Guide: How I Scored 2270 With 3 Weeks of Prep

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
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<p>So recently I posted a thread describing my challenge to ace the SAT with 3 weeks of prep. Since several people criticized the ambiguity of it, I've decided to reorganize and repost the thread in order to make things clearer. Hopefully I get it right this time around.</p>

<p>What is this challenge?</p>

<p>I'm a Canadian high school senior that thought it would be interesting to see if I could get a perfect score on the SAT after 3 weeks of studying.</p>

<p>Why are you writing this?</p>

<p>I'm an active blogger and my website is based on personal effectiveness and productivity. After I took the October SAT, I decided to write an article series describing how I prepared for it. I wasn't planning to do this beforehand; it was originally just meant to be a self-project on rapid learning. However, I felt it would make a good article series because it's something I can relate to at a very personal level.</p>

<p>How much time did you spend preparing?</p>

<p>Before the 3 weeks, I had almost no exposure to the SAT. In those weeks before the test, I probably logged around 50 hours, although I didn't keep any records so can't say for certain. I was putting in 1-4 hours a day, with some days off.</p>

<p>What did you score?</p>

<p>Alright, I didn't ace it. Given the time period, I'm content with my score, although I'm sure there are plenty of people who could have done much more spectacularly in the same conditions.</p>

<p>CR: 700 (Sentence Completions killed me...)
Math: 770
Writing: 800</p>

<hr>

<p>This is going to be a seven part series. I'll be updating this thread when a new article is up. </p>

<p>Part 1: Introduction[/url</a>]
Part 2: [url="<a href="http://willkwan.com/learning/ace-sat-three-weeks-part-2-critical-reading-sentence-completion%22%5DCritical">http://willkwan.com/learning/ace-sat-three-weeks-part-2-critical-reading-sentence-completion"]Critical</a> Reading, Sentence Completion
Part 3: Critical</a> Reading, Passage-based Reading
Part 4: Math
Part 5: Writing, Multiple Choice
Part 6: Writing, Essay
Part 7: Analysis and Summary</p>

<p>Although these articles are intended to detail the methods that I used myself, if I come across any really good tips, I'll add them in to make it a more extensive guide. So please give me feedback! Of course, I'll mention whenever I include something I didn't personally use.</p>

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<p>wow congrats man! that’s really impressive. I’m taking the SAT in Nov and I’m trying to get 2000+ but the CR is my mortal enemy. </p>

<p>So i’m practicing trying to find the right approach for me. I religiously use option 1, from your blog, so i’m going to try what you said about using it along with 2 based on the type of passage.</p>

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<p>Thanks DMA! Yeah, the passages take a lot of testing. When I started experimenting myself, I wasted a bit of time myself trying to learn methods that were too “radical” and didn’t really work. Sticking to the basics is the safest way to go.</p>

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<p>Stop it. You have the exact same scores as I do, breakdown and everything. I’m not even joking…</p>

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<p>Problem is I first took it March of soph year and technically started prepping in the summer after frosh year for the PSATs that October. I think my scores went like this 184 (PSAT Soph) —> 2160 —> 189 (PSAT Junior) —>1900 —>2220 —>2270</p>

<p>So it took me a while, but still, I’m very happy with my score!</p>

<p>…Twinners</p>

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<p>Neat. You should be happy, there’s nothing wrong with taking your time to prepare, it takes a lot of the stress out of it.</p>

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<p>Took a bit of a hiatus, but part 3 is finally up.</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://willkwan.com/learning/ace-sat-three-weeks-part-3-math]Math[/url”&gt;http://willkwan.com/learning/ace-sat-three-weeks-part-3-math]Math[/url</a>]</p>

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<p>finally I’ve been checking your site periodically for new updates! too bad this one came 2 days too late lol… i utilize most of the tips on your blog now anyways so hopefully I get 750+ on math</p>

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<p>Great Job on your success! </p>

<p>I have a question/suggestion. Can you elaborate more on how you studied? As in how many hours did you practice and how you managed implement the program within your schedule.?</p>

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<p>Your site coloring is a bit off for the ‘table of contents’ at the bottom for parts 1-4.</p>

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<p>Thxxxxx :)</p>

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<p>DMA017</p>

<p>lol sorry about that, things popped up and I got a bit lazy. Good luck with your score.</p>

<p>tttttttt</p>

<p>Like I said, I didn’t log my hours or anything so I can only give an estimate. In the three weeks, I put in about 50 hours, with about half of it in the last week. Although I didn’t have a strict routine, I like working in the morning and evenings, so I usually split up my daily sessions into two blocks, one before school and one before dinner. As to how I studied, it was mainly doing practice tests and analyzing trends and patterns in the questions CollegeBoard asks and the mistakes I tend to make. </p>

<p>ZealousWonder</p>

<p>The colour is supposed to be a bit different in the box.</p>

<p>GunUltimateID</p>

<p>You’re welcome :)</p>

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<p>What is your blog’s name? I don’t stay around on cc too much,
so I’m having a hard time following your previous posts.</p>

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<p>^ [Will</a> Kwan | Maximum Output, Minimum Input](<a href=“http://willkwan.com/]Will”>http://willkwan.com/) Voila!</p>

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<p>Yup, that’s it.</p>

<p>Here’s the latest post: [Writing</a>, MC](<a href=“http://willkwan.com/learning/ace-sat-three-weeks-part-5-writing-multiple-choice"]Writing”>http://willkwan.com/learning/ace-sat-three-weeks-part-5-writing-multiple-choice)</p>

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<p>My most thorough section so far:</p>

<p>[How</a> to Ace the SAT in Three Weeks Part 6: The Essay | Will Kwan](<a href=“http://willkwan.com/learning/ace-sat-three-weeks-part-6-essay]How”>http://willkwan.com/learning/ace-sat-three-weeks-part-6-essay)</p>

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<p>You got so much undeserved negative feedback on your original post. Mostly they were the same thing - that you wanted publicity for your blog. I strongly disagree bc I feel you were genuine with this ‘experiment’.
I’m probably not even taking the SATs. Actually, I’m in the middle of trials of my end of secondary school exam. I have wasted my entire upper secondary years up until now. So obviously, with the actual exam being so near (2 months), I’m trying to get my gears going. Anyway, I’d like to say, thanks SO MUCH for the motivation. Sorry this was so long, just wanted to share my story.</p>

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<p>As nice as this is, mind telling us what your score before the 3 weeks was?</p>

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<p>please the website isnt working</p>

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I need help, I only have 2 weeks