<p>I took the December SAT and got an overall score of 1470 (520 reading, 570 writing and 390 math). I'm taking the test again this Saturday. The schools I am applying to do not require crazy high SAT scores (one requires a 1590 and the other requires a 1800), as they put more emphasis on high school grades. Math is NOT my strong suite, but I have been doing review for the past month, however I'm still struggling with these tricky SAT math practice problems. </p>
<p>Because I struggled with math in high school, my 390 wasn't a huge shocker, however I need to raise by math score by at least 140 points.. getting a 500 would be wonderful, but a 600 would be even better. Does anyone have any tips? I know the areas of math the SAT covers, but are there specific concepts that will really help me bump my score up? I need to get approximately 11 more questions correct to get the 500, 22 more to get the 600. Any tips for the writing section and critical reading sections would be great, too!</p>
<p>Think outside of the box.</p>
<p>I know the SAT requires the student to think outside the box. I’m talking about the most important concepts I need to know to get a better math score and how I can effectively study them for Saturday.</p>
<p>go for the index at the end of barrons math workbook</p>
<p>The collegeboard blue book has good questions and tips that can really help you. You just need to answer all of them and know how to approach it when it shows up. It’s repetitive. Also answer questions you KNOW how to answer. Skip the ones you don’t. If you answer it wrong, you get points off so don’t do that. Im sure you can increase scores if you just do the question you know how to do.</p>
<p>It’s almost impossible to do so, but try to finish the Barron’s Math Workbook</p>
<p>You are not alone. Lots of students need this last-minute advice (which I have given before – in fact, I am cutting and pasting from an old post):</p>
<p>In case no one has already told you this:</p>
<p>SLOW DOWN! Spend your time on the easy and medium questions – and then answer them! Let the hard ones go unless they fit specific tricks that you are confident you know. You can get to 600 leaving out the last quarter or so of each section.</p>
<p>The jump from 450 to 600, though not easy, is easier than say 600 to 670 because you get an immediate dividend just by using your time more wisely. </p>
<p>If you want more specifics, I have charts posted here:</p>
<p>[Keller’s</a> Math SAT Game Plan](<a href=“http://www.satgameplan.com/satcharts/satchartframe.htm]Keller’s”>Keller's Math SAT Game Plan)</p>
<p>But you really have to practice this approach to see it work. Otherwise, you won’t have the courage to do it this way on the real test. So get out the blue book, set a timer, sit down and take a test following this plan. The first time you try it, you will probably finish your planned zone with lots of time to spare. That’s because you have not learned to go slow. Every single question is a reading comprehension puzzle. You have to give yourself time to read every word and then play with the problem – making up numbers, using trial and error, drawing pictures…whatever it takes to come up with an answer. Do a whole test this way and see for yourself: using time more efficiently and ignoring the hardest questions is the easiest way to raise your score.</p>
<p>knaar227, I love that you said it’s nearly impossible. You just amped my motivation by a thousand degrees.</p>
<p>pckeller, thank you so much for those tips! I studied the blue book before my December SAT and didn’t bother to get it from the library this time, but I have plenty of notes that I will review. I also have an account with Shmoop Test Prep, so I have gone through an reviewed all the math, I’m just having a hard time applying it to the questions. I think you identified one of my biggest mistakes last time: going to fast. I nearly always had time to spare (on all the sections) so I will definitely work at taking my time and working things through as thoroughly as possible! I’ve also spent the afternoon (and will be spending my evening!) doing math exercises online and it has been very conducive. </p>
<p>Alsooooo I know there’s one experimental section per test… Is this always a 25 minute section? And is there only one experimental section? I heard that there are two and then was told there’s only one.</p>
<p>I found this website to be helpful when studying - [Next</a> Generation Test Preparation.](<a href=“http://www.prepfactory.com%5DNext”>http://www.prepfactory.com)</p>
<p>Do tons of practice using problems FROM THE COLLEGEBOARD. That’s the only thing that helps. I got an 800 in math, and I just did all the CB math sections. You’ll notice that the problems get very repetitive after awhile. </p>
<p>In general don’t waste your time with other prep books for the SAT until you have finished all that you can get from the College Board. Also be suspicious of people that claim they have shortcuts for gaming the test, because in my experience these sort of strategies only really work for critical reading - for math and writing, you just have to practice, practice, practice. </p>
<p>As a result of this practicing, you will become more familiar with your most common careless mistakes. Mine, for example, was forgetting to convert the answer to the form requested in the question. If the question asked for cm, I’d give m, for example. </p>
<p>Don’t worry about the timeframe - I raised my score 100 points in under a week by intensely practicing. By intense I mean that I brought my Blue Book to classes with me, did virtually nothing but homework and SAT prep, etc. You can do it!</p>
<p>Also, there is one exception to what I said earlier - erikthered has some fantastic tips if you google him. <a href=“http://www.erikthered.com/tutor/[/url]”>http://www.erikthered.com/tutor/</a> In particular check out his “strategies” guide and quiz. The strategy of plugging in answers is particularly effective if you’re just stumped.</p>
<p>I found the prep factory SUPER helpful. Thanks so much guys!</p>
<p>I was in your situation before. I went from 450 in math to 580. 450 in English to 620. 470 grammar to 520. All I did was more practice test. Review the problems I got wrong. And if I didn’t understand I’d ask for help. For CR, I did flashcards and practice my accuracy and speed on problems. For grammar, I just review the rules on PR cracking the sat</p>
<p>Have a nice day</p>
<p>@toribeth, you’re welcome</p>