CC Noob: Daily SAT Journal to 2400

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Well I'm new to CC as stated here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-confidential-cafe/1269077-new-cc.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-confidential-cafe/1269077-new-cc.html&lt;/a> and have the goal to get a 2400 on the March 10 SAT. This will be the third time I'll be taking it: once in seventh grade, and once in eighth grade.</p>

<p>In this thread, I'm going to keep track of progress daily. From preparation such as making flashcards, to intense practice test sessions, I'll be keeping track of it all. Advice is definitely completely welcome! Even the most shameful parts of my preparation will be recorded at this rate, so I guess I shouldn't be too bashful.</p>

<p>I don't know what kind of material is good for testing. I'm afraid that I'm going to run out of testing material. I have about eight more real SATs remaining and don't want to get the online tests by the CollegeBoard and have gone through seven of the blue book tests, but want to save the rest for my finale. </p>

<p>Also, if anyone is interested in prepping with me or keeping each other on track, please PM me!</p>

<p>Journal Entry 01-02-2012</p>

<p>Well it's the new year and there's less than seventy days to study for this momentous test. I still need to get in over an hour a day of studying and can't get distracted too easily. Goals are goals for reasons: they involve such strong fortitude, such lasting perseverance, and such splendid rewards. Although critical reading keeps kicking me down, :( I will try harder and smarter in my studies to learn the mysteriously arcane ways of the SAT masters. I know that my PSAT score was terribly shameful. I know that my parents will never stop bothering me about it. I know that I will never live up to my peers with that score. The only thing that I do know is that the PSAT was the past, and that the SAT is the future. What I do now to prepare for it is the present.</p>

<hr>

<p>Previous (since I haven't been on CC)
Estimated time spent so far: 500 minutes
Minimum Time Left: 5500 minutes


12/14, 19, 29: McGraw Hill SAT 2011 Diagnostic Test (split over three days for different sections)

M: 800 W: 790 CR: 650 (Cumulative: 2240)
Analysis:

[Math] I made a simple mistake, I need to be more careful. [Critical Reading] I missed four due to vocab and eight due to comprehension. Time to simplify things and study from RRR. [Writing] I missed three (must've been an extremely leniently graded section). "prefer to" is an idiomatic expression. Also I'm having a past participle issue.

``` 12/30: Princeton Review 11 Practice Tests 2012 Test 1 ``` M: 790 W: 710 (essay not included) CR: 600 (Cumulative: 2100) Analysis:

[Math] Spend time wisely and plug in numbers to double check. [Critical Reading] I missed seven due to vocab and eleven due to content. I really need to study up on vocab and critical reading. [Writing] Missed four this time. I need to watch parallel structure a bit more, singular vs. plural of specific pronouns, and a past participle issue again. I feel like my essay was well written, but can't really grade that :P.


12/30,12/31,1/1 Vocabulary and prep book reading

[Critical Reading] Started reading RRR. Vocab: making lots of flashcards and reading DH.
[Writing] Read through most of Grammatix.</p>

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<p>I’ll definitely be keeping up with your diary! Good luck on your March SAT :). What grade are you in currently :)? </p>

<p>And you cannot be a new user here on CC :)! You already know all the forum code. Who are you, exactly :D? </p>

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</p>

<p>Those are nice curves. A simple mistake on math translates to approximately a 770 on the real SAT. There is no way that McGraw Hill’s math problems are hard enough to warrant such an easy curve - I’ve been through most of the book. The curve on the writing section is equally ridiculous …</p>

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<p>You have some great scores :). However, I suggest that you work only with CB released tests especially for CR. The tests are too different. None of the third party books accurately emulate the CR passages/questions.</p>

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<p>

Hey IceQube, just want to say thanks for giving me the idea to do one of these 2400 threads. I’ve been following yours for a short while now :). I’m a junior right now, and I’m legitimately someone new to CC o_o, I’m just used to code :).</p>

<p>Thanks for the candid feedback :P. I guess it just means more work and more reason to push past the barriers :).</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>**
The only problem: I’m running out of tests to take :O… I don’t know what to do!**</p>

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<p>Exactly. There is no such thing as running out of tests, especially when you consider the fact that there is the Blue Book, dozens of QASs from recent years, and the fact that the College Board has released 40 some “old” SATs (as in pre-2005 SATs) - plenty of CR practice right there.</p>

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<p>I’ve already done 7 of the 10 blue book test, have 5 real PSATs that I haven’t taken, and six real ones from the online course. I also have a few random ones. That’s only 11 or so practice test CR… and I need to save a few tests for the end. I’m still clueless on what to do.</p>

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<p>By the time you finish all your official materials, you should have a pretty good CR score. Otherwise, try looking into the “Red books” / “10 Real SATs” for CR practice.</p>

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<p>I think you have a good number of tests. The key in improving CR score is not the “doing” but rather the “reviewing”. I personally like to review my mistakes as well as my correct answers during the weekdays, and take a test on a Saturday (if this were during school days).</p>

<p>A good rule of thumb is to review until you are sure you can achieve a 800 on CR after one week of forgetting about the test.</p>

<p>Side note: As IceQube has said, it’s amazing that you already know all the forum codes. It took me a while to figure those out :D</p>

9

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<p>I like that idea :P. Thanks! When I retake a certain test after a week, should I take all the parts, or just CR?</p>

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<p>It depends on which sections you suffer most from. I’m not going to say you should retake a Math section if you already have a solid 800 (that would be an utter waste of time and inefficient time use). Math and writing sections are simply concepts and knowing how to utilize those concepts to fit your needs. For example, if you are solid in your algebraic/geometric foundations that you can confidently recall the concepts to utilize them, you can’t get a low score. With that said, CR section seems to benefit most from constant reviewing.</p>

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<p>Excuse me IceQube, but where exactly does one find the 40 old SAT’s? I know some can be found in the 10RS book, but where are the others?</p>

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<p>Journal Entry 01-03-2012</p>

<p>Dearest journal of all, I’ve been slacking a lot lately and have been quite depressed over what has been going on, so I decided to exercise today. After sneaking past parents and siblings, I was able to get outside for a nice winter run in the snow. Nonetheless, school resumes tomorrow which will impede my progress, or so school thought.</p>

<p>Sure. It’s a stressful time in my life with everything else going on, but in the end, I know I can succeed! I know that Math is all about being careful, Writing is all about just memorizing and getting used to writing, and Critical Reading is all about being cautious and in most cases reading at a very superficially shallow level. Nonetheless, I will probably begin applying to summer programs and begin writing lots of essays tomorrow. Good night!</p>

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1/2,1/3 Vocabulary and Slacking off :/

Had a vocab back-and-forth with siblings!</p>

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<p>Was the McGraw Hill online and free? And how would you compare the SAT test from McGraw to those on the BB? I just need something that can give me a definite score and not something that’s like 690-730 cuz then I’d have to guesstimate everything.</p>

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<p>^It can’t give you a definite score because the conversion from raw points differs depending on the curve of that given test.</p>

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<p>Journal Entry 01-04-2012</p>

<p>Dear journal,</p>

<p>Today was a long day and I have an essay due soon. Hopefully that will help me practice my writing skills more even though I get inundated by schoolwork daily. Today my friend lent me an awesome writing section resource and I’m confident I can get through writing. He got an 800 in both CR and W so I know that I can pull through!</p>

<p>Reading is going to be hell. It’s going to be the hardest part to master. I figured that I’d probably have to learn 3000 good vocab words to feel safe for that part. Unfortunately, that leaves sentence completions which don’t have that many resources available. Oh well, every day is a new day. There’s a chance to do well tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and every other day after that. Immer, as the Germans would say. That’s all for today!</p>

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1/4 Writing Section is going down!

Resources finalized.</p>

<p>Read my essay!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/1270408-anyone-care-grade-give-feedback-ill-do-same.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/1270408-anyone-care-grade-give-feedback-ill-do-same.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>What is this writing resource he gave you? Did he give you anything for Critical Reading? CR is my middle score but I still want to improve it by about 50-75 points</p>