<p>i was just wondering how much better people performed on their second compared to their first and why you thought u did better or worse.. for me it was </p>
<p>First: 1870 (710 Math 610 CR 550 Writing)
Second: 2050 (780 Math 670 CR 600 Writing)</p>
<p>i took no classes in between.. i guess my nerves kinda settled down because in my mind i was thinking "wow.. this test wasn't so bad last time I can do this"</p>
<p>Yeah, you def pulled up your math score. a 780 is like one mistake only. Colleges will understand you.</p>
<p>So now you might want to work more on CR and make it over 700. Along with that, some decent score which, I think, you already have on W will do it. </p>
<p>Some people say you don't have to re-take, but if you really feel like you can do better again why not give it another shot? Better safe than sorry.</p>
<p>I prefer sorry :)</p>
<p>I took it once during my junior year, did better than I expected (660 math, 730 reading, 770 writing), and I'm not going to take it again. Sure, I could probably spend my summer studying to maybe get my math score over 700, but I would be miserable and stressed because I the only thing I hate more than doing SAT math is prepping for it. Also, if I gave it another shot and did worse I would feel really crappy too. </p>
<p>I guess it varies from student to student, depending on how much SAT they can handle, but for me it is a HUGE relief to have the cloud of SAT stress removed. I will have plenty to worry about with essays/apps/grades/enjoying my last year of high school, which will all play very important parts in college admissions too (except fun), and ~40 math points isn't worth it to me.</p>
<p>Although I also would understand taking a practice test senior year, just to see if you've improved, and then taking the test again if you definitely have--as long as it doesn't consume you, as it likes to do!</p>
<p>i took a kaplan course over my junior year summer.. got 1890 on my diag.. ended up getting M 800, CR 640, W 720...</p>
<p>I bought Up Your Score and studied some vocab, read Elements of Grammar and got M 800, CR 710, W 790 in second semester of my junior year</p>
<p>my loss of nerves definitely helped..</p>
<p>First time
530 CR, 510W, 600M, 8 essay</p>
<p>Second time
710CR, 750W, 780M, 12 essay</p>
<p>Its all about practice. We all say the SAT does not test your intelligence. Fine. But because of that, its very 'learnable'. It will only take you so many practice sections, and review of your answers to start owning the SAT. Key - practice</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>dude how did u practice... i know a lot of people who would like to know...</p>
<p>yeah, i'd like to know how you practiced too..that's a crazy awesome improvement!</p>
<p>I have to admit it was hard at first, but once you get into it, you start improving rather fast. And plateaus really are only there if you let them be. To break through, you need to know yourself, your skills, your mistakes, and sharpen your take on the questions until you have actually maxed out.</p>
<p>For math, I would say that it was getting used to SAT math and ridding my mind of school math. After you do so many practice questions, you almost know from the look of a question what they want and how to give it to them. For example, those annoying geometry problems. After doing a few, you really need to know a few things like the angles in a triangle add up to 180, perpendicular means 90, 30-60-90, 45-45, you know the basics. You just find each angle until you get the one they are asking for. And once you have done that enough times, you find quicker ways of doing it. This is just the geometry problems. Its the same idea though with all the other concepts. Really, they test only so many math concepts. What keeps you from an 800 versus a 780 may be that one new question they tried, but if you can get to 780, you probably can answer that other question. Now process. </p>
<p>Some people have recommended that, if you have been very strong at math just not SAT math and your scoring in the 650s, just do all the questions fast right after the other. Then do a second pass where you have a more vigilant and focused eye. You look to MAKE SURE you have answered what they want. </p>
<p>Others that like to take their time spend about a minute on each question, so they know they have answered easier questions worth the same as a hard questions. But this just sounds like Kaplan mumbo-jumbo that everybody knows, indeed it is. So again. Whatever process you may like for your timing needs, the key is to practice so many that you can yourself write a question for collegeboard and it would be legit. Sometimes, just look at the wrong answer choices and see what kind of mistakes lead to them. The wrong answer choices are selected from a mistake process, so if you do make an error, you still get an answer that matches a choice and you get it. Well, look at the mistake necessary to get a wrong answer choice and understand why its wrong and, learn from it. Practice practice practice until you pass out- then, when you wake up- look over your answer choices. Look to affirm why you got some questions right, and solidify your approach so you will not waver from getting those types right again. Look at your guesses and try them again to make sure you understand them. And of course, understand what you did wring for your incorrect answers and make sure to never make that mistake again. Try it out to solidify the right process.</p>
<p>Timing- start with as much time as you actually need, then, get it within about 2-3 min less than the time span.</p>
<p>So really, practice and learn from your mistakes. Practice and learn from your now fewer mistakes and so on. </p>
<p>Make a chart if you have to, of the types of questions, how many there were, and, how many you got right/wrong. This will help you visualize you weaknesses so you can focus your energy and attention to those areas. Then, again, practice, and polish it up.</p>
<p>The process is really the same as far as practicing and reviewing for both reading and writing.</p>
<p>For reading, again, do the same, pinpoint your weaknesses with a chart. Then, if you can find collegeboard's answer solutions to the blue book, you can see exactly why they think A or B or C is the right answer. This is probably the biggest key to Critical Reading right here is being the collegebaord and losing yourself. There were times I would mark collegeboad's answer and look longingly at my own personal choice, but trudge on. Reading and writing are different from math, they can be based on opinion and interpretation- of course, because we are all different. Math is math is math, 2+2 will always be 4 unless you survived 1984. </p>
<p>So, the CB really gives you the path to the right answers without stamping that symbol on the package. When you go through reading passages, look at each answer choice. Say you know the right answer already, then ask yourself why each answer is right or wrong and from what part of the passage or what clue the wrong choices arise from. From doing this enough times, you will know exactly where the CB looks when they are righting the right answer choice down. Pretty soon after doing this with practice and practice and fine tuning, you will know 3 or 4 of the answer choices as wrong for reasons such as- they are irrelevant, don't answer the question, erroneous, based on an outside assumption or knowledge, or just controversial, such as a very extreme remark that could potentially cause discontent. When you start recognizing them, you will be so close to the right answer, and sometimes you will spot it right there and then. Always make sure the passage supports the answer choice. There must be that link. When going over wrong answers you may have marked, look to see what string of words or information you relied on to mark that circle. If it was from your own brain then you see why you can't bring anything to the table. If the link was from CB's brain, or rather, the passage, your golden.</p>
<p>Also, some people have different processes. If you are somewhat paranoid like me you will read the whole passage. Reading the beginning and end has worked for others but I wouldn't recommend it. What I did was quickly make tick marks where the questions would arise, the read the italicized blurb, set me ming, and start reading the passage, really getting into it. You have to understand it in the sense of why the author did this or that. Why this word was chosen and this sentence structure. If he or she is describing WWII trenches and writes in very short broken sentences, maybe that signifies marching or mud. Just get into the story and like it. Yes, like it, you know you have to put up with it either way so you might as well try and enjoy it. You will almost always find something interesting. Or, if you can't focus, remind yourself that that annoying passage is your ticket to full scholarship or your top choice college (if you believe such things). Get into it. I read until I came to a question because I knew that's how CB planned it. Meaning, to answer what's on line 15 you will not have to know what happened on line 60. Just keep your mind on the information given, and that should lead you directly to the right answer, because those lines, and around it are what the right answer is based on. Again, start with free timing until you have understood CB fancies, then improve your timing. </p>
<p>So like this just keep practicing. Know the collegeboard and their preferences and nature. This is what I mean when I say practicing leads to greater understanding of the nature of the test, I mean you will become the test maker.</p>
<p>As far as vocab goes, I had to study some words because I have had weak english and it wasn't my first language. But, you can pick up right candidate choices by just singling out if you need a positive or negative word in a blank. Or if you can know the word combinations have to be opposites, mark of those that aren't. Also, when you don't know the words, but from the context (context = your path to the required words) you can tell what kind of word, such as a soft warm word, or a rough, harsh word, you can almost feel the meaning. I was on free rice .org the other day and the word amah came up. That's not in my regular vocabulary. But just saying amah and feeling the word in your mouth, it does not require harsh movements or tone. I picked the right answer, it means wet nurse, so, this warm soft feeling can work with maternity. This is a very rough explanation and it requires practice but try it sometime. Given the word vicious, from how you say it, you can almost guess it has a negative connotation. You get the idea, yeah, you get it.</p>
<p>Now, the writing. Someone posted on this forum the 16 errors or main errors CB looks for in error ID. Look them up, study them, and apply them to testing. Again, knowing collegeboard's explanation to these questions can help you become then and answer their right answers. The same goes for sentence correction, and paragraph correction. Just keep practicing and understanding CB and you will get the hang of it. There's really not much more to it. It's almost mechanical but not always. For sentence correction, look for concision with the same idea being brought across as well as flow. Look for flow in paragraph correction.</p>
<p>As far as the essay goes, you really should spend max 2-3 minutes on knowing how to formulate your essay, or at least start and then go on as you write. I wouldn't say there is a formula, but use your space and provide relevant, SUPPORTIVE examples. A history, literature and life example is always nice. Do not feel compelled to write 3 body paragraphs versus 2. Do what best supports your thesis. Always remind the author why your example is relevant, that keeps them on the right track and understanding of your thoughts. Conclude as usual, and just give them something extra than simple repeating everything in a nutshell. They are big on example support, so, link, link link, and keep it flowing.</p>
<p>Keep practicing on all the sections, pinpoint your weaknesses and fire. I cannot stress enough how much CB tests are necessary. Don't use other company's tests because you will be getting into Kaplans mind or PRs mind rather than the mind that matters, CB's mind.</p>
<p>Keep practicing, stay motivated and you will improve. Good luck to all fo you.</p>
<p>(sorry for typos)</p>
<p>wow, akahmed...thanks for specifically noting what you did differently. seems like your way is really helpful!</p>
<p>Nice post akahmed. He is the master of SAT prep, and I attribute my success on the SAT to him :) CB tests all the way.</p>
<p>Thanks guys, but its really CC that helped me</p>
<p>People like Xiggi, Xitammarg, Godot, and a whole pool of others.</p>
<p>I have many people to thank</p>
<p>First: 680CR, 710M, 650W (March of Sophomore Year)
Second : 760CR, 780M, 800W (December of Junior Year) </p>
<p>I did every Q&A service I could find and every PSAT from 2002-2006. It helped tremendously.</p>
<p>Hey can someone post those 16 writing errors here? Thanks a million.</p>
<p>hey, i got my June SAT scores and i jumped up 150 points!! </p>
<p>Jan: 1850
June: 2000</p>
<p>I guess if I try akahmed's way I can get it even higher!</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Wow, Ashraf, that's a huge jump. Grr...10 pts greater than me, lol.</p>
<p>I moved up a total of 160 points from the March 08 test to the June 08 test. Broken down it is this:</p>
<p>Math 740 to 790
Critical Reading 630 to 740
Writing 740 to 740</p>
<p>You need to learn vocab and also expose yourself to as many previous tests as possible.</p>
<p>from march to june, i got a net increase of 90 points
M- 650 to 610
CR- 530 to 630
W- 640 to 670
could have done better but didn't study vigorously. lol</p>
<p>Net increase 200 points:</p>
<p>January - June 08</p>
<p>W 590 - 650
CR 640 - 760 :)
M 670 - 690 (I was hoping for much better here)</p>
<p>March to June, I increased by 220 points</p>
<p>CR- 710 to 760
M- 660 to 730 ( I have no clue how I did that, I thought I bombed the last math section)
W -610 to 710</p>
<p>Net Increase 300 pts:
March08-June08
CR- 630-730
M-690-790
W-670-770</p>
<p>I am tasting sweet success here. :)</p>
<p>Yeah, but I just stopped practicing after the March 08. I thought I'd just get like 110 pts higher in math and be done...yay!
it was more natural growth!</p>