Turning Cell Phones Into Study Buddies

Nov. 12, 2004 &#151 -- In this week's "Cybershake", we take a look at a high-tech way U.S. teenagers can prepare themselves for the standardized Scholastic Aptitude Test. Plus, we hear how one combat veteran thinks video games honor those who fought in World War II.

Teens and cell phones seem to be an inseparable combination in these high-tech times. And now, youngsters could give parents and educators a whole new reason why they should be on the phone.

It's not that they're talking to friends instead of studying. Being on the phone is helping them to study -- for the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the standardized exam most students take before entering college.

Princeton Review, a New York publishing company, has recently introduced a specialized version of its renowned SAT preparatory course work that can be delivered to students via the cell phone.

"Sixty-six percent of American kids walk around with cell phones every day and they have spare moments," says Robin Raskin, director of communications for Princeton Review. "They're at the bus stop they're riding somewhere they're hanging out on a corner and you always see them twitching with their phone and playing with their ring tones and games. Well, why not play with their SAT?"

The Prep for the SAT service downloads practice exams and questions that drill the student subscribers in sentence comprehension, critical reading, arithmetic, algebra, geometry and vocabulary.