<p>I still have a couple days of winter break left and each day I am working very hard, especially on math. I still have lots of ground to cover in terms of writing and CR. I still haven't even given the essay much thought ... :o. </p>
<p>I'll keep you guys posted everyday :). I suppose that this thread will be some sort of public diary :D. </p>
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<p>12/27/2011</p>
<p>Dear diary:</p>
<p>Today I worked on math and writing, using mostly official tests. I castigated myself by only allowing 20 minutes versus 25 minutes for the math sections, and 15 minutes on the 20 minute math section. I have been doing this for the past couple of days, and my speed is improving, along with my accuracy. I aced 3 math sections in a row today. I'm so proud :D. </p>
<p>I also noticed something about Princeton Review books. PR's math sections are fairly representative of actual tests, but its math sections have more "straight up" math than actual tests. E.g. PR math sections often have a problem in which you simplify a complex polynomial. This is very uncommon on actual tests. Actual test questions may involve simplifying polynomials, but rarely ask you to simplify a polynomial outright. I also noticed several typos in the PR book ... :mad:. Other than that, the PR math sections are good practice. </p>
<p>Tomorrow, I hope to start working on the SAT essay. I need to find some examples for my essay. I also need to stop putting off CR practice and start working on my vocabulary. </p>
<p>I took a practice SAT yesterday, and as you might know, I scored a 2090 - 2240, depending on how my essay is on a scale of 0-12.</p>
<p>I think that several factors may have contributed to my low score. First, the test was on the computer. No, it wasn’t some Blue Book test - it was on the computer. The computer was screwing with my eyes and also with computerized tests, you are limited in the amount of scratch work you can do. I think that directly contributed to *my<a href=“%5Bb%5Dpossessive%20+%20gerund%5B/b%5D”>/i</a> getting 1 math question wrong. </p>
<p>Second, it was like 5 in the evening when I started. I was probably tired. I remember going through a slump in my PSAT scores for a while, but after a week of rest, my scores shot up to insane levels (like 233 and 237). Perhaps I’m going through a similar slump. </p>
<p>Finally, all the math questions I got wrong were just dumb mistakes. Like on one problem, I counted the number of hexagons wrong - again I was taking it on the computer - and it would have been easier to count had the test been on a piece of paper. And another question - I ignored key information given to me. Ugh!! :mad:. </p>
<p>As far as CR goes … I need to work on vocab. Writing - I need to work on my essay. </p>
<p>Here are the questions I got wrong. Give them a shot :). P.S. There are 9 questions - make sure to scroll through the gallery. Godspeed, and I’ll be taking a practice test out the Blue Book in the mean time - looks like I found a test I haven’t used yet :D! </p>
<p>I wish, but I have nothing to offer, since I score in the same range (690-750). I find the changes of acing a critical reading section very slim, considering its difficulty, under the given time constraints. However, I firmly believe that anything is achievable with assiduous practice, and a moderate intelligence.</p>
<p>^Practice with CR is probably key - I have tons of official test materials - I just have to get into the minds of the people at College Board who write the test questions.</p>
<p>I doubt a 2400 this January will be possible for me, given the time constraints I am facing. October 2012 FTW!</p>
<p>I’m almost through with going over the SAT I just took. I should never have missed any of the CR questions. All of the questions were solidly grounded in the passage. I need to stop pulling information from thin air and start reading the passage. </p>
<p>I feel so stupid after looking at the CR questions I missed and then realizing that I got the question wrong because I was trying to interpret the question too much and didn’t actually go back to the passage and read the damn words printed on the paper. </p>
<p>I usually finish CR sections with time to spare, so maybe I should read slower and double check my work. But while I missed a few of the harder analysis questions this way, I still answered a significant chunk of the analysis questions correctly. I guess I’ll just keep on honing my skills with official materials. With any luck, I’ll get a 2400 in January :D. </p>
<p>Can someone please explain that math problem that IceQube linked…</p>
<p>Also IceQube, any advice of what to use to study for the math section? I am part or the way through the Barron’s Math Workbook but I was wondering what else I should use?</p>
<p>I didn’t really use any math books. I played around a little with the SAT Math Bible, which had too many problems that made me feel stupid. I also did many problems from the Barron’s SAT book. </p>
<p>How is the Barron’s Math WB btw? I heard it had a ton of typos …</p>
<p>1) The number of awards given this year to biochemists accentuate the significant gains being made in the student of chemistry of living organisms. No error</p>
<p>2) Dumb mistake on my part, but here it is anyway: </p>
<p>3x^2 < (3x)^2</p>
<p>For which value of x is the statement above FALSE?</p>
<p>a) -3
b) 0
c) 1/3
d) 1
e) For no value of x</p>