Hi, I’m currently a sophomore in high school and want to get the SAT over with by January. I need it to apply to a science and math school for Juniors and Seniors, but I also want to get a score good enough for college apps if I need them in the future. I think my current score is 2100-2200 based on practice tests, I haven’t taken a real SAT yet (i’m taking one this weekend Dec 5), but I want to aim for a perfect or close to perfect score in January. I’ve done gradual prep during the summer through one of Princeton Review’s 11 practice test books, and then started using PrepScholar and taking Blue Book practice tests about 2 months ago.
Last night I bought Erica Meltzer’s CR and Grammar books, as well as another 11 practice tests from Princeton Review and Barron’s Math workbook. I’ve read the Grammar points in Barron’s SAT book and Sparknotes “7 Deadly Screw Ups” (which I recommend for people who haven’t heard it and need improvement.) I currently have Dr. Steve Warner’s advanced math book, Barron’s 2400, and Barron’s Writing Workbook. I’m looking for another good math book, possibly like an equivalent to Meltzer’s books in CR and Reading. I’ve heard of Dr. Chung’s book, but is it worth buying? I’d also like to know tips on how I can improve as much as possible before the January test date and get the score I’m aiming for. I’ve also memorized a ton of vocab, from Direct Hits 1 and 2, some lists I’ve gotten from my sister, 200 words from Barron’s and Sparknote’s 250 word list. However, I still notice a ton of words popping up on practice tests that I haven’t seen on any of these lists. Does anyone else know any good lists? Is anyone a perfect/near perfect scorer who can please help me? I also review my mistakes carefully and put them into a notebook.
My current scores from practice tests have been 2350/2270/2090/2120. My essay has been 9, 10, 7, and 8 (graded by Prepscholar) my math scores are never above 710, 710, 700, 700 and reading has been 800, 800, 690, 710 with writing from 800, 760, 700, and 710. I don’t think Prepscholar’s helped me improve that much as I knew a lot of the content they had already, and I’m also not sure why my scores have been dropping.
Thanks, I really appreciate your help. I’m very stressed out over this and would like to reach my goal.
It’s fine @Uniqueleaf. Everyone has different goals and standards so don’t bother comparing. I don’t think it’s obsessive at all if that makes you feel better.
I know a sophomore who scored 2400 first try this october. It’s definitely possible if you are motivated and use the right resources!
YAY you put all your mistakes in a notebook! I’m happy.
I think the barons grammar book is pretty meh compared to meltzers. Meltzers should bring your mc to 0-1 missed questions if you do all the exercises and stuff. That way you can shoot for a 9-10+ essay and hopefully get 800.
Have you tried taking qas sat tests (tests that have been administered before)? They are hands down the best practice you can get. If you haven’t finished the blue book tests or prepscholar, I suggest you stop now and simply take qas tests, as i believe only the first 3 blue book tests were previously administered. Message me if you need help finding them. A cursory search on google would suffice as well I think.
Math is so annoying because there is absolutely no room for error. You need to develop a habit of rechecking every single fking question or it WILL screw you over on the real thing. If you just tell yourself you will check on the real thing and not practice that way, you will end up like me :c and be sad. A single math question is 20-50 points gone so don’t end up regretting later not systematically going through and rechecking the question and answer. Trust me it is tedious and boring. But it’s worth it in the end. Concepts won’t be hard as you have a good prep book.
Was a bit confused about how you are still missing vocab. Perhaps the tests you are taking aren’t very accurate? Direct Hits 1 and 2 is completely sufficient imo. Try some qas tests and let me know how it goes.
Take advantage of winter break and go ham on those practice tests. Also delete any games/stop watching tv shows/anime. “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” Don’t let pointless stuff get in the way. At least not until after you are done. Then you can go back to your old routine as I did. Had a terrible habit of spending hours on league before starting my prep.
@NotBadNotGood Thank you so so much. As for vocab, I dont really miss any questions, (i think only one on last practice test with words i knew but i made a dumb choice) but I still see many words I have never seen before. I just get them right by elimination/lucky guesses. For Meltzers book, I bought only the concept books for Grammar and CR, not the grammar workbook. Did you say there are practice problems in these, or is it necessary for me to also buy the Grammar workbook?
I wont use any of the Barrons book now until my other books come.
For Math concept I purchased PWN the SAT third edition last night in addition to Warner’s book, and I will practice double checking. As for the qas tests, could you send me to how to find them? I will do additional Googling on my own. I have been saving the last practice tests (5,6,7,8,9) in the Blue Book to prep for January, instead of using them to prep for my December test. I used to do a TON of practice from Princeton Review tests but when I do them now, I realize they are a lot harder/dont make sense than real SAT tests. Again, I really appreciate your long post with all the advice.
You need to be more efficient in the work you’re doing to reach your goal. Stop studying vocabulary, you know enough. Definitely do not use the 11 practice tests from Princeton Review, the Barron’s Math workbook or the Barron’s Writing Workbook. If you follow the rest of the plan, especially using real CB materials, you should be fine.
I’m a sophomore too (I got 800M in Oct, up from 740) If math is your weakness, try doing untimed versions-write out all your steps CLEARLY to solve the problem.
-UNDERLINE the main problem part, so you don’t make dumb mistakes.
-Don’t give up on problems unless you truly cannot solve them.
-When reviewing mistakes (If you have the explanations) you should give yourself just a little bit of the explanation every time. Don’t reveal the whole answer, try to solve it with just a few hints.
-Then record what types of questions you missed onto a spreadsheet, and classify the mistakes- careless/misconception, level of difficulty, how to avoid it in the future.
On a somewhat unrelated note, you must be a genius if you can score that high in CR as a sophomore.
@CHD2013 Yes I do not study vocab except in the car, waiting, etc on my phone. @NotBadNotGood When doing practice tests, should I be doing them entire tests at a time in 4 hour chunks or doing them section by section?
The critical reading and writing books by Meltzer have more than sufficient practice. The grammar workbook is good but if you haven’t exhausted the qas tests I don’t recommend buying it unless you are rich and rolling in cash.
In general, I think sections are fine. Just do a few full practice tests too. If you have a problem with stamina though, do more full tests to work on stamina.
Uniqueleaf,
By the time you are a senior applying to college, some schools may not accept the old (current) SAT. At least one (VaTech) has already said they will not accept it for next year’s seniors.
(1) Do what you want or need to do to get into the schools you want to attend. If you really need to improve your scores for those schools, check out the detailed advice that already exists on test prep threads here on CC.
(2) To the extent you are striving for scores that will help with college admissions, don’t waste your time. It’s not just “some schools” that won’t accept the old (current) SAT scores for class of 2018 and beyond … it’s THE VAST MAJORITY of U.S. colleges that say they will not accept the old SAT scores for your class of applicants.
From the perspective of someone who did perfect score the SAT, ACT, and three subject tests, as well as received scores of 5 on all thirteen of the AP tests I’ve taken through junior year, it’s honestly not that important. You say you’re applying to a residential school? They require an SAT score from sophomores? Dubious. I acknowledge your dedication, but perhaps you should redirect that to some other activity. I assume that you are looking for this “great SAT score” for college applications, but it is far, far more impressive to colleges that you make a large spike in some activity, whether academic or extracurricular, that you are passionate about. Of course it took dedication for me to receive those scores, but the amount of time and effort I spent preparing for those tests is miniscule compared to the effort and time I spent on what I am passionate about: science. Read books, go outside, change the world. Don’t obsess over that perfect score.
@SoccerMomGenie - I’ve done a little research on this topic and I don’t think your conclusion is accurate. Could you tell us more: how you came to this conclusion etc?
@paulryu I know you genuinely got those scores, because I’ve noticed that similar train-of-thought with other perfect-scorers.
@Uniqueleaf It may seem very important to you now, but when you actually receive a perfect score, you realize how little it actually means. Just aim for a 2200+ and do other things that interest you. Most colleges would take someone with a 2250 and extracurriculars to a 2400 with nothing else.
I apologize. I was mistaken when I said the vast majority of U.S. colleges say they will not accept the old SAT scores. It was a combination of old data (Yale, for example, changed their mind) and misremembered data. Thanks for pointing my error out to me, CHD2013.
It appears that most top schools have stated that they intend to accept the old scores; about a third of top schools have not yet made a final decision.
I’m glad, and perhaps not surprised that most schools are either accepting the old SAT or holding off of their decisions. I anticipate some level of chaos and delays by the College Board. They were late with practice tests for the new SAT, they are going to be late with PSAT scores, and we know they’ll be late with their March scores.
What I wonder is when will the various “top college” list makers start to use the new SAT scores to calculate their rankings. When that happens, schools will start to seriously favor the new SAT.
Update: guys I got a 2310 on December’s SAT!!! My first SAT I believe I can get a 2400 in January…thanks so much for your help guys. I know its not really necessary but I just want to get it for funs now. n.n @NotBadNotGood@CHD2013
I believe I can get a 2400 in January…thanks so much for your help guys. I know its not really necessary but I just want to get it for funs now. n.n