<p>I haven't taken the real SAT yet, but I have been taking timed practice tests in a classroom every weekend. On my first practice test, I got an 1880, which sucks. I got a 640 CR, 610 M, and 630 W. I took another practice test today and I didn't get a 700 in any of the sections. So basically my question is.. How the hell do I get out of the 600s range? I have been studying my butt off. What should I do to increase my scores in each subject?</p>
<p>As an SAT math tutor and author of an SAT math prep book I can talk about the math section. The following is a copy of what I responded to another poster with a similar question:</p>
<p>I have found that 600+ students all make the same mistake that keeps them from moving to the 700s. You try to do those level 4 and 5 problems the same way you would do them in school. This leads to careless errors and getting the questions wrong. You are usually able to find your mistake right away, and therefore you feel like you “learned” how to do the problem. But that is irrelevant. Because the next problem looks different, and you will get tricked again. The key is to stop doing those problems that way. Start using SAT strategies and stop using mathematics. The SAT strategies might take a little longer, but that’s OK. If you’re using the right strategies throughout the test, you should be saving time on the easier questions.</p>