<p>Dear guys,
I am a current international student "a Freshman," aiming at studying at Harvard.
Don't mock me, but I took the SAT tests 5 months ago and a scored 1500 which is ignominious for a person aiming at Harvard, bearing in mind I had zero preperations.
I am retaking the SAT in May, I've been preparing intensively on each section, to be honest I am trying to break into 2300 or even 2400, I know I can do this!
Here are my plans:
For each section: writing: I have been using dozens of materials to get knowledge as much as possible with extensive practicing.
For the math section: Dozens of books and practicing tools, I've a good command of math already, but 800 is needed bad.
For the critical reading section: I've thousands of hard word lists in my mind, sentence completion is not that deal, easy I mean.
Passages based questions are the problem, I've very good reading skills with thorough understanding, yet still can't answer the passages correctly, always miss a point to get the question correct.
I am even planning to practice 30 real tests.
May I hear your pieces of advice which will save my future!
Thank you.</p>
<p>Look, I totally don’t mean to be pessimistic. But don’t expect to get a 2400 right off the bat.</p>
<p>I haven’t actually taken the SAT/ACT, but I have taken plenty of practice tests. The SAT is for more “wordy” students - by that I mean it focuses more on English, vocabulary, and critical reading as opposed to the ACT’s math and science focuses. You mentioned that you were better with math and science, so perhaps the ACT would be a better fit if it’s possible to take it. </p>
<p>Also, if it helps: I tutored a couple of current seniors for the ACTs/SATs last year. One of them had depressingly low comprehension of the critical reading passages. The first thing I had her do was dissect the passage thoroughly. Literally, bullet all points of the passage. When she grew tired (and more adept) with these passages, we worked on doing it without writing down all of the bullet points.</p>
<p>So, for instance, if this is the passage:</p>
<p>“Medical marijuana pills and sprays might ease the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, but most other alternative therapies do little to lessen the pain and muscle rigidity that often accompanies the disease, according to new guidelines.”</p>
<p>You would dissect it this way:</p>
<p>• Medical marijuana eases pain related to symptoms of M.S.
• Most other therapies do not ease this pain </p>
<br>
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<p>Anyways, that’s the gist of it, and you should find it easier with practice. Also, for vocabulary, although the SAT changes in 2016, I’d advise you to pick up some of the literary classics and start reading the news. You’ll pick up new words and also enlarge your perspective of the world, which will come in handy later on.</p>
<p>Best of luck! We’re all rooting for you!</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>A sophomore ;-)</p>
<p>I do not understand, are you a Freshman in HS?</p>
<p>You shouldn’t have taken the SAT so early. You’ll learn more as you progress through high school.</p>
<p>I’m inclined to agree with you, bodangles, for the SAT itself.</p>
<p>For some people, however, taking practice tests online helps to track progress and achieve goals. I took practice tests at 12 and received an excellent score in the vocabulary/grammar/critical reading sections, while my math scores were not nearly as impressive. That let me know that I’d be better off working on my math skills, so I brushed up on my logic puzzles and basic math tools, and when I retook the math section I did far better than I could have hoped. (I’m a sophomore and I won’t be taking the PSATs until next year.) I think it helped me track my progress, and assisted in me in achieving my objectives.</p>
<p>On the other hand, taking the SAT itself is risky. Study next time. Don’t go into something without understanding ramifications; instead, go in fully prepared and come out feeling successful.</p>
<p>Ahmedhope: I would advise you to keep studying and taking practice tests. Here are some good websites:</p>
<p><a href=“http://media.act.org/documents/preparing.pdf”>http://media.act.org/documents/preparing.pdf</a>
<a href=“Downloadable Full-Length SAT Practice Tests – SAT Suite”>The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board;
<a href=“http://www.proprofs.com/sat/exams/sat_1/sat1_index.php?&asign=1395707125104a”>http://www.proprofs.com/sat/exams/sat_1/sat1_index.php?&asign=1395707125104a</a></p>
<p>On the other hand, don’t let it take over your life (yet). You’re only a freshman. Work hard on your grades, volunteer, and get involved with extracurriculars. The SAT/ACT isn’t the first or only step to doing well.</p>
<p>Thank you all guys,
But I am a freshman “a first year college student” but not in the U.S.
As for the SAT I find myself making a great prograss due to a real hard working.</p>
<p>Within my experience, last and first SAT I took with quite easy I just needed more focus and hard working to not lose points.</p>