<p>I hate asking this question because it feeds into the obsessive dependence today's students have on the college board machine. But here goes-</p>
<p>Son takes 3 SATs and last one is the best- M 800, W 740 (11), R 640 (grr)
Also takes 2 SAT IIs this past spring. Wanted to take only one SAT II (science) because he had taken the AP (got a 5) and thought it was good timing. Went ahead and took Math II to "see what it was like" and ended up with a 650. Science went well- 740.</p>
<p>So here's the dilemma, he wants to get into a competitive public OOS (average CR 620-730). He could send his scores in early, take the October SAT (4th time!) and if the reading score goes up, send it in. Or he could take the October SATII Math and do the same. The SATIIs aren't required for the college, but they're going to see them. Will they hold the 650 against him?</p>
<p>The reading score boggles my mind. He's scored the same EXACT score all three times on the reading while his other scores have moved around. It's frustrating. Reading is something he's good at- he's an A student and got a 4 on AP Lit. He's always done excellent in reading on standardized tests. Why is this test causing him such fits? (Studying vocab hasn't helped- he has and those aren't the questions he misses. Also he's taken all the blue book practice tests and consistently scores in the 630-760 ranges.)</p>
<p>I'd take the Math II, simply because your son likely doesn't have a TI-89, and getting one should increase his score (and learning how to use it) by at least a 100 points without any work on his part, and increase his Calc grade too, whereas the reading section (on the SAT I) is almost entirely BS (which is probably why your son doesn't do too well at it). </p>
<p>Plus, taking 1 SAT II is a lot easier than taking the full SAT I, which just sucks. The SAT II does matter less, but you should be happy with your 2180, your son may get worse on his writing/math section which will cancel out his improvement in reading, if it does happen. Very easy to get a higher score on the SAT II Math just by getting a TI-89. If your son isn't a senior next year, just wait.</p>
<p>If he wants to do reading comprehension:
Tell him to try to BS it, and not think as much as he is. The SAT I Reading is essentially going with the first instinct and moving on. Thinking about it and trying hard on it (like you would a school assignment) simply causes your grade to go down. Trust me, it rewards you for being a slacker.</p>
<p>liberty, assuming that you are using a scientific calculator, getting a TI-83/84/89 will increase your score a lot because not only the convinience but also increases your speed of doing work</p>
<p>yea ppl..TI-89 Would probably increase ur score by even MORE then 100 points...depends on how well u know how to use it, if u know how to use it well u can pretty much do anything with it ( i barely use my brain any more...)</p>
<p>If there's any problem that requires algebraic manipulation that takes any time to do, you want a TI-89 (or at least a 83). Graphing is incredibly useful. </p>
<p>Graphing calculators make a lot of menial work quicker and precise, which helps a lot. The 89 solver is excellent, and I love having what I typed in above it. </p>
<p>Of course, there's random variance to it, it probably won't increase your score that much if you don't know what you're doing. But it is an incredibly useful tool that I would almost always use if I could.</p>
<p>yea graphing calculators are essential. Now I'm thinking of getting an 89 Titanium because of all this lauding for it. It's useful when solving for X. Just graphing it</p>
<p>It's better than that. You don't graph it, you just plug in your equation, put a ,x) at the end, and a solve( before that. Works for any single variable equation. </p>
<p>The TI-83 has something like this, but it's a bit clumsier, and it doesn't do calculus (need a 89 here). One of the best kept secrets in math class is the equation solver on the TI-83. Excellent display too, very elegant and useful.</p>
<p>I definitely agree with the previous posters. Retaking the Math iic with a graphing calculator can significantly increase the score, while there is no guarantee on retaking the SAT I. The hardest thing about the iic test isn't the content, but rather time management. Many of the hard problems may be solved by using stupid methods like guess and check, or plugging in answers. Normally, a student would struggle with the time limit if he tries to work questions with those simple methods. However, with a graphing calculator, he can quickly work through many problems, which will provide enough time for him to tackle the hard ones.</p>
<p>ok now i'm interested...what does the 89 have that 83 doesn't i made a 740 mathIIC and could really use an 800 and yes time management was my main problem.</p>
<p>iight..TI-89..can pretty much do ANYTHING...and YES ..it DOES have ALOT of features that TI-83 doesnt have...it can solve eqns...find zeros...deal with rational , factor...deal with non-real numbers/zeros...
..do matrices in a MUCH faster way...and it bascialy has unlimited potential depending on how good you can use it........
u just need like a good month of prac on it or something...its hard at first...but u can live without it later...</p>
<p>PS: i had a math final...40 questions were MC...i did like MOST of them..WITHOUT even USING my brain...and some ppl were saying its hard ..while i am like..."this is prob the easiest test ever..."..and i got on of the top grades in class too ( i think THE highest grade.lol)..</p>
<p>u can PM me if u have any further q's abt TI-89</p>
<p>
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lol sweet let me just scrounge up a hundred and something bucks...but seriously i've gotta get one then.
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yea u DEFINETLY hafto try it out dood..just make sure u have like a month or more b4 the test to practice using it..u dont wanna get stuck on the battle field with one of most powerful weapons ..just not able to use it ..lol</p>
<p>PS : when u buy it ..buy Ti-89 Titanium..its has ALOT more memory/is faster (faster processor)and has a USB link port (other then the other one w/c the cable is kind of hard to find)...and it stil lhas the regular port incase ur worried...</p>
<p>btw once u get ur calc i ll be glad to help u if u have any probs using it..just let me know</p>
<p>What a test......I mean...In order to get high score you need to buy a lot of books and learn about Xiggi method thingy and buy a goooooooood calculator.....god........man......yeah...[yawns and shrugs] SAT test is a troublesome</p>