<p>Hello,
I'm a Jr. and I took a [pretty useless] sat summer school class with 25 people. I scored about 1940 [700s Math, 620s CR/W] prior and the same at the Nov sat. I cannot afford a one-on-one tutor, though I hear those are definitely the most effective, so what would you guys suggest? I'm not extremely self-motivational. Which program would you suggest, and which should I definitely avoid? Thanks in advance!!!</p>
<p>I would highly recommend you try testmasters. You should definitely avoid any test prep companies that do not supply you with REAL SAT questions. Testmasters guaratee a 300 point increase. If you do not increase by that much, they will allow you to take the course again for free. Please look into it.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.testmasters.com%5B/url%5D">www.testmasters.com</a></p>
<p>thanks! however testMasters is not offered in California :( ... can anyone else help me? i'm considering Kaplan's classes.. I'm pretty new to this still so I'd really appreciate your help!
Thanks!</p>
<p>kaplan blows</p>
<p>Is the princeton review course really worth the amount of money they charge?</p>
<p>Any reccomendations as to the best prep course?</p>
<p>I haven't taken the Courses/Tutor, but I don't what they can teach you that a prep book or forum:) couldn't.</p>
<p>Do not try PR under any circumstances... even if they offer you it for free. You would be wasting your time and energy. Although their classes are around 12 students, they are boring as hell. They teach nothing but things found in their prep books (ie. POE, plugging in #'s, etc.): everything that does not work.</p>
<p>Their practice tests are repetitive. That is where you get your 200 piont increase guarantee. Close to 90% of the test you get at the end of the course will be IDENTICAL to one you took in the beginning of the course. Trust me, it has happened to me.</p>
<p>Even with this identical test, I was only able to raise my CR and W from 32 to 33 and 50 to 51 respectively. </p>
<p>I am never taking this course again, or any other course unless it is testmasters, because they are the ones who train 2400ers.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>PR is alright - only if you have the money - I am currently in it in and improving a lot - it's just like anything else- you get what you put into it - people like lil_killer129 probably go and sit there in classes and hope that will raise their scores.</p>
<p>You have to want to raise your scores - you need to do all homework, look up vocabulary words you don't know to help you, start reading magazines and books a lot more to improve your reading and writing,etc.</p>
<p>It's a great course but no course is a miracle work.</p>
<p>Mike99, I did all those things you listed. Everyone around me who did the same didn't increase their scores that much either.</p>
<p>PR is full of 18-24 year olds who just teach the course for money.</p>
<p>My Verbal teacher who attends NYU feeds us with answers. He doesn't explain why it was correct or incorect. He sometimes stands there for 2 minutes thinking about it then gives up and moves on.</p>
<p>Now my Math teacher is from MIT. She isn't great at math either. I was actually surprised, because aren't everyone attending MIT suppose to be brilliant in the math and sciences? Atleast she explains everything pretty well. But there is just one flaw. She thinks we don't know a lot of math, so she teaches like we are in middle school.</p>
<p>thanks for the input!
would you say nearly all courses with around 15 students and under 1000$ tuition are near useless? I found a pretty inexpensive one [that includes 4 hours of private tutoring] at this website: <a href="http://www.revolutionprep.com/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.revolutionprep.com/index.html</a>
i'm considering the 'hybrid' course.. oh and this is only offered in Northern and Southern CA.. would these smaller companies be better/worse? Does anyone have any experience with this company or any guesses as to how it will turn out? Thanks again!!!</p>
<p>Most of the prep courses (PR, Kaplan) are about the same.
I mean the teacher goes through the solutions from the book. Since there are at least 20-30 students, you dont have a chance to ask too many questions.</p>
<p>Students who score low in the 400's range will benefit from the tips and techniques to bring to the norm. The more motivated students will do more on their own besides doing the hw. These students will try to understand "why" they did wrong and understand the patterns like the "xiggi method". </p>
<p>I dont mean the students wont go from 400's to 700's range. It also individual basis. I just found out who score best in SAT are preparing throughout many years, like doing a lot of readings, analysis the materials etc. </p>
<p>If this is kind of late, most students will do a lot of practice tests.</p>
<p>thanks for the replies.
skimming through these, can you give a brief review/feedback? thanks
<a href="http://www.revolutionprep.com/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.revolutionprep.com/index.html</a>
<a href="http://www.sherwoodtest.com/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.sherwoodtest.com/index.html</a>
vs princeton/kaplan</p>