Should I self study SATs or not?
I’ve heard about the Xiggi method.
When is it necessary to use Kaplan or Princeton review courses/classes or tutors?
I got a 180 on the psat which is not good for a sophomore. someone told me I should have gotten a 190.
Thanks for your input!
The best way is to self study. Kaplan and other prep companies just take your money and increase your score by 100 points if your lucky. Save your money, buy a few prep books, and study yourself. Personally, I got a 159 on my PSAT in October of 2014, after studying hard i got an 1830 on my SAT in March of 2015. I am currently self studying for an even higher score. If you have any questions feel free to ask.
A 180 is AMAZING for sophomore.
I self-studied for the SAT and got an 1870. Most of my friends struggled to break 1750 and had tutors and SAT prep classes.
I self studied for the SAT both times I took it. I think it’s pretty easy to improve naturally. Got a 2050 in 8th grade and a 2270 in 9th grade. Got a 223 on the PSAT as a sophomore this year, one point off last year’s scholarship qualifier. 
It’s possible to improve your scores by studying, but I don’t think anyone needs to spend more than the cost of a prep book (assuming the public library doesn’t have any). Figure out where your weaknesses are and study whatever material will help you improve.
My parents were insistent on a tutor. Not from the test prep companies, but on the wyzant site.
I gave in because it might help but j think the only thing I’m lacking is motivation. The tutor gives me a reas on why to prep. And that’s pretty depressing… I can totally do this myself but would a tutor be worth it? She is going to Darthmouth and a senior in a nearby town. She tutors other kids, one in Europe too. I chose her over another because the of price of 25 an hour, compared to 65 (too mmucmuch!!!) She said she self studied.
All the tutors I met said they self studied so why cant my parents understand I can self study?
Approx cost is $2,500 for the summer, which is a bargain compared to crazy expensive programs or other tutors. Like some charge 100 and hour, and people actually take those classes! I’m thinking WHYYYYY are you wasting your money
Should I go with the tutor?
If you’re real, you’ll self study. 
But for real, you need to gauge if you think you need it.
As a freshmen, I got a 198 on PSAT and many of my friends got around 220. Most people my age (rising sophs) have SAT scores around 2000. Also, self-studying requires a LOT of motivation, so depending on the prep company, SAT Prep may be helpful
I think classes/tutors can boost you to a certain point, but after that, it’s all about self-studying. I got a 187 on the PSAT in fall 2014, but after getting a tutor, I got into the 2000s on the SAT…and then after self-studying, I got around a 2200. So it all depends on whether you can afford a tutor/how much you want to improve.
Definitely go for it. I am an international so I had no access to any tutoring. I self studied. Its effective.
I need to improve my math since my CR and Writing are fine, how can I improve it (tutor or self study or more classes)?
@Swag87 Do a lot of practices. Learn the “tricks.” Trust me, I am a good math student but that doesn’t really matter on SAT. It’s all about the tricks and time management.
What sort of “tricks”?
180 isn’t extremely bad for a sophomore, nor is it amazing. Honestly I did a private tutor and it didn’t help too much. The best way to study is do a lot of practice tests by yourself.
I tried self studying for the SAT in 9th grade, but I wasn’t getting the score I wanted. Sometimes, you just need the extra push to do better. If you’re like me, you might benefit from test prep classes/tutors, as was the case for me. I tried telling myself that I’d allot a certain time for prep each week, but I found myself caught in the midst of homework/extracurriculars/family issues and unable to devote the time. I ended up going to test prep classes over the summer between 9th and 10th, and then having a private tutor. My score didn’t improve as much as I would have wanted (200 points increase), but I think I did a lot better having someone teach me how to prep for the SAT than I would have at home. But, of course, you will be paying A LOT of money at the risk of not improving your score as much as you want.
Anyway, these are my two cents. In the end, do whatever method works for you.
It honestly depends on the person. I managed to get a 2340 with light self-studying a week before the exam, while a friend of mine got a perfect score after going to a well-known SAT prep school for eight weeks; however, that’s not to say that it was all worth it, as another friend of mine who took the same classes actually had their scores drop a hundred points.
I agree with a lot of people here saying that if you do go the self-study route, take as many practice tests as you can. If there was anything I regretted more from my test, it was that I didn’t review the essay portion enough (I lost all 60 points from the essay!). There’s definitely merit in taking prep classes, but it ultimately depends on what you think will fit best for your personality and studying habits.
Good luck!
An 180 is really good! Congratulations. I agree it depends on the person. I got a 1410 with light self-study, so I’m going to get tutoring over the summer. I’d recommend online self study, as I found the SAT book was impossible to study from! It only contained several practice tests with answers. It did explain how to solve the problems, but it didn’t teach the individual subjects.
SAT self study and ACT self study can be a scary, yet liberating prospect. If you are serious about getting the best possible score on the SAT or ACT, you need to plan on putting in some serious time and effort! Showing up unprepared is a terrible idea.