wisely, answering the easiest questions first, and making a brief outline of ideas.

In addition, Georgetown psychologist Wayne Hurr recommends relaxation techniques.  He writes, "If your mind is blocked by tension during an exam, close your eyes, take a long, deep breath, and then let it out slowly. Concentrate on your breathing and actually feel or hear yourself breathe. Don't allow yourself to worry about the time, test, or tension.  Repeat this twice, then return to the test."

Finally, researchers at the universities of Colorado and Chicago have found that writing down feelings shortly before an exam can reduce test anxiety and improve exam scores.  Perhaps students should jot down some of their summer vacation plans to help offset the stress!

This article was originally published on http://farmingdale.patch.com.