Should 7th Graders Take SAT or ACT Prep Courses?
Qualifying for a seventh-grade talent search, such as the one offered by Duke University or Johns Hopkins University, is a distinct honor. At the same time, taking either the SAT or the ACT—tests designed for college-bound high school students—at the age of 12 or 13 can be daunting and anxiety-provoking for both student and parent. Parents of seventh-graders frequently ask whether it is beneficial for their child to take an SAT or ACT prep course. Review courses such as those offered by Kaplan and the Princeton Review promise higher scores by providing test-taking strategies, familiarity with the tests, practice tests, and diagnostic feedback. At first blush, it’s hard not to be impressed by these courses. Besides, who wouldn’t want to give their child a competitive edge? For students applying to college, that’s just what test prep courses do, and few downsides exist for high school students. However, the risk to seventh-graders is great. Let me offer two reasons. First, college-bound
