<p>I took the PSAT during my sophomore year after pulling an all-nighter...
I am currently using Barron's How to Prepare for the SAT along with Direct Hits. I plan on taking the SAT in March and I will be using the Blue Book later on.
Are these materials sufficient and do I have enough time to score above 2200?
My best subject is CR followed by Math and Writing.</p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>
<p>189 on the PSAT’s isn’t that bad, you can definitely pull it up to 2200 or more if you put in the effort.</p>
<p>Let’s see.</p>
<p>Get the blue book after you complete Barron’s book and Direct Hits. Take practice test #1 and score yourself (the whole thing timed). This should give you a general idea of where you rank according to an actual administered SAT. If you get close to your target score, keep practicing. If you are nowhere close (300+ points off), you might want to consider picking up some workbooks.</p>
<p>Practice Test #1
For CR, understand why you got something wrong. If you are guessing, put something that indicates you guessed on that question (that way when you go back to review, you know why you may have got the question wrong/right). If you are doing terrible on sentence completions (9/19 questions right), you might want to start studying something other than Direct Hits (try out WordSmart and More WordSmart by Princeton Review). </p>
<p>For Math, you can usually just find the answers at some site like Khan-Academy or w/e people use (I use PWNtheSAT Math). Answers are also on the collegeboard site when you go to enter your test information in there.</p>
<p>For Writing, find out the rules you kind of know compared to the ones you know. The ones you know should be the ones you are getting right. The ones you kind of know fluctuate during the test. Also, since the essay is self graded, you can post it up here on CC and get a score on it from someone else (the people here are pretty much accurate in their scoring)</p>
<p>At the end of the day if you want a 2200 Barron’s should get you there. You can try out some of the Barron’s Books such as the CR Workbook and the Writing Workbook. For Math, it is completely up to you on what you choose. PWNtheSAT Math is pretty solid. Gruber’s Math Workbook is if you want to break a 600 in math (you probably already have).</p>
<p>Read some of the guides on CC as well. They have very good information which can boost your scores 50+ points (Noitaderp’s CR Guide boosted me 90 points). Here’s a sticky with links to what other people have written up.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/763933-everyone-read-before-posting-best-sat-prep-forum-faqs.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/763933-everyone-read-before-posting-best-sat-prep-forum-faqs.html</a></p>
<p>Lastly, PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. I can’t stress this enough. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips!
I am definitely thinking of buying PWN the SAT to brush up on my math which actually isn’t too bad… I think my main problem is that I rush too much throughout the test.</p>
<p>Update: ended up with a 2330
CR: 800
Math: 770
Writing: 760</p>
<p>@ChocoChips, Terrific job! Congrats on all your hard work! </p>
<p>Thank you so much! :)</p>
<p>Thank you so much for posting back!
It’s amazing seeing those 2 years go by so quickly in between posts, but it’s also great to admire the 2 years of studying and hard work that took place.
And it’s true; as one post said, you CAN improve, and you did! Beyond 2200 by a huge margin!
Congratulations on your success! You are a true role model for current juniors who are seeking to improve an initially low PSAT score.</p>
<p>Honestly, it’s great that you’re starting earlier. I actually wish I started sophomore year. I believe I got a 130 or something on my PSATs (lol). After studying during the beginning of Junior year, I took the SAT and got a 2070. </p>
<p>In my opinion, PSAT doesn’t really determine your SAT score. Don’t worry and just keep up the studying 
</p>
<p>disregard what I said, I guess you did do better LOL</p>
<p>@ChocoChips
This is truly an amazing thing to conquer 
and a huge jump in comparison to your psat score!</p>
<p>I’m a rising junior, who has about an 1800 PSAT (convered psat to SAT) >___></p>
<p>I have ordered the Direct hits vocab, and the Blue book (official SAT study guide) to prepare for my SAT this upcoming December, judging from these two books that you have used, do you think it’s possible in 5months, for a jump in my score to break atleast 2000? Thanks:)</p>
<p>Also, does the Blue book properly explain/give tips to each section on the SAT, or just give practice tests?
Thanks so much! and I’m happy for you~</p>
<p>Hello everyone!
As much as I wished I had studied, I did not. I forgot about the SAT as I was overwhelmed with internships and other extracurriculars. I took the SAT for the first time in the June of my junior year (really advised against) when I got this score. I had done about 12 practice tests from the blue book before I took the test and I just had to take it because my parents made me. Although my case does not apply to each and everyone, I advise against studying for this for more than a month. It is honestly just a test and you should get as much practice as possible rather than memorizing vocab. I did not memorize a single vocab word; you just need a good command of the English language and think logically. Just practice as much as possible to be able to recognize the patterns that Collegeboard has established. But Direct Hits and the blue book are more than enough material to get a great score! Just don’t get too hung up on one test that is only one factor out of many for your college apps</p>