CHECKING IN WITH...JAMES FLETCHER:

Hey parents, it’s about that time of the year again. The kid has to take a standardized test that’s going to help dictate what college they get into. So, like they said in “Ghostbusters,” who you gonna call? How about James Fletcher, who coaches students to take those dreaded exams?

You help people prepare for standardized tests. Which ones do you cover and is this a busy part of the season?

I work with students who are preparing for the SAT, ACT, SAT II, GRE (for grad school admission) and MCAT (for medical school admission). This is a busy time. Most high school juniors take a shot at one of the college entrance exams sometime between March and June.

How long have you been in this business and how did you get into it?

In 1996, I started teaching for The Princeton Review. I was still in school myself, and it seemed much more appealing to me than waiting tables for another two years. I loved working for The Princeton Review. The company had an incredibly unorthodox approach to teaching, and I saw how well it resonated with the kids we taught. It was a real thrill to give students the tools necessary to succeed on these tests. I taught classes, did one-on-one tutoring and eventually trained new teachers that we hired. I left in 2006 to do my own thing.

Do you have a sense of whether students need more or less help over the years and why that might be the case?

The SAT has taken on an almost mythical reputation in the past 10 years. The time and money being spent on preparation and testing has exploded. I’ve had parents call to ask me how they can start SAT training for their sixth-grade kids! I suggest sixth-graders continue to go outside and play for a few more years, then we can talk. I would not say students need more help, but the emphasis on the importance of standardized tests has grown immensely. This has led to an even higher demand for standardized test prep.

Tell us about one of your favorite success stories.

I’d have to say YouTube sensation Susan Boyle from “Britain’s Got Talent...” Oh, you mean one of my favorite success stories? Five years ago, I was involved in a program that brought affordable test preparation to schools in less-fortunate districts. I had a class of kids at Crenshaw High School. Many of them didn’t even expect to finish high school. By the end of the program, all of my students were signed up to take the SAT, and most of them had seen impressive score improvements on their practice diagnostic tests. It was very cool indeed.

Some critics of California’s educational system say there’s too much focus on standardized test results, especially since No Child Left Behind. What do you think?

I absolutely agree. There is far too much attention given to standardized testing. These are not perfect tests. They do not assess how well a student will perform in college, nor do they reflect what a student has learned throughout their four years in high school. The SAT tests how well a student can sit still and focus for four hours while bubbling in a Scantron. That is why these tests are challenging. They are tests of endurance. When a high-schooler becomes disengaged and starts staring out the window, he’s finished. Unfortunately for now, these tests are the hoops that one must jump through in order to go on to university. Standardized tests have become a part of not only school admissions, but also job applications, the acquiring of certain licenses, certificates and so on. I always remind my students that their grades in school are the No. 1 priority, but the SAT can’t be ignored.

So we hear you’re also a drummer. Who are you drumming with and what’s new with that?

I play drums for Satisfaction, Matt Costa, Zee Avi, Pat Visel and by far the most promising act, The Barstow Boyz. I leave with Matt Costa this Sunday for a two-week tour across the southern U.S. opening for Death Cab for Cutie. Hopefully, I can sleep all the way through El Paso!

Know what you call a drummer who has just broken up with his girlfriend? Homeless. What’s your favorite drummer joke and why is it the drummer’s always picked on? Are they like the kicker on a football team?

What’s the difference between a pizza and a drummer? A pizza can feed a family of four! I love that stuff. The drummer is usually picked on because he’s got the best job. Much like the kicker on the football team, the drummer flies all over the place, stays in the best hotels, gets paid great and has to do the least. Actually, come to think of it, that’s nothing like being the drummer! Anyway, never mind drumming, it’s nowhere near as cool as helping kids slaughter the SAT!

FLETCHER TEST PREP www.fletchertestprep.com E-mail: info@fletchertestprep.com MORE ONLINE For links to local stores, a calendar of local retail events and the latest news from local shopping centers, go to www.dailypilot.com/shopping .

City Editor PAUL ANDERSON may be reached at (714) 966-4633 or at paul.anderson@latimes.com.