Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watnot!watmath!clyde!rutgers!lll-lcc!styx!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!sdcsvax!sdcc6!calmasd!jnp
From: jnp@calmasd.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.att,misc.kids
Subject: Re: SAT Practice Software Recommendations?
Message-ID: <2190@calmasd.GE.COM>
Date: Mon, 23-Mar-87 18:48:46 EST
Article-I.D.: calmasd.2190
Posted: Mon Mar 23 18:48:46 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 27-Mar-87 06:07:35 EST
References: <865@mtunb.UUCP> <343@houxa.UUCP> <2189@calmasd.GE.COM> <512@thumper.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: G.E.- Calma R&D, San Diego, CA
Lines: 31
Xref: utgpu comp.sys.apple:864 comp.sys.ibm.pc:2554 comp.sys.att:261 misc.kids:893
Summary: not quite

In article <512@thumper.UUCP>, tr@thumper.UUCP writes:
> 
> Hasn't it been shown that taking a class, such as Stanley Kaplan's,
> can significantly raise your score?  

No.  It can - in most cases - improve your score, but even Kaplan doesn't
claim a "significant" raise in the score.

> Hasn't it been shown that SAT's, like IQ tests, are biased .....

Only to the extent that any written test, given by the mainstream
academic community is.  In fact - mainstream academia is where the SAT's
are used for credentials.

> Don't these "aptitude" tests test the ability to take these tests more
> than anything else?

No. Given the above limitations they actually have a very good correlation
with success in college; little if any of which is taking SAT-style tests.


Of course I may still be full of beans - but this has been my experience
over the course of 10 years of pre-college admissions consulting.

Take the PSAT for practice - then the SAT.  Cheaper than sitting through
a course which can't teach you - if you can't teach yourself from a
book on the subject. 
-- 
These opinions are solely mine and in no way reflect those of my employer.  
John M. Pantone @ GE/Calma R&D, Data Management Group, San Diego
...{ucbvax|decvax}!sdcsvax!calmasd!jnp          jnp@calmasd.GE.COM