The following letter from the test prep company probably failed from a marketing standpoint.

Exerpts included (courtesy of the Star-Telegram in Texas):

“Many students believe that if they do not know the answer to a question they should leave it blank rather than loose 1/4 point if they get it wrong…”

“What are the difference between the SAT & the ACT?”

“Students discover that relying on calculators can cause errors, and that the single biggest strategy they can use to improve their math score.”

“Colleges don’t care how many times you take they test, they are only interested in your highest score.”

There is room in this world for people of talents beyond the written or spoken word, but make no mistake: language matters. UT Engineering Professor Spivey Douglass now warns his classes that papers will be graded for grammar as well as content. Communication is essential to success in most fields of study and professions.

The answer is not one of which test preparation program to use (although there are several that are quite good), but for students to take challenging courses throughout high school and focus on mastery of math and English. Without question, other subjects are important — but the ability to read, write, and reason is the essential foundation for so many other pursuits.

As the Fall testing season arrives for high school Juniors and Seniors, remember: check first with the websites of the test providers for practice materials, and if a study guide is needed, seek the recommendation of a guidance counselor or department head.