I got a 1240 on my SAT. My goal is a 1480. This means I have to increase my score by 240 points before June 1 which is when I’m taking the next exam. What should I do? How can I best prepare?
I was extremely anxious when I took the exam. Insignificant studying was definitely my downfall but considering I was bordering a panic attack it could have influenced. I also have difficulty finishing on time. I’m my school’s valedictorian so it’s fair to say this killed my self-confidence. How should I proceed?
Try the ACT. Take a break from the SAT and retry in August. Gives you more time to prep, and you will be away from other kids in school so you won’t have to think about what they think. And what they think shouldn’t matter anyway. And why do they need to know your score?
You do not HAVE to increase your score by 240 points. That’s an unrealistic expectation and you are placing a huge burden on yourself. I’m a test prep tutor, and a 200 point increase is rare enough. You might be able to do it, but don’t insist that you must. That’s a good way to ensure you will be super stressed out. Your best score is going to be your best score. Relax.
I’m an SAT tutor and I agree with @Lindagaf. At this point you should be focusing on your junior year grades, AP tests (if you’re taking any), and extracurriculars. I wouldn’t recommend taking the SAT in June – or let me be more clear – I wouldn’t recommend you doing any significant studying for the SAT in June. If you want to take it without spending much additional prep time, just to get more used to the SAT test environment, that might not be a bad idea. It might help reduce stress when you take the SAT again in August (unless you decide to shift to the ACT). If and when you are ready to prep for the SAT (I recommend the summer), I strongly recommend that you use the Official SAT Study Guide practice tests. Don’t use the ones at Khan Academy or online. That’s not a realistic experience. Use the Official SAT Study guide ($20 on Amazon), and time yourself strictly, treating each practice test (or test section) as much like the actual test as possible (bubbling with a No.2 pencil, etc). If you do that enough, you will not only become more familiar with the material, but you will have a very good understanding of what to expect with each section, which should really help to reduce your anxiety level. When you’re ready to dig in and study, feel free to message me for some advice or search for some other posts of mine where I go into more detail on how best to prep.