2008 Woodie Awards
Illini Media
WPGU
buzz
Illio
TechnographOptions abundant for test preparation
By Meghan O'Kelly
Posted: 9/17/07 Section: Fall Career Guide
With the beginning of a new school year, many students are taking action in pursuit of their future plans. For some, this means taking the respective admissions exam for their post-undergraduate school applications.
The University Testing Center, 610 E. John St., administers many of these exams, including the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
In order to prepare, some students elect to take classroom or online test preparation courses, work with a private tutor or purchase books. Kaplan Test Preparation, 616 E. Green St., provides students with all of these resources.
Mary Ann Sanchez is area director of the Champaign and West Lafayette, Ind., Kaplan centers. Many students struggle with self-discipline when it comes to preparing for exams, she said.
"The biggest reason is that the course will give you the structure you're looking for," Sanchez said. "We're going to help you with reducing the test anxiety that students normally get from the exam."
She explained that Kaplan's Higher Score Guarantee for its classroom and private tutoring services demonstrates the company's confidence in its practices.
"If a student doesn't feel ready to take the exam, we say, 'Go ahead and prepare with us for the next test date, and sit in on the class for free,'" Sanchez said. She added that the guarantee applies to students only if they had good attendance and completed the assigned homework in their initial course.
Collin Delaney, graduate assistant in LAS, advises pre-law students. He said that self-study is a realistic option for students that do not want to front the thousands of dollars for private test preparation help.
"It's very much training your brain to think logically," he said, explaining that the LSAT is unique because it is subjective and analytical. "Theoretically, if you study on your own like you would in the class, you'll statistically do the same."
The University Testing Center, 610 E. John St., administers many of these exams, including the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
In order to prepare, some students elect to take classroom or online test preparation courses, work with a private tutor or purchase books. Kaplan Test Preparation, 616 E. Green St., provides students with all of these resources.
Mary Ann Sanchez is area director of the Champaign and West Lafayette, Ind., Kaplan centers. Many students struggle with self-discipline when it comes to preparing for exams, she said.
"The biggest reason is that the course will give you the structure you're looking for," Sanchez said. "We're going to help you with reducing the test anxiety that students normally get from the exam."
She explained that Kaplan's Higher Score Guarantee for its classroom and private tutoring services demonstrates the company's confidence in its practices.
"If a student doesn't feel ready to take the exam, we say, 'Go ahead and prepare with us for the next test date, and sit in on the class for free,'" Sanchez said. She added that the guarantee applies to students only if they had good attendance and completed the assigned homework in their initial course.
Collin Delaney, graduate assistant in LAS, advises pre-law students. He said that self-study is a realistic option for students that do not want to front the thousands of dollars for private test preparation help.
"It's very much training your brain to think logically," he said, explaining that the LSAT is unique because it is subjective and analytical. "Theoretically, if you study on your own like you would in the class, you'll statistically do the same."
The Daily Illini encourages on-topic discussion through article commenting on its articles and blogs. It is our policy not to delete any comments based upon political or ideological point of view. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are abusive, off-topic or use excessive foul language.
The posting of copyrighted material, including any and all content for which you are not the author, is illegal under Federal intellectual property laws. Such activity will not be tolerated. Comments containing copyrighted material will be removed, and continued violation of copyright law is grounds for being banned completely from commenting on DailyIllini.com.
If you feel any post meets these conditions or merits review, please e-mail our editors at meonline@dailyillini.com.
Be the first to comment on this story