<p>Hello i am from Ecuador , currently in Los angeles to prep for the SAT or ACT because i want to study in US. I already graduate from high school (march 2014) and i am willing to take a gap year because i know that scholarship is offered only in fall semester. Therefore i really really need to prep for the admission test. I took a practice test in elite prep and i got 1370. But i didnt like elite prep. So i am looking another that is group classes (because is less expensive). Does anyone know ?
What do you think about auto prep ? I know there are some things i havent learned in HS that is why i think i need a prep.</p>
<p>Can you self study on your own? Prep classes are usually a waste of time and money.</p>
<p>@ClassOf2015HS yes i am willing to study by my own as well. But because of the score i got(Super low), you dont think it will be necessary to attend some classes? </p>
<p>Hey Mafera, the thing about Elite is they are a volume broker. They push people to take test after test after test, which helps you get familiar with the test format and build endurance, but not much else. They don’t have a good system to systematically break down your strengths and weaknesses and devise a study plan that focuses on the concepts and strategies that are relevant to you. Doing questions and tests blindly is probably the worst way to prep. You have to know where to spend your time…what concepts, what strategies, etc. And you have to know which level of questions you should attempt and leave blank.</p>
<p>Think about the SAT like weight loss. If your goal is to lose weight, yes, an important part of that process is to step on the bathroom scale to see how much you currently weigh. That’s what taking a practice test does - tells you your current weight/score. But does getting on a scale help you lose weight? Hell no. You have to diet and exercise in between. You can get on the scale all you want and take all the tests you want, but if you don’t actually approach learning and studying, you’ll continue to get the same low score. If you take another test without learning anything new, you still know what you know…you still don’t know what you don’t know. You’ll get the same result. Instead, you need to figure out what your specific weakness are and how to maximize your strengths.</p>
<p>I’m curious…what exactly is it that frustrates you about these tests? What are you looking to accomplish? What have you tried, and is it working? Was there something you tried that didn’t work and was a huge obstacle? Maybe I can help. Good luck!</p>