I'll bet you were thinking this article would be all about how admissions test scores were used by colleges and universities, right? Well, its not! Today's article is literally all about playing the SAT Game--one of the newer "Dummies" products from Wiley Publishing.

When this item came in the mail, I was thrilled. The kids I work with have been complaining about the same old drills and exercises, the books, the classes, etc. Its a cumbersome, lengthy, and I'll admit boring process to prepare for the SAT exam--regardless of how you're going about it (which book, program or class you take). So I thought, what a great opportunity to liven things up and break the cycle of standard prep!

The concept is great. In this wonderful black and yellow box, you get what looks like a regular trivia-based board game. The set includes a game board where students travel down school halls, colored game pieces, 500 trivia cards (mathematics and vocabulary), books with reading passages and a timer. The box states its suitable for players 12 and older; and two or more players. Promotional materials state that by the time students are able to complete the game successfully, parents can rest assured that their students are ready to take the test. Nice!

I tried this with small groups; and frankly the results weren't pretty. The kids were intimidated by the timer (and the fact that you had to have the other players' permission to have more time to answer a question). Also, the nature of the game--making students answer difficult questions on a timed basis (three minutes) in order to move from point to point on a board--really pits individuals against each other. Now, I'm not against a little friendly competition; but SAT prep is rarely a friendly kind of activity. These kiddos learned less about the topics because of the posturing.

So I tried the game with a larger group. I took a classroom of twenty 11th and 12th graders and split them into four groups. I left the timer and the board out of the equation and adjusted the rules a little. The kids in each group had to work together to find the correct solution; and the team which provided the correct answer first received a point. There was still competition, but students were more inclined to work towards solving a problem, and sharing with the entire class how the problem should be solved, rather than fight over a point or two.

All in all, its not a bad way to review (note I say review and not study, because there's nothing in the box that explains how students should approach solving any of the problems). It can even be fun; though, I wouldn't make this a regular part of your or your student's test prep method. I also wouldn't recommend using it in small groups. It just doesn't have a "game" feel when you're pitting friends against one another to prep for a test that can impact their college admissions.

Finally, I have an issue with the age recommendation on this one. Now, I've met some very exceptional, very bright 12 year olds. If you have a 12 year old who is prepping for college entry at age 13, go for it. But for the normal 12 year old, this game is a bit of a reach. The vocabulary, mathematics and reading items are written at the 12th grade level; and there are no study guides or solution manuals for this one (yes, the answers are on the back of the cards, but that doesn't really work for most kiddos).

If you do decide to purchase this game, I'd recommend ditching the timer and board altogether. Treat it more like a standard trivia game and give more value to answering the questions correctly. This way you might have a bit of fun while testing how much you really have learned elsewhere (like in class).

Unfortunately, this game isn't readily available in your local book or toy resale shop. If you would like more information about the SAT Game, visit http://www.satgamefordummies.com. The listed price is $39.99, a bit more than you'd pay for a good study guide but a lot less than you'd pay for an official test prep course; shipping and handling are extra.

Until next time!

Lynn Byrne

Preparing for college admissions? Trying to find direction? Need a little help with the planning? Check out my college planning series:

• College Planning Made Easy--the planning and preparation workbook for the take charge, college-bound student,
  
• Paying for College Made Easy--a college financing guide designed to assist students and families in preparing and planning for higher education expenses; and
  
• The Great Scholarship Search--my guide for students and parents researching and applying for scholarship funding.