<p>I got a 1720 in May, and I want a 2100+ in October, so at least I can be considered at Ivy League schools. Anyway, I have the big blue book, and I'm trying to study everyday for at least two hours. It's just that, it's completely boring and I don't think I'm making any real progress. Can someone tell me what the heck they do to improve their score so much... by themselves with a book?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>For CR, I suggest reading something fun or reading the newspaper everyday....someone did some study on people who read the New York Times every day and found that their scores rose.</p>
<p>For Math, it's mostly just easy problems that are asked in a tricky way. Focus on why you got the answers you got wrong, wrong, and also focus on why you got them right.</p>
<p>For writing, usually you just have to look for a list somewhere of the common errors that they test for. The test becomes much easier once you know what to look for.</p>
<p>Well, that's my 2 cents.</p>
<p>do you have a graphing calculator (get one if you don't have one)
if you didn't get a good score on the math part, try to figure out how you can graph the solutions, which once you figure out how to get a graph quickly for problems you can just whiz through the math section(i think you can graph for 90% of problems, 5% are easy, the final 5% you'll need "real" math)</p>
<p>My PSATs of junior year were 204 (65 CR, 68 M, 71 W). My SATs were 2200. (770 CR, 720 M, 710 W). All I did was study for a month and a half before the April 06 test. If you dedicate time and practice, that's the best thing you can do for yourself.</p>
<p>I totally agree with iljets10's advice. I didn't study out of an SAT prep book for the CR section. I read anything I came across. Try reading from The New Yorker, The Atlantic, or if you're up to it, The Economist. For the Math section, make sure you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals. Once you've done that, keep practicing problems; keep in mind to review any mistakes you've made. For Writing, review key grammar rules and practice writing essays under 25 minutes.</p>
<p>Best way to study by far is to take previous SAT tests. Get the book "Ten Real SAT tests", and plan to take at least 6 to 7 of them under real timed conditions. </p>
<p>After each test go through every question you got right and every question you got wrong and figure out if you knew the answer or if you guessed--and for the ones you got wrong, figure out the reason why--then study in that area. For example--are you missing all the math questions related to combinations and permutations--then study statistics--are you having problems with proper tense on grammar--then look into that.</p>
<p>Get ahold of the Princeton Review book on the SAT and study the separate sections that relate to the areas of most concern. Then take another SAT practice test--and see if you improved or not. Just continue like this until you get through the 6 or 7 tests and you should be set come test time--and you should have a good idea of exactly what you will probably score.</p>
<p>Lastly, practice writing an essay using some sample questions from Plato or Aristotle or Shakespere. Questions like: By helping others do we really add meaning to life or just take away from personal efforts? Is it true that the fault, dear Brutus, lies in ourselves and not our stars--or is there some truth to the DNA in our genes pre-disposing us to certain behaviors? Can the problems of life be solved by scientific inquiry or does that take us away from looking at all aspects of issues--including political, economic, or cultural that science has a hard time putting a value on?</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>calcruzer is right.. nothing like practice tests.. iljets10and fandago r right.. readiing a newspaper or something is a sure way to improve ur CR, even try to by heart the list of vocabulary though thats quite dry..
dont agree with kakaputto though; i dont things 90% of the questions can b graphed..</p>
<p>Right now, I'm using <a href="http://www.majortests.com/sat%5B/url%5D">www.majortests.com/sat</a>. It's free and it helps. It gives explanations.</p>