<p>At the start of 8th grade, I took the official SAT and got an 1830 (CR:630, M:650, W:550). </p>
<p>I'm now a rising junior. I took a practice SAT at the Princeton Review office and I just got my score report back -- 1930 (CR:600, M:700, W:630). </p>
<p>I can't believe at all how I only improved by 100 points(!!) in basically two and a half years. I fell in CR by 30 points, too! And my math score doesn't reflect my interest in math at all :( </p>
<p>I really wasn't prepared for this at all, though, due to my PSAT scores. On my PSAT freshman year, I got a 204, and as a sophomore, I got a 216 (CR:68, M:76, W:72). </p>
<p>I didn't study for this practice SAT at all, but I still know that I really messed up and this is frustrating. Was this just a case of not having taken a single SAT (even a practice test) since 8th grade? Where do I go from here? Tutor?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance,
Very worried rising junior.</p>
<p>Before you go into full panic mode, you may want to sit down and take a real college-board timed practice test and see how you score. That will give you a truer read than the PR test (which is, after all, a marketing tool). Then read the stickies about how to self-study and get to work.</p>
<p>Well, as I heard many times in high school, the SAT’s topics are only at an 8th grade level, the difficulty lies in learning how to take the test correctly, which means practice. It really isn’t surprising that your score hasn’t gone up that much since middle school if you haven’t practiced. Take a class if you have the money for it, I had a tutor and from what I remember, it wasn’t very helpful (but I learn better by myself, so maybe you’re different).</p>
<p>From my experience I can tell you that the key to have a good SAT score is a long period of studying and preparing, and because you were not studying in the period between your first and second test it is not a problem if your score didn’t get better, if I were you I would start studying instead of worrying.
Best of luck.</p>
<p>If you didn’t prepare for the test at all, then you’re bound to get such a score that reflects it. You should definitely buy a prep book, and take some practice tests. Math is usually easy to improve because it has lots of simple questions but there are sneaky tricks that come along with them. As long as your aware of the tricks, you should be fine. As for reading, study vocab and for writing, look at grammar rules.
Tutors are expensive but if you feel like you don’t have enough time or just can’t study on your own, I’d recommend getting one. They are experienced with the process and can give you lots of tips.</p>
<p>Sorry for the bad news but that’s why taking the test in the 8th grade is meaningless and should be avoided. The junior year PSAT will be the best gauge to judge your SAT ability. Hopefully you will do well 222+ and all will be right in the universe once again.</p>
<p>My recommendation would be to take as many CollegeBoard practice tests as you can. Use the Official SAT Study Guide (DVD version) for 11 tests, the Official SAT Online Course that has an additional 10 I think, and all the released practice tests since 2005 (one per year). After you take a practice test, come back the next day and use the BookOwners Area on CollegeBoard’s website to see their explanations for the questions you got wrong. You need to internalize these explanations so that you fully understand how the CollegeBoard thinks. That way, you’ll be ready for anything they throw at your. Also for vocab, get Essential 500. It has been getting a lot of “hits” on the more recent SAT, more than any other list from what I’ve heard. Also, for a grammar reference, I would use SilverTurtle’s guide and the Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar. That should be all you need.</p>
<p>Well I took an actual official SAT released exam at this different test prep center this morning, and I received a 2240 (M: 790, W: 790, CR:660). Princeton Review is definitely a huge scam. I’m feeling a lot more confident now. Hopefully I can raise my CR score by the time I take the SAT in November. Anyone got any tips though?</p>
<p>Keep taking practice tests. You’ll be more comfortable with the material, and more confident come test day. When you’re confident, you won’t second guess your answers so much, you’ll pace yourself better, and overall end up with a better score. That’s how it worked out for me anyways.</p>
<p>you MUST must practice more. the SAT is a test where you can only beat the system if a) you’re just naturally good at this crap and you’re not fully human, or b) you practice and study your a** off. I’m the latter. Just keep taking the tests, I know it’s the worst thing to do, but you will improve! And you’re a rising junior! You’re ahead of the pack…most people only start junior year.</p>