<p>Hi,
I was wondering if I should take a prep class. It is from a local place where it is 1 on 1 tutoring. I have a 3.95 student and hoping to score at least 2000 on the SAT. My brother took this class and it raised his score about 150 and he didn't really take advantage and try real hard in the class. Do you think I should take it or just study from the Blue Book?</p>
<p>YES, both my scored much higher (100 -300 points) after taking the course</p>
<p>Take a practice test first under test conditions. Don’t throw your money away if you’re not going to benefit hugely from it - test prep courses can get VERY expensive, especially 1-1 tutoring.</p>
<p>If you score within 150pts of your goal, don’t take the class. If you’re outside that, consider it.</p>
<p>You can get the same amount of improvement whether or not you take a prep course. The main reason to sign up for a course is for motivation. A prep course can keep you focused and on the correct path. If you are a student that can motivate yourself successfully, then there is no need to take an expensive course. </p>
<p>If you do decide to take a course, here are some things that you should find out about the person or company that you will be dealing with.</p>
<p>Their results: what is the average score increase that students get from their PSAT to their SAT after taking this course? Would you really want to pay for a service that doesn’t produce results?</p>
<p>Group size: Not relevant to you since you will be getting one on one tutoring.</p>
<p>Hiring practices: Does the company or person you may deal with hire people just based upon their SAT scores, or do they make sure that they have exceptional teachers? Do they have separate instructors for Verbal and Math? What are the credentials of these instructors?</p>
<p>Instructor salaries: In general, you get what you pay for, and in the case of a prep course, you get what the company is paying for. Make sure that their tutors are paid well.</p>
<p>Feedback: What are other people saying about them? Remember, the best recommendation is from friends who have already used them and have gotten an exceptional result. If you can’t get this kind of recommendation, it is EVEN MORE important that you check credentials.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that there are often local tutors that do a much better job than some of the big name companies, and are less expensive. Local companies and tutors don’t generally have many expenses, so they can pass these savings on to you. And there are many exceptional ones out there. Ask students that you know who have already taken the SAT where they went for preparation. Find out their results and if they were happy with the course.</p>
<p>Now, if you decide NOT to go with a course, make sure you are preparing effectively. Learn SAT spcific strategies, practice each subject 10 to 20 minutes EVERY day, and take at least 4 practice tests before the actual SAT over a period of about 4 months.</p>
<p>You can find more specific advise I have given on preparation by reading other posts I have responded to.</p>