<p>Do SAT scores naturally rise with age/schooling? Does my 2040 without prep set in stone my natural academic ability?</p>
<p>Most likely, your score will increase with education (though there tends to be a peak at some point).</p>
<p>a 2040 without prep signals, i supoose, much room for imrpovement with beter test-taking techniques, strategies and recognizing the strucutre of questions and how to approach them systematically. I'd say if you "study" the SAT as a whole then you're in for a pretty good decent score (2200 upwards).</p>
<p>The SATs are different for everyone. I've found there are no general rules to SATs and students, but rather that evey individual responds uniquely to the test. For example, I know a kid who took the PSAT sophomore year and got a 170, and after one year of [not so intensive] prep got a 2240. Also, I know a kid who took the PSAT in sophomore year and got a 211, then after studying for a year got a max composite score (after 3 tests) of 2150.</p>
<p>The SAT is a wildcard.</p>
<p>I think stamina is also really important. Take lots of practice tests. I don't know about other people, but after 4 hours of taking that darned test, I almost can't stand to read any more of those stupid reading passages. But of course, education is very important. The acts of thinking, reading, writing, using your brain, will greatly improve your score, even if you don't "feel" any smarter.</p>
<p>I don't think scores rise with years of schooling or age. Really, after the first year of high school, you're pretty much set for the SAT, at least material-wise. Now, stamina comes with practice. That is something you have to do for yourself. No 40 to 50 minute test will help you increase your stamina.</p>
<p>I have no doubt about it. When I was in 8th grade, I got like a 1050 on my SAT [just two sections]. However, without studying, when I was a junior I got a 2340.</p>
<p>"Do SAT scores naturally rise with age/schooling? Does my 2040 without prep set in stone my natural academic ability?"</p>
<p>a) yes, up to a certain extent (senior year won't help you much with SAT scores)</p>
<p>b) no. 2040 isn't a score to celebrate about. It's certainly not bad, but I don't see any indication of natural ability there. 2300+ without prep and then perhaps.</p>
<p>" no. 2040 isn't a score to celebrate about. It's certainly not bad, but I don't see any indication of natural ability there. 2300+ without prep and then perhaps."</p>
<p>Yeah, 2040 is pitiful. What is that, like the 10th percentile? Kids who score below 2200 should just throw themselves off of high buildings...</p>
<p>Get real , a 2040 with no prep at all is definitely something to be proud about.</p>
<p>Here's what I understand:</p>
<p>Critical Reading and Writing scores tend to rise with age/schooling (you read more, your comprehension improves, etc.), while Math scores decline as you progress away from your basic algebra/geometry material. I know a lot of kids are at a disadvantage when they're especially advanced in math because many of them haven't touched SAT Math material since middle school. Obviously, it varies, but that's supposedly the general trend.</p>
<p>You can definitely raise your score with practice. Do tests out of prep books over and over. Lots of practice especially helps with the Math section.</p>
<p>yeah, definitely agree with you about the math roxxy. I havent taken geometry or basic algebra since middle school, I am taking linear algebra right now. The geometry questions are the hardest for me because sometimes i cannot remember those basic geometric theorems. But, i guess preparing for that helps.</p>