<p>Hey all,
I'm a sophomore right now(soon to be junior ;)), and I just decided to sign up for the SAT just for kicks - last day at normal pay :p. I just want to get a feel for the test and see how it goes, but I'm also trying to shoot for a semi-decent score, I got a 200 something on the PSATs, mainly because I completely botched the verbal(like 55 or something lol), but I'm not going to chalk that off as bad luck or anything even though I've done better on almost all the practice tests I've taken, since my high scores in Math/Writing could have been flukes too... </p>
<p>Anyways, I'm shooting for a 2200 or so, but I'd be great with a 2100 :). I've taken a couple of practice tests and they've ranged from high 1300s to high 1400s, so theres quite a bit of range...</p>
<p>Does anyone have any tips for raising the SAT score? My mom recommended rereading Campbell's in biology and Spielvogel in Euro since I'm studying for the AP tests too (she said it would help me raise my reading comprehension, and I'm pretty interested in the stuff too actually :)). </p>
<p>But I think I'm going to have a hard time going through all that with APs and finals - I'm just going for review books atm, even though I've already started on Campbells a bit :p. </p>
<p>I'm pretty set with math, but I'm rather concerned about the verbal, and the essay(Although I did do pretty well on writing, there was no essay involved for the PSAT). </p>
<p>Anyways, any particular prep books? Massive amounts of reading? I'm a voracious reader, but I guess its not sticking x_x.</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post; it's the anxiety :p.</p>
<p>haha, don't re read the books. </p>
<p>if you read alot, you'll do fine on the critical reading. Just go through some word lists but vocab isn't that important on the test anymore so don't sweat it. For the writing, the only part you can prepare for is the grammar; just do practice problems from the College board book and go through some rules. The essay...well I guess you can do some practice ones but it really depends how well you write under pressure. For me, it was ironically, alot easier to come up with ideas and write about them under pressure. It also depends on the essay topic...the march one I think was pretty easy but if you have an obscure topic then its hard. Just make sure to come up with 2-3 examples and TAKE A CLEAR POSITION..I think that's really important. THat can be facilitated by having a clear, well written thesis. Once you have a thesis and examples, the essay should be a breeze. </p>
<p>anyways, good luck</p>
<p>Anymore :p? I'm looking for a quick way to boost my verbal, its at around 650ish on old practice tests, I don't think its going to cut it :(.</p>
<p>which questions do you have the most difficulty in? sentence completions or passages? </p>
<p>sentence completions are very easy to improve..just go through word lists and you'll be fine. Know how to use process of elimination.</p>
<p>passages are a bit trickier..I personally don't konw how to study for them except taking practice tests. I guess it depends on your comprehension and critical thinking skill. Just be sure to read carefully..the passages, the question, and the answer. Remember, there aren't always distractor choices so many times the obvious answer is actually the right answer. However, in the case of distractor choices, there always will be a small flaw that will make the choice undeniably incorrect. Try to read the parts around the part of the essay where the answer is located to get context clues. Also, and you prob know this already, answers that sound really assertive are prob wrong...right answers are usually qualified and "wishy washy"; this is especially true for the tone questions. When asked for the tone of the passage, it is rare that the correct answer would be "sharp and acrimonious, exuberant and exhilirated", stuff like that, although these are very common choices. Correct answers are more gona be like "reserved reverence" or something like that. "Indifferent" usually isnt a correct choice either bc in most cases the author will have a purpose and point of view in his/her essay. </p>
<p>anyways, hope this helps and good luck. This being said, I increased from a 660V on my PSATS to a 800 in my SATs =)</p>
<p>Thanks a lot :). </p>
<p>My main issue is actually the passages heh, I just have so much trouble telling tone and whatever. And the passages are incredibly boring x_x, I'm thinking they do that on purpose to test how well you can concentrate though...</p>