36bydesign

So no photo is the way to go? Unless the article is about taking photos?

The direct problem would be that we don't think in letters, but I like the idea.

They're top in class and very popular in the demographic of not you.

Clever.

You didn't actually suggest anything. And while many schools do not require these tests for admission, most require them for scholarship consideration.

Another example is BYU which officially at states that gpa, act/sat and extra-curriculars each way 1/3 in the admissions process but an admissions officer confided that "it basically comes down to ACT scores."

Add me to the choir

There is a lot of bad test prep out there, especially any test prep taught by high school teachers. I have done test prep privately for six years and I can guarantee you coaching can have substantial effects. These studies group all test prep under a giant umbrella, but take elite 1 to 1 test prep and the premium price it costs that parents actually pay and you'll see substantial gains. I have spend $0.00 on advertising in the last six years and I am routinely overbooked because of word of mouth. There's just so many awful teachers and courses out there.

Nicely put. I can't imagine this making a statistically discernible difference. There's already a surprising amount of free test material available online, not to mention how much is contained in just a $20 test prep book.

Agree

What would you suggest? Imperfect sure, but the SAT and ACT are a standard measure of student's abilities. Not a popular opinion but I believe the SAT and ACT are invaluable and I'm fine with tests that measure reasoning ability, text comprehension, and writing skills as a basis for who can attend different calibres of universities.

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.