<p>Hey guys I am a junior and I have just taken the Oct. SAT and received a 720 CR, 680 M, 680 W (10 Essay). Honestly, I knew I could do better especially after I saw my score breakdown (stress was a big factor). I want to reprep the SAT through selfstudy and already have SAT Princeton Review, and the College Board blue book. I really am willing to work my a$$ off for that high score. Any book suggestions, even for the subjects? I've heard Kaplan's Math specific book is pretty good...
Thanks</p>
<p>P.S. I'm retaking for the January date. Right after December date SAT II Chem.</p>
<p>I have literally bought almost every book out there for the SAT. My first suggestion, don't do Kaplan, now this is just my prejudice, but you're safer not to. If you really, really want that score, (I'm guessing 2300+) then for math, although you have a high score, and maybe practice could get you an 800, to ensure yourself, try Gruber's SAT prep. Just for the math. For writing, usually anything works, there are all the basic grammar principles, but what I found great was Rocket Review. RR is also good for CR. Now, Math and writing you will find to be easy to improve, usually, but critical reading is that subject that no book can get you an 800 on. I agree no book will guarantee you an 800 for any section, but out of three subjects this is true especially for CR. So you are a junior and you have a lot of time, like maybe 6 months, if you take a spring/summer test date, just take the time to read. Yes I said read. Read everything. I suggest Victorian literature, good magazines like New Yorker, Scientific America, Harper's. This is important: don't just read, actively read. Read for purpose, read for style, read for organization} read actively. An analogy I like to use between reading regularly and reading actively is th same as hearing and listening. Internalize information, author's thought, purpose. Now if you train like this, reading regularly for 6 months you will not only greatly enhance your comprehension skills but also your vocabulary. Write down words you don't know, know them etc. All this combined thoughtful practice will get you up there. Thoughtful practice meaning you understand why you got what you got wrong, wrong, and you understand why CB thinks the right answer should the the right answer. Before long you will develop that sense, like getting inside the test takers minds. If you need any resources, PM me.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks akahmed for the advice. Any others?</p>
<p>Good advice akahmed!</p>
<p>That is INCREDIBLE advice from akahmed. Especially on how to prepare for the CR section.</p>
<p>Any more guys? Adviced needed and welcome!</p>
<p>This was my advice from another thread a while ago if it helps anyone for CR</p>
<p>Writing is simple: study the grammar, practice alot of questions until they are second nature, take the test, leave with an 800.
Seriously, study grammar, and answer the Q's, study proper sentence structure and paragraph organization. Essay is another story.</p>
<p>What I did for CR, I made my own approach, unique to me and my needs. In fact you could say the approach defines who I am as a reader. Find what works for you and stick with it. And I am not talking about generic approaches like reading the questions first or last, I mean the procedure you use to attack the questions. The answer is going to be on that page in front of you, staring you in the face. All you have to do is recognize it, that's all, recognize it. Everyone can read (almost), but not everyone can read actively. Reading actively is like the difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is just accepting sound, but listening is internalizing. Similarly, reading can just be saying words to yourself in your head. Reading actively is like getting inside the author's mind, asking yourself why he or she did this or that, constantly gleaning meaning from the sentences, squeezing every last drop of information and inference from those passages! Be the author, just be the author.</p>
<p>OK, if that doesn't appeal to you, just make your own approach, that's time efficient with your reading skills, and that can get you to the answer quicker.
Also, approach the answer choices with an eliminating attitude. You are the judge, you just read what the author has to say, now you are there to cross out any answer choices that do not reflect the author's point, are irrelevant, are distorted, are false, or that are not completely right. You will be left with a few answer choices and pick the one that best describes (in context) what the author is trying to tell you, what his purpose was for writing that piece, what he wants you to take away from his literature or prose.</p>
<p>Good luck!
BTW, this is just what I do, I accept all criticism</p>
<p>"This is important: don't just read, actively read. Read for purpose, read for style, read for organization} read actively. An analogy I like to use between reading regularly and reading actively is th same as hearing and listening." </p>
<p>Excellent analogy, Akahmed!</p>
<p>I agree with everyone else on this thread that Akahmed pretty much nailed it.</p>
<p>... anybody else?</p>
<p>lol, stockguru.. your not getting many other replies because akahmed pretty much said the best advice you can get. I wish I knew this before...haha senior year (especially the Kaplan advice. meh).</p>
<p>Btw, I found Grammatix helpful for CR, its general message, but as akahmed, the best advice you can get is to read read read.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Yeah haha it just hit me Celita. Thanks akamed!</p>