We at BTS spend a lot of time evaluating and reevaluating how to make our students more successful. We continuously update curriculum and materials, and we strive to present our students with the best pedagogy available. But even with the same teacher and the same materials and the same prior skills, some students improve a lot, and others….not so much. So what makes the difference? Well, when we look at student score improvement on the SAT/ACT, there is one variable that stands out more than any other as the key to success in class or private tutoring: PRACTICE.
Now that may sound obvious. Since the publication of Macolm Gladwell’s The Outliers in 2008, every teacher and coach in America has been quoting the 10,000-hour rule, the idea that it takes roughly 10,000 hours of practice to master something. Before you start adding up the cost of 10,000 hours of tutoring, let me please ease your mind: this number is for mastery, in this case being able to teach SAT very well. Our students do not need to become SAT-masters and most students need only 20-30 hours of quality instruction to do well. In addition, they HAVE been working on math and reading skills in school for the past 11-12 years, which would already account for thousands of hours of practice.
But the basic idea of Gladwell’s book is that practice makes perfect. And this is true. But there’s a lot more to it. In the context of SAT/ACT prep, focused and effective practice makes all the difference. Simply logging hours isn’t enough—students need to engage in homework that challenges them, targets their weak spots, and pushes them to think critically. They need to be engaged and focused and well-rested! The setting in which homework is completed also matters; a quiet, distraction-free environment can boost concentration and help students absorb material more efficiently.
Efficacy comes from deliberate practice. Instead of mindlessly working through practice modules, it is vital that students do all practice timed and that they not only check their answers, but review what they missed, and prepare questions to ask the teacher when they come to class. This kind of strategic homework helps build test-taking stamina, sharpens weaker skills, and ultimately leads to higher scores. In short, homework in SAT/ACT classes isn’t just busywork: it’s an opportunity to practice smarter, not just harder, on the path to test mastery.
I like to start class with an obvious, but salient analogy. I love watching sports. I will probably watch several hundred football, baseball, and basketball games by the end of the respective seasons. Yet, I am terrible at all three sports. All of those hours watching the Dolphins and Heat have absolutely no impact on my ability. And if I really wanted to improve, I’d just head the nearest court and practice. A coach would be a great motivator and a valuable resource, but I’d still need to shoot hundreds of jump shots. And even the most naturally-gifted athlete in the world has to practice consistently and passionately to attain mastery of a sport. As a parent, passing along this wisdom may be the single biggest thing you can do to help your child, help us, and help your wallet!