<p>Hi!
So i've been practicing for the ssat so i can apply to some schools next year, probably andover, choate, st. marks, and loomis chaffee, but my ssat scores, at least on the practice tests really stink. i keep getting stuff around 50th %ile, and i'm not missing that many question, but quite a few in vocab and math. i'm really stressed out, because i thought i would do alot better than this. i'm not sure i'm grading it right (i'm missing 5-10 in each section, omitting 1 or 2, and missing 15-25 in vocab) and i've gotten about 30-70th %iles. please give me some advice on how to improve my scores or what i'm doing wrong. i'm a straight A student at a decent private school. i don't know whats wrong. :(</p>
<p>1) Chill. :D
2) What book are you using?
3) Focus on the test. Clear your mind. Don't think of past performances.
4) Learn vocabulary. Try WordSmart by Princeton Review. Read. Read dictionaries. :p
5) Check as many times as possible, especially math, to minimize "stupid mistakes".
6) Practice. </p>
<p>That's all.</p>
<p>i'm using the standard ssat book, grading it with the princeton review chart, and i have princeton review and kaplans but i haven't used them. i would check my work better, but i have an issue with timing (i'm really slow, with only a minute or two left at the end) and i usually try to reason out math problems in a way that ends up being too complicated. i looked at those wordsmart books on amazon, but i didn't know which one to purchase. i'm on the verge of tears, the way i graded before, i thought i had 90th %iles, but now i realize i really stink. man, i'm feeling so stupid right now.</p>
<p>Use Princeton Review. It's very good [supposedly]. You should become faster with practice. Don't overanalyze math problems. Follow the path of least resistance. Try [url=<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Word-Smart-4th-Guides/dp/0375765751/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-9700251-4720646?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188856190&sr=8-1%5Dthis%5B/url">http://www.amazon.com/Word-Smart-4th-Guides/dp/0375765751/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-9700251-4720646?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188856190&sr=8-1]this[/url</a>].</p>
<p>Yeah, buy a book like 1000 Words you Need to Know (SSAT words are in here!), take practice tests (only one a day at most).</p>
<p>Try not to omit things and see how well you do. </p>
<p>My SSAT teacher told us this -- look at a word and determine if it is "good" or "bad" and then look at the answers and eliminate.</p>
<p>well, i think my big issue is confidence... i thought i'd do really well (at least above 80, probably above 90), but... now, i don't know. i thought i might have a chance at these schools, but now i'm nervous... can any amount of studying bring a 50% to a 90%? i do really well at my school, though it's small i'm probably one of the best students in my class, and in my district. i got a 21 on the act, also. :/</p>
<p>I'm going to elaborate on Tip #1 from ChaosTheory's advice to you.</p>
<p>Assume the %ile equivalents are off and that the matrix is dissing you. (I say this to you because you don't seem like you're the sort of person who's apt to interpret that as feeling smug...and that you don't need to continue to prepare.) But I would guess that if you believe there's a big disconnect, then there is one and that you're going to do better than the feedback you're getting. In short, remain focused but there's no need to get panicky.</p>
<p>I got my S a book of words you need to know that was actually quite funny and contained some irreverent explanations of words. He didn't spend much time preparing, but he did pull out that book the week before the test during a layover and two of the words he learned during that hour were on the test. So there's some degree of luck. That is, the more vocabulary you soak in, the luckier you're likely to be.</p>
<p>The greater part of your emotional energy about getting admitted should be invested in ensuring your recommendations will be wonderful (work hard and show your stuff in math and English!) and hoping you find a school that really fits the kind of person you are. There will be time aplenty for that AFTER the SSAT is out of the way. But if you must feel overwhelmed at all, figuring out the best "fit" is the place to do that. If you find a great "fit" and have great recs and are as bright as you say you are, then the SSAT -- even at the scores you're currently anticipating -- won't stand in the way of demonstrating to ANY boarding school that you've got the right academic stuff.</p>
<p>If you walk into the SSAT with that understanding then you'll get the score you'll need to go to the place you want to go.</p>