Should I sign up for it?
Many students at ECFS are enrolled in outside test preparation courses and tutoring. The College Office and Form Deans recommend test prep for some students every year; some students who are not initially identified by the College Office and Form Deans may also benefit from test prep. On the other hand, test prep also comes with some risks. For example, it may require some students to spend less time on their studies, thereby negatively affecting their grades, or it may add to the stress of a rigid schedule that a student already feels. Before making the decision about whether to sign up or not, it is important to consult with the Form Dean and College Office.
ECFS has an established partnership with a test prep company. If you decide, after consulting with the College Office, to choose a different preparation organization or tutor, you should interview them first. Do they seem concerned with your child’s individual issues? Are they willing to tailor individualized tutoring to your child’s needs rather than adhering to a set curriculum or number of hours? Most importantly, are they willing to work with ECFS if necessary? Our College Office is happy to work with outside tutors and sometimes needs to coordinate our advice so that a student is not confused. You will be paying a substantial amount for tutoring, so make sure you have confidence in the tutors and the program.
How do I decide between a test prep course and individual tutoring?
For students who experience generalized test anxiety or are unfamiliar with the format of standardized tests, a test prep course may be enough to reduce stress and teach some test-taking skills. For students who have a particular weakness in a specific subject area or have more specialized learning needs, an individualized tutor may be more effective. Again, this discussion should happen with the Form Dean or College Office, depending on the progress of the student.
Are there special considerations for students with learning differences?
Students with a documented learning difference are not singled out in any way if scores are reported to colleges and universities. Students with learning differences may choose, with the advice of their college counselor, whether or not to reveal their disabilities to colleges. A description of students’ learning styles often explains discrepancies between standardized testing and the transcript of grades and may be very helpful in the process. Parents/guardians of students with learning differences should call either the Learning Center or the College Office in their child’s 11th Grade year if they desire more information about this aspect of standardized testing.