The Effects of Special Preparation on SAT-Verbal Scores

Abstract

Students at eight secondary schools were randomly assigned to either a treatment group that was given special preparation for the SAT-V or to a control group whose access to the same preparation was delayed for the purposes of the study. The programs of special preparation were those already in place at the schools. A special administration of the SAT served as the posttest. Special preparation resulted in an overall difference of eight points, on the SAT-V scale of 200–800 points, between the treatment and control groups, corresponding to one additional correct item and stemming primarily from performance on analogy and antonym items.