Is It Possible to Have A Drop 250+ In Your SAT Score Just From Being Pressured??

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>I know it might sound weird, but I'm pretty sure I bombed my SAT's cause I was pressured.</p>

<p>I'm going to start off by saying I'm asian with 100% asian parents who didn't come to the U.S. until 20 years ago, so to them SAT's are your make it or break it.</p>

<p>Since about 7th or 8th grade my parents (more my dad) started to buy my SAT books to review and look at, saying how I should do about 2 tests a month, starting in 8th grade.</p>

<p>Well I didn't do any review until about October of 2008 and my review consisted of about 2-3 hours each week and towards March and April I took about 10 tests, with about 5 of them being straight with 2 5 minute breaks.</p>

<p>My average on them was about 1750. My math was usually a 600+ but rarely over 650. My CR was usually in the 550-580's, only once over 600. My writing was once a 690, but usually around the 550-580's....usually around a 1750 total.</p>

<p>I take the real SAT's on the May 2 and I just bombed it. Math was 630, which is okay, not really to dissapointed. However my CR was 490 and W was 440 (MC was 47, Essay was 6...I know, I took side against what most students did, but didn't back it up well enough). </p>

<p>So yeah, I just bombed it. Now my parents are saying how I should have listen to them, done more practice tests and everything, but I keep trying to tell them it was the pressure.</p>

<p>I honestly think it is. I play sports and my everyday when I picked up from school I always get a lecture on how playing baseball is not going to help me get into college and get a decent job, when I should be home practicing SAT's so I can go to a good college and get a good job....actually my dad gets pretty intense sometimes even yelling and screaming....in the car.</p>

<p>But I know it was the pressure. I've done to my practice tests, took a course (yeah I took one, 12 classes, 2 hours each class, it helped but I don't think it helped me on my real SAT cause I was so nervous). </p>

<p>When I'm taking the practice SAT I know that it's not going to count for anthing, so I just do it and answer all the questions I can in the tim allotted.</p>

<p>But when I'm taking the real thing, I know this is it. I know if I screw up I will get crap from my parents...so I didn't answer as many questions because of the .25 loss thing. I probably answered about 75% of the questions on the CR and about 70% on the W....which is why my score is so low.</p>

<p>Math I'm alright at, well cause it's very right to the point, you're right or you're wrong...and I'm asian.</p>

<p>Holy crap this is really long, if you've read all the way here, thanks. I know I must sound like some really stupid kid with no life, but I really need some help.</p>

<p>How can I just do well without any pressure. I told my parents it was the pressure, and of course they don't believe me, saying I didn't practice enough, it's no use now..etc.</p>

<p>I'm taking it on the 6th again, so anything, comments, advice, tips with the SAT's, pressure or parents, and anything else you would like to say would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>I reallllyyy don’t think that you didn’t practice enough, but I feel like you probably didn’t practice in the right way. Instead of just constantly doing more and more practice tests, which are still important, maybe you should look over strategies or specific types of questions in each of the sections.</p>

3

<p>I agree with dkauf. Mindlessly taking SAT tests are not going to help; in fact, you are wasting all of your practice tests. No offense, but your original score wasn’t so hot either. Maybe the pressure got to you, maybe it didn’t. What I’m trying to say is that you need to find the right way of studying and actually study rather than finding scapegoats for your bad scores. </p>

<p>I suggest reading the Xiggi thread. It’s a great place to get started.</p>

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<p>I don’t know about the studying methods… the other posters may have a point. But you NEED to relax before and during the test. Do whatever you can before the test that would make you calm - listen to music, throw a baseball around, meditate, walk your dog - whatever might work. Maybe you could have a friend or a friend’s parent drive you to the test instead of your own parents. And try talking to your parents. If you’re right and the pressure from them as negatively effected your score, then they might be willing to do whatever it takes to relieve that pressure. Show them your post and ask them to consider your feelings very carefully. Good luck.</p>

5

<p>Everyone has pressure. You need to learn to deal with it. You choked. Next time do better. Be better prepared. Study for the SATs purposefully, not just going through the motions. Your parents don’t deal with stress well either. They think yelling and screaming at you will motivate you or scare you. If it makes your father feel better by screaming at you, well…sucks for you because he is your ride home. Unfortunately, he doesn’t realize it is only hurting his relationship with you especially since you will only be home a few more years. Tell you parents that physical activity is good for your health and ECs. Now get to work instead wasting time on this forum looking for sympathy. Good Luck.</p>

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<p>agree with dkauf and big b
dont give up. try practising from princeton review and college board. they seem to help the most.
your parents are worried- therefore the pressure- stay confident and prepare with focus and u will do well</p>

7

<p>I understand how you feel. Some people are not and will never be excellent test takers. If that’s the case…there’s not much to be done. I did well on the SATs, but the only thing that they validly measure is your ability to take the SATs. They are not a measure of intelligence and should not be taken as such. Also, have you considered the ACTs?..some people do better with those. Understand that the flaws in this test are widely acknowledged, so let that be a comfort to you.</p>

8

<p>Oh, that’s crazy. I agree with the poster above. You did not study correctly. </p>

<p>When I first took the SATs – I thought I needed tons of outside knowledge and crap for the exam. I would read grammar books (which I often disagreed with) and thought that was the way to do better in Writing. I knew I was good at it. I wanted a perfect, however. </p>

<p>I figured I’d either get high 600s or even an 800. What did I get? a 530. How? Well, not only did I fight with myself over what I remember from the grammar book, but I did not even use any the knowledge that I had forced myself to memorize.</p>

<p>A week ago I found a link on here that showed all of the different types of Writing problems. College Board is a one trick pony. Mastered the list, took a few practice exams. Hell, this morning on the car ride to work – I told myself I had 25 seconds per question - if I don’t see it, I will move on. Well, on that 25 minute car ride, I got through all 49 questions. How many did I get wrong? 5. Score rage = 640-790 with an 8 as an essay. I got a 9 on my last essay – hoping to bring it up to a 10 this time around. (Or even higher.)</p>

<p>Don’t give in to the pressure. Just take it slow and steady. Learn the tricks. Look for the ins and outs. Again, College Board is a one trick pony. It’s the same crap over and over again.</p>