<p>Hey guys, I've been lurking CC for awhile and reading the various guides and threads.</p>
<p>In terms of my own situation, I'm in the summer of my freshman year(about to enter sophomore year). I've been studying for the SAT for a month now, and took my second practice test, and got a 1850. This was the diagnostic from the barron's book. I've also bought the blue book and have full books from Barron's, McGraw Hill, and PR(at the library shelf), and been reading the Direct Hits books.</p>
<p>My dilemma is that I want to get the SAT over with before junior year, making this summer the main time to study. Originally, I was planning on taking the actual SAT early next year after winter break. This gives me 7-8 months to study. However, I realized that maybe waiting until junior year to take it(and thus waiting until next summer to start hardcore studying) might be a better route to take. I know that studying now for the SAT is beneficial for the PSAT anyway, but i know that i shouldn't use up the Blue Book tests and the other ones until I make certain of the time that I want to take the SAT. My question for you guys is should I continue to study for it, or should I wait a while to consider studying seriously? If I should still study for it, can you recommend a study plan?(books to read, how to divide up the practice tests,etc). I'd really like to know what the top-notch books for each section are. </p>
<p>Thanks ahead of time for any help, I truly appreciate it.</p>
<p>It’s actually best to to take it DURING Junior and Senior Year because scores are usually highest by that time.</p>
<p>should I still study the SAT books that I have and/or take the practice tests or should I wait?</p>
<p>the earlier you start prepping, the better, just don’t overkill the studying…try and do a little practice once and a while, get familiar with the test questions and by the time you become a junior, you’ll be set for a great score!</p>
<p>Ya, I would start prepping now but save your blue book tests for later. Try taking all of the Barron’s, mcgraw hill, Pr etc… practice tests because it does help your score. I started studying for it at the end of my sophomore year, and that summer just sucked. I eventually got to my goal of 2200 (started at around 1600) but I wish I would have started studying earlier to save myself all of those crappy days taking practice tests. Also, if you’re at 1850 in barron’s, you’re probably around a 2000 on the actual test and if you study hard, you’ll probably be in the 2200-2300 range by the time you take the real thing.</p>
<p>So do you guys recommend taking maybe 1 practice test a month until next summer? If i count up the number of practice tests, I have about 23. This would give me only 11 to work with over next summer. Are there anymore places to get practice tests or will the prep book makers come out with new practice tests?</p>
<p>If you are a rising sophomore, I think you are better off not studying for the SAT beyond addressing any weaknesses you have already identified by taking the practice tests (vocabulary, for example). Spend the summer reading books you don’t have to read, going to museums, helping out, working, developing the kind of interests that are going to be much more compelling than an extra fifty points on the SAT. Go ahead and take a test a month, if you want to, but SATs should not, IMO, be your primary focus. For every kid who wishes he had time to study more for the SAT, there are five who wish they had the time to develop ECs and passions and community ties. What you should not do is spend the summer on the computer or watching TV: stretch yourself. Learn something new. Read The Lord of the Rings (lots of good vocabulary in there!). If you must study, study a subject, not the SAT test: teach yourself medieval history, or the American Revolution, or physics.</p>