<p>real advice:</p>
<p>month 1 ~ 12: study memory technique
month 13~ 18: memorize as much vocab as you can, starting with prefix & roots, learn what suffix does, and go to barron 3500
month 19~24 :spend 3 hour studying the passage for every 1.5 hr (a set) of passages you do. Repeat N times.</p>
<p>Test day: 800.</p>
<p>^Nice, a time span of 2 years really does the job. I on the other hand, have 7 months. Which book did you use to get the prefix, roots, etc?</p>
<p>I support Quix's tai chi.</p>
<p>It's hard to memorize thousands of words without techniques... </p>
<p>I say at least 1 month study memory stuff, maybe 3 month of vocab, and the last 3 try to do at least a set everyday.</p>
<p>Any prefix or root list is fine really :/ there's not that much to memorize for that stage. </p>
<p>I did it with a book in my native language, but Gruber's list is pretty good also.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone who gave real advice so far.</p>
<p>practice BB tests, read challenging books, and study vocab. some people say not to bother with the vocab, but I think it makes a difference and it's not a waste of time.</p>
<p>I didn't do too well on CR, but other students have used the method my teachers have encouraged (I have, but I just suck at the SATs), and have gotten 750s to 800s.</p>
<p>I. Vocabulary: BUY THIS BOOK - [url=<a href="http://www.amazon.com/English-Words-Latin-Greek-Elements/dp/0816508992%5DBook!%5B/url">http://www.amazon.com/English-Words-Latin-Greek-Elements/dp/0816508992]Book![/url</a>]
II. Critical Reading: Read books of your choice that are above your reading level, as well as the classics. American and British literature textbooks should have some of the greatest short stories in them. The Norton anthologies are famed for their numerous and great content, especially for British literature.
III. Practice tests from the Blue Book or from the College Board website.</p>
<p>haha....im a freshman and im studying for the sat now. i go to my local library and take out 2 or 3 books on the sat every week. i think i'll do good bcuz im an amazing test taker[A.K.A a good "educational" guesser]</p>
<p>1991-1993: Nothing, I was still a bit young to worry about that stuff.</p>
<p>1994 - 7 October 2006: Read, a lot. Advanced stuff, too, for my age.</p>
<p>7 October 2006 - 12 October 2006: Read over the PSAT materials and took a practice test. Took the real test, got a 69 on CR.</p>
<p>12 October 2006 - 28 November 2006: Read more.</p>
<p>29 November 2006 - 13 June 2007: Had first real English education, which taught me how to analyze literature properly</p>
<p>14 June 2007 - 15 October 2007: Read more, more real English, too</p>
<p>15 October 2007 - 16 October 2007: Read PSAT prep book again, took practice test, got 71 on practice. Took real test, got 79.</p>
<p>17 October 2007 - April 10 2008: Read, had more real English.</p>
<p>10 April 2008 - 2 May 2008: Read BB practice sections, took three SAT practice tests, averaged 740 on CR. Read more, too.</p>
<p>3 May 2008 - Took SAT, got 770, and was happy I never have to worry about the test again.</p>
<p>There you go. Inclusive timeline for me. It probably isn't applicable to everyone, though.</p>
<p>Although, you should be seeing a pattern here.</p>
<p>Notice the lack of vocab memorization, too. Reading a bunch means you pick up the vocab and have it ingrained in your mind, which means you don't have to cram for it.</p>
<p>Wow, this gives me no hope... =[</p>
<p>same here.........</p>
<p>My whole life: Read.
Days preceding test: Go to school, do homework, watch Scrubs, eat, sleep.
Test day: Take test.
Twenty days later: Get 780. Be very happy with that.</p>
<p>I agree with Quix. I know people who desperately try to raise their verbal scores by buying the three-inch-thick book and carrying flashcards in their pockets during the month before the test. The problem is in the approach...critical thinking isn't something you can memorize.</p>
<p>I agree with colly</p>
<p>the only way to learn critical reading is to read critically ;-)</p>
<p>^ You might disagree with me, but I somehow feel that everyone can get 800 or something close to that on CR if they know all words. :p</p>
<p>You mean 100% on sentence completion. Just because you know the words for some passage reading doesn't mean you can get 800. You also need luck.</p>
<p>but you cant control your luck so you can only work on stuff you can do something about like the way you study</p>
<p>^ Strangely though, you'll find that the more you study, the more lucky you become.</p>
<p>So, if I start to read challenging books now until January will I get at least 600-650?
New York Times
Classic books</p>
<p>yeah, i think if i can get a 670-700 i'll be in good shape...</p>
<p>Is my idea good enough?</p>