<p>I've heard that it's much better to take an SAT prep class than to prepare on your own. Is this true? Will my scores go up by a lot if I take a class? Also which SAT prep class do you think is the best? I've heard really good things about Princeton Review. If you don't think SAT prep class is necessary, what do you think is the best way to prepare?</p>
<p>The general consensus on CC is that preparatory classes are, for the most part, an ineffective way of preparing and that using the Official SAT Study Guide’s practice tests is a more better route. I agree.</p>
<p>My class was a waste of hundreds of dollars. It was geared for those with low SAT scores, and the only thing I got from it was better essay instruction. Not to be rude, but the average student in my class was struggling to get above an 1800.</p>
<p>Although my class sucked, I have friends who took more intensive classes which raised their scores quite a bit. Overall, if the class is run by a hardworking instructor and it forces you to take multiple practice tests, it will help you regardless. If you can find the right class, then by all means go for it, but if not, start with silverturtles guide and work through the BB.</p>
<p>My cousin gave me these 2 books for SAT prep, they’re just filled with practice tests:
[Amazon.com:</a> Kaplan 12 Practice Tests for the SAT (9781607146643): Kaplan: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Kaplan-12-Practice-Tests-SAT/dp/1607146649/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1290974624&sr=1-2]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Kaplan-12-Practice-Tests-SAT/dp/1607146649/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1290974624&sr=1-2)
[Amazon.com:</a> Sparknotes 10 Practice Tests for the New SAT (9781411404670): By Harvard Students: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Sparknotes-Practice-Tests-New-SAT/dp/141140467X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1290974681&sr=1-3]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Sparknotes-Practice-Tests-New-SAT/dp/141140467X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1290974681&sr=1-3)</p>
<p>Is the best way to study really just to take tons and tons of practice tests?</p>
<p>I have little experience with taking unofficial practice tests, but many on CC will say that you should avoid them as they are not an entirely accurate portrayal of the SAT. Personally, I’m only using the official college board tests in the blue book.</p>
<p>I would also recommend using the strategies found on this site, along with official College Board tests (there are over 19 you could get between the Official Guide, Online Course, and various versions of the Preparing for the SAT pdf.). Also, Direct Hits seems to be the two volume Bible of Sentence Correction vocabulary. Most high scorers on this site would definitely vouch for the self-study method using official practice tests.</p>
<p>I disagree with the notion that taking third party practice tests is unhelpful. Although they may not be exactly the same as collegeboard’s answers, they are still very close - close enough that they allow you to prepare effectively for the test. Both Princeton (at least the newest versions) and Kaplan tests and workbooks helped me when I prepared for the SAT. Obviously they are not exactly the type of thing you’ll find on the SAT, but they are good enough imitations that you’ll be able to get something out of it. My advice would be to do sections out of Kaplan or Princeton books (like all of the writing sections in a specific test or all of the math ones) once a day and take a full practice test out of the blue book on the weekends.</p>
<p>^What did you get on SATs? If you don’t mind me asking.</p>
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<p>No, you could take every practice test in the Collegeboard’s blue book in a week and never improve at all. Actually, if you took all of them in a week, you would probably not do any better.</p>
<p>So then what do I do to improve?</p>
<p>cjgone: Not true, three weeks ago i took a practice sat from the blue book and got a 1680, i took another a week later and got a 1730, just this friday i got a 1820, then i took another on saturday and got a 1890. Im planning to take 1 more before saturday. Just seeing my progress I can attest that practicing does indeed pay off. Trust me; i used to suck at the critical reading section and now im getting my score in it up to where my math scores are.</p>
<p>(btw this is factoring in an essay score of an 8, so my scores might be even higher if i get a higher score on the essay obv)</p>
<p>Wedgedawg got a 2400.</p>
<p>It probably depends on the class and person. Some people will benefit from just getting used to the material and practicing. Some people need other people to motivate them and can’t do it themselves.</p>
<p>Some people won’t improve by just mindlessly practicing without knowing HOW to arrive at those answers. My friends took a SAT class, and the instructors used the blue books with them. I think they didn’t really go over the raw material with them or vocab words, but instead, just strategies. I think it depends on the class as well. Some are probably better than others.</p>