<p>Here's my thing. I stupidly took the SATs in june 05 as a sophomore. The only thing I did to prepare was like 10 practice questions or so. I sort of took it to see how I would do. Unfortunately I got an 1820 (640math, 610cr, 570writing ouch!) I did not take pSATs last year, but I took them this year after a little more practice and feel I did considerably better. When I retake the SAT and get a higher score (which I know I can) will the 1820 be overlooked because I took it sophomore year. Will they look at this score too and consider it or just my best score?</p>
<p>Also on a rant--the writing is garbage. I got a 6 on the essay. I was so mad because I didn't have enough room to finish. I double spaced...do you need to? Like, I could have finished and done better if I single spaced. The test said you can double space but do you have to? That writing section angers me. The cr and math are 1250 together. I know by CC standards, that's low, but in my opinion it's not bad.</p>
<p>Don't double space...that is probably why you got a 6. I would definitely advise doing some practice tests (try the College Board Blue Book)...you sound like you have lots of potential and with a little practice, you could really bump up your scores. You will need to take it again--there isn't even a question about it. You have a lot of time to study--either get the book and do a bunch of practice tests using the "Xiggi method" see the sticky in SAT + ACT Preparation forum or take a class. I'd advise the former--I got a 2300 and my only preparation were 9 practice tests (8 from CB blue book, 1 from CB site). Good luck!</p>
<p>they see it definetly, but i think they jjust consider your higehrs scores....why in the world woulkd you double space an essay??? aaa double spacing is horrible, long live single spaced..</p>
<p>I agree that practice tests are helpful. I took the SAT in March as a sophomore without prepping at all, and I definitely felt more comfortable with the format in November after having taken diagnostics. I took a class because I have no self-discipline, but I'm sure you can get the same results by prepping on your own if you have the work ethic.</p>
<p>Colleges take your highest scores. They are not going to worry about your sophomore year scores (which were actually quite good for someone of sophomore age). All the colleges I have asked about this consistently say that they give applicants the benefit of their highest scores, whenever the test was taken. And every college will see the date of the test on a College Board score report--most college applications also ask for dates of testing, and an early date naturally "makes up" for a lower score, as you are still young and learning.</p>
<p>i took a practice full length test and got 2040...which is pretty good for an 8th grader, if you ask me ( i know, i know, i don't belong here yet)
i also took a real one, but didn't get the scores yet.</p>
<p>writing section is my pot of gold to me. except the essay, of course, because i still have some problem with that. but for the grammar, just grab a 7th grade holt handbook, memorize it, and you win. no questions asked.</p>
<p>don't worry too much, because the colleges are only gonna look at your best scores. just do your best practicing. start with a princeton review book, than a book made my collegeboard, and then move on to barron's if you have time. don't rush your self; that never helps.</p>
<p>omg 2040 as an 8th grader..
wow
i took mine last year and i'm embarrased to say the exact figures but lets just say it's many hundreds away from 2040.</p>
<p>lol yeah why the hell did u double space? surely you would've sensed that your essay wasn't gonna fit into those 2 (or 3?) pages..</p>
<p>and if you get a wayyyyyyy better score the next time you take it, they'll be like, "wow he's improved by heaps. kudos to him"</p>
<p>the essay is ridiculous. the extent of my SAT prep was 7/8 of one practice test. i took it twice, and did fine, i wish i cared more, but i don't. the writing section, however, ****ed me off. first time i got a 12 on the essay, which i hoped because if there's one thing i can do it is write essays. my writing subscore, however, could have been better and it was the only section i actually read in my prep book for next time. my writing subscore went up a a lot, but i got a 6 or 7 on my essay, thus a worse writing score overall. </p>
<p>that means one of the graders gave me an "incompetent." my essay, albeit a bit retarded but all essays like that are, was definetely not incompetent. essays on AP tests and, to a certain extent, the old SAT II are much different than essays on a much widely administered test like the SAT I.</p>
<p>that was a unncessary rant but i'm just very anti-SAT essay, obviously. and not even because of that or anything, i was against it before i even took it.</p>
<p>I agree juliusmonky, the essay is ridiculous. I've always excelled in English, and any other class that requires writing, and I got a 9 in March with a 73 MC (740CR/660M/720W=2120).</p>
<p>If you really want to practice, you could try the ACTs. I found them easier and you can take them as many times as you want because you get to pick which score you want to send to the adcoms. The adcoms won't be able to see any of your scores besides the ones you send.</p>