<p>1) Improve Writing first. It was my worst section, starting out at a 650 for me. I improved it all the way to an 800. Just read grammar guides. I just used Sparknotes really, that's all I needed.</p>
<p>2) Math I'm horrible at so I can't give much advice on it. I'm stuck at a 720. It's also the section that I didn't try to improve. Learn the basic material and then PRACTICE x3. I've heard that Gruber's is good for this.</p>
<p>3) Reading I got a 760 on (from a 680 first time I took the SAT). Pick up Direct Hits vocab if you're getting the vocab wrong (that's my current problem...3 out of 4 wrong were on the vocab for me, but I never did any studying. I can just recommend Direct Hits from the statistical performance it makes on the SATs as reported by other members). For the critical reading, remember that if the answer isn't 100% supported by the passage, it's not right. Again, PRACTICE x3. Get to the point where picking out the answer is automatic, and nothing surprises you.</p>
<p>All I used to go from a 201 on the PSAT to a 2280 on the SAT (3rd try) was the Blue Book and SparkNotes. Not saying that I couldn't have prepped more, but that's all I used and it brought me good results.</p>
<p>EDIT: It's also worth mentioning, don't freak out when you take the exam. Just pretend it's a practice test.</p>
<p>^ Definitely! It helps so much to be calm and pretend it's just another practice test. After taking practice tests every Saturday morning for awhile, the real thing didn't make me nervous and I was used to getting up on a Saturday.</p>
<p>Writing is definitely the easiest section to improve. You can start to see a pattern after making the same mistakes on the practice tests..I didn't do any prep on this section except reviewing my mistakes on practice tests..and figuring out why I missed them</p>
<p>I always make really stupid mistakes on the math section! I'll try the 'start at the end' method when I start preparing for the SAT again. That seems like a smart idea because I get really rushed towards the end..</p>
<p>CR--yeahhh worst section for me. It's so hard to improve but I think it's just because I didnt remind myself that all the answers were in the passage and I would try to put my own intepretations in..and that doesn't work too well!</p>
<p>For math, definitely relax and CHECK YOUR WORK. For the Nov. '08 SAT, I got a data analysis question wrong simply because I didn't read the answer. I think everyone has the ability to get an 800 on this one simply by checking work and working at a reasonably quick pace. If a question seems too easy, do everything else before you go back and check it.</p>
<p>For CR, it's a little harder. I've never memorized any vocabulary in my life, (Never heard of Direct Hits until I frequented this forum) but I just read the word in context. I think it's kind of fruitless to memorize every single word when you can learn to read the sentence and determine the word that fits; you could first see if the word has a positive/negative connotation and then pick from there. As for passage-based reading, make SURE that EVERY SINGLE ANSWER YOU PUT HAS A TEXTUAL JUSTIFICATION. If the answer is "because the author is angry," go back and READ the passage and FIND where it says "I was livid." Or something like that. It helps a lot.</p>
<p>Writing: Mmm, I don't know if I'm qualified to say anything for writing (I got a 800M/760CR/710W), but just practice and study grammar. And write practice essays with good examples. </p>
<p>I am just amazed at these scores!! goodness me...!!
How in the world do you get 2000's for your first SAT?? I am taking the dec SAT, and I will be happy if I get above 1800.
Once again I am amazed by the people who are getting above 2000!! good job guys...</p>
<p>CR -- I'm not so sure if it's about reading a lot. I know I don't read as much as my fellow classmates but I sure did a LOT of CR passages. I did everything I could get my hands on -- QAS, 10 REAL SATs, BB everything. I never did any Princeton/Barron's stuff (especially Kaplan)</p>
<p>Math -- Was pretty tricky at first but eased into it by expecting "logic-based questions"</p>
<p>Writing -- Just keep practicing and learn the patterns.</p>