The answer is no, according to a new report released last week from the National Association for College Admission Counseling. The report criticizes common test preparation courses as costly, ineffective, and a poor investment.

That’s good news for Oxford Learning!

That’s because our SAT and ACT Plus™ Programs are so much more than “common.”

Oxford Learning’s SAT and ACT programs take what is typically considered test-prep—cramming, short-term gains—one step further, giving students who take the program a considerable edge.

So just what takes Oxford Learning’s SAT/ACT program the extra mile? Well, it is the only test-prep program on the market that isn’t focused on short-term gains for students, and it’s the only SAT/ACT prep course that looks beyond the entrance exams to prepare students for what comes next.

After all, getting into the best school is only the first step. Research shows that up to 35% of students who qualify for university or college with high entrance exam scores drop out of college or university in their first year.

This means, that if these students purchased or relied on traditional test-prep programs to boost their exam grades and get them into college or university, they were cheated. The program may have helped them cram for the SAT/ACT exam, but it did nothing to prepare them to deal with the rigors of college or university.

There is no easy solution for college or university preparation. A quick fix that promises to raise entrance exam marks is only a temporary solution. To prepare high school students to take the entrance exams successfully and fully realize the intensity of what higher education entails, takes time and commitment from the student.

The Oxford Learning SAT and ACT Plus™ Programs have a home component that encourages students to take initiative, be responsible for their learning, and invest in their own future. If students are unable or unwilling to take on this responsibility before heading to college or university, then they won’t be ready to stay in university and succeed.

The Oxford Learning approach to the issue of test-prep is a world apart from the rest. We offer a program with integrity that looks well beyond the entrance tests and prepares students for the future, which is always a good investment.

Read more about Oxford Learning’s SAT Plus™ Program, or find the Oxford Learning location nearest you.