Hello
I will be a junior in a couple of weeks and will be taking the new SAT in March. I took the new PSAT my sophomore year and scored 990. I know it’s very very low. I scored 580 in reading and writing and 410 in math. I want to improve my score by at least 500 points. I know this is very difficult but I really need to improve it. Is it possible to improve in such a short amount of time and what programs, books and studying habits do you recommend.
Hi,
I got a 1580 on the SAT, and prepped by buying one Princeton review book, and using the khanacademy online tools.
I think that Kaplan or Baron would be comparable to the PR book. My advice to you would be to write a lot of tests online, and repeat them over and over if you run out of questions.(I’m assuming you are clear with the concepts that are tested). Just get a really good feel for the test, so you feel like you’re in familiar territory during testing day.
Thank you. I have a Kaplan SAT premier 2016 book that I got from my mom earlier today so I’m glad that it was on the list you gave me. Thank you again 
If your SAT is well below what would go with your GPA, you might consider the ACT, which has traditionally measured what you’ve learned vs aptitude. (Though now that the SAT is redesigned, I’m not sure how that will continue to hold). Plan on taking the SAT or ACT at least twice, as scores generally rise with test experience, and SAT scores at least are almost always superscored.
But if you are willing to use the guidebooks and really study, specifically by taking practice tests, you should see a rise. I bought one for my D17 and she rarely used it. We did pay for individual tutoring, expensive, but she raised her old SAT score (math and verbal) to new SAT score by 150 points. Probably could have had same results by self-study.
You have a lot of time till March and should improve score just by high school coursework. You can then take SAT again October of 2017, or ACT in September, of your senior year, as these scores will be sent out in time for RD and even ED applications.
If after preparation you continue to have SAT or ACT scores that are below matching your GPA, consider that there are tons of test-optional colleges. GPA is a better judge of college performance than tests and more school have long better test-optional or are moving toward it, including some very top liberal arts colleges.
Thank you and I have been considering the act and that sounds like a good path to take.
Yeah, give a couple of tests for both and see what you’re comfortable with,
500 point increase doesn’t seem very realistic, unless you had some extenuating circumstance, like you were sick on test day.
Do your best to improve, but be pragmatic and expand your list to include realistic schools.
@G0dzill2 I second PrimeMeridian about realistic schools. Public colleges in my state (NC) are very data driven, i.e., looking at GPA, SAT/ACT, class rank. This may be true in your state as well. But if your SAT/ACT lags your GPA (good student but not a great test taker) remember the test optional colleges.