<p>2250 by October is reasonable, but by May not so much. How many hours a week you study depends on a) how fast you learn, and b) how well you’re studying. If you learn fast and are using prep books then 2 hours a week is fine (excluding practice tests). But you may need to study anywhere up to 5. Or 25 if you’re really slow. I don’t know your life.</p>
<p>The SAT is not about studying.You cant say that it is reasonable in Oct,but not in May .The SAT is not about that.All you need to study are some grammar concepts and a few math tricks.This is it.THen you start taking practice tests.I think you can do it .</p>
<p>Oh? Wow, that sure seems a lot easier than I thought. I guess I wasted a lot of my time studying, then. Humor me, though, what are you basing this assessment on?</p>
<p>I didnt mean to offend you.I just wanted to say that the SAT math and writing problems contain basic concepts that we already know from highschool.The CR questions are difficult,but how can we ‘‘study’’ for them ?We just need to practice a few months and i think this is enough.I just cant see how someone ‘‘studies’’ for the test like he/she is in a law school and studies for the final exam…</p>
<p>^
Studying for SAT is sure as hell different from studying for a final exam like you said. But that doesnt mean you ace the SAT just by learning a few tricks. Doing loads of practice tests, is a part of that studying because every time you make mistakes, you analyse what went wrong and try to put it right. Do you mean to say that you scored a 2400 in your practice test? Of course not! So every time you take a practice test you are in fact studying for the test. Studying yourself, your own weakness and ways to overcome them.</p>
<p>@OP</p>
<p>You are the best judge of your abilities. Take some diagnostic tests, identify your weaknesses, think of ways to improve, keep reading all the time, remember any new word that you might come across, learn new words and keep taking tests again and again.</p>
<p>There are a bunch of threads, listing how much people improved some of which are hundreds of points… In fact I’m kind of like you (I had around 178 PSAT sophomore - with no studying), and I’d like to reach/pass 2100… For me personally I know that I don’t know a lot of the grammar rules and math concepts (actually a more accurate term is “forgot”)… so I think I can get a lot higher score just by reviewing the material; I’m not sure how much you have forgotten. Also just getting better at the test can increase your score - do this by taking practice tests… So it’s really hard to predict how much your score will increase, because of all the personal factors…</p>
<p>I once did practice test from Barron’s book and got estimated score of 1830. Some time ago did a practice test from the Blue Book self-timing myself, and got a score range of 1750-2050. So I guess we’re pretty much same. I too would like to get something over 2000. I haven’t started preparing, but plan to start in a month or so.</p>
<p>I don’t like boasting but I took it April 2006 and got a 1640
I left the test, but started practicing again around winter time, 06
I took it November of 2007 and got a 2240.</p>
<p>The main thing I did was acquire as many college board tests as I could. I practiced religiously, making sure daily, or at least weekly, I had my dose of SAT. Practice will tell you everything you need to know to be efficient- your weaknesses, your strengths etc. What you need is constant practice, meaning no one month gaps, where you learn more about the nature of the test every time. Sure you have already ‘studied’ your basic grammar concepts, math concepts or some vocabulary. But its in application that you learn most. So, maybe, keep a journal and note new things you learn every time. If a certain math problem required a certain manipulation technique, write it down. If you learned a new word, write it down. If a certain grammar problem was foreign to you, again, write it down. </p>
<p>The College Board does not have a sea of different problem types for every single question throughout the year. That would be impossible for them, and would make it hard to be a ‘standardized test’. So exploit the fact that they must test similar concepts, and know them well. You will pick up many nuances along the way, and gain a true sense of the test- sense meaning, after so much practice on CR, you read answer choices and you chuckle to yourself as you cross off 3-4 wrong choices, just because you know oh so well where its coming from. </p>
<p>That is the sense that pushes you through the final mile; strive for it. </p>
<p>And don’t be frightened that it took me that long, I can assure you I was inefficient, had my lull gaps and procrastinated. I am sure you can achieve your goals if you make it your constant duty.</p>
<p>For my November SAT I prepared only for 2 days. I took 2 practice tests and scored around 1900 in them. In the exam I got a 2020. I retook it again in January and I prepared only for ten days and I scored a 2200. I am pretty sure that if you prepare and practice real hard for months, you would score well.
Good luck!</p>
<p>OP - i took my first practice test cold after about 5 hrs of sleep at a sleepover, and I got 2010…not very far away from your 1980!
after studying a couple techniques, but mostly just practice questions, i got in the 2250-2300 score range on one of the blue book tests. i hope to do as well next saturday!
you can do it, definitely, if you’re willing and able to put in the time and effort. skim the princeton review and barrons books…and i’ve also heard that grubers is a good math book (math is my strength so i haven’t studied for it).
for practice tests, use the Collegeboard questions only!
good luck!</p>
thanks everyone, it looks like ill be changing my daily routines</p>