100 point decrease... :/

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Hey guys. </p>

<p>The reason I'm making this thread is because I'm honestly really confused why a significant drop occurred in my SAT score. For a solid 2 months before the exam I hovered around the low-mid 1900's and was hoping to get a 2000+ on the real thing. This wasn't the case. I didn't feel like I was really that nervous, and after taking the test I felt as if I at least matched what I did on practice tests. While this was my first time taking the test (and I plan on taking it 2 more times), a 100 point decrease is very demotivating.</p>

<p>Here were my 4 practice tests leading up to the exam:</p>

<p>1: Collegeboard Official BB <--- 2 months before exam
M: 640
W: 630 (10 essay; had it read by SAT tutors)
CR: 580
Total: 1850</p>

<p>2: Another official Test (given by tutor, not sure the date) <--- 1 month before exam
M: 650
W: 610 (10 essay)
CR: 650
Total: 1910</p>

<p>3: Collegeboard.com official test <--- 2 weeks before exam
M: 690
W: 640 (11 essay)
CR: 640
Total: 1970</p>

<p>4: Another test given by tutor <--- 1 week before exam
M: 650
W: 670 (11 essay)
CR: 640
Total: 1960</p>

<p>Now...............the Jan real exam
M: 670 good so far........
W: 610 (9 essay) meh, not my best (idk what happened with the essay).....
CR: 560........umm.....what...?
Total: 1840</p>

<p>I have no idea what happened there, I thought my CR woes were over when I started consistently scoring in the 630-640 range, and just then....boom 560.</p>

<p>I honestly don't know how almost 2 months of prepping with REAL SAT exams actually lowered my score.</p>

<p>Anyways, now that I'm done ranting, I'm asking you guys for help. What should I do from now until March 10th? All CR?</p>

<p>Also....I need A LOT of help with the essay. I thought the Jan prompt was one of the easiest ones I've seen and I thought my examples were solid but it's the worst grade I've gotten.</p>

<p>Also, one more question. </p>

<p>Let's say I take the SAT two more times and get better scores. Will the colleges I apply to next year ever have to see this one? Or will an increase from an 1840 to like a 2050 actually look to colleges?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p>Your drop really isn’t something special. It fluctuated normally given the many intangibles on test day. Improve your essay by looking at that “How to write a 12 essay in 10 days” post.</p>

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<p>130 point increase! yeah buddy i ain’t taking the sat anymore</p>

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<p>^^^ </p>

<p>Good to know…</p>

<p>Thanks LoseYourself I’ll make sure to read that topic over.</p>

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<p>Are there any other good online guides that you guys would recommend?</p>

<p>I have the next week off from school so I plan on doing a lot of studying.</p>

<p>I already have the Collegeboard Book, McGraw Hill’s 400 Essential SAT Words for vocab, and I have access to Princeton Review and Barrons Writing Guide.</p>

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<p>I honestly don’t even know anymore…</p>

<p>Just took a BB test last night and got:</p>

<p>CR: 660
W: 670 (assumed 10 essay)
M: 700</p>

<p>for a total of 2030…</p>

<p>Can anyone explain why I can only get low 1800’s on the real thing while getting these higher scores on my practice tests? I guess some of it has to do with nerves but to be honest I was relatively calm during the test. Maybe it will help that I’m taking the march test in my own high school where as I took the jan test in a high school i’ve never been to.</p>

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<p>I actually scored 150 points lower than normal, with about 100 of those coming from the CR section. I’m hoping that the January test was just weird, and that the March test will be back to normal.</p>

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<p>^Same here, if this happened to so many of us why isn’t the curve different?</p>

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<p>The curve doesn’t work like that. It’s determined before anyone takes the test, depending on how difficult collegeboard thinks it is.</p>

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<p>OP, how do you score your SAT? From the BB, it gives a range of scores. I usually add the low score + the high score and divide by 2.</p>

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<p>@DrGoogle </p>

<p>I used the score ranges given in the BB (used the same method you do, added two scores and divided by 2) but then I subtract 10 from each score to simulate the possibility of a harsher curve.</p>

<p>I also used this score calculator just to make sure: [SATPeer</a> - SAT Test Score Calculator](<a href=“http://www.satpeer.com/tools/sat-score-calculator.html]SATPeer”>http://www.satpeer.com/tools/sat-score-calculator.html)</p>

<p>They both yielded extremely similar results.</p>

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<p>Some colleges will require your testing history and some colleges you can do score choice. I guess you just have to see what’s going to happen in March.</p>

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<p>So yeah…sorry for the bump but 160 point increase from Jan to now. :smiley: </p>

<p>Turned my 1840 into a 2000 even. I’m gonna take it again, most likely in June. Hoping for 2050-2100.</p>