You may already be familiar with study groups and how they work. An SAT® study group is just the same except it’s core focus is SAT prep. These groups can be put together by parents, teachers, and even interested students. SAT study groups meet both in person and online. Joining a study group can be a good way to exchange ideas on how to prep, discuss problem-areas, and learn new concepts. However, not everyone finds working in study groups to be beneficial. So in this article, we’ll take a look at how to organize an SAT study group as well as the pros and cons of being a part of one.
How To Organize an SAT Study Group
When organizing an SAT® test study group, there are some things that you should keep in mind:
- Create a knowledge pool: When organizing a study group, it is important to pay attention to everyone’s strong suits. To get the maximum benefit of working in a study group, you want to be able to ask questions and rely on your peers for discussion and learning. By organizing a diverse study group, you can ensure that everyone brings something to the table.
You can spend your first meeting discussing your individual goals, weaknesses, and strong suits. Each week, take a practice test and track your improvements. You can bring your scoring data to the group to track improvements and successes together.
- Create a schedule: Scheduling will also be a factor when organizing a study group. If your team is unable to coordinate times to get together as a group, then your study time will ultimately be inconsistent. In order to reap the full benefits of working in an SAT study group, it is important that you meet regularly. When setting a schedule with your group, you should also consider the importance of coming prepared. So, plan meets with enough time between each one to revise what has been discussed and prep for the next.
If you are unable to find a time for everyone to meet in person, consider meeting as a group via online video calls. There are plenty of ways to build support systems, including study groups, without having to meet in person. If you struggle to find people near you who are hoping to join a study group as well, then you could consider online study groups.
- Create a group with students taking the exam at the same time: One last factor to take into account when organizing a study group is that it is incredibly helpful to work with other students who are taking the exam around the same time as you. Ensuring that your group is on the same trajectory of studying for the SAT exam is an excellent way to maximize your time together.
You can think of this as a way to ensure that everyone is on the same page. If one member of the group is cramming for the exam, while another is just starting to learn about the format of the SAT test, then the balance of the group will take a toll on its efficacy.
Pros and Cons of an SAT Study Group
Now that we’ve gone over how to organize an SAT study group, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of being a part of one.
Pros of an SAT Study Group
Asking Questions
One major benefit when it comes to group work is the opportunity to ask lots of questions. If you are struggling with a certain topic, skill, section, or subsection of the SAT exam, then you can ask questions when you meet with your study group.
If your study group consists of students with varying skill sets, someone will likely have insight to provide or a perspective you had not thought of before. Not only can you learn by asking questions, but working in a group will show you that you are not alone. You can build confidence this way.
Teaching Others
Another pro of working in a group is the opportunity to explain concepts or have conversations with others about a topic that is one of your strengths. Everyone brings something different to the table. Perhaps you are a solid English student, and someone has a question about the proper use of a comma. By taking advantage of an opportunity to share your knowledge of the punctuation rules, you can help your peers while also reinforcing what you know. Teaching is a great way to build confidence and practice your skills.
Moral Support
Many students will join a study group to be surrounded by peers who are going through a similar experience. By joining a study group, you are providing yourself with a support system. Working with other people who are probably going through the same thing as you when preparing for the SAT exam is an excellent opportunity to have vulnerable conversations.
Build mutual understandings and have some people to lean on who know how you feel. By joining a study group, you will find that you are not alone in the stresses, concerns, worries, and challenges that you face as you prepare for the SAT exam.
Accountability for Studying
Another benefit of joining a study group is the accountability factor that comes with working with others. By joining a study group, you automatically have people who are counting on you to show up regularly for the scheduled study time. Apart from this, study groups also set goals and assignments for each other between sessions. This means that the group would expect you to follow through and learn what you have committed to. Accountability can make for an excellent source of motivation.
Cons of an SAT Study Group
Scheduling
When it comes to working in a group setting, the scheduling aspect may be hard to comply with. If you have a chaotic or inconsistent schedule, this method of studying may be too inconsistent. The best way to reap the benefits of group work is by showing up consistently and arriving at your meetings prepared.
Lack of Organization
Another con that may come with working in a group setting is the lack of organization. If your group is unable to meet, too similar in their skills, unmotivated, unprepared, or testing at different times, then you may not experience the benefits of group work. It is important to consider the factors outlined here to ensure that time is not wasted when it comes to preparing for the SAT exam.
What Is Best for You?
While considering joining a study group, it is important to figure out what works best for you. If you are looking for a source of support throughout your studies and preparation for the SAT exam, group work might be an excellent option for you. It also works well if you are hoping to talk to other students about the challenges you are facing with your practice work. However, if you are unable to commit to a consistent SAT study schedule or if you find studying with other people is distracting, then joining an SAT study group may not be the best option.
If you do choose to organize a study group for the SAT exam, consider using UWorld’s SAT Prep Course alongside your group work. As we have noted, it is essential to show up prepared to ask questions when meeting with your study group.
You can start the conversation by referring to practice exams that you took before your team meeting. UWorld’s SAT exam prep course offers thousands of sample questions that are realistic to the style and level of difficulty that you will find on the official SAT exam.
Our prep course also offers performance tracking tools that can be incredibly helpful when pinpointing sections, subsections, or question types that you can improve. Our prep course also offers detailed answer explanations to dive deeper into the concepts and skills that are necessary for solving a problem or answering a question. Try it out to maximize your study time when preparing for the SAT exam!
