<p>Hi everyone, before I start typing on, this is a guide I personally think will benefit everyone who plans to take on the SAT I. I'm not a perfect 2400 scorer, but my years of experience from my several attempts to score 2200+ have discovered many things I wished I learned earlier (I have reached over the 2200+ mark). I hope this helps a lot, and hope you all reach your desired scores. Also note, I started off with a 1500.</p>
<p>NOTE: Do NOT skip questions. I've noticed on the CC thread that there are a lot of people who regret skipping questions. The human intuition is powerful.</p>
<p>Before you take any section, ALWAYS use the process of elimination. Do not waste your time slashing it twice. Just one slash will suffice. Also, if you end up noticing that you have an answer that doesn't seem right, chances are that you slashed out the correct answer.</p>
<p>CRITICAL READING:</p>
<p>Seems as if large number of people have problems with this section. I DID TOO. I screamed at the section, swearing that I would win. Ended up that this would become tied with my other high score in Math. So these are my tips for each section:</p>
<p>== Vocabulary:</p>
<p>With this section composed of over 2000 different words that exist (yes, words like mudslinging are actually SAT words). The possibilities of you memorizing everything is dismal. But, there is hope, this is how I did it:</p>
<p>Each word has a root. For example: Beneficial. The root Ben- = Good. Thus, other words like Benevolent would have similar definition. This process of connection will make it more possible to gain the right answer.</p>
<p>Also, at the end of each vocabulary, there seems to be questions based on more "extremity". Process of elimination helps. Words connections help. Sometimes, this will lead you to two answers. This is when you start looking for these "extremities". If in the sentence, a key clue word is the word "anger," then you know you should look for a word that has negative connotation, like this sentence:</p>
<p>When I was walking with John, I felt the __________ when John walked, as his anger was apparent on his face.</p>
<p>Other times, vocabulary may be looking for more positive connotation. This would happen when words like "but" is applied in the sentence:</p>
<p>I was having a wonderful time at the park, but Kimberley seemed more on the ________ side.</p>
<p>Such extremities is essential to getting a high score. Comparison is the key to getting large number of words right.</p>
<p>==Reading Passages</p>
<p>This was the section I had large amount of trouble, getting numerous mistakes. My weakness in the English language showed, but I never gave up. These are the things I did to improve my score, along with hope for those that are struggling.</p>
<p>When I do the reading section, I personally do is read through the whole passage. I don't go into details, since I wouldn't have time to. I "semi-skim" the section, while underlining important words that are either extreme, opinionated, or unusual. I skip the harder questions, and come back to them after I finished the rest of the questions in that passage.</p>
<p>ALWAYS READ THE SECTION TO YOUR PACE IN WHICH YOU CAN GET THE MAIN IDEA. If you don't have the main idea of the passage, it makes it VERY hard to understand the questions.</p>
<p>Large number of mistakes that people make is that they think Critical Reading cannot be studied. THAT IS A LIE. There is a skill behind it. How I studied for the Critical Reading that boosted my score is that I would do several SAT packets. Those real books will help a lot, but other books are useful (I do not like Barrons. A bit difficult for my taste, but that's just my opinion). Then afterwards, look at the mistakes you made. You must identify these mistakes. Chances are, you are making the same type of mistake again and again on each reading passages. This is when you tell yourself NEVER to make that mistake again, and study the reason why your making the mistake. Study the passage carefully, and remember how you found out your mistake.</p>
<p>Everything in Critical Reading has a reason. If your answer is not stated clearly in the passage, most likely it will be wrong. I've noticed that debating myself has been efficient (on the hard questions), so that I can find the answer that makes sense. Also, if you notice that an answer is dubious, then most likely it is too vague to fulfill the answer to the question.</p>
<p>Note: I've noticed that people tend to fall in these ranges. 610-650 is on group. 670-700 is another group. Then 750-800 group. If you fall in between any of these groups, then good job, but this is the typical ranges. A lot of people especially fall in the 670-700 group when studying, and can never get out. This is the hardest point (I was in it for a long time), and just keep working hard. I believe when you study really hard and realize your mistakes, an "enlightenment" comes over you, and BAM, your score jumps into the higher 700 region, and stays, That happened to me.</p>
<p>WRITING:</p>
<p>I scored decently in this section, and there are a few tips I can give. Not too much I can tell for this section.</p>
<p>==Essay:</p>
<p>I personally think I found the perfect formula to getting consistent 10+ on this section. I, myself, scored 11 on all THREE attempts of mine. And you may wonder if this was all by chance, but nope. I knew that I would get at least 11 after my first try, and this is how I done it.</p>
<p>Whenever you come into that SAT center, you may come in as a clean slate, stating "Oh, I will write whatever the prompt states, and hope for the best." For most people, this doesn't work. Me, I don't come in there as a clean slate. I have an essay memorized that I use for EVERY prompt. I mean it, every prompt, and work around with the prompt. This is very effective, and you may be thinking that this isn't possible.</p>
<p>I tend to write about piano, and the wonders of piano. Whether the prompt is about "making others happy" or "technology's impact," I wrote about piano. I used the same intro every time, along with certain words like "mellifluous," "dulcet," and "resonate." I distributed about 6+ SAT words throughout the whole essay, and received 11 every time.</p>
<p>Then, on my third attempt, I was given a prompt about "importance of going outside to embrace nature's beauty." That was when I was like, "I CANT USE MY ESSAY" and was about the curse in the air. Then I realized I can. I talked about piano's melodious sounds and how nature is similar, as the sun crescendos and decrescendos, and how nature taught me to appreciate the small things in life, like music (etc) and got 11 again. I guaranteed that 11, and definitely did.</p>
<p>NOW TO THE POINT: Write an essay about something you are passionate about, that you know you can be flexible with. There tends to be a technology essay that comes up randomly, so have something you can use technology about. For example, I had the capabilities of talking about the new innovations for pianos, the mallets, etc. for the piano. You must be able to do the same. Write a four paragraph essay:</p>
<p>Introduction, with Thesis/opinion
Two body paragraphs
Conclusion, with the first sentence of the last paragraph addressing the counterpoint, and you going against the argument.</p>
<p>This was how I did it, but it doesn't have to be necessarily this. Also note, that I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you fill up the two pages. Since essay graders are too busy editing so many pages, they will only skim the writing you have, and you must give a strong impression of 2 pages. Just by human bias, we tend to think that more writing = higher score. Thus, you will get a higher score naturally.</p>
<p>==Grammar:
I won't be of much help here, but this is what I can state. That if you make certain mistakes once, you will make the same mistakes again. Thus, study from the mistakes, and learn from them. For idiomatic phrases, I haven't really found anyone that has gave a good advice, and I fall in this category. I can only state is remember the common ones like:</p>
<p>Both--- and, Not only---but also, etc. These types. Also, sometimes you can tell by how the sentence sounds weird. This comes with practice.</p>
<p>MATH:</p>
<p>Like many people, I was already proficient in math, and I won't be able to give a personal view of it. BUT, I have noticed, as I tutored many people in math, their weaknesses in math.</p>
<p>In math, you must be able to be flexible. A decent geometry skills and algebra may help a lot. You WONT need anything like precalculus or AP Calculus to survive.</p>
<p>A lot of questions in Math I've noticed are repeats, with just small changes. You must study your mistakes, and understand why you make these mistakes. Also learn how to apply many of the rules visually, and create ways to solve the questions. This is the whole trickiness about math. There seems to be a lot of triangles questions, and there is a reason why. Triangles are the most complicated out of the other shapes. Besides the fact that they are 180 degrees in total, they also have special right triangle rules, such as 3,4,5- 5,12,13 etc. They ALSO have special side formulas specifically for 45,45,90 degree angle triangles and 30,60,90 degree angle triangles. These are important-- I almost got a question wrong on the special sides.</p>
<p>I hope this helps, and I know people will disagree with things I have stated, and I don't mind. This is just to help those struggling with other options, and I hope this helps. (:</p>
<p>Lastly, I HATE TROLLS. Thank you, and best of luck to everyone still taking SAT's :D</p>
just keep working hard! Also, don’t bind yourself to the belief that 2250 is the key. I’m starting to notice that college acceptances are more leaning towards extracurriculars now.</p>