<p>I have a 4.1 GPA weighted and 3.9 GPA unweighted. I'd say I'm an average student when it comes to intelligence. I'm one of those people who depend on hard work to get good grades. I don't study 24/7 but I feel like most people don't study as much as I do. I just took the actual SAT's in march and got a 1470. It's such a horrible score:( I'm even embarrassed about posting it on here. I've taken a practice SAT recently and got a 1510. A little better but still not great. I didn't really study for the SATs. I just did the question of the day(usually getting the answers right) and did a couple practice problems before the test. But you'd think that someone with my GPA would get a decent score without much studying. When I took the practice SAT, I felt like I did really well but I guess not. Can anyone sympathize or give any advice? I would love to get a 1900. Hell I would be happy with a 1700. Does this seem possible?</p>
<p>I am on the same situation too.</p>
<p>My unweighted GPA is 4.0 but my PSAT is only 156 which is 1560 on SAT.</p>
<p>I think you need to study more test taking strategies, improve reading skills, and build your vocabulary</p>
<p>Try the ACT...I got a 1670 SAT and a 28 Composite ACT, which is equivalent to an 1850 SAT or so.</p>
<p>Do the practice tests, for gosh sake! That's what they are there for! You'll get accustomed to the manner in which the material is presented and may be able to identify areas where you need to focus to improve your score!</p>
<p>Not everyone is a good test taker and it is not the only factor considered if you have great grades, good ECs, great recommendations and killer essays. </p>
<p>This admissions bit is a brutal process. Maximize your chances by studying.</p>
<p>And another thought...it's ok to get a 1560 or a 1470. Perhaps you had your sites on a higher tiered school but that may not be the best choice for you. You don't want to get in over your head or you are assured a miserable college experience. Not everyone belongs in a really tough, competitive environment. </p>
<p>I've encouraged my son to be realistic and to embrace where his scores and grades will allow him to be admitted. I want him to have some fun. If you are always busting your a$$ studying, you are missing out on another important aspect of the college experience and that is the social life.</p>
<p>It will all be ok. There is a school for everyone and you will be happy wherever you end up, I'm quite sure.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>zoomers, I get what you are saying about college and about grades. I'm not even aiming for a super competative school or an ivy. There's this program at an in-state school that requires a 1670 minimum on the SATs. So even a score like that would make me feel better. </p>
<p>I realize I should have studied a lot more so I'm not going to make excuses. I could have taken a million practice tests and studied vocab to improve my score. Thanks for the advice though. I'm going to try and study really hard this summer and take it again in the fall.</p>
<p>yes, this is possible. I think the key is that you weren't studying for it. Trust me, a high GPA DOES NOT guarantee that you'll do well on the SAT.This girl in my class has a 4.0 GPA and ended up with a 1600, whereas other people with low GPAs score very well. It's more of a measure of logical reasoning than what you learned in class. Maybe look into taking the ACT which is more based on the school curriculum? And go onto the SAT forum, they have great tips as well for scoring well. Get the collegeboard books and do practice tests。 </p>
<p>I think grade inflation may play a role in these situations...</p>
<p>A lot of it depends on how test savvy you are. I hate to say this but I think I am a pretty good guesser on standardized tests. Pay attention to any practice test answers that you got right and weren't sure on or got wrong.</p>
<p>Also agree with trying the ACT. I found it much easier.</p>
<p>Not to offend anyone (and not saying that this is OP's situation), it probably has most to do with the fact that the SAT does measure a lot of basic reasoning and yes, intelligence, while getting good grades doesn't require much besides a lot of work.</p>
<p>I was somewhat like you are when I first took the PSAT. Getting a good score on it depends on how much you know about the tricky way it words questions, and like other posters said, how test-savvy you. I'd suggest maybe taking the ACT, or buying a prep book. It helped me.</p>
<p>the SAT is very practice-able.
I think that while the SAT, like 5-10 years, might have been really easy to "just wing" based off natural talent, it isn't anymore.</p>
<p>Plus, if you look at the grading scales, you can realize that it is just that EVERY QUESTION COUNTS. Personally, I was less than 5 questions away from perfect-and I got a 2100 my 2nd time around. Does that suck? Yes, but I improved from around 1800-1900 on practice tests-I couldn't make stupid mistakes!</p>
<p>I agree with aaron981 and cookietime-they've made valid points (not to say that they necessarily apply to the OP).</p>
<p>Yeah to aaron and cookie time,
I got 3.4UW/1450(Old)</p>
<p>Just keep practicing. Worked for me.</p>
<p>^yes...SAT could be practiced and improved....believe in this and don't give up.</p>
<p>Have you tried taking the ACT instead? I did bad on the SAT (590 CR/ 630 M/ 630 W) but I did good on the ACT (29 Comp. 28 Eng, 31 M, 33 R, 25 sci). Sometimes people are just better at one than the other. </p>
<p>But other than that yeah I would recommed picking up a prep book. Sometimes people just aren't good with testing. (Which is why I don't like standardized testing but that's a whole nother issue.)</p>
<p>There are a lot of good schools that don't require the SATs anymore. That said, I improved my score more than 400 points without much studying.</p>
<p>
[quote]
But you'd think that someone with my GPA would get a decent score without much studying.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Eh, no not really. I know plenty of people who have great GPA's and terrible P/SAT scores.</p>
<p>PRACTICE TESTS. No one is exempt from not studying for the SATs, with the exception of a few lucky.</p>
<p>What's to understand? Answer the questions correctly to get a higher score.</p>
<p>Seriously, if you know the material enough to get straight A's, then you should not have a 1470 - unless there is some grade inflation involved.</p>
<p>haha... this being CC, I thought you were saying 1470/1600 was a bad score until I finished reading the entire post.</p>