<p>I'm only a sophmore, and i was able to score a 2190 on my PSAT that didn't count for anything. I'd really like to score in the 2300+ range on the SAT, and I figure (and hope) that another year and a half of school will get me the knowledge to get at least 10 pts to get me into the 2200 range. What I am asking about is the easiest way to improve 100 points, getting me into the much coveted 2300 land. Is it constant studying of books/internet resources? Or should I take a class? Both? This summer I will have a fair amount of free time. Should I do as much as practice an hour a day? </p>
<p>*I'd like to add that writing is my strong suit, and the fact that the SAT contains an essay section that the PSAT will probably only helop my score.</p>
<p>high scoring kids don't traditionally do not benefit well from classes. usually by that point, taking timed practice tests is the best way to go, as long as mistakes are properly corrected/understood. if there are a few problem areas, a private tutor would be the way to go....much less time wasted. a little caveat however...some people do considerably worse on the psat than the sat if they rest on their laurels. keep at it, the earlier you begin studying the better.</p>
<p>sugar. hard candy. sleep. I think temperature is also a factor. Basically, enter the test with a completely blank mind. Don't even treat it like a test. Treat it like a task that you have scheduled for Saturday morning. Have a sense of humor. Don't study the night/day before. Be casual, relaxed. Ya, that's how you make a good score a better score.</p>
<p>And don't drink beer; You see, I thought that boozin it up would help calm me down, help me slow down a bit so that I can analyze things a bit better, but what ended up happening was, well, I don't really remember. All I do know is that I'm being charged for sexual harassment. Go figure.</p>
<p>Unforunately, most schools don't look at the writing section, so while being a strong writer will help get you towards 2300, most schools will still only consider your score out of 1600. In case you are unfamiliar with how that works, they simply remove the writing score from your 2400 score (as opposed to setting up a proportion). So, my March score was a 2080/ 2400, but I got an 800 on the writing, so colleges will see a 1280. </p>
<p>Practice hard during the summer, but don't burn yourself out. :) Also, don't take your PSATs lightly. Many schools don't emphasize the PSAT, but with a 219 you'll be a contender for semi-finalist in most states. If you begin practicing for the SAT now, you stand a chance of getting your PSAT score up high enough to make Finalist in October.</p>