<p>I’ve posted a few other times but I haven’t really gotten all my questions answered. Please if someone could answer all my questions.</p>
<p>I currently use the Barron’s 2009 SAT book to review and practice for the SAT I will take in Oct. of 2010. I also use Hot Words for the SAT to expand my vocabulary. The book contains several lessons, each lesson has about 9 SAT words. I personally like it, I seem to come across some of the words in the Barron’s book as well.</p>
<p>My questions:
I’ve been told to stop using the Barron’s book and instead, use the Official SAT Study Guide. Should I just go ahead and use both books?</p>
<li><p>When should I start using the practice tests and timing myself? Should I do this once I’ve finished reviewing all the sections of the book?</p></li>
<li><p>A lot of people tell my I’m wasting my time with Hot Words for the SAT, are they right? I doubt it. (Should I even waste my time with vocabulary?)</p></li>
<li><p>I’ve heard a lot about this Grammatix Guide book, should I get it? What is it?</p></li>
<li><p>Lastly, I’ve been studying/reviewing at a very steady and gradual pace. I try not to force myself most of the time. Is this the right approach?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks, I know it’s a lot of questions but I’d really appreciate it if you guys can answer all of them</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You can use Barron’s for strategies if you find them helpful, but only use practice tests from the official guide.</p></li>
<li><p>For most people, practice tests are more important than reviewing, so lean towards more practice tests and less review, unless you don’t know a lot of math/writing concepts.</p></li>
<li><p>Personally, I find memorizing vocab helpful. Some disagree. If it helps you, go for it.</p></li>
<li><p>I don’t know much about it, but it’s highly recommended if you need writing help.</p></li>
<li><p>Probably, unless your test date is coming up soon and you’re behind.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Do the practice tests in the Barron<code>s book without timing,just do all the all problems (especially math) ,and after that see the answer explanation.Explanations are just perfect,you will understand everything.
After you do this,take some practice tests from the BB with timing.BB tests will be easier to you and after you know all the types of questions and how to tackle them,it would be really easy to you.I got 1800 on the Jan test,after doing only BB test.Last week ,i did all the math problems from the Barron</code>s book ,read the detailed explanations,and today i did the math section from test #1 from the Official Online Course (with time) .Guess what - i got 610 on the Jan test ,but 700 today (improvement of 90 points in 1 month)
I will do all the math problems from Gruber<code>s and Princeton Review and then i will continue with the official tests.I am hoping to get a 760 at least in May.
I think i will tackle CR and WR using the same strategies.
BB tests are perfect to do just before the test ,after you are completely prepared and after you did all kind of problems.BB tests will let you know what result you should exect.These tests are not designed to ‘‘kearn you’’ ,they even dont have answer explanations in the BB .This is why you shouldnt dо BB practice tests first.
And while doing problems from the practice tests of Barron</code>s,Gruber`s , or from any other NON CB source,dont set any timing,just do the problems,because the difficulty is not the same and it is kind of point less to practice with time.</p>
<p>Since I’ll be using both the Barron’s SAT and Official SAT study guide books, should i use them correspondingly? Lets say I’m on the critical reading section of Barron’s, once I’m done doing that section and all the extra things I need to do in Barron’s with that section, should I then switch over to the BB and do the critical reading section in that also or should I just finish each book separately?</p>
<p>Eh…you have over 1.5 years until you’re planning to take the SAT. I wouldn’t touch the blue book yet because you don’t want to exhaust your best practice tests 1.5 years before you take the actual test. Try to save almost all your practice tests until 6 months before the test or closer. I would save the BB practice tests until around ~3 months before the test. For now, you should concentrate on reviewing strategies, building your vocab and skills, and doing practice problems. Don’t waste the actual tests.</p>
<p>Vocab is useful, by the way, and not only for sentence completions. It’s essential for sentence completions but it’s also useful for some of the passage based reading. You’d be surprised how much extra comprehension you gain from being able to identify some of those advanced words they throw into some of the passages.</p>
<p>Latency is right,
Do all the Practice tests problems from the Barron<code>s book.UNderstand everything.Then buy the Gruber</code>s prep book.It is very similar to the Barron<code>s one.Do everything.Then get the Barron</code>s 2400 prep book.Do everything.YOu should be able to finish these 3 books in 6 months (non-intensive studying).Have a rest.Maybe build some vocabulary.Then spend 3-4 weeks on reviewing everything you have done.Review tricky math or writing problems,difficult types of CR questions.Тhen,after you know everythin,3 months before the exam get the BB and do each practice tests under the test conditions.YOu should be ready.I would take the May or June 2010 test.Maybe you will be able finish the job earlier.
Good luck</p>