Hey,
I’m currently a sophomore, and I took a practice SAT and I did really bad I got a 940, yikes right. I took the PSAT in October 2018, and I got 1080… Idk what happened and I don’t want to tell my parents. I’m taking the real SAT In August, and I’m gonna study all through summer, and I’m planning on taking seven more practice SAT exam… so I need some advice on how you guys got really high scores. I want a 1500+
You don’t need to share all your practice scores with your parents, unless perhaps you want to enlist their help.
What is the highest level of math you have completed? Your score isn’t hopeless, it’s just a little early for an actual SAT. It’s more likely you haven’t covered the material. Most sophomores haven’t developed the stamina for 4-hour tests either.
I would postpone the test, take the Khan Academy prep class over the summer (and do whatever other studying you feel would be effective for you), and take another practice test in August. Don’t take the real thing until practice tests show you are close to being within range of your goal. How close is up to you, but I’d say 100 or so points. Take as many practice tests as you would like.
There are a few colleges that want to see scores from each of your attempts. So until you know who those are (Georgetown, Yale…) and you either score high or rule them out of your college search, just play it safe. Yes, most colleges only look at your highest scores, but when the time comes senior year, it is still going to suck knowing you have to share a 940.
It is great that you are planning ahead for this test. I’m all for early prep, so long as the student feels up to it. Just have a smart plan for how you go about it.
Buy one of the prep books, like Barron’s or Kaplan, and read the strategies. Study your prep book a little bit at a time more or less daily.
There is no reason to take a real SAT in August. You are just not ready and there is no necessity for it. The PSAT that counts for National Merit comes up fall of your junior year. Use the summer to prep for that – it will be similar prep for SAT’s. As others suggested, start with a good prep book, and then take as many practice tests in test conditions that you reasonably can (means strict time limits). After each practice test, diagnose where you are weak – did you run out of time, did you misread questions, were you careless, are there subjects and types of questions you struggle with. Separately, the prep books also take you through sections that focus on different types of questions. Use these to focus on ares where you are unfamiliar or weak.
I’m studying for the SAT and would like to attend universities such as Stanford, Ivy League… I’m wondering if it’s common for the applicants of these schools to do the SAT essay? Some of my friends said that it’s not that necessary now since colleges knew it would cost students more. Thank you.
The only advice anyone can give you is to study. Use online resources (ex. Khan Academy), prep books etc. And even with that very few people score 1500+ (that is the top 1%). The idea is to work hard and do the best you can.
The more I read this forum, the more I realize how and why so many parents and kids have the wrong idea about test prep.