<p>Weird situation. I did pretty well on practice SAT tests last summer, scores were around the 700s, sometimes even getting 800. I was using the blue book and practice tests from the collegeboard website. But when I took that actual test there were a couple of problems that I froze on and totally didn't know how to do. Once I got nervous it was hard to concentrate again. And the thing is, I actually like math. </p>
<p>I should just try to overprepare for the next test, right, to be completely confident and everything? Like doing SATII math? Anyone have this experience? What did you do?</p>
<p>well for me personally....i missed two questions on the math section and wound up with a 740</p>
<p>one of the questions i missed i just could not answer cuz i didn't know how to do it (i think it was geometry with circles and stuff), and another one i could totally have done if it wasn't the last question in the section, and if i didn't have to pee really bad at the time, and if i just wasn't so incredibly nervous, and if my head didn't hurt from 4 hours of sleep....haha lol. but the truth is, i missed it, so as far as collegeboard is concerned, i'm not a super math whiz after all...</p>
<p>i had previously gotten an 80 on my psat, and on practice tests, i never missed more than one or two and would score myself a 780 for that.</p>
<p>i never knew the curve could be so harsh. (i took the test in march). so i think you shouldn't be too dependent on those practice test scores. overpreparing might be good...that's my plan for october at any rate.</p>
<p>it's unfortunate b/c on another test, i know that missing 2 questions could have gotten me at least a 770...if not 790-800.</p>
<p>Hmm..yeah, the real test is a totally different deal from the practice ones. I was nervous and hungry..and those things definitely affected my performance. At one point, I sort of just froze. Anyway, that's the past. The SAT is really a test of skill and time management. So practice timing..it's the most important thing, to me at least. Which practice tests were you taking? Maybe you should be taking more challenging practice tests?</p>
<p>The practice tests came from the Collegeboard's own mouth. I guess they were too easy...? I don't have cash to spend on review books, and unfortunately the library doesn't have Grubers or RocketReview on the shelves last time I checked--but I'm pretty sure they have Barrons, which I hear is good for harder tests?</p>
<p>When I took the practice tests I always had ten minutes or so to do major power-checking, and always got the grid-ins. Then on the actual test there was a problem on the intersection of a line and a parabola, or something, and I was all whaaaaat???? I had been feeling pretty confident until then...then ended up skipping two grid-ins. </p>
<p>So as you can imagine, that was pretty frustrating. Oh well. I have another chance! And good luck in October, GamaPasa!</p>
<p>On practice problems I make a lot of careless mistakes. Like I didn't read the problem carefully. So I just need to do more problems, right? Practice makes perfect?</p>
<p>@ bluebayou: I dunno if my library does that, but that's a good option. Thanks!</p>