<p>How does everyone study for this? I just got the sparknotes 5 test book, and wow I suck more than I thought. I expected to easily be in the 700s, and instead im in the low 600s. I tend to get a lot of questions wrong that have two ambiguous answers, and I always tend to choose the wrong one. It is a lot of material to remember. Some stuff I'm 100% sure we never learned about in my school. Any study tips or suggestions?</p>
<p>Pick up a copy of the Sparknotes SATII U.S. History review book (I purchased mine at Barnes & Noble). It includes some excellent study and test-taking tips - thinking contextually is constantly emphasized - as well as a comprehensive U.S. History review covering only the material that will be on the SATII and three practice tests. By reading the entire review (over two hundred pages) and understanding the tips given I was able to land a 670 on my first practice test; after following their guide to using the answers you missed on the test to your advantage, I was able to analyze my weaknesses, reread and recover those sections of history as I deemed appropriate, and shoot up to a 710 on my very next practice test. Whoops, now I'm rambling...</p>
<p>Agree that reading the SparkNotes book was very helpful. And while the tests are very good study tools, IMO they were harder than the actual test I took last month. The score I ended up getting matched my highest score on the eight practice tests I took.</p>
<p>I did the SparkNotes online review and took two practice tests. Get this: my first practice test I got a 630 then, after a week of no studying, I took the second one and got a 770. I paid just as much attention and tried just as hard on both tests, so I have no idea why I improved by 140 points. Maybe I was just freaked out because I was astounded and ashamed that I got a 630. Btw, on the real test I got a 790 (so close...)</p>
<p>Does learning the answers to every single question on the practice tests help? I figure there must be some very very similar questions on the test, so even if I don't know much about the history pertaining to the question, knowing some of those answers may help me out. Also, anyone think cramming (reading the sparknotes 200 page guide thing the night before) will significantly help?</p>