3 ms·

I run a small test prep business in Phoenix (and will be applying with little hope to YC) so here are some insights on this.. * The deal with Khan Academy feel

I run a small test prep business in Phoenix (and will be applying with little hope to YC) so here are some insights on this.. * The deal with Khan Academy feels exciting and I want to see it succeed, but the vast majority of high school kids do not stick with online/self-guided test prep and those who do tend to be two standard deviations to the right anyway. I've heard from countless parents who hired us for in person tutoring after their kid didn't stay motivated with online prep. Moreover, students preparing on their own have a massive inclination to prep on sections they enjoy rather than their weakest sections. * Video explanations inevitably fail to significantly change results because: A) learning becomes passive B) immediate feedback lacks C) individual explanations for questions tend toward "tactics" rather than "strategy" or a cohesive approach that can be applied to a wide variety of problems * the first online test prep that will be effective will be the prep that solves A, B, and C * Seceral people here have stated the only way to prepare for this test is to take practice tests over and over again. That's like suggesting a MLB pitcher becomes an MLB pitcher just by throwing a ball over and over again. Sure practice is essential but if you don't have the right technique or the right muscle strength then you will never significantly improve. * While the SAT and ACT are not IQ tests, SAT/ACT scores are correlated with IQ scores. If the tests don't feel "fair" well at least they are a heck of a lot more fair than gpa (grade inflation, teacher variance, school type, etc). * Understanding how to "beat the test" is never explained by people who say that's all it takes. Developing smart test taking strategies develops good decision making strategies so preparing for the test is arguably as valuable as a strong test score. * Those of you who say the SAT/ACT are really easy are being douchey. If you're on y combinator you're probably smart so you don't need to show your insecurity with statements like that. It isn't unlike amazing painters or violinists telling you what they do is "really easy." * The real interesting thing is how the SAT is changing to become a better test.

rayiner 13y ago
I think this is great, because in many ways, the SAT is the least discriminatory metric colleges could use. Yes, poor kids often don't have access to test prep. But what other criteria do colleges use? Its a lot easier to afford test prep than to be in a financial position where you can get prestigious internships or do volunteer work in Africa or those things. And if you're disadvantaged with a tenuous home life, its easier to keep things together long enough to study for and do well on a test then to keep up a 4.0 GPA.
thaumasiotes 13y ago
> While the SAT and ACT are not IQ tests, SAT/ACT scores are correlated with IQ scores. The usual thing to point out here is that the SAT correlates with IQ tests roughly as well as two IQ tests correlate with each other. Discounting the branding, what is the sense in which the SAT and ACT aren't IQ tests? > The real interesting thing is how the SAT is changing to become a better test. The changes to the SAT over time usually reduce its discriminating power. Often the accompanying rhetoric indicates that they're supposed to reduce its discriminating power, but it's hard to describe that as "improving" the test.

rayiner 13y ago

I think this is great, because in many ways, the SAT is the least discriminatory metric colleges could use. Yes, poor kids often don't have access to test prep. But what other criteria do colleges use? Its a lot easier to afford test prep than to be in a financial position where you can get prestigious internships or do volunteer work in Africa or those things. And if you're disadvantaged with a tenuous home life, its easier to keep things together long enough to study for and do well on a test then to keep up a 4.0 GPA.

thaumasiotes 13y ago

> While the SAT and ACT are not IQ tests, SAT/ACT scores are correlated with IQ scores. The usual thing to point out here is that the SAT correlates with IQ tests roughly as well as two IQ tests correlate with each other. Discounting the branding, what is the sense in which the SAT and ACT aren't IQ tests? > The real interesting thing is how the SAT is changing to become a better test. The changes to the SAT over time usually reduce its discriminating power. Often the accompanying rhetoric indicates that they're supposed to reduce its discriminating power, but it's hard to describe that as "improving" the test.