Test Preparation

These days, high school students face so much pressure from homework assignments and extracurricular activities that they're too exhausted to attend SAT prep sessions. The same may go for those planning to take the GRE or a host of other standardized tests required for further study in a field. To address the needs of this audience, renowned test prep centers like Kaplan and the Princeton Review have brought their courses online.

Sessions at an actual test center can cost hundreds of dollars; their online versions are often cheaper even as they guarantee you the same thorough coverage of subject matter and strategies you would receive in the classroom. Although online education does lack the classroom dynamic that many find invigorating, it does sometimes provide videos of instructors as well as live chats that recreate a semblance of the physical experience. One major benefit of the online courses is that students choose when to start and stop the tutorials, rather than burning out after the first hour or two.

Experts recommend taking several practice tests to familiarize yourself with the material and format. Thankfully for the family pocketbook, several sites, including Peterson's, make free practice tests available. Keep in mind, though, that free courses provide significantly fewer interactive tools and may not explain the answers to questions in as much detail as the paid ones. They do, however, give you a good overview of the test structure and help you decide whether to pay for a more extensive course. Whatever your level of commitment to the test-taking process, you're bound to find suitable online preparation.