<p>Hello everyone. I am a rising senior, and still have not taken the ACT (registration deadline fault), and am planning on taking that in September, and a third SAT in October. My current SAT score is 2200 (CR:680/M:760/W:760). Now, I know I can get an 800 in math, as I have already completed Calc. BC and will be studying multivariable online next year. However, I would like to raise my critical reading score to 700+ the next time I take it, and ideally 730+. I still have yet to purchase the blue book, (I'm actually going to place that order tonight) but am willing to do a significant amount of preparation this summer. Clearly, there is no one, deterministic studying method that works for everyone, but it would be great if you guys could give me some tips/ideas that have worked and will allow me to be as efficient/effective when using my time to study. Is making this aforementioned improvement of 50 points unlikely or improbable? Also, even though I know I can get an 800 in math, would you recommend that I still do the math sections of the practice tests in the blue book to better ensure that I do get an 800 this time, or would this just be a waste of my time?</p>
<p>On the ACT:
I realize this isn't the correct forum, but feel it is easier/more efficient to simply make one post. As stated above, I have never taken this test, and as a result will be purchasing the official study guide for this as well. Would you guys recommend preparing for this at all? Also, since I'm taking the ACT in september, and the SAT in October, if I do really well on my ACT, should I bother taking the SAT for a third time. If not, what ACT score would warrant not taking the SAT in October given my desired improvements?</p>
<p>Thank you very much for your help</p>
<p>They will be releasing the 2nd edition of the BB on July 21 so you might want to pre-order that instead. For CR, I would recommend reading something like The New Yorker or The Economist regularly and doing the tests out of the BB of course. Personally, I would still do the math sections to become more familiar with them. But, you probably wouldn’t need to do 8 tests worth of math sections; I would suggest like 3 tests worth of math sections. With practice, you can definitely get your CR score up. Sped some time preparing for the ACT. It is significantly different from the SAT and the writing portion is different as well. Weather or not you should bother about the SAT if you do well depends on both the colleges you are applying to as well as your personal preference. Personally, if I were to get a 35+ on the ACT, i wouldn’t bother retaking a 2200 SAT. But then again, thats just me.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for your advice! I just pre-ordered the old version. I do realize it has two less tests, but I would like to begin preparing as soon as possible, and I am not sure if I would have enough time for two more tests or need to do them in the first place. I’m very happy with my score, but I would just like to raise my CR to around 730 so I’m more competitive with the Ivies (which, from my understanding, like seeing high verbal scores). In terms of ACT preparation, would you just recommend doing the practice tests in the official study guide. Also, in terms of vocabulary, how much should I study? I typically miss 2–4 SC, but the reading comprehension is definitely my weak point.</p>
<p>For the ACT, thats pretty much what I did. Did the tests in there and then went over it. If you want, I have 3 more ACT tests from past booklets they gave out. PM me if you want them and I can send them to you. For vocab, I’ve heard that Direct Hits is somewhat good. But I’m not a big fan of vocab lists personally. I think you will pick up more vocab if you just read stuff like The New Yorker/Economist. Read up on articles from those magazines for the next three months or so and I’m sure your CR score (especially reading comprehension) will go up. And youre right, those two tests prolly won’t help you that much at all when looking at the big picture.</p>
<p>EDIT: Since you said you will be applying to Ivies, you already took subject tests right?</p>
<p>Yeah, my scores are:O</p>
<p>Math II (750, 800, took twice since I skipped precalc, and hence did not know some stuff the first time)
Biology Molecular(760)
World Histroy (800)
Physics (790, kind of annoying, since I want to be a physics major. got a 5 on the ap though, and was the top in my AP physics class that was full of seniors while I was a junior)</p>