*International* General questions about improving/domestic test recycle

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Hello everybody,</p>

<p>In the last couple days I have been reading more stuff about the SAT. From preperation tips to the "myth" (some really say its true) that the international SAT tests are old domestic tests. So my first SAT score was a 1560/2400 (obviously). And I hvae been studying mainly math in the last weeks and my score didnt really improve at all, maybe about 20 points but thats it. At the same time I have started to study more Vocabs for the SC and CR. I also have to start studying more writing. Right now I just feel like I dont even have to continue studying for it, beceause my score doesnt improve at all. I really want to study and I dont mind the studying but its just devastating to see the same bad score over and over again. I have to admit that I took 3 Offical Practice tests after new years with a longer break of studying before it. I took the 3 tests and looked at what I did wrong, thast how I studied. Then I saw my score didint improve that much in math, so I focused on math. I found the old SAT tests (old format) and did all of them and a couple of older ones from 2005-2013 (some are the same). Im working on only the math sections and study "The Essential 500" also.
Sorry this is so much I just need some advice. Im planning on taking the Test in May AND June.</p>

<p>NOW to the domestic/international test "problem":</p>

<p>-Why does it matter that those domestic test are repeated ? (How can a normal international student have acces to a test from 2011? The tests that get recycled arent the ones out of the blue book and aren´t availabe online, right?)</p>

<p>The Tests I always found said Official SAT PRACTICE test. Only test 1,2,3 and 11(11 is on the cd) in the blue book are REAL tests, those were actually used. The others are PRACTICE tests. So how can those international students who try to cheat even cheat? I mean 1. the chances are low that its gonna be the same test and even if it is where did that student get the test from?</p>

<p>-Can somebody explain me this experimantal section? Whats the whole "curve" thing?</p>

<p>Thank you very much for taking your time to read this.
Greetings from Europe</p>

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<p>Okay easy questions first:</p>

<p>1/ Normally your test will have 10 sections in total, but only 9 of them will account for your score. The remaining section is the experimental section, and will vary from test to test. This section can be CR, Math or Writing, but NEVER the essay. Based on students’ performance on this experimental section, CB can have some predictions about the difficulty of future tests. Now, some people may say that it is unnecessary to do the experimental test, I say you should give it your best to try to ace this section (there’s an underlying reason for this experimental section but I cannot remember correctly). First of all, it is impossible to know which one on your test book is the experimental section until you have finished all of your test UNLESS you can communicate with other students who take the test at the same time, which is obviously against CB’s rules.</p>

<p>2/ On every test, there will be a “curve”, which is used to converse your raw score into the scaled score. For example, a 67 on CR always equals 800, but a 60 can be somewhere in the low 700s. Depending on how difficult the test is, the curve will vary. The harder the test, the more lenient the curve will be.</p>

<p>3/ It is true that sometimes the international tests are recycled. However, HYPOTHETICALLY, this shouldn’t affect your performance since the official tests are strictly forbidden to the public and trying to reveal these tests severely violates CB’s rules. But that is just theoretically speaking. As far as I know, there are many test takers who already know every answer before taking the test, but they do so at their own expense. Koreans got their tests cancelled once, if I am correct. What I want to say is, you don’t need care about whether the test has been issued before or not, just try your best. Besides, cheating is morally unacceptable, and it goes against the whole meaning of the SAT.</p>

<p>4/ Now, let’s talk about your SAT preparation. Yes, it is very frustrating to see your score not improve at all. I just took the SAT last Saturday, and I reckon I can share some of my experience with you.
So I started to prepare for the SAT in October, in the midst of schoolwork and exams. Unsurprisingly, my CR score (which is my weakest part by the way) often varied between 500 and 600 and it didn’t seem to improve. However, after my finals were over, I still had a month to prepare. To my surprise, my CR picked up dramatically and my score often varied above 2300. Now, I believe that working hard alone is not enough. You have to do it THE RIGHT WAY.
You should get yourself the Rocket Review Revolution book, which is, in my opinion, the most comprehensive and insightful prep book on the SAT. For further reference, you can see the Grammatix or just look for advice from other CC users.</p>

<p>Good luck</p>

3

<p>Thank you so much for your advice. I have the “Black Book”… it talks about strategies and stuff. So are u an international too? Your score is impressive. What was your CR/MATH/W scores at the beginning? If you can find the time could you explain me what the RIGHT way was for you? </p>

<p>I read so much about all that that basically I mess up strategies and mix them which is a problem I guess.</p>

<p>Other have any advices?</p>

<p>Thank you :)</p>

4

<p>Yes I am from Asia.
Initially, my Math was ok and I constantly scored a 800 with no sweat. My Writing and CR (especially CR) were not so good. With regard to Writing, I realized that there was no shortcut and learned all about the rules and styles in the SAT. I found The Seven Deadly Screw-Ups by SparkNotes really helpful. With about 3 practice tests or so, I was able to raise my score from the low 600s to 750+.
Now, about CR, there are lots of tricks that you’ve probably heard of. Aware that you’ve got the Black Book, which is the revised version of Grammatix by Michael Barrett, I adivse that you stick with the strategy in that book. When I first used the strategy summarized from many sources, my CR score only increased to the high 600s, never above 700. Then, I took the advice from one guy who scored an 800 on the real test to take the hard way and not solely rely on those tricks anymore. I became a “critical reader”, engaging myself with the passage every time. The result turned out great: my score rocketed to above 750 and the only problem left was that I kept missing one or two sentence completion questions. I bought the Direct Hits (recommended by A LOT of people) and alas!, I never got more than 3 CR questions wrong again.
As I said, I took the official SAT last Saturday and I am expecting to receive a 750+ CR.</p>

5

<p>So I have 3-4 months time to improve do h think it’s possible to reach 720-750 in each section by that time? Right now I’m at 540 each which is bad, idk why I’m that bad at it. I’m really good in school (German abitur). One out of the top 3 in my grade. So I’m not to dumb for it. What was the advice from the guy who scored 800?
Do you think to look at the answers in passage - based reading questions and then look at the ones are wrong first is a good advice?</p>

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<p>KPMGSoledad is this the homepage of what u were talking about?
<a href=“SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides”>SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides;

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<p>Yes it is</p>

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<p>Okay. You think 3-4 months is enough for 720 each?</p>

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<p>Can anybody else tell me their opinion about the possibility of improving from low 500 to low 700 in about 3-4 months? </p>

<p>And what was your beat help for the writing section? Did anybody look into “sparknotes” like PKMGSoledad? </p>