<p>So I’m enrolled in a super intense SAT prep course, where I have been basically been getting ~1900 on the 4 practice tests I’ve taken (1 test per week, 10 more weeks of the class remaining). The class is designed to give you 2100+
Most of the kids in the class are either fluctuating or staying in the 1900s. Just a couple have their grades rising (but what I’ve heard from kids that took teh course is that your grades will raise after 5-6 tests)
SO today my dad picks me up from the class and sits me down with the director and basically says “this is all for you benefit so you have to try really hard until school starts” which sounds okay, but he had a tone that sounded like I’m not trying at all.
Now remember, I’m putting in about an hour of work a night in addition to this 9 hour class on Saturdays! And I’m really working hard!
Then in the car, my dad goes on and on about how I should push myself.<br>
When he dropped me off in the morning, a friend in the class said “oh the vocab tests are right after the practice SATs now”. But I take the practice tests at home (not in class), so that would mean I don’t have to take the vocab tests. I jokingly said to him (in front of my dad) “great! now I don’t have to worry about vocab!” My dad didn’t say anything. But now in the car on the way home, he says he was surprised at my comment and he said the vocab is for my own benefit!
I know that and even if I wasn’t tested I would learn the vocab anyways!</p>
<p>Why don’t my parents appreciate the work I’m putting into the class?? I know they paid a lot for the class and they expected faster results, but I’m working very hard! What can I do? I’m trying my best to improve my score!!!</p>
<p>And the weirdest thing is my parents never did anything like this before. THey are usually nicer…</p>
<p>Wow, it’s not like your dad yelled at you or said you’re wasting his money. Most of those SAT prep courses do not help you very much, try taking lots of bluebook practice tests and studying your wrong/right answers. That is what nearly everyone on this forum does and most people see pretty nice test increase compared with the time they put in.</p>
<p>How are you studying to take the SAT in your spare time?</p>
<p>I know he didn’t yell, but this is how he reacts when he’s pretty disappointed. The thing is, he’s known I’ve gotten ~1900, but he only got upset after this 4th test.</p>
<p>To study, I do 50 math problems, read 3 long SAT bocab articles, learn 50 words a night, and wrote one practice essay a week
I also go through each question I missed on the last test</p>
<p>Well that’s how he acts when he’s disappointed.</p>
<p>He really cares about your future, so he’s trying to push you to make the grade. Simply putting in the work isn’t good enough anymore; you’ve got to really improve.</p>
<p>I don’t think you’re studying correctly. Going through the motions won’t get you anywhere, you’ve got to know *what *to understand. If that makes any sense.</p>
<p>SAT prep courses only improve the scores of those with mediocre scores and no motivation.</p>
<p>Kaplan taught me the skills I needed to self study and I would have never found out about CC if it wasn’t for my instructor. It really varies from instructor to instructor.</p>
<p>“To study, I do 50 math problems, read 3 long SAT bocab articles, learn 50 words a night, and wrote one practice essay a week”</p>
<p>If this is what you’re doing on your own, maybe you should lessen the load a bit? At least for vocab words- can anyone really memorize 350 words well in a week?
I’m not trying to disparage your efforts or anything, it just seems like you’re really stressed so you’re overloading.</p>
<p>You should think about doing 1/4 of a practice test per night and then the next night review every right and wrong answer. Take 1 hour for taking and then 1 hour for reviewing. </p>
<p>This will probably help you a lot more. Eventually try to find patterns in what you do wrong or what type of questions you do wrong.</p>
<p>Read Xiggi’s method it’ll be the most helpful.</p>
<p>trust me, he is just looking out for you…
he could have reacted a lot worse.</p>
<p>I would emphasize how hard you’re working to him, and the fact that they often have harder practice tests in review courses (i scored 1700-1900 on those and ended up getting 2170 superscored…hmm)</p>