<p>I was wondering if any of you guys have taken the Princeton Review or the Kaplan's SAT courses and were willing to provide some feedback? I am considering taking a SAT prep course from one or the other this summer. It would help especially if you guys could comment on whether the courses were beneficial to your writing and verbal ( I probably won't place too much emphasis on math)?</p>
<p>Well, I took the Princeton Review during the course of last summer. Honestly, I thought the class was too loose. Whenever a person wouldn't do his homework, the teacher didn't really seem to mind. Even the diagnostic testing sessions didn't seem to truly mirror actual SAT testing conditions. Nonetheless, you do end up getting pretty good books/study books ("11 Practice Tests," "College Board's Official SAT Study Guide" (that big blue book), and some subject specific paperback "textbooks.") </p>
<p>What I basically did for writing was look at the "11 Practice Tests for the New SAT" (which should be provided by PR) and worked on the writing sections in the book. I found this book to be helpful because it clearly explained (most of the time) where the errors were or whether there was no error (in the answers section). As for the essay portion, I thought PR was very shady... even instructors under the same test-prep company (PR) couldn't agree how to write a good essay. The only good thing I got from learning the essay the Princeton Review way was to have "universal" examples handy (examples that can usually be implemented into several essay topics), as well as organization of the essay. </p>
<p>As for verbal, I thought PR was really weak in this department. Maybe it was because I didn't have a teacher who nailed verbal stuff, but yeah... I didn't think that PR taught it too well. </p>
<p>Well, if anything, I think PR's resources (books, especially "11 Practice Tests for the New SAT) were helpful. As for the quality of instruction, I would say that it depends on whoever you get. In my opinion, not all PR instructors are created equal. In terms of diagnostic testing sessions, they do give you a good sense of the endurance necessary to complete the new 10-section SAT. Overall, I ended up paying $999 for my course, but I definitely felt it wasn't worth all of that near-thousand tuition. I had high expectations for Princeton Review, and PR ended up being decent... I'll put it that way. However, from what I've heard, Princeton Review is actually better than most. I've heard that Kaplan is rather too lax/easy, but don't take my word for it. I'd personally hear from someone who took a New SAT Kaplan course.</p>
<p>On a final note, I did manage to score 2110 >>> 690 math, 700 critical reading, 720 writing (my minimum goal of 2100 was met, but I'm going to retake in October for at least a 2200). What you put into SAT test-prep is what you get out of it. I knew a lot of people in my SAT class who screwed around. Well, that was their $999 and it was their waste and loss. If you invest your time and effort into test-prep, you should be fine. Whatever happens, good luck in your quest for 2400. :)</p>
<p>I used to teach for one of the above companies. From my perspective, the most important thing is not which course to take, but to try and find out who the best teachers are and get into their class. Both companies have great teachers and lousy teachers, and your experience will depend entirely on that. So ask around your school and see if anyone had a really good experience, and try to get PR or Kaplan to tell you which classes the good teachers are going to teach. Problem with that is, they might not actually be able to tell you, since they typically break up classes depending on your score on the first diagnostic test...</p>
<p>Yes, PeteSAT is correct in the post above. The original group of one was eventually split into two groups, therefore resulting in two instructors teaching.</p>
<p>If I manage to score pretty high on the diagnostic, will I be getting the better teacher? Btw, thanks for the replys, guys.</p>
<p>Not necessarily. Some teachers who aren't at all good with lower scoring student might default into the higher scoring class, but they might not be great. When I was teaching, I would usually end up teaching the class that the other teacher(s) didn't want to take simply because of their preference...sometimes I'd teach the higher scorers, sometimes the lower scorers... (I happened to like both and anything in between.)</p>
<p>"Whenever a person wouldn't do his homework, the teacher didn't really seem to mind. "</p>
<p>So what its that persons score not yours.</p>
<p>Im taking the PR course this summer but I get to for free since I didnt get the 200 point guarantee increase (my score was an 1810 ***?!?!?)</p>
<p>Is there really a big discrepancy in the way PR and Kaplan teachers teach then? The only differences I know is that Kaplan has 1 more practice test session than PR does.</p>
<p>I took a PR course that really helped me-- I went from an 1180 PSAT to a 1410 SAT (those were back in the day when it only went up to 1600 lol). I think it depends on your learning style and the quality of your teachers.</p>
<p>daughter just took princeton review and called me to complain that she had just been "taught" how to conjugate a verb when she needs help with math! I think there were too few kids to split into a meaningful group. Only 16 at her school took the class, so they were all together every night (9 session class). They gave a mock test the first night, one in the middle, then the last test at the next to last class. Her score went DOWN 170 points from the first test to the last!!! I'm afraid it might have been a waste of $399, but we'll have to wait until after May 7 to see.</p>