<p>Hello everyone! I'm going to be a sophomore in September and would like to score 2300-2350 when I take the SAT in my junior year.
I just took an SAT practice test from the Blue Book and got 1940 (710M:600CR:630W assuming I got an 8 on the essay). I didn't time myself though - I took the test while watching Titanic and ate a turkey sandwich during the last section.</p>
<p>How much should I study to raise my score by 400 points? I already have these prep books:
Official SAT Guide Second Edition
Direct Hits Volume 1
Gruber's 2011 Edition
SAT Writing McGraw Hill
RocketReview
McGraw Hill's 12 Practice Tests
Kaplan SAT 2004, 2005, and 2006 (got them all for free)
Barron's CR
Barron's Writing
Barron's Math</p>
<p>^ Are these books enough? Which books do I have are the best? Thanks!</p>
<p>It is possible to go from a 1900 to the 2000’s. It just takes more work, and you really have to want it. But getting above a 2150 would be very difficult.</p>
<p>given that you are a) a rising sophomore, b) took the test while distracted by Leonardo DiCapprio and Kate Winslet’s love affair as well as delectable poultry products, and c) have not done much in the way of prep, it is certainly possible to get a very good score. 2300+ is by no means guaranteed (it takes quite a bit of luck to get that score), but you’re at a good starting place.</p>
<p>@ nothingto : Why would it be very difficult to get over 2150?
@ IBfootballer : You are quite funny Would it be possible to score over 2300+ if I study for 1-2 hours a week?</p>
<p>First off, the only books you need are the BB, RR and Grammatix. Other “books” that you might want to look at is silverturtle’s guide posted here on CC (very convenient) and the Online Course (not so much convenient).</p>
<p>Grammar and Essay are based on rote, almost, if you have a pretty good organization in your head about syntactical rules and your second/third draft, respectively. However, CR is arguably the most difficult to both raise the scores and understand the rationale behind each questions.</p>
<p>I’d say that breaking the 2000 barrier is hard, but breaking the 2100 is doubly hard; breaking the 2200 is much more difficult. The crucial factor in your prep is motivation. I do 6 hrs / day including weekends and that brought me from a 2050 to 2300, for example.</p>
<p>It really depends on who you are and how much experience you have had. Since you’re a rising sophomore, I say that you have a really good chance at improving yourself 100, 150+ points without even actively studying because school will do a lot for your score (esp. with 1+ years before your real test). Since I don’t know your study habits/general grades/etc, I don’t know if you can make it to 2300+. Good luck though! If you study as hard as you claim you will, you might make it.</p>
<p>Oh, and consider doing your SATs in late sophomore year. I did and I am SO glad because I have something set down in stone/CB’s records.</p>
<p>“Grammatix” was the name of Mike Barrett’s test prep company. The new businesss name is “acethesat”. His original guide may have been called “Grammatix”, but it is now apparently entitled “The Complete SAT and PSAT Strategy Guide”.</p>
<p>Google the book title or “acethesat” to find a link to an excerpt of this guide at Mike’s new web site. </p>
<p>Or search for “acethesat” at YouTube to see a Mike Barrett video.</p>
<p>Get the Collegeboard prep book, those have REAL SAT tests! Other than that, the tests are not the same.</p>
<p>It is possible I guess. Very hard, but possible. I bumped my SAT from a 1900 to a 2110 but I studied hard. But you are preparing early so thats good. I raised my score 210 pts in 6 months (junior yr/ rising senior). I took another SAT but I got a worse score.</p>
<p>I’m by no means an expert because I’m also a rising sophomore, but what I plan on doing is primarily studying from the Blue Book and Direct Hits and maybe using Gruber’s for Math if I reach a plateau I can’t break using the Blue Book. I have heard that Grammatix and Rocket Review are specifically very good for CR and Writing and Gruber’s math refresher is supposedly good.</p>
<p>Also as far as studying goes, it’s supposedly effective to go through sections without time constraints and then checking your answers until you’re getting very few of the questions wrong at which point you should use time constraints to make yourself quicker so you have more time to check answers. Probably the most important thing to remember is to be sure you fully understand each question and why the correct answer is correct when you check your work, otherwise you don’t learn anything and don’t improve. You are instead simply gauging your ability over and over.</p>
<p>I plan on doing 1-3 sections a day and checking my answers or something to that effect during the school year.</p>
<p>Another thing I’d suggest is sitting down and taking a real SAT from a previous year, time constraints and all, to accurately measure your ability so you have a better idea of how much you’re going to need to study to reach your goal. That’s what I did :D. Don’t be daunted by your results though, remember we still have 1.5-2 years to prepare and those scores should naturally go up like 100-300 points without much preparation by the time you take the SAT Junior/Senior year.</p>
<p>Oh, also, make sure you get Direct Hits vol. 2, it’s really helpful… and check out silverturtle’s guide. It’s stickied at the top of the forum. It has helpful tips/strategies and the writing/grammar section especially is pretty thorough.</p>
<p>EDIT: What was on your turkey sammich besides turkey?</p>
<p>well after much studying (basically a practice test a weekend+additional study during the week) i was able to raise my score from a 1970 to a 2140. all i used was the blue book, another old SAT book from two years ago that had 12 tests. and this old sparknotes book that was super helpful. it is even harder to go that extra mile to get into the 2300. im having a hard enough time trying to get it above 2200, forget even 2300 (and im studying a LOT)</p>
Would it be possible to score over 2300+ if I study for 1-2 hours a week?</p>