<p>So I know i posted another thread before this on my AVERAGE BREAKDOWN of my SAT scores but i recently took another practice test (from BB) which has upset me very much. </p>
<p>Here are my scores:
Math: 770 (i don't get it...i always get 800)
Critical reading: 680 (this is better than usuall which is around 650)
Writing: 660 (That is gay...i've never had a wriiting score below 700...What do you think is the problem?)
Composite: 2110
M + CR= 1450/1600</p>
<p>So why is my writing score lower than usual (by a good 60 points) as well as my math score (by a good 30)?</p>
<p>not really…but i have been practicing writing sections seperately like yesterday and the day before that untimed. So maybe the transition from untimed practice to a timed real test threw my balance off for the writing?
Even if that’s true that still doesn’t explain my stupid 770 on the math.</p>
<p>Then it was the test. Simply put, it just wasn’t your test. That happens, which is why you should give yourself time to take the test again once you take it for real, just in case the same thing happens.</p>
<p>Ok so i should take it again? that makes sense. But won’t that distort the test results since i just recently did the test and thus remember most to all answers since i just reviewed them?</p>
<p>Whoops, I was a little confusing. I meant that this test was just one that you got lower on because it had a few questions that tripped you up. When you go to take the real SAT, there’s a chance of this happening again, no matter how many times you got an 800 in practice. So, always be prepared to have to take the real SAT again, that’s what I meant. Don’t take the practice one again, except make sure to look over the questions that tripped you up, make sure you know exactly how to solve them fast, and look up what sections they were from and review those sections.</p>
<p>OHHHHHHHHH, that makes much more sense. …arighty thank you.</p>
<p>Then in that case maybe you can tell me why i got a several of the 8 writing questions wrong? </p>
<p>Here they are:
(For the past) hundred years or more, Yellowstone National Park (was) a kind of sociological laboratory (in which) North Americans have been exploring (the meaning of) the national-park concept. </p>
<p>I picked E, no error. But the answer is B-Was. Why? Since the sentence is in the past tense, was is acceptable no?</p>
<p>In the process Lou Hoover designed for her two young sons a portable (crib. It would remain stable) during the rocking of a ship.</p>
<p>This question above is from the paragrahph thing.–Which is the best revision of the sentence above?
A) crib so that it would remain stable
B) crib, and it would remain stable (this is the one i picked)
C) crib that nevertheless remained stable
D) crib that would remain stable (this is the right answer)
E) crib. It designed to remain stable</p>
<p>Why is it not B?</p>
<p>Then this question is from SEction 10: </p>
<p>In the belief that crossword puzzles stimulated her mind, (Dolores will spend hours on them every week)
A) Dolores will spend hours on them every week (this is the one i picked)
B) Dolores would spend hours on them every week (This is the right answer)
C) hours of every week are spent on them by Dolores
D) they occupied hours of every week for Dolores
E) every week will find Dolores spending hours on them</p>
<p>Yup, anytime. Trust me, if you’re always getting 800’s on the math like you say, you should be fine for the vast majority of real SAT’s they could throw at you. Just relax and don’t let this one occurrence bother you.</p>
<p>1) It should be “has been” because of the “North Americans have been exploring…” part and the fact that it says “for the past 100 years or more”.</p>
<p>2) I don’t see why B is incorrect, but D is shorter and more preferable.</p>
<p>3) “Stimulated” is in the past tense; thus, you need to use “would”.</p>
<p>isnt getting a 770 vs an 800 on the math section only a matter of maybe 1 or 2 questions wrong? just make sure that next time you focus a bit more. most likely you made an error in your calculations or something so just double check your work</p>
<p>Akrana is correct for both 1 and 3, as for two, number 2 is not B because the use of “and” is illogical in this context because you are simply defining a restrictive clause, the crib, which can be done with the use of “that.”</p>
<p>for number one, why would it be “has been”; you should only use has been if something is in the past and “has been” led into the present.
For example:
After Maria got a job in California two years ago, she “has been” working there ever since.</p>
<p>@Akrana–why would you use “would” for past tense. Isn’t that for a conditional statement. For example: If i were to get a job as a doctor, I “would” be the happiest man alive.</p>
<p>As for number 1, that’s exactly the case. It is leading up to the present, and you can tell because of the “for the past hundred years or more” part. </p>
<p>And no, ‘would’ isn’t only for conditional statements. It can be used in the same cases as “used to”.
for example: “I used to ride my bicycle when I was younger” is the same as “I would ride my bicycle when I was younger.”
In this case, due to the usage of “stimulated,” which indicates the usage of the past tense, “would” needs to be used.</p>
<p>Has been is in the present perfect tense (has/have + past participle)- which should be used when the time has not finished or the time has not been mentioned. It applies to the sentence.</p>
<p>I think you simply need to work on your grammar skills. Two of those questions you gave weren’t really very hard and probably could’ve been labeled as easy. If you were to say some of those sentences, they wouldn’t sound right immediately. Of course, sound isn’t always a reliable factor for answering questions in the Writing section, but it does work with some questions.</p>