<p>I plan on taking the SAT for the first time (as a junior) this December. This is a question directed to any of you who recieved a great score on the SAT (I'm talking 2200+):
What did you do to prep? Like, how much time did it take for you to study (I'm using books, not prep classes)? I bought the big blue book from collegeboard, as well as the Barron's 2400. I plan to read through both books and take all the practice tests in the span of the next three months...is that too long of a study period, and is there anything else I should do?
I'm not sure when to start studying and how long to study for to achieve maximum results. I know it varies for everyone, but if you could, please let me know what you did.
Thanks, I'm just a little paranoid :)</p>
<p>okay so, this is what i did, i didn't do great, 800 760 730 (2290)</p>
<p>but i just read the 2400 book. and i did about half of the practice tests int he blue book. i think three months is too long of a study period, you should really make it shorter, b/c you wont be feeling the benefits of all that early prep later in the game.</p>
<p>what i suggest is that you do massive PSAT prep (kind of unconventional but hear me out). the SAT is a mind marathon, in comparison the PSAT is more of a sprint. so by doing PSAT prep you get used to the same type of questions (sans the essay, which i learned only counts for a relatively small portion of your writing score, don't get me wrong, it matters, but my 11 on the essay only netted me a 730 despite getting no more than a handful of MC wrong</p>
<p>since the psat doesn't matter that much, i would go easy in the early going, and right after the psat you hit the SAT books hardcore.</p>
<p>oh, and dont stress, you should do fine either way, if you're looking this early to prep.</p>
<p>Thanks! I'll probably do that (the Barrons 2400 seems good).</p>
<p>Oh, and what exactly do you mean by massive PSAT prep? Like, studying for the PSAT a lot? Isn't that just like studying for the SAT?</p>
<p>I disagree with the idea for PSAT prep. Do sat prep and psat will take care of itelf.. I did a lot of prep and my advice is just to break it up into manageable junks. I did it during the summer and about once a week during the school year (more on vacations) until the January test. I then started again from March till the May test. I didn't do amazing, but I did pretty well (800 cr, 670 m, 800 W) So start early and just keep going. I probably took over 25 practice test under a timed real situation. Those are what make the difference so the real test isn;t so intimidating.</p>