<p>I took a "Simulated FREE practice SAT" at one of their test centers. It was advertised all over the place where I live, so I decided, what the hell? Why not do it?</p>
<p>I've taken all of the practice tests in the Blue Book, and have never gotten below a 2200. I just got my score from the hyped-up simulated SAT, and I got a 1860. I'm looking at my little test booklet right now, and the level of difficulty in comparison to most of the CB tests is astounding. Then, I realized how ignorant I was for expecting the test to be legitimate. PR had made the test extremely difficult in order to give people the illusion that they needed their fantastic tutoring.</p>
<p>After leaving them an email asking them about my suspicions, they replied:</p>
<p>"Hello ----,</p>
<p>We appreciate your feedback. The Princeton Review does not design any of tests to mislead anyone.</p>
<p>If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.</p>
<p>Thanks!"</p>
<p>The only praise I can muster is of the essay grading service. The response to my essay was typed up, and thoughtfully written.</p>
<p>Or perhaps the tests in the BB are too easy compared to the real thing.</p>
<p>^ How is that possible? The exams in the blue book are the real thing.</p>
<p>brosfam: Since the Princeton Review is a pretty respected test-prep company, I find it hard to believe that they make their tests harder so as to make people believe that they need tutoring. However, it isn't impossible. Whatever the case, you're doing fine on your practice tests from the blue book, which is really all that matters. Don't worry about your score on their simulated SAT.</p>
<p>The exams in the BB aren't "Real" SAT tests. They are just simulated ones made by CB- or so they claim.</p>
<p>Right, but CB doesn't need to change their practice tests to sell a series of books. In addition, their Real SAT writers write their practice tests. Why would they change their methodology?</p>
<p>I don't know about your opinion, but I thought the 1st practice test on the Blue Book was pretty easy.</p>
<p>seriously...i took the course last yr, and in the diagnostic tests, my essay scores were like this: #1-5 total; #2-4 total #3-10!?!? they seriously cheat u into thinking that u improved with easier tests. i thought that the essay which i got a 10 in was worse than the others. my score didnt improve, so im self-studying</p>
<p>^ ? that might be true for you but definitely not for me. I took the SAT as a sophomore last year and got a 2280. I've been taking the PR course because my parents want me to right now and I have consistently scored in the upper 2300 range. The essay feedback is really good. The person who graded my essay the first time (I got a 10 on my first try) told me what to work on and then next time I got a 12. On the third practice test my score actually went down to 2340 and (11 essay). I think PR's course is great. I realized that I was approaching the critical reading section in the the wrong way and after taking the course I consistently score in the 770-800 range (up from 720) on practice tests.</p>
<p>All SAT prep centers (PR, Kaplan, etc..) make their tests much harder than usual SAT tests. But if you practice with harder tests, you could definitely see improvement after couple weeks. </p>
<p>When I took the diagnostic exam 4 weeks ago for my SAT prep center, it was a "real" SAT from last year. I got a 1850. For the past 4 weeks, we took a SAT test made by my prep center each week and I never got over 1750. When I took another "real" SAT from last year, this week; I got a 2130. I improved 280. I think I might be able to break 2300 by end of summer. :D</p>
<p>I used to teach for the Princeton Review (in 4 different offices all over the country), and to the best of my knowledge, it's not official policy to make the tests harder in the beginning of a class or on a diagnostic tests. Of course, the people who run the individual offices certainly know which tests are harder or easier, and I've seen some offices choosing the hardest tests for their free diagnostic.</p>
<p>The biggest problem is that TPR isn't very good at writing tests. I know... I used to write questions and other materials for Princeton Review Publishing, and designed some online courses for TPR... I was always somewhat appalled at their quality control. The problem is not that the tests they write are particularly hard, it's that they're not particularly accurate. Frankly, it's virtually impossible to write tests exactly like the College Board and ETS, which is why I only use real SATs with my students.</p>
<p>I was equally frustrated that, as a teach, I was required to use TPR written tests as diagnostics in my classes when there were LOTS of old real SATs available. Made me crazy.</p>
<p>Overall, I think the Princeton Review is a pretty good and conscientious company, but that depends on the office and on the individual teachers. Some of their teachers are outstanding, but many are inexperienced and probably won't teach more than 3 or 4 classes before they move on to something else.</p>
<p>isnt it good to do the princeton review tests....so you'll fly through the actual easy test.</p>