Kaplans Course is AMAZING!!

Test Preparation
1

<p>On the PSAT I got
Math- 690
Verbal- 690
Writing- 670
total: 2050 (205 on psat scale)</p>

<p>On the recent old SAT, I got :
Math - 630
Verbal- 660
im pretty sure i would have done better, but I was totally bummed near the end of the test; i think i did near perfect on the first half then just started missing questions at an insane rate in the last 3-4 sections because i was extremely board)</p>

<p>On the first Kaplan Diagnostic Test I got something like:
Math- Low 600s
Writing and Verbal- Mid to Midlle High 600s (650-670)
total: 1800 or 1900 something</p>

<p>I've only been in the class for 2 weeks, and we took the 2nd out of 4 practice tests (1st was diagnostic). My scores JUMPED INCREDIBLY! especially for 2 weeks imo, and it's not even that much work (4 class periods, about 5 minutes of homework and the answers are in the back of the book).
My scores jumped to this::
Math- 800 !!!! No doubt, it's for real!!!
Critical Reading (Verbal) : 680 *I know I would have done higher on a normal day, but pshh I was not in the mood for verbal that day.
Writing- 720 (I was really surprised because I used to have trouble on the writing due to collegeboard making you choose some sentences over another because they "sound better" or are the "better choice". IMO Kaplan taught and is teaching me how to distinguish because of things like parralel structure, and it HELPS SO MUCH)</p>

<p>total = 2200 !!! HUGE INCREASE! On my goal score, I put down 2400 to mock their diagnostic system because I thought that the course would be a huge joke after learning that most people in SAT courses only increase ~20-30 points. I fully expect that, if I study hard enough, I can, no, I WILL get a 2400! PERFECT! It's literally a realistic and possible goal for me if I study a lot.</p>

<p>Before and during the early parts of the course, I was *<strong><em>ed at my parents for making me take it. I am very happy now and I am definately glad that they forced me. Though, I could probably learn the same material with a review book and by myself, alone, I could in no way actually have the patience to sit down and do it (my study habits suck and I am lazy as *</em></strong>.. I don't do things unless I am forced to, and even then I usually don't, I've just gotten a bad attitude torwards school ever since I left elementary school in 7th grade.. I dunno I just got bored and stopped doing my homework and stuff. The SAT course really just forces me to learn what I otherwise probably wouldn't because I <em>don't</em> feel like it. So, in final words, I would like to say: THANK YOU MOM! THANK YOU DAD! THANK YOU KAPLAN!!</p>

<p>You guys really gave me a little hope and definately an optimistic attitude of myself for the moment. In all honesty, thank you. I fully reccomend that other people take an SAT review course also (I've heard that Princeton Review is better than Kaplan).</p>

<p>***IMO This post is pretty extravagantory in its appraising of Kaplan and its review course. I, and this post, are not in any way associated with Kaplan (other than me its class, of course). LOL, this is not an advertisement. This is a post of love!</p>

2

<p>PUBLIC SERVICE ANOUNCEMENT
Lay off caffeine. There have been no tests that have proven caffeine increases SAT scores.
That is all, we will return you to your normal programming.</p>

<p>Just kidding, I'm glad it helped. It makes the last hour of studying with the Kaplan test book seem like it was well worth it. haha</p>

3

<p>The course is just 1/2 way right now, and I don't plan to stop with Kaplans. I'm going to do the 10 reals by myself for the new SAT (not called 10 reals, it's the collegeboard guide) and maybe the Princeton Review book by myself if I can find it. I really am aiming, getting actually, no lower than a 2400. I am so psyched.</p>

<p>Yeah, the hotel I take the course at has a free coffee machine :p Sometimes, because we don't have coffee at home, I'll chug 3-4 cups of the super caffinated stuff before the class.</p>

4

<p>Yeah- Congrats on that HUGE ENORMOUS INCREASE in that score!
To get 2400 take tests out of official study guide book as well to give yourself more practice. Kaplan has very good strategies, I've heard from friends.</p>

5

<p>Hey, wait! I need to try having tons of caffiene before taking practice tests (Just Kidding). But i am already hyper, hence the name "Hyper2400"-oh yeah I want that 2400!</p>

6

<p>To be honest, I didn't really learn any math strategies or anything; I was just much more confident and that helped so much. I'm definately learning a lot for the writing though. :)</p>

7

<p>I didn't take any coffee before the practice tests. ;)</p>

<p>Actually, I did before the first one :p</p>

<p>Good luck to everyone else!</p>

8

<p>You think that if one were to study the Kaplan books, they could basically learn the same stuff?</p>

9

<p>Yeah, I think you could. You don't really get much from the teacher and the class, other than being forced to do work if you are otherwise too lazy to do it. Like for the old SAT, I got the 10 reals book and told myself that I would study. I read a few pages and never did anything because I got bored. But, if you have the perseverance and ambition to do it with your own will, I am of the mind that you can achieve the same results, most likely better (we waist a lot of time, like in school with busy work etc.. you work on what the class does, not what you need to do, imo some people in the class don't know how to solve basic equations.. some pretty dumb people are in there to be honest). I've heard of people self studying and doing well, it just takes a lot more will power. </p>

<p>The teacher that I have doesn't really know the material better than you could comprehend it yourself anywaysl; I've had to correct her a few times. For example, sometimes she gets math problems wrong, along with everyone else in the class even though the answers are in the back of the book. </p>

<p>My wish to you, and all of you here at collegeconfidential, is good luck!<br>
Luck doesn't come to those who don't work. You've got to work for the luck. Earn it! </p>

<p>I'm no expert on the SAT or anything though. Wait for Xiggy or someone like him to read this. They can help you much more. Remember, I'm not even done with class yet! LoL, all I am right now is just a happy kid with a good practice score. :p</p>

10

<p>Haha, well I'm very happy for you. You sound very nice! I'm doing a Princeton Review course for Math and I don't feel like it is helping much. I haven't doen any prep for verbal.</p>

11

<p>grrr math is so much harder than verbal for me for some reason
I always walk away from the test thinking to myself "ok, i probably aced the math section since I knew how to do every problem, but I probably bombed the verbal section"
I end up getting a low 700 math and a near perfect verbal.
I wish I could get an 800 math !!!</p>

12

<p>David, have you done any practice tests or anything to compare yourself? I really didn't feel like I had improved either, but the results speak for themselves.. I mean, you don't just wake up and go: OMG, I can think better! I KNOW the SAT! You still feel the same.</p>

<p>LOL and Juzam, I wish I could get an 800 verbal! :P We all just want what we don't have :(</p>

13

<p>Yeah, I've done some Princeton Review diagnostic tests, but I dont know how they compare to the actual SAT. So far I'm at the same level I was on the PSAT for math (after going down 50 points at first), but I've gone up a lot in verbal--no thanks to Pricneton Review, that's all me!</p>

14

<p>How do you know the tests aren't rigged? I once took a class where the first test we were all made to think we did poorly (aka, 500/800 SATII writing) but the 2nd one coincidentally had all the writing rules we learned the previous class period and I got 780...</p>

<p>Take the official CollegeBoard test...it's free, online at their site. Then tell us what your score is and maybe I'll choose to believe you improved that much in such a short amount of time.</p>

15

<p>a friend of mine took the same course for the old sat, scored low on all the practice tests then higher on the actual sat</p>

16

<p>also, pretty much everyone that got 480s-500s and stuff before, got them again. </p>

<p>that doesnt mean that kaplans isnt a fraud though.
it doesnt really matter anyways, because i will still do the new 10 reals book.
i didnt really improve much except in math.</p>