<p>I have been going through the forums and all the information has been so helpful (I am looking at CheerioswithMilk's guide and about other 50 tabs open as I type this). </p>
<p>So here's the deal: I am just getting back into studying the SAT after taking it several years ago. My academic plans changed quite drastically over the course of the summer and now I only have 60 days to prep for the SATs. I wanted to know what advice anyone can offer a Twentysomething student getting into the SAT for the second time. As a background, I was an AP student with a 3.6-7 in HS but last time I took the test I got 600s on both the Math and Writing. This, embarrassingly, was after being half-asleep during the test and not doing any research/studying for it. Now, I am gearing up for the SATs in October and would love to hear what you think would help someone who has been out of school for a while.</p>
<p>My goal:
720 Reading (my weak section: slow reader & I think too damn tangentially on the questions)
750 Writing
720 Math</p>
<p>Is that realistic?</p>
<p>So far: I am going to take the online College Board SAT this week and I'm trying to find some cheap tutors that can help me along with the specifics. Is that worth it? </p>
<p>For Writing: Looking for books by Erica Melzer and "the Essential 500"
For Math: Khan Academy, PWN the SAT, SATUP app
For Reading: The 2009 & 2012 Blue Books on hold at the Library</p>
<p>I have read so much great information from the forums and elsewhere, but all the info has been a bit overwhelming. Any advice on how to break it down within the 60 day timeframe would be helpful. Any books, sites, apps, etc. you can recommend would be much appreciated. What's great? What's a waste of time? If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.</p>
<p>Its probably best to take a practice test (one test each section) to see where you are at now before setting a goal. Use the blue book. </p>
<p>I think 60 days is actually a pretty good time for prep. Put in 10-20 hours a week, about half of that in practice tests. Based on your pre test focus on where you can best improve the score. If you are rusty in spots thats a great opportunity to pick up points.</p>
<p>I agree with mitchklong- you should know where you are right now before you start saying where you want to be. This is the best way to make sure that you aren’t needlessly going over information you already know. Also, don’t worry about not having studied for a while. The SAT has very little to do with what you learn in school at an AP level, so if you gear your studying toward the test, you should be fine.</p>
<p>The 60 days isn’t that big of a deal. In fact, if you’re dedicated and have the time, you could probably improve your score dramatically in only a month. For example, my practice test scores (I’m taking the SAT in October too):
- With a little basic review: 2070
- After 1 week of studying: 2200
- After 2 weeks of studying: 2340</p>
<p>@Mitchklong</p>
<p>I plan on making my SAT prep my second job (and college applications my 3rd). I ordered the blue book (2009. 2nd edition) and will take a practice test from one section in writing, CR and math when it arrives.</p>
<p>What is the best way to take practice tests, by just taking one of each section? or taking a full test? Would you recommend doing this every week or just as often as possible? What method of preparation has worked best to you?</p>
<p>@shalooky
Wow that’s an impressive improvement! How often did you take your practice tests? How did you begin your SAT prep and what has worked best for you?</p>
<p>Thanks so much. You both make great points. I need to better assess my base level and weaknesses first. What is the best practice test etiquette in your experience?</p>
<p>My routine is to take a full College Board SAT every Saturday, while practicing timed Blue Book sections throughout the week. Try not to use any other company for practice tests, because those won’t give you a good picture of your abilities. However, most books’ prep sections are all right. I also use a lot of online guides like Xiggi, SilverTurtle, and PWN the SAT to study some strategies and practice, because I feel like I know almost all the content that I need. I also suggest using a vocab list of about 500 words (perhaps Direct Hits) because that will help you answer the hard level sentence completions, which make up about 6-8 questions. By just knowing the words in those questions, that’s about 8 raw points right there.</p>
<p>I began my prep by doing a timed practice test by myself. However, it is best if you can get someone to be your proctor so that you have a real experience of being forced to obey the time limits with the proper number and length of breaks. Also, try sitting in an uncomfortable chair and at a normal classroom desk (or anything around that size). This is the best strategy because on the actual SAT, you’re not going to have the luxuries of soft time limits and real working spaces.</p>
<p>After your diagnostic test, see which categories of questions you aren’t very good at, so that you know which subjects to review. When you feel that you know all the material, just focus on strategies that will help you avoid silly mistakes. Once you do this, the only thing left to do is practice, practice, practice.</p>
<p>I can tell by your writing style (even in this brief post) that you are exceedingly bright and perceptive.</p>
<p>Your goals are quite realistic.</p>
<p>My advice?</p>
<p>Close some of those tabs (and be leery of the ones you leave open).</p>
<p>For practice tests, do as much as you have time for. 15 or 20 min is fine. SAT is increasing in OOD so keep that in mind. </p>
<p>After each practice, review your wrong answers and strategies for doing better. I would do this 3-5 nites a week. </p>
<p>Try to do a full section timed periodicially (once a week). Then do a full test at least once, preferrabley 2-3 times, before your SAT. Keep track of your scores, you should see an improvement that is big at first, but then decreases as you get more practice.</p>
<p>@jkjeremy: I am very slowly reducing the number of tabs from online resources. With diligence and hard work, I should be down to 48 by the end of the week :P</p>
<p>@Shalooky</p>
<p>I am going through SilverTurtles’ guide today. Since my blue book hasn’t arrived yet, I am going to take the College Board online test on my day off to see where I am at. When I get the book I will do one section of each subject (as a gauge) before a full test.</p>
<p>I wish I could get a proctor! Your advice about location is an excellent one. The campus near me isn’t too busy (as of right now) and is open; I will take tests there.</p>
<p>My library mostly carries the Princeton Review/Kaplan/Barron’s ( Barron’s I understand sucks the least/is good); I borrowed them and will flip through them FOR THE PREP SECTIONS MOSTLY and NOT the tests. I have to wait for specialized resources like Gruber’s (for math) and the 3rd edition blue book from the library. I am trying to decide which books to buy since I can’t afford to get everything. Any advice on a good book for critical reading? Erica Melzer’s The Critical Reader perhaps? I have been through the forum and there hasn’t really been a straight inarguable resource for this. </p>
<p>Own/Ordered:
2nd edition blue book
The Essential 300 (not 500) by Larry Krieger </p>
<p>(also “own”) Online guides
General:
Silverturtles’ guide
Xiggi (haven’t started yet)</p>
<p>Math:
PWNtheSAT site
Khan Academy</p>
<p>Writing:
AcademicHacker’s 12 essay/10 days
SATup app ( would love to hear anyone’s thoughts if they have used the app)</p>
<p>Considering/On the List:
The Ultimate guide to Grammar by Erica Meltzer
PWNtheSat Math (maybe Essay)
Direct Hits 1 or 2
*<em>Veritas Prep ( I would love to hear anyone’s opinion on that.)
*</em>open SAT classes near me</p>
<p>Can anyone recommend a good book(s)/resources for the critical reading section? I know that will be my weakest section.</p>
<p>@Mitch & everyone:</p>
<p>What do you think of breaking up review/study by section? I wanted to test myself on a section and focus on it for the week. Writing the first week, then math then critical reading etc and take the full practice tests (say every week/ 2 weeks) in between?</p>
<p>Then after than first 3 weeks, put it all together?</p>
<p>If its crap, let me know and I will change it up. I just figure that if I focus on one subject at a time in the beginning, I stand a better chance of retaining the information.</p>
<p>Thanks again you guys for your answers!</p>
<p>MITCHKLONG you said: “SAT is increasing in OOD so keep that in mind.”</p>
<p>Apologies, but would you explain what OOD means as it pertains to the SAT?</p>
<p>BUMP! ANY replies are appreciated!</p>
<p>It means that the earlier questions are easier, the later ones are more difficult within each section.</p>
<p>I will be taking the sat in Oct as well. And I am a twentysomething non-traditional applicant. </p>
<p>I took my diagnostic using the blue book, I scored 800 on math, 720 on CR and poor 500 something on writing. </p>
<p>So the plan for me is to dedicate all my time on writing (especially IS & ISE, when I glanced over those questions, I tended to read it with a sense of feeling, which is dubbed as non-reliable ) </p>
<p>I agree with the above posters, try to do a diagnostic test and see where is your weak spot. Allocate the time accordingly. </p>
<p>Let make it happen!</p>
<p>I took the SAT practice test and scored a 1950. </p>
<p>740 writing
690 reading
530 math :/</p>
<p>I registered for the June test. I couldn’t take it last year due to my schedule and so rolled back my application process. </p>
<p>While I am pretty confident I can get my writing and reading up 30 points each, I am not sure if I can tackle the math portion and get it up to at least 650. </p>