<p>Math hasn't always been my strongest area, even though I am in Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, and Calculus-based Physics this semester. I haven't actually taken the SAT yet, but I have to in a week (exactly, I think). From untimed tests, I'm scoring in the 690-750 range. On this recent practice test I just completed, I got a 540. I omitted a lot on my timed one because I honestly have no clue how to answer those questions (the practice test I just got through). </p>
<p>My weakest areas stem from making equations, combinations, sequences, and some geometry problems. And the hard ones (5) I have a lot of trouble with most of the time. Sometimes it's easier to see solutions to hard ones than others, but I'm generally in the category of "I don't even know how to approach" the problems mostly to the ones I can't do. The ones I can do I get right, so I don't make any incorrect answer choices. I haven't studied anything for this test. </p>
<p>My CR score seems to be consistent somewhat. 650-720 range. I answer all the questions and make wrong choices. On some sections, I'm spot on with my vocabulary. Others, I have no clue what they mean. 4-5+ questions, which pretty much put me out of the 700 range sometimes. I haven't studied anything for this.</p>
<p>For math, when you review the wrong answers you put down, don’t just glance at the solution. After reviewing the solution, try to solve other similar problems and see if you have improved. This will just require practice.</p>
<p>For CR, I didn’t memorize a ton of vocab. I learned the vocabulary from the Official SAT Study Guide (Blue Book) and learned strategies for deriving the correct vocabulary word. For example, I would see if the definition of the word is in the sentence, if two parts of the sentence require contrasting words, etc. People seem to like to use Direct Hits on CC, but if you don’t have enough time I would just stick to practicing with the Blue Book. For the Reading Comprehension part of the CR, I played devil’s advocate. I eliminated answers and when I was stuck between two reasonable choices, I had to ask myself why one answer was clearly wrong. I also underlined lines in the passage when the questions listed them. For this section, the best piece of advice I can give is to keep your personal biases and prejudices out of the test. Just follow exactly what the author writes. Even if you disagree with his/her viewpoint, use only that information to answer the questions. I also recommend predicting an answer using the passage before looking at the answer choices as the answer choices tended to trick me into selecting the wrong answer. This helped me improve from a 60 CR on the 2009 PSAT as a sophomore to an 800 CR on the 2010 Oct. 9 SAT. Good luck!</p>