Saturday SAT Preparations

Test Preparation
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am taking the SAT this coming Saturday. I have taken the PSAT twice and I have been preparing for the SAT for a number of months. I am hoping that I may be able to get some helpful tips to raise my score.</p>

<p>I am not very busy this week, so over the next four or five days I am going to focus entirely on finishing my SAT preparations. I would really like some tips on how to spend this time—what aspects to focus on.</p>

<p>I have the CollageBoard's SAT book in addition to many other practice test books. I have taken many practice tests. Currently, on my practice tests, I am scoring in the range of 1920-2200. I would really like to break 2100, but certainly 2000.</p>

<p>These are the ranges that I am scoring in the different subjects: Math 660-730, Reading 600-720, Writing 720+. I don't think writing will be an issue for me, however I really need to raise my CR score. Here is the technique I use for each section:</p>

<p>Math: I simply speed through the easy questions at the beginning to save time for the harder ones. I usually only get 1-2 questions incorrect in the whole Math section. However I believe the main place I am losing points is that I am omitting to many. I often omit as many as 6 in the whole Math section. I am often forced to omit questions because I run out of time at the end. Do you have any tips for getting to the last few questions with more time? I have little trouble with the Math in general, I am am simply not getting through all of the questions.</p>

<p>Reading: I am not a fast reader. To compensate for this, I don't read entire passages first. Instead, I answer all of the questions that relate to specific lines, then, because the line specific questions are ordered chronologically, I then have basically read the entire passage, so then I answer the questions about the writer's tone, etc. Is this a good technique? Again, often I don't get through all of the questions because I runout of time.</p>

<p>Writing: In my essay, I use the Intro-Example 1-Example 2-Conclusion format. I always have a clear topic sentience that directly answers the prompt. I am not the fastest writer, but I usually attempt to fill the entire two pages because I know how important that is. I have a few historical events, books, etc. that I warp to whatever the prompt is. Thus far, I believe my essays I have written have been pretty good, however since this is my first time taking the SAT, that will remain to be seen. When/if I am completely stumped for an example, I make up a very convincing personal experience/observation. I am very good at the MC. Out of the 49 questions (35 + 14), I usually get about 43-45 correct. Again, most of the points that I drop are due to not getting through all of the questions on the bigger section (I often runout of time for 1 or 2 of the passage related questions at the end).</p>

<p>Since this is my first real SAT, I know that I can take it 2 more times. So, do you think I should focus on getting a really good score in Math and Writing and plan on taking it again for Reading? How can I raise my Reading score? Is it smart to focus on 1 or 2 sections each time you take it? I know I can do better in the Math—I am quite good at it—I just need to find a way to have time to get through all of the questions.</p>

<p>I would really like any tips or ideas you might have on how to improve my technique and therefore my score. As I said, I have the next 4 days or so to work entirely on SAT prep. How should I spent this time to maximize my score?</p>

<p>Sorry for the length of this post.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for any help, it means a lot.</p>

<h2>Best,</h2>

2

<p>First of all, there is really no limit in how many times to take it. Having said that, one should take as little as possible as you need to work on other areas for school applications as well. You said your current practice score is 1920-2200. That is a pretty wide range. It indicates that you are still not thoroughly practice to achieve a more consistent plateau. You may want to do more timed full practice test until you reach a score range within 100. You don’t want to rely on luck for the real test. Make sure you go through the answers after each practice test too.</p>

3

<p>billcsho,</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for the reply!</p>

<p>I have heard that if you take the SAT no more then 3 times, collages will take your best score from each section. However, if you take it more then 3 times, they will no longer composite your score from your best scores from each section. Instead, they will just take your best entire test score (not by each section). Do you know if this is correct?</p>

<p>I have been working on my Math section speed, and I think, with a bit more work, I can break 700-710. Should I focus on Math and Writing because those are my strong sections? And that way get my best scores in those section and take the test again for the Reading section? Obviously, this will only work if I take the test no more then 3 times…</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for you help!</p>

4

<p>Math: Do not waste time on questions you are stuck on. Skip and come back later if you can. Practicing will help you get faster.</p>

<p>Reading: No. Skim the passage first, and refer back. Answer global questions last because answering detail questions will help you understand the whole passage.</p>

<p>Do not focus only on Math and Writing unless you don’t care about your Reading score. If you take the test again for reading, your other scores will drop and that will not look good (unless your colleges superscore).</p>

5

<p>sg12909,</p>

<p>Thanks for the tips. I will try them out in my practice tests. Don’t most Ivies (like Harvard and Princeton) and places like MIT superscore? In this case, my tact of taking it again for Reading would work, right? Would colleges care if I scored low in math, for example, even through I had already scored high on it in a previous attempt?</p>

<p>Also, now, due to your advice, when I take the Math sections I always have about 2 minutes left at the end of each section. I then go back to questions that seemed hard to check I did them correctly. However, usually, I get about 1-2 wrong per section. The ones I am getting wrong are from stupid errors. However I don’t check them when I have extra time because I do not suspect an issue—I believe they were correct. Do you have any tips as far as which questions to check when you have 2 minutes at the end of the math section?</p>

<p>Thanks for you help!!</p>

6

<p>1-2 wrong should put you in the 750 range. Honestly, the only thing you can do is to get used to the SAT math traps, and practicing will help you. But since the SAT is very soon, just make sure you read the question carefully and underline key words.</p>