PHIL WIELAND: Some people get testy about the SAT

Your SAT score can get you into a good college or a good job, or it can haunt you for the rest of your life. But, if you are a high school senior, no pressure.

After my recent column about the test formerly known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, I heard from a Crown Point man who tutors kids to score well on the test. His main credential, he said, is that he scored a perfect 800 on both the math and writing sections. He did well on the critical reading section, but not perfect.

My column was about a news story that said SAT reading scores were at an all-time low and scores generally are down. A survey cited in the story said scoring 1550, that's 64 percent or a good solid D, supposedly gives a person about a 65 percent chance of surviving college to get a degree.

For the curious, the last time I took the test I scored somewhere in the 1300 range, but the test only had two sections in those days -- math and reading. As I recall, most of the questions dealt with making fire and the wheel. The writing section was added to the test in 2005.

The lowest score you can get is 600, and, despite the old joke that you get that for spelling your name correctly, I don't think spelling is a requirement. The tutoring consultant said wealthier school districts prepare kids for the test as part of the curriculum, and, in the really top schools, parents hire tutors such as him starting as early as preschool.

"OK, Johnny. Cat is to feline as high SAT scores are to Mommy and Daddy continuing to love you. Got that?"

According to the consultant, a lot of teachers are biased against the test because they generally don't score well on it themselves. A teachers' union representative said it's not that teachers don't like the test. They just don't want their teaching skills judged based on the results because there are too many variables.

The consultant said you can have a subpar GPA and get into a good college with a good SAT score, but you can be valedictorian and crap out college-wise if you flub the SAT.

He recommends spending at least two hours a day, seven days a week, including one day with a tutor, for five weeks to prepare for the test. That sort of dedication will boost your score by about 100 points. So, now you're up to 700.

As to those pesky pathetic reading scores, students today obviously can read because they love texting and tweeting and all that other social network alleged communication. I dreaded the danger of history's mistakes being repeated because no one could read it, but they should have no problem learning from history.

As long as it can be covered in 140 characters.

The opinions are those of the writer. He can be reached at phil.wieland@nwi.com or (219) 548-4352.