<p>After this Saturday (got subject tests), I will start prepping for the October tests. I'm thinking of doing around 7 practice tests a month which is about 2 a week. I'm trying to go through all the released practice tests. I'll also go through Direct Hits and the vocabulary lists on SilverTurtle's guide. I'm not completely sure how much I'll learn a day, but, since I have about four months, maybe 50 - 75 a day will suffice. In between my practice tests, I'll go through the questions I missed or was unsure about and analyze why I missed the question. For instance, if I take a test Saturday, I'll analyze that same day up till Tuesday, and I'll take another test Wednesday I'll also use the Write a 12 essay in 10 days for the essay and I guess I'll research 2 - 3 examples a day for a week and a half. I got a 2040 on the March test, and I'm aiming for 2250+.</p>
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<li><p>Practice tests are of little benefit to most kids. They generally reveal only that which you already know about yourself. A better approach is to learn more instead of testing more.</p></li>
<li><p>I know it’s tempting to use vocabulary lists, but you need to know that the readers can EASILY detect “list words” that are thrown into essays. On the multiple choice questions, memorizing dictionary definitions of words is of little benefit.</p></li>
<li><p>As for the “12 essay in 10 days” thing, whether it will help depends on your areas of strength or weakness. If you’re currently writing eights or nines, you will not get to a twelve by doing this.</p></li>
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<p>I’d like to see a sample of your writing before making any concrete suggestions as to what WILL help you prepare in a more efficient and productive way.</p>
<p>I got an 8 on the essay using two examples. I didn’t fill up the page. I’ll try to write an essay on here when I have time. Where do I find material to “learn”?</p>
<p>I wish I could edit my original comment so that it said that you need to learn the RIGHT things.</p>
<p>Learning more is fine, but if your sole goal is to improve your essay on the SAT, there are several specific criteria that distinguish eights from tens, tens from twelves. However, no writer has the exact same strengths or weaknesses.</p>
<p>Most of these writing traits carry over to the MC sections.</p>
<p>I need to see a writing sample before I can be of much help to you.</p>
<p>I disagree with jkjeremey. Practice tests, do indeed, help. A LOT. It helped me (went up 260 points, from a 1980 to a 2240 after doing 10 practice tests in a three week span), and after searching through the forums on here, I can tell that they have helped many other people as well. They accustom you to the questions, and helps especially with the topics that you can learn, like grammar and math, because there is only a certain amount of questions they can throw at you, so the more you do, the more you know. </p>
<p>Also, I think you can definitely go from an 8 to an 11 or 12 essay, If you got an 8 using only 2 examples and not writing to the end, obviously your writing probably is pretty good, so just by increasing how much is written, and using good vocab, etc, you should be able to score higher. I never even had to write an essay while practicing for the SAT. The first time, I scored a 10, then I looked through all the forums on here about writing a 12 essay, and researched online, and the next time I took it, after compiling a list of 5 or 6 examples I could use for anything, I got a 12 pretty easily.</p>
<p>Congrats on the great score.* Now everyone can do it! We can expect a dramatic increase in nationwide average scores!</p>
<p>*(Seriously, congratulations on your good work.)</p>
<p>seriously though, if you’re determined enough to take 2 practice tests a week (and during Summer for god sakes!), then you obviously have the drive to do better, and I’m sure practice tests will only help you.</p>
<p>Lol I went up 760 points using only practice tests</p>