How to Improve SAT Score by 300 Points?

I got a 1770 on my SAT. This was my first time taking it. No studying. I just wanted to see where my level was at, and what I could improve on. I got a 530 on CR, 660 on Math, 580 on Writing. I know that this score does not represent my best performance because I know I can do much better in math. (One of my stronger suits is math.) As far as the other two areas, I’m a bit more concerned and I don’t know how to go about improving.

I’m planning to take the SAT again in December. Any thoughts on how to improve by 300 points within 5 weeks? As you can see, my goal is to break 2000. I’m definitely willing to work hard, and I’m planning on studying at least 30 minutes a day regardless (despite the business of school). I really need to improve fast because the new SAT is coming out soon- in March, and if I don’t get the score I want this time, I’ll have to adjust to a whole new format. Any tips will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance! :smiley:

I’m sort of in the same rut, except I need to get my scores up to at least 1750. Since I scored an embarrassing 1400. I need tips as well. Id say yeah, dedicate at least 30 min per day!

im also in the same situation but im taking the test in jan, and it will also be my first time taking it. Im also aiming for a 2000 as well, how do you usually study or wat materials do you use?

It’s a bad idea to have the last old SAT administration as your first test - what would be your back-up plan if you do not get the scores you want? Just my two cents.

Study!

@BethanyD I already took the old SATs in October, so taking it again in December will be my second time. And there’s one more chance in January before they switch over to the new one in March.

@BethanyD And if that doesn’t work, I’ll take the new SAT. :slight_smile:

I had the same problem scoring a 1660. My brother who scored a 2050 on his first studied every single day for at least 20 minutes so I will attempt to do the same before my SAT in december. Keep reading online here at blogs and study in Princeton Review. Be willing to work hard even if you don’t feel like it and your friends are getting together.

@kkitts98 Thank you for your advice! :slight_smile:

“No studying”
Ummm… Study and you’ll do better

My June SAT was 1440! 440 CR, 510 M, 490 W My October SAT is 1730! 520CR, 610 M, 600W. Practicing is key to increasing score. I’m retaking the test in December to improve my score by at least 150 more points. My end goal is 2000+ so I guess we are on the same boat.

@cptjosh787 Good to know! Thank you! Any specific ways on how you studied/practiced? As of now, I’m just taking a section everyday out of the practice SAT tests in the blue book :slight_smile:

Hey @hellograduate ! I wrote some suggestions on a similar post, so I’ll just copy and paste:

Critical Reading used to be my lowest as well, but I took a test preparation course called Testmasters, and I would recommend you looking for something similar as well. One tip I learned for reading is that the passage questions, besides the overall theme/purpose ones, are IN ORDER. Meaning, although there are some questions with line references, the ones that don’t are in between those that do. This also means that the ANSWER is ALWAYS in the vicinity of the paragraph(s) you are focusing on in relation to the question ordering. This leads to another tip - never assume. The SAT likes to trick you into thinking some answers are correct, even if the answer is not directly from the passage. Remember, you can always find the answer in the passage!

My Writing used to be my second lowest, but I raised to be on par with my Math, my best subject. For writing, there are error patterns that can easily be spotted. Some common ones are parallelism, pronoun/verb agreement, idioms, etc… You can look for practice online anywhere for writing. Once you get hold of the writing, it becomes so much easier. As for the essay, don’t do a structure, like intro body (3 supports) and conclusion. I did that one time and I got a 9. Try writing 2 supports and 1 rebuttal instead of 3 supports - that’s how I got my 11. And as for the examples - just make them up. You don’t have time to think about what to write - whatever comes up on your head, you write down. I once wrote about a Korean drama I watched that I turned into a “historical movie” and Avatar the Last Airbender. Worked great. It also helps to know some common classical literature/historical figures as well, like Huck Finn, Scarlet Letter, Abraham Lincoln, MLK Jr., etc… Write slightly larger than your normal handwriting so it nearly fills the two pages it provides - this may sound unnecessary but I heard it gives you a bump of 1-2 points.

Math is honestly the easiest to improve. I can’t tell you how to specifically improve besides to practice. Or maybe one thing - make sure you don’t make any mistakes. And another - if you’re stumped on a problem, this is what I thought to myself: all problems can technically be solved without a calculator, so if you can’t solve it, then you’re overthinking it. Also, try solving the problems super fast so you can re-solve them a second time - this helps catch any silly mistakes.

Practice, practice, practice. It helps you familiarize with the test, so you automatically know what to expect.

Note that these suggestions are for the old SAT - I know nothing about the new SAT :frowning:

Hope I helped!

@Sophiclees Oh my gosh, thank you so much for your generous tips! I will definitely practice, practice, practice before December comes along! :slight_smile: