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How do I Choose the Best Test Prep Software?

G. Wiesen
G. Wiesen

To choose the best test prep software for your needs, you should look for programs that directly target the subject you are taking or the specific test you need to prepare for. You should also consider what kind of computer requirements a particular piece of software has to be sure that you can run the program and take advantage of everything it has to offer. It can help to do a little research on the piece of software you are looking at as well, as test prep software is a lucrative business and there are a great number of alternatives available. You may find it useful to find user reviews of the program to see if it was helpful for other people, before investing in the purchase.

Test prep software can come in a number of forms and cover just about every subject that can be taken at general and secondary educational levels. It will often take the form of a program designed specifically for a particular subject, such as a foreign language, specific type or level of mathematics, or a period of history. These types of programs can act as digital tutors and provide you with general information regarding the subject area. They often come with a number of practice tests to help you get used to question formats and topics.

Test prep software.
Test prep software.

More specific test prep software, however, can often be aimed at a particular test that has to be taken for a certain situation, such as the General Education Development (GED) exam, the SAT Reasoning Test (formerly known as the Scholastic Assessment Test and the Scholastic Aptitude Test), or the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). These tests often take a fairly predictable form, and though they may draw from a pool of thousands of potential questions, practice tests can often help a person prepare for these types of exams. For these exams, you should look for test prep software that has interactive practice tests to not only acquaint you with the types of questions you will have to answer, but the format of the questions as well.

Some of these tests can have dozens of different preparatory software programs available, and you should try to find out more about a program before purchasing it. Look at the official website for the program, and look at third-party sellers that offer customer reviews to see what other people have said about it. Many of the testing companies also offer test prep software, sometimes for free, or will recommend certain programs for you to look into. You should also check the system requirements for any program you want to purchase, to be sure it will run with your hardware and operating system (OS).

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    • Test prep software.
      By: Mircea Maties
      Test prep software.