<p>I got a 2250 my first time, after practicing: 800 CR, 770 M, 680 W</p>
<p>I missed 1 CR, 1 M, and 3 W MC questions</p>
<p>I practiced MUCH harder to try to get a 2400 on my second attempt (I retook because of the writing). I did 4 BB tests, online course, a couple QAS, etc </p>
<p>I managed to get a 2310 - 790 CR, 770 M, and 750 W. </p>
<p>That time I missed 2 CR, 1 M, and 2 W MC questions. I missed the SAME number of questions, and I was four questions away from a 2400.</p>
<p>Moral of the story: Once you reach a certain point, practice becomes irrelevant. Once you reach a certain level of familiarity with the SAT, it boils down to luck, whether it be a stupid mistake or a lack of knowledge or whatever. Despite all my practice, I missed the SAME number of questions the second time, and only improved because of my greater essay score. </p>
<p>The score volatility in the 2300 range is so great that it's simply not worth worrying about.</p>
<p>I'm currently at the 2250+ stage, usually miss 3-5 questions, and I feel that no matter how much I study before I take the test (in 2 weeks), it all comes down to luck. At the same time, however, I guess you still have to review the material and get in the zone before you take it.</p>
<p>consider it luck or whatever you want but, my first six blue book scores were in the range of 2260-2320. the last two practice test i did from the BB (on the thursday and friday before the test), i had 2380 and 2400. </p>
<p>on the actual one on saturday i had 2350. go make of it what you much. but i personally believe that volatility in the 2300+ region can be controlled to a certain extent.</p>
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How do you people do so well lol I'd be glad to get a 2000-2100
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<p>I honestly don't think it is usually from studying. If you take challenging courses in school and read a lot, almost no matter what, you will find that naturally you have a stronger command of the areas the SAT tests.</p>
<p>i disagree. some people peak at 2250 and can't get any higher. but i started at about 2250 when i began doing BB tests in the summer and I made steady improvements each week leading up to a 2370 in october. i would agree, however, that there is no way to be "ready" for a 2400(i learned the hard way)</p>
<p>I disagree completely. If you are in the 2250+ range, practice might be able to put you in the 2300+ range. Why allow it to all be dependent on luck? There ARE people (not everyone) who can consistently get 800s on certain sections. The first practice test i took, i got 760 on CR. I practiced through all of Barrons, PR, etc and did a lot of reading (classics) and then i did all the BB tests and didnt get a single CR wrong on any of them. Sure, math scores might be due to luck because of how easy it is to make careless mistakes. However, CR and Writing sections are much harder to make careless mistakes on. Unless you can consistently get 0-1 wrong, you need more practice. Its not that you will learn anything, but you will gain more familiarity with the SATS</p>
<p>I started with a 2040 as a soph. I did a lot of practice (about 4 QAS and 4 PSATs ) and wound up with a 2340 nine months later. </p>
<p>I tried preparing for the December 2008 SAT after a long period of not touching SATs, and I found myself scoring between 2380-2400 on old SATs/PSATs with little difficulty. However, when the test came, I made a few careless mistakes in math (2, I think) and had to cancel my exam, despite the string of 800's I'd gotten during my practice sessions. </p>
<p>No matter how well prepared you are, silly mistakes, having a fever the day of the exam, not getting enough sleep, etc. can make you perform below your ability. Hence, the volatility at the 2250+ range.</p>
<p>People in the 2250 range could easily have been in the 2300 range without a few dumb mistakes. People in the 2300 range could easily get 2400s without dumb mistakes.</p>
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There ARE people (not everyone) who can consistently get 800s on certain sections.
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<p>Yes, I am one of those who can consistently score 800 on CR (on QAS, BB, etc). I also have an 800 Lit. Last SAT, I got a 790 CR because I missed one question too many.</p>
<p>Unless you practice a HUGE amount (to the point where to opportunity cost isn't worth it) there is little point in practicing a huge amount to get a 2300 or 2400 once you're 2250 and above.</p>
<p>I fully support practice for the subject tests however. It was with a ton of practice that I was able to get a 2400 SATII, because SATIIs have much better curves that eliminate the 'luck' factor. </p>
<p>I will concede that if your goal is to go from 2250 to 2300+, some practice might be appropriate. But a huge amount of practice, and trying to get 2350+ or even 2400, is a waste in my opinion.</p>
<p>This is true,not only in the studying areas.Just think about it .Imagine the greatest outsider in NBA training and training all day long,every day .Do you think this team will be able to beat Lakers or Boston ?Nope.
Do you think Japan can beat Argentina (soccer) or Spain,Or Brazil ,despite the hard training cessions ?No,this is impossible.
But you must do your best,even though you know it is almost impossible</p>
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No matter how much practice, there is a limit to what you can do. Think pragmatically.
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<p>Bingo. Not everyone can just get a 2400, contrary to what people will try to tell you. I've accepted that I probably can't get one and have moved on.</p>
<p>I also realized that the 2400, at least for me, was about sharpness. sharpness means you have been practicing consistently and recently. it only takes a few weeks to become dull again. i was sharp in october and i got my score.
2 weeks later I was still sharp and I got a 240 PSAT. but you can only be sharp for so long without practicing. my skills began to dull and when I tried the SAT again in November and December, I ended up canceling. </p>
<p>think of the SAT like an athletic contest. you can't be in peak condition forever. and once you've put in the training
and achieved a peak, it's not worth it to start building towards a second peak. sure, i could do 10 more practice tests,
build to a 2nd peak, and get a 2400, but for 30 points it wouldn't be worth it.</p>