<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I need some help/advice regarding a good study schedule for the SAT. </p>
<p>I am a sophomore this year and will be looking to take the SAT in the fall/spring of my junior year, and the fall of my senior year. </p>
<p>I am willing to start working now and dedicate the summer for work. The area that I am most concerned about it the math section. </p>
<p>Also, in your opinion, are prep classes/private tutors worth the money? </p>
<p>Thank you very much in advance for any and all input you may have!!</p>
<p>I'm in the same situation as you are, but I do not plan on studying until summer begins (which, I admit, might suck). However, If you want to get a head start, you might want to review during the weekends when you have time and look up a set number of words for that day. If you can find the time, try to memorize 5 words a day, which turns into 35 a week, or close to 900 words in about 6 months. Then, over the summer, you can increase this load up to 10 per day, and remember another 900 words by the end of the summer. In my case, I'm simply going to start memorizing words as soon as school ends, and summer starts, since I don't feel a need to go through all of Barron's 3500 word list. Besides this, try to work on reading lots of books. Math and Writing can be covered in a prep course, so you really do not need to prep for it during the school year.</p>
<p>Okay, if you need help with vocab-definitely do a little bit each day. In terms of general studying, I would focus on preparing for SAT IIs (you didn't mention this-but getting rid of these soph year w/700s takes off a huge burden to make-it-or-break it June of your Jr year), and then PSATs in the summer...then SATs when you are going to take them. Don't overdo it on the studying-you can definitely choke if you over-prepare and pysch yourself out. </p>
<p>In terms of math, if you are in a lower level math, you might be in trouble. I was only in the basic sophomore math class (though honors), so every SAT math problem I did was completely confusing. I just hadn't learned the material-and stuff I thought was impossible ended up being two buttons on my calculator. I would just focus on getting PSAT math down (which differs from SAT math-it mostly has easy/medium questions). If you are in a higher level math class (think precalc or above), you should definitely look over the material now and get a sense of your weaknesses and strengths. (Do you stink at geometry and rock at algebra? Plan accordingly). </p>
<p>In terms of english (not vocab/sentence-completion), read books. It doesn't have to be hard-just not gossip girl or twilight. Young Adult, Nonfiction, classics, even popular bestsellers are fine. Once you read a lot, you can finish sections easier. I'm a huge reader, and can usually re-read passages fully 2-3x, while many people can barely finish CR. You can vastly improve your skills in two years by reading.</p>
<p>Grammar-I wouldn't bother studying this until 2-3 months before the test. If you do it sporadically and without much concentration, you'll likely forget it. If you are serious about learning it, then do a bit by bit.</p>