<p>You've just won free chocolate for a year! </p>
<p>Well, not really, just needed your attention. ;)</p>
<p>My question is, how in the world did you do it? Did you really study that much, because I know that it comes naturally to some people (the lucky ones). As for the unfortunate ones like me, I know there aren't too many tips but to study, work hard, blah blah, but c'mon, are there absolutely no juicy secrets?!</p>
<p>Yeah...probably not...and don't lie to me, it won't make me feel better.</p>
<p>I just feel (and am I wrong?) that some people are geniuses and others are, well, not. :(</p>
<p>don't stress during it. take it question by question and know when you can't get the right answer. but seriously, i hardly ever leave them blank because almost EVERYONE can get it to 2 or 3 choices.</p>
<p>you might want to read the thread about 'xiggi's SAT prep advice'. My daughter followed xiggi's guidelines and scored over 2100 the first time she took the test.</p>
<p>practice, practice, practice. that's how you do it. pay close attention to the mistakes you make, and learn how to correct them. then just keep practicing. 'swhut it's all about.</p>
<p>While that's true to a certain extent arp... I think it's definitely possible to make a significant improvement. I got over a 2000, but in my studying haven't improved all that much from where I started. But my friend literally did every practice test, workbook that she could get her hands on and went up soooo much, got over a 2000, and is going to give it another shot and I think will go up even more. If you do enough, you get used to the questions and if you keep going over what you got wrong, you're less likely to make the same little mistakes next time around on the actual test.</p>
<p>I didn't prepare at all, I got a 2190. Just stay calm, keep focused, and remember that every question is answerable. Approach it with confidence and know that you will do well.</p>
<p>first practice = 1700 first time = 1870 third time =2090</p>
<p>writing is easiest to improve just practice a lot
CR just learn vocab - do a lot of passage readings
Math should be easy as long as you dont lose your train of thought</p>
<p>After buying vocab flashcards recommended for the SAT and actually memorizing a larger portion of them, i was pumped about doing well. However, i got the same score (2060) as a did on my psat (206). Needless to say, i was dissapointed.</p>
<p>The first time I took the SAT I, I prepared a lot and was stressing before the test I scored in the low 2000s. The second time, I relaxed, went to a movie with friends the night before, and didn't study between the two tests at all and scored in the 2200s. Sure I could have done better the second time for a lot of reasons, but I can't help thinking that my mindset going into the test was the main one. Does practice help? Not for me...</p>
<p>Thank you all for your beneficial replies. I don't really know what on earth works for me, and I'm hoping the answer isn't "nothing."</p>
<p>I understand that practice makes perfect but I can see just from this thread that this idea isn't universal.</p>
<p>It seems like the SAT's are much easier than I had thought prior to coming to this forum. I've never been around so many high scorers (at least not all at once!)</p>
<p>You guys make it look like a piece of cake!</p>
<p>i think its a waste of time to study for the math part of the sats because thats a synch. Most people practice the math like crazy, do well on it, and flunk the english. I would study english until the last 2 months, do math and english alternating every day, then last month just do 3 practice tests a week. it sounds impossible and boring , but dont grade them till the end of the week and do them properly. time them and dont stop. See if u improve. Also the week before the test stop studying and relax. its a lot easier if u have taken it before. i took the old sat 8th grade and got a 1500 and the new one 9th and got a 2250.</p>
<p>well I just finished my first SAT practise test, cold turkey (no prep). I got a range of like 1860-2120 (because the blue book didn't rank the test). A more precise score would be around 1950. So almost over 2k for the first time ;)</p>
<p>Can't really help with CR/W sections because those a kinda do-or-die, it's either you have a feel for the language and know your stuff or dont (i feel). Math, however, ANYBODY should be able to get 800 and so raise the overall score. The concepts in math are fairly easy, just practise a LOT. Talk to your math teachers and ask them to give you some practise books, etc. Because form my experience the SAT math section is easier than my grade 10 British Columbia Provincial year-end Exam..</p>
<p>Deema it's true there are smart people who ace the SAT without really preparing for it. But the majority of such people have for years been sincere students. Not even necessarily brilliant. Sincere. They have an academic base.</p>
<p>On the flip side, there are seemingly brilliant students who get good grades but flip out on the SAT. The topper in my class scored a 1780. Why? Because the SAT doesn't test knowledge, but how clearly you think.</p>
<p>Get it? You don't need to know a lot, you just need to train yourself to solve certain types of questions. Don't waste your time comparing yourself with other people. Map out a plan, and work on all your weak areas. </p>
<p>I don't know what your SAT score is, or how good a student you are. But you should definitely be using the best preparatory materials. I'd call them the Official Guide and Sparknotes. Do each and every test sincerely, and circle all the questions you can't get. Then understand why you couldn't get the questions. If it's math (say a geometry or probability sum), learn the concepts. If it's Critical Reading, understand why that's the right answer.</p>
<p>Maths is very basic and you'll be able to cover concepts in no time at all. As for English, it is very abstract and you just have to train yourself to understand what Collegeboard expects. English is SUBJECTIVE. That's why make Official Guide your official English bible. I got a 740 in Critical Reading and 780 in writing, and so know what I am talking about. Practise English till you begin to intuitively understand what is the right answer. And for that use only Collegeboard, and subscribe to Official SAT question of the day. Don't be tempted to use even good old sparknotes for English, except maybe for the essays. And by the way, don't waste your time memorizing vocab. If you read at all and have a decent grasp of English, you'll know most of the words. </p>
<p>And finally, remember the General SAT at least is just a TEST. Treat it as dispassionately and objectively as possible.</p>