<p>I am pretty good at the passages in CR ( either -0 or -1) but the sentence competions kill me every time. I usually get 2 wrong in every section (3 sections meaning 6 wrong). I know the traditional way is to memorize 2k vocab words, and I probably will try. But is there another way? (I tried the grammatix way but it doesn't work for me). Should i memorize roots/prefixes even after memorizing the words?</p>
<p>I think a good strategy is to just take practice tests, including the 10 Old SAT's. Many of the questions you miss might not be b/c you don't know the words, but you are a little fuzzy on the context.</p>
<p>Maybe also make a list of all the ones on the practice tests that you weren't sure of.</p>
<p>Or you can memorize a big list of words. :)</p>
<p>A really good way to succeed on the SC's is to figure out the "trick" to the question, such as when they immediately put a "reversal" in the beginning of a sentence (e.g. Although his best efforts, or Despite the committee's response), and then you can immediately knock out the right answer. these types of techniques are more thoroughly explained in test prep books, and <em>will</em> help you gain victory over the SC's. that's classic to the SAT and as such, there have been many proven-to-work strategies written about it.</p>
<p>eeepiyk, how would knowing these techniques help with SC if you don't understand the meaning of the answer choices (or crucial words in the sentence)?</p>
<p>Haha, I have the opposite problem as you. I got all the sentence completions right (99th percentile), but got like 65th percentile on reading questions. I need more time!</p>
<p>hmm... I have trouble with sc too, but I think I had luck this time in June, because I nailed them all.
Although lot of people on this forum, said it is not smart too learn all the words in barrons, but I did. And I think that really helped me, because all the words that went up in the June test, were words from the barrons.</p>
<p>But after all it's a list of 3,5k words, so if a word didnot come up in barrons, that really would raise eyebrows</p>
<p>lol I looked through some of the words in PR's Word Smart the day of the test. Before that I memorized some of the words on the Hit Parade. The people that memorize 2000 or 3500 words are just nuts. I mean honestly.</p>
<p>thx, i guess there is no alternative other than memorizing. My problem is not that I don't get the context clues (I do and come up with own answers), I just don't know what the answers mean. Guess i'll just memorize the 800 barron's list, I'll go crazy with 3.5k.</p>
<p>I did not want to memorize anything, heh. So, we'll see how that worked out in (eek) three days? </p>
<p>But, if I was to take it again I would've memorized. Honestly, what harm can come from expanding your vocab...? I'm sure it'll be of use in the future or something.</p>
<p>yeah indeed, I started in January... at that time I wasn't able to read the TIME or any other magazines.Now I can read novels, newspapers and listen to the CNN with no problems, all thanks to Barrons.
I really dont regret spending so much time in it</p>
<p>it's the worst part of my test taking. I meant to study vocab between March and June, but never did. We'll see. If I am to take it again, Vocab studying is essential.</p>