A common mistake made by newbies, myself included, is to underestimate just how much movement is really needed on the control surfaces to fly an airplane.
Most trainers with the elevator and ailerons set correctly will have very little movement.
My Kadet Senior for as big of an airplane as it was only had 3/8" deflection in either direction on the ailerons.
I am flying a Showtime 90 now and the elevator hardly moves at all but it can loop so tight it almost catches its own tail.