Frequently Asked Questions
about our SAT Course

This section is created so you can have answers to some of the more common queries about our SAT course.


 

Q:
A certain prep school in town conducts lessons that run from morning to evening. Why isn't Studyworks' course structured that way?

A: We are in no position to comment on the efficacy of other prep courses and how they structure they lessons. Although our teachers have Masters in Education, it just takes conventional wisdom to know that the 'packing it in' style of teaching in any setting for any subject is not the correct and acceptable way to learn. Many parents and students mistakenly believe that if they attend a course that makes them take tests every day and pack in the hours, they will do well for the SAT. While we acknowledge that putting in the hours is a necessary ingredient for success, different students do learn differently. The "packing it in" style may not be what most students are used to.

Q:
My child's school counsellor said it's not necessary to go for SAT prep courses. Is this true?

A: Many high school counsellors discourage students from taking SAT prep courses as they believe that students should already possess the necessary knowledge required to do well for the SAT. It is true that students in high school will have the necessary knowledge from their school curriculum to meet the requirements of the test. However, to do well on the test would require test taking skills specific to the SAT. Doing well on the SAT requires consistent application of good test taking strategies and practice, as well as a thorough review of the concepts needed for the test. We teach all of these here at Studyworks.

 

Q:
A certain prep group is conducting SAT courses in my child's school. How is Studyworks' course different?

A:
Our success in getting students to achieve their highest potential score speaks for itself. Studyworks' students come mainly through word-of-mouth.

The main difference is that our teachers are full-time teachers here in Studyworks. Our teachers do not hold full-time jobs somewhere else and then come teach the SAT on weekends or at night. Our teachers are fully committed to the students' learning and are constantly in touch with the SAT, not just on weekends or nights.

We also offer students more attention and help than what they would get in the school-conducted setting. In fact, many students come to us after they have attended the school-conducted courses as they know they can learn more from Studyworks. Indeed, from post-course evaluations, many students do say that Studyworks offers better quality teachers, better quality teaching, better course materials and most important of all, better real score improvements than what they have received from attending the SAT course in school.
 

 

Q:
Is it true that taking a Studyworks course will definitely raise my SAT score?

A: Unlike other companies who prefer to put their money into advertising, we use our excess funds for researching and refining better techniques and strategies to help you with your SAT. Our strategies work. They have been proven by so many of our students worldwide. However, as with all new skills and knowledge you acquire, diligence and determination on the part of the student are also necessary ingredients for success. Please do not assume that just signing up and coming for a course will automatically increase your score. You have to put in the hard work and must be willing to apply our strategies.

 

Q:
I am currently 14 years old. Is it too early to take the SAT course?

A:
We have coached students as young as 14 years old before. You are not too young for the SAT 1. Generally, at this young age, you will need to have the maturity to be self-motivated and to have the concentration to sit through the lessons. You will need to do lots of self-study to brush up on your vocabulary as well as some mathematical concepts if you expect to do well at this age.
 

 

Q:
My aim is to enter a reasonably good college in America. What is a reasonably good SAT score?

A:
A reasonably good SAT 1 score would be in the range of 2000 to 2300. However, students should take note that most college admissions officers will often take into consideration other factors as well. A good SAT 1 score does not make a guaranteed, automatic entry into a top university. Your high school GPA, participation in sports/activities and teachers' recommendations are important factors as well.
 

 

Q:
Do I need the SAT if I am applying to NUS, NTU or SMU?

A:
If you intend to apply to NUS or NTU for your undergraduate studies, there is no need to take the SAT 1. Students with weak GCE 'A' level results may wish to augment their current qualifications by taking the SAT 1 to make their application stronger. This is true for some students applying to the SMU.
 

 

Q:
How big is the SAT class at Studyworks?

A:
Generally, our SAT 1 classes are kept small. Our maximum class size is 16 students, but you will usually find yourself in a class of less than 10 students. The reason is because we believe that keeping the class size small allows our instructors to interact with and track each student's progress better. This has worked for us, judging from the number of students who have done well for their SAT 1 after taking our course.
 

 

Q:
What are your instructors' qualifications?

A:
At Studyworks, we only hire teachers with a minimum qualification of a university degree. However, not all teachers who apply with a university degree get hired by us. Our hiring policy is so stringent that only the best teachers end up in front of a class at Studyworks. All teachers must complete a training program and demonstrate their ability to teach before we let them take on an actual SAT 1 class. Our senior instructors have a minimum of a Masters degree.
 

 

Q:
Why is Studyworks' course fee slightly higher when compared to some other prep schools?

A:
Education is an investment. Unlike other companies, we do not resort to gimmicks such as "limited-time offers" to attract students. Our students know we are better and come to us because of the quality we provide and because they know they will genuinely benefit from a course with us. Be wary of companies that offer the "lowest" or "fee reduction for a limited time" type offers. You pay for what you get and, as the saying goes, "if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys".
 

 

Q:
I heard from my friends that you offer discounts if I sign up for the course with a friend. Is this true?

A:
We generally offer a 5 to 10% discount for students who sign up with their friends. That means, if you have a friend who wants to take the course at the same time as you do, you can both get a discount by coming to us together. The minimum number to form a group is 2.
 

 

Q:
How do I sign up for an actual SAT test?

A:
The easiest way is to go online to http://www.collegeboard.com. You'll need a credit card (ask your parents' permission first) to register online. It's a simple process, just follow the steps and instructions on the computer screen. If you go to a test prep center, please note that they should not charge you for registering for the SAT. Registering for your test and registering for a prep course are two different things. We recommend signing up online as it is the easiest and fastest method to book your SAT test.
 

 

Q:
What is the Studyworks money-back guarantee?

A:
Note: This guarantee is only applicable to students taking our full SAT 1 preparation course at our center and have full attendance* throughout the course. This guarantee does not apply to students who have not taken an actual SAT test prior to a Studyworks course. Please read the terms and conditions below carefully.

Money Back Policy - Terms and Conditions
Terms and Conditions in Singapore may vary from our USA office.
Please go to http://www.studyworks.com if you live in America.

Here's how the Studyworks (Singapore) guarantee works.
1) You must have taken an official SAT exam before joining the Studyworks SAT 1 Preparation Course.
2) You must show us the official test report showing your scores for both the Verbal and Math sections. Test reports must not be more than 2 years old.
3) You must register for a Studyworks course and have paid the course fee in full.
3) You must come for all your Studyworks classes at the regularly scheduled times. If you miss a class or some classes, be sure to have a Medical Certificate (MC) from your doctor to justify your absence.*
4) After the course, you must take the next available official SAT exam.
If you fail to obtain the score we guaranteed (based on the previous official test score you submitted to us) on that exam, you must then complete a full Studyworks course again at no charge.
5) Upon completing the Studyworks course a second time, you will have to register to take the exam again at the next available date. If the your score does not improve after this second exam, the full course fee will be refunded. If your score improves, but not by the amount we guaranteed, a point-based refund, calculated based on how many points you miss from the guaranteed score will be refunded.

We guarantee that you will improve by the following points based on your previous official SAT exam score:

Total Combined SAT 1 Score before taking Studyworks' course
Guaranteed Improvement
less than 1400
at least 200 points
between 1410 to 1600
at least 150 points
more than 1610 points
at least 100 points

We expect you to improve by the points we guaranteed. If you don't you'll get a point-based refund. With anybody else, if your score goes up by even one point, you'll lose everything.

Point-Based Refund
If, after taking the course a second time around, and then sitting for the test again, and your score improves, but not by the points we guaranteed, you will be eligible for a point-based refund based on the number of points you missed. This is after you have completed a full cycle of Studyworks course again and have taken the official SAT exam again. We will give you a refund of S$10.00 for every 20 points short of the target improvement.

Full Refund
If, after taking the course a second time around and then sitting for the test again and your score becomes lower than or the same as when you first came to Studyworks based on official SAT results, then you will be eligible for a full refund of the course fee.

* Full Attendance
Full attendance means that students have to come for all classes at the appointed class times. If the student is unable to make it to any lessons, a letter from the doctor is required. Other valid reasons for absence may be school activities, and overseas trips. In all cases, students may be asked to show proof of their absence. Only students with valid reasons will be allowed to schedule make-up lessons with our teachers. For students without valid reasons, they must wait for the next available regularly scheduled class for the topic(s) they missed.

 




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