Artificial intelligence is everywhere—from recommending your next Netflix binge to driving cars. But can AI help you prepare for standardized tests? Let’s break down the experience of using it for test prep and find out.

Using AI for Test Prep

1. Personalized Study Plans

AI-driven platforms can analyze your strengths and weaknesses, and create custom study plans that target your weakest areas. However, study plans usually need constant adjustment in response to student performance, a functionality many AI programs lack, so they’re like setting autopilot at the very beginning with no steering wheel. Even those AI programs that can adjust study plans over time lack the judgment of an experienced coach, and don’t see the bigger picture or any factors outside of their programmed algorithms.

2. Practice Questions

A popular idea among students preparing for standardized tests is to use AI to generate practice questions. Sounds easy enough, except that most questions it generates are not usable, due to lack of difficulty, errors, inclusion of material outside of the test, etc. Recently, a startup company that focuses on using AI to provide users with practice questions for standardized tests had to hire an entire (human) editorial team to go through and fix the practice questions that its AI had generated.

3. Feedback and Explanations

No more waiting for a tutor to check your work—AI tools provide instant feedback on practice questions. The quality of that feedback, though, currently leaves much to be desired. AI follows programmed logic, so it will show you a way to do a problem regardless of how complicated, not necessarily the best way to do it. The goal on a standardized test is to correctly answer questions quickly and easily, something AI has yet to wrap its head around. A human tutor can show you the easiest, quickest solution—it’s the difference between being handed an instruction manual and having an expert show you exactly how to get the job done. Furthermore, when it comes to tricky, complex, or advanced questions, AI frequently gives unclear or incorrect answers. Like calculators, it is still primarily a computational tool and struggles with analysis, a major issue on standardized tests that are largely analytical.

4. 24/7 Availability

Can’t sleep at 2 a.m. because you’re stressed about your upcoming SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT? Artificial intelligence is always awake, ready to serve up some practice problems and explanations. On the other hand, as we’ve already seen, they still suffer from major usability issues, which you probably don’t want to deal with in the middle of the night. Also, a top instructor will prioritize you and your success—at The Best Test Prep, our students are often surprised by quick answers to questions at all hours of the evening and on weekends—and assign you plenty of homework so you can knock out practice problems at 4 am if you want.

5. Human Interaction and Motivation

This one is obvious. AI doesn’t care if you’re having a bad day, and it won’t pump you up, remind you to keep your eyes on the prize, or tell you to take a break when you need one. The Best Test Prep’s tutors are every bit as much coaches as they are teachers—they push you to achieve your best. AI won’t inspire you to aim higher.

6. Problem-Solving Methods

AI platforms are programmed with academic information, not professional problem-solving methods. That’s why their explanations often a show a way to solve a problem, but not necessarily the easiest way do it. AI is not your best bet if you’re looking to glide through your test and ace it as easily as possible. The Best Test Prep gives bright, motivated students professional approaches, so they can work smart, not hard, and be so focused on their methods, that there’s no opportunity to stress or waste time.

7. Cost

AI-powered test prep tools are much cheaper than human tutors, and some are even free. However, you get what you pay for, and even for little or no monetary cost, most people don’t want to waste 4 months of their time preparing for a test and then fail to reach their potential.

The Verdict: AI Might Handle Test Prep Better in the Future

Some things, like human interaction and motivation, will remain beyond AI’s capabilities far into the future. Some aspects of standardized test preparation, though, like practice questions and explanations, are likely to improve, but aren’t usable just yet. The best strategy? Work with an experienced, highly-rated instructor to fill in any knowledge gaps, sharpen your test-taking mechanics, keep you motivated, and push you to elite-level performance.

If you’re serious about getting a top score, The Best Test Prep offers personalized coaching from experienced, popular, full-time instructors who know your test inside and out. We don’t just teach the test—we make you into a professional test-taker. Call us today at (844) 672-PREP and let’s dominate your test.