Help! Improving SAT's?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am currently a Junior and like all, i am trying to practice for the SATs. Unfortunately, I am a very bad test taker. My grades are normally A's.</p>

<p>Here were my results (from practice SATs):</p>

<p>1st:1450
2nd: 1540
3rd: 1630
4th: 1740</p>

<p>These were taken during my Kaplan courses, which i felt was TOTALLY USELESS. So, i did not do their homework or practice, didnt show up to any of the classes in fact. All i did was show up on the days that the tests were held. It was probably my fault i did not do their work, my improvements could have been higher.</p>

<p>Last year, i took the practice PSAT and scored a 1540. I recently took the OFFICIAL PSAT a few months ago and scored a sucky 1750 (i thought i did well too :(.)</p>

<p>Now, for the passed week i studed Barron's writing and critical work book.</p>

<p>I just did 1 exam (this morning at 1am) from the BLUE BOOK and scored a 1910. - 730 math, 640 writing, 540 CR</p>

<p>I don't know why, but i am just AWFUL at CR - i just think its a useless topic in the SAT, each question has like 3 possible answers and the answers are so ambiguous!!! GRR.</p>

<p>Well, the barron's writing workbook came with 5 writing sections and i averaged about 700 on it, so the 640 was probably bad luck.</p>

<p>Anyway, I have a think PR book, and 9 more exams in the BLUE BOOK.
I am aiming for a 2100-2250 ish on the exam because i am trying to get into IVY schools.</p>

<p>And SAT's are going to be held in January.</p>

<p>My questions are:
Should i take the January SAT's or should i wait a few more months and practice some more?
How will i improve my scores? More importantly, how can i improve my CR? Out of all the times i've taken the sat's, i scored exactly 530-560 on them - they never go up GRRR!!!</p>

<p>Thanks for reading this 50 page essay, please help though!</p>

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<p>Sorry for the typo’s guys i made this thread at 5am :/</p>

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<p>I’m no expert on any of this (I got a 2150 on my first official SAT) but perhaps I can give some useful advice. First of all, my CR scores used to be pathetic and I could never get it above a 600 (I eventually got it to a 710+). In addition, I took a Kaplan class and thought it was a total waste of time. However, I did do all of their practice material just for the sake of practicing. But, I don’t think that helped much either.</p>

<p>So I basically started over…step-by-step, from the beginning. I know this sounds scary but it really isn’t. Here’s what I did:</p>

<p>Monday: Pick up any SAT book…not Collegeboard though because I wanted to save that for the week before the actial test since it’s the closest thing what we’re going to see.</p>

<p>Read the CR theory if there is any. Now, by “theory” I don’t mean all the tips/strategies the book offers. Rather read all the sample passages they offered. DON’T answer the questions. DON’T time yourself. Just read and try to ask yourself what’s going on and think about the possible questions that may appear after it (I’m sure you’re familiar with the types of questions after doing all those practices).</p>

<p>**This may help: While you read, try to make yourself enjoy the passages. I know they can be boring as heck and that you prbably don’t care about some random family trying to get a job as a journalist or some famous dead guy that you have heared about in History, but just force yourself to like it. Try to look at the interesting things and just be involved with the reading.</p>

<p>Do a few sections of passages to get a feel for it.</p>

<p>Tuesday: Do 1 or 2 passages like you did on Monday. But not too many. Then, start a practice test, but only the Critical reading sections. And DON’T time yourself. This time, DO answer the corresponding questions. Check the answers thouroughly. In a separate notebook/sheet write down the types of mistakes that you made. </p>

<p>Wednesday: Do the critical reading sections of another practice test as you did on Tuesday. Write down mistakes and review answers, etc. </p>

<p>Thrusday: You can follow the same procedure you did on Wednesday OR…set a time, say two hours, to go online and do every single CR site/question you find. Just practice vigorously!</p>

<p>Friday: Do the CR section in a practice test but DO time yourself this time. If time limit is surpassed, do another CR practice test timed. </p>

<p>Saturday: Review all mistakes on previous tests you took this week and take a full lenght SAT test (all sections) to test your attention span and improvement in CR.</p>

<p>Sunday: Same as Saturday.</p>

<p>As for the sentence completion: find a way to incorporate studying vocab. I prefer Direct Hits, Volumes I and II. They are thin, easy and interesting. They were a life saver. And it’s a good idea to review them the night before/the morning of the test.</p>

<p>So, I should probably end this book before I persuade myself to send it in for publication. What better way to answer a 50 page novel with another 50 page novel? </p>

<p>I know this looks daunting but if you can set your mind to it, it really works. At least, it did for me.</p>

<p>I hope this helps.</p>

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<p>^ Do you have an advice for math? I’m stuck with a 590-640. =/</p>

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<p>Math is something that I’m generally good at so it’s a bit easier for me. (I envy CR’ers)</p>

<p>I have a few tips, but is there anthing specific you have trouble with in the Math? If not, I’ll see if I can find the schedule I used…</p>

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<p>yea phas my best math score was 600 i hate math helppp for a senior takin SAT last time eeeeek</p>

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<p>I know you’re at a crucial point but saying that “I hate math” won’t do any good. I had this attitude toward reading, but as I mentioned in the long reply earlier in this thread, I forced myself to enjoy reading. </p>

<p>As for math, it’s not as artistic and doesn’t carry as much expression as reading. So here’s some tips…</p>

<p>1)Are you a competitive person?
if yes: Is there someone in school you absolutely detest?
if yes: imagine that person got a 700 in math. you HAVE to beat him/her. no other<br>
option…no if’s or but’s about it.
**This step was for some motivation…but it’s not always helpful</p>

<p>2) Do not set extreme goals…yet.
If your highest score was a 600, then set your goal at 650. Take a practice test
(even if it’s one you have already taken) and do just the math sections. DON’T time
yourself. Just do the problems at you own pace. Gradually increase your goal by 50<br>
to 80 each time. See below for the scheduled week:</p>

<p>Monday: Get an SAT book (preferably Barron’s or Collegeboard) and read the math examples. Just the examples. And how they are solved. As you read through one, cover up the explanation and answer choices and solve it yourself. Dont peek! And DO do all the practice questions at the end. Math is something that you must practice and keep in touch with to stay at a good level.</p>

<p>It’s a good idea to review the actual, written math theory/lessons on math topics you are having trouble with (ex. Read the trig section in you have trouble in it) Skim through the other lessons to gather important equations. </p>

<p>**Quick Tip: When you encounter an equation, write it down on some other sheet of paper. Compile this list and the day before the test, review the list before going to bed.</p>

<p>Tuesday: Review the equations list (5-10 minutes max) Start a practice test, and do only the math sections. DO NOT time yourself. If you spend more than 1 to 1.5 minutes on the problem, circle it and skip it. And, even if you do get an answer after a minute, circle the problem since it was one that gave you slight trouble.</p>

<p>After the test, see which ones you missed. Read the answer explantions or ask someone at home/school/on CC if there are no explanations in the book. When you check the answers, do what you did on monday; for the problems you missed cover up the solution and redo the work and see if you can get the answer.</p>

<p>Take note of the areas you had trouble on and go back and read the theory.</p>

<p>Wednesday: Same as Tuesday.</p>

<p>Thursday: Same as wednesday, BUT this time, time yourself</p>

<p>Friday: Same as Thursday</p>

<p>Saturday: Take a full length practice test with all subjects and see how you do.</p>

<p>Sunday:You can do the same as Saturday OR take a day to relax and reflect, review equations and theories. </p>

<p>This is the method I started with and went from a 690 to a 740 on the SAT1, 780 on PSAT and 800 on SAT II for math.</p>

<p>Hope it helps…</p>

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<p>I actually forced myself to enjoy the critical reading. I’ve been getting 400s. Now getting mid 500s. ._.</p>

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<p>Forcing yourself to like a subject will inly increase you about 100 points…the rest comes with a good, strategic plan for practicing.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the advice phasmatis, so i guess the only way to get better is keep doing it. Sounds logical, so should i go thru my PR book and then practice a lot of critical reading questions?</p>

<p>Any other tips and advice is appreciated! Thanks guys</p>

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<p>Yea…PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE…don’t know how many times we’ve heard this…</p>

<p>Go through anything you can…personally I don’t like PR due to the typos but everyone has his/her own opinion. After awhile I started just practicing whatever I could get my hands on, rather than a strict schedule. Good Luck!</p>