<p>I just took the May SAT,
CR: 510
Math: 450
Writing: 490
-Essay: 8</p>
<p>I took it without any preperation and I never really thought about the SAT before. I would like to know if there are any books, study guides, anything that can increase my score? (Especially in Math). I am really committed to getting 1900-2000 and I'm going to self study over the summer. I just ordered the BB and if anyone can offer any information to help me reach my goal that would be great. Thank you. </p>
<p>Of course you can! It was your first time taking the test, so now you know how it is. Scores generally get better the second time you take the test. </p>
<p>I used the Official SAT Study Guide by CollegeBoard, it’s made by the people who make the SAT so that was good. My friends seem to like the PWN the SAT series, so maybe you could take a look at that and see if that may help? If by BB you mean the SAT Prep Black Book, I’ve heard great things about it! I believe it’ll be helpful. </p>
<p>Just a recommendation, in general, if you do any practice tests from practice books, make sure you time yourself. I never practiced for the essay and found the time constraint to be a HUGE issue (for me, personally) when I took the SAT. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you! By BB I meant Blue Book, sorry about that haha. Thank you again for the info I’ll definitely use it!</p>
<p>Yes, but only if you take it seriously, rethink your old strategies, and work hard to devise your particular method of breaking the test. I went from 1790 to 2400 and all it took was some prep and thinking from the perspective of the test-makers.</p>
<p>Wow! Congrats on the perfect score, do you recommend any specific books or strategies that I can use? </p>
<p>I would try to get my hands on as many official released tests/practice tests as possible. Maybe get one short book and look at the strategies they give you for each section- after one diagnostic practice test.</p>
<p>Then when you go and take each next practice test (I took 15), go back and grade it yourself. Keep track of every question you missed and go back to the study book you used- find out which strategy you could’ve used to get the right answer for each question, and keep track of what strategies you’re good/bad at.</p>
<p>I think the main problem with people scoring below expectations is that they don’t know what mistakes they’re making. My strategy was to be as aware of how I handled the test as I could be; over time, you begin to understand how the questions were designed and what sort of people they were made to throw off.</p>
<p>Edit: And don’t time yourself for the first few tests. Initially, the focus shouldn’t be on “finishing in time” but on doing things right and figuring out your strategy. Once you’re confident you can approach each question, you can start timing yourself. Until then, it’ll just make you miss/skip questions and never really get you to invest the amount of time you should into making sure you’re handling each question perfectly.</p>
<p>550 point increase is miraculous. Literally. Aim for that, but don’t be disappointed if you don’t get it.</p>
<p>How long do you have?</p>
<p>@mrnephew I have until October or November, not sure when future test dates will be</p>
<p>Hmm, it’s doable. Reading is very hard to improve, but both math and writing is mostly review, so it should go faster, especially writing. I raised my writing grade from 550 to 750 over the course of a few months by studying lots of grammar rules and reading some example essays that earned high scores.</p>
<p>Thank you, so essentially I should just focus on improving my math and writing scores as much as possible, as they are the easiest to improve, and just count on getting around 500ish as that’s the best it will probably get?</p>
<p>I mean, of course everyone’s different, but the reading scores in CR are indeed very hard to improve. Take a look at your CR score breakdown and see if you missed questions on the vocabulary section or the actual analysis. If it’s analysis, definitely focus more on math and writing, if it’s vocab, that can be improved.</p>
<p>If you get 700’s in math and writing, and a 500 in reading, that’s still a 1900. I’d do that, if I were you.</p>
<p>I think I’ll just do that. I’m confident I can get a better score with a little studying as reading is slightly easier for me. I’ll just have to hammer math and writing over the next 4-5 months. Thank you for your insight it’ll help me a lot!</p>
<p>Glad to help. I found that Dr. John Chung’s SAT Math is good for a thorough math cover-review, although the practice tests are harder than what the actual test is.</p>
<p>For maths, Grubber all the way. Other sections, stick to the blue book, and TAKE LOTS OF PRACTICE TEST. PRACTICE…PRACTICE…did I say… PRACTICE!!!
Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>I’ve never done that one. And yes, practice is definitely the most important.</p>
<p>My sophomore PSAT score: 143
My junior PSAT score: 159
March 2014 (junior): 1610 (480/570/560)
May 2014 (junior): 1780 (559/610/620)</p>
<p>My score rose 170 points in two months; I was shocked. You can do anything if you commit yourself to it! :)</p>
<p>my score went up by 790 points so yes it is possible. Funny enough, my reading went from the middle 400s to a 770 which was my best improvement. Its all about practice.</p>
<p>improving critical reading is easier than what you think if you know what strategy work to you. i know the easiest way to improve your CR. let me tell you if you want . i improved from 500 to 750. First Question with line then passage !!! its very important keep in mind that. you will shock when you see your improvment</p>
<p>My score increased 440 points from the psat to my second SAT (180->2240) without studying at all, so I’m sure you could do it if you study. Good Luck!</p>