<p>So I got a 670 across the board for my SAT and just looking at that score, would that be competitve for top tier schools? </p>
<p>Top tier schools? Not quite, but close. Try for 700+ or 750+ in each section. </p>
<p>You should retake after preparation, and consider the ACT. 670’s across the board is not bad, and could warrant taking a shot at top institutions depending on your other stats / hooks. DEFINITELY prep and retake. </p>
<p>No, it will not be enough for top universities. Of course, it depends upon your definition of the term. For me, it includes MIT, CalTech and the likes. I would say a 750+ would be competitive. </p>
<p>Mainly top libral arts colleges, colgate, colarado college, haverford, BC, etc. </p>
<p>I would say 700+?</p>
<p>Ok, thanks! That’s what I’m aiming for, that was my first try without too much preparation so I’m hoping they will go up in the future. </p>
<p>You should not really have to do any preparation. As long as you have taken the appropriate courses, you should be fine. Your fairly low scores suggests that you need to review the material. </p>
<p>caveat: just my opinion, but don’t spend money/time on those useless preparation books, classes etc - just do some problems from collegeboard</p>
<p>Test preparation help as you get familiar with the test format and question style. Also, if you go through the answers and explanations of the questions that you’ve missed, you will get a nice review on your weakness. Do as many practice test as you can until you’ve reached a plateau before retaking. This is the general suggestion you will find here. Check out your local library first. You may have free access to a bunch of test prep books there without any cost.</p>
<p>@billcsho
I agree - those test preparation material will help you score higher marks. The thing is, that is all they do. The whole point of tests is to assess your ability in a particular subject - not your familiarity of the test, knowledge of the question style, test-taking skills etc. It is much better to know the material very well rather then learn that guessing B or C is better then A or D on the SAT. </p>
<p>@wannabefeynman
The test prep help you to reach a plateau, while your knowledge on the subject determined where your plateau should be. There is no conflict and the goal is to get a higher score.</p>
<p>@billcsho
What I am saying is that the goal should not be to get a higher score. If you know all the material covered on the test, you should be able to get a score of 800 without doing one practice test.</p>
<p>Not really. Doing practice test would still help as you need to know the format and question style.
Also, be realistic, the goal is always getting a higher score and the highest one can achieve.</p>
<p>The goal should not be to get a higher score?? Okay, I think someone needs some time off from the SAT score boards. That’s completely the goal.</p>
<p>That is a major issue nowadays. How can you be satisfied with your self by knowing that you did not know the material well and therefore the answers, but you got a high score by “test-taking” techniques? </p>
<p>For two students that has the same knowledge but the one knows the test format and question style more will score better. Just by learning the test-taking technique alone would not get you a very high score, but it will help the student to achieve a better score out of what he/she has learned. If you don’t know the answer, you don’t know the answer. But when you know the answer, knowing the format and question style will help you to get the answer faster. There are also techniques to help you to get higher score even for questions that you are not so sure about the answer. Just knowing how to answer all the questions still would not get you 800 in each section if you cannot finish within the time limit. That is from my experience coaching my D and other students. You may also find these advice in the SAT/ACT subforum here. </p>
<p>Test-taking techniques will only work if you know/learn the material, as you will do when studying. Nobody with a 1200 is going to get a 2400. Ever.</p>
<p>@billcsho
I got 800 in multiple SAT I parts and SAT II tests, without doing a single SAT practice problem beforehand. </p>
<p>Well, that’s you. Congratulations. Does it mean that students can’t study and develop their skills? It’s not just test-taking strategies. Students can learn new things they didn’t pick up in class, such as analyzing information or solving different math problems. It’s called self-study. </p>
<p>Also, I know someone who got like a 23 ACT or something and then a 35, because they practiced more reading and developed their math skills on their own. It can happen. </p>