<p>I'm signed up for the Jan 22nd test. I'm currently scoring a 1420 or so but I desperately need some advice on how to break 1500. I want to apply to one of those direct med programs and i know for a fact that 1400s won't cut it. Any advice in terms of books and stuff? I just got the SAT 1600 book by kaplan a few days ago and i started reading the critical reading part. BTW, I usually get screwed on the narrative type critical reading and those really boring passages about art and music.</p>
<p>the diff. btwn a 1400-1500 is all a matter of a few points. once you reach the 1400+ benchmark it really doesnt matter anymore for colleges. it only opens the door, everything else will lead you into the room of acceptance.</p>
<p>btw their tends to be a high correlation between high scorers and high performing individuals. but, as with all statistics there are those who are smart, but don't perform well on standardized tests. like i said SATs are losing importance in adcoms esp. in top universities. acceptances are now based on more subjective lesser factors that aren't as discernable or numerically driven such as the SATs.</p>
<p>when i visited Yale they said "a 1600 by itself will not get you in"</p>
<p>I think that the main problem in reaching the 1500 plateau is making stupid mistakes. In order to eliminate stupid errors in the math section, you should write the work down for every problem and also double check ANY problem of which you are unsure. In the verbal section, when doing sc's, read the sentence once, choose the answer, and then read the sentence again with the answer in it. For analogies, use the most precise bridge possible because they frequently have multiple choices that could fit the analogy if a more general bridge is used. For CR, all you need to do is evaluate the questions based upon the evidence given. After reading each question, go to the passage and find a portion which definitively makes one of the answers correct. Do not draw conclusions from anything other than what is directly stated in the passage and questions and you will be fine.</p>
<p>I only got a 1470, but had I been more careful and adhered more closely to that system I probably would have scored in the high 1500's.</p>
<p>honestly who cares if you didn't get a 1500 vs. a 1470. i know people who are extremely intelligent folks who get mid 1400s. they dont study for the exam they just took it. if you spend all your time trying to break the 1500 plauteau you are taking time away from pursuing more important activities, pursuits, academic interests, and extracurriculars that carry more weight and signficance that a mere 100+ on the SAT.</p>
<p>get a life and move on folks.</p>
<p>two of my closest friends got into harvard EA. one with a 1470 the other a 1550. both didn't give a damn about the SAT, focused on school, and actively pursued their ECs.</p>
<p>go ahead spend all the time in the world on the SATs. wont make a diff if your fundamentally weak in other areas.</p>
<p>Just because this person cares about getting a 1500 on the Sat doesn't mean that have are some weird nerd with Sat tunnel-vision. I didn't spend countless hours slaving over practice tests either, but I did however find some methods that are useful in eliminating stupid mistakes and thought that these would be helpful.</p>
<p>thats different thedude. i am refering to ppl who spend thousands in intense courses and the such and spend days and weeks studying. its like come on and get a life.</p>
<p>"once you reach the 1400+ benchmark it really doesnt matter anymore"</p>
<p>Well, I disagree with that. If you're applying for one of the combined med courses then you need to have some SUPER high-stats. You need at least a 1500 or there abouts to make a big impression.</p>
<p>Okytdy, I think it really depends on what you want to study, where you're applying, and your academic strengths. For instance, I have a 1420 (800v 620m), and i'm applying to strictly LACs. Although i'm not particularly proud of this 620, it does reflect my academic interests and strengths (i am good at humanities, decent at science, and weak at math), and it follows the typical LAC trend of having a higher verbal score. I dunno, maybe i'm making a stretch, but i'm trying to think positively! If you're into math/engineering and all that, then your score is great! Then again, you are probably applying to higher lvl schools than I am, so it might be more significant in your case, I don't know. Regardless, a 1400 is a good score.</p>
<p>Edit: Oh wait, i just reread your post. Did you end up getting 1500+? If so, congrats :).</p>
<p>It's really just 2-4 raw points that separate a 1500+ score from a high 1400. When put into that perspective, it's really quite ridiculous how much weight (or perceived weight) is put on high SAT scores, because the margin of difference is so narrow yet so seemingly wide on the surface.</p>
<p>^ Especially after they have been dumbing down the SAT for the past 10 years. Soon, the SAT won't be able to differentiate intelligence at all...</p>