Dear Judy

With all the talk about professional tutoring giving the edge in admissions tests for selective schools and G&T programs, I am beginning to worry. We can’t afford much in the way of extra tutoring. Isn’t there any other way to prepare for these tests?

Perturbed parents

Dear Perturbed parents,

There are do-it-yourself ways to prepare for high stakes tests, but the most important strategy: Don’t let your child wait until the last minute to cram. Help her to develop good study habits from the beginning. Kids won’t perform well on tests without a solid foundation in the subject, no matter what their parents pay for test prep.

I recently came across Tutor in a Book: Better Grades as Easy as 1-2-3, by Alexandra Mayzler and Ana McGann, and published by Adams Media. The two authors combine their experience as students and tutors to provide the tools for ongoing successful studying. These include organization, time management, study techniques to fit your learning style, study partners (parents!), asking teachers for help and most important, keeping up to date.    All of which add up to a real understanding of the subject and a well-prepared test taker.<!--more-->

Now comes the prep part –- getting ready for a particular exam.  You want to become familiar with the format and content, for instance, of the specialized high school achievement test (SHSAT) or the SAT for college admissions. To do this,  Mayzler and McGann  suggest the student compose a sample test. Although this is a  good way to review of the material, nothing substitutes for the actual tests themselves.

I recommend  prep books such as those published by Barrons and others such as Princeton Review. Take enough of the tests published in these books and you will probably cover all the material likely to show up on the real thing. You become familiar with the format of the test, and you’ll find out where you need more study. There are also prep books and plenty of online resources for Regents exams. The total you pay for the books won't add up to a fraction of the price of formal test prep courses. And you can probably arrange a book swap with other parents whose children have already used the guides.

During the year, your kids can get a leg up on learning by signing up with  non- profit organizations that offer after school homework help and other activities. Take a look also at the Inside Schools feature, Free Enrichment Programs, which lists resources for in-depth learning experiences during the school year and in the summer.

Just a word about gifted and talented testing. You can get workbooks for this kind of prep as well. But, hey, four-year-olds don’t need to cram for exams. Instead,  read to your kids, talk to them about what you read, what you see on daily walks, count steps on the slide, count squirrels in the park –-  in short, be your child’s first educator, without putting pressure on her  to perform.

Pre-k and day care teachers practice this kind of education all the time.  That said, it can’t hurt to play with a test or two to have the kids become familiar with the format.    My favorite strategy (borrowed from educational consultant Robin Aronow) is to tell your kid on the day of the test, ”these folks want to see what a four year old can do.”

Remember also, there are loads of noteworthy schools on all levels,  elementary, middle and high school, that don't require special tests for admission. Be sure to look for these in our Find a School section as great alternatives to exam schools.

Other parents  are sure to have some low-cost or no-cost tutoring suggestions.  Please share them in comments below.

Good luck!

Judy