<p>PREPARING FOR THE SAT:
Only use the book released by the SAT. The only other thing besides that is to find a good grammar book that will teach you the basics. The truth is that all the other third-party test prep books either have inaccuracies or they simply do not cover the correct material.</p>
<p>I cannot believe how difficult it was to find formal grammar instruction as to things like what was objective/subjective case after taking it twice and getting the same score. You will be surprised how easy grammar is after simply learn the rules, and you will find that once you have practiced enough you can master the grammar section with swiftness and precision.</p>
<p>As for math, you should be able to get enough practice out of the SAT book released by collegeboard. Become familiar with your TI-83. It is an invaluable tool that will help you tremendously during th test. Though the test does not prohibit the use of programs during the test, and proctors cannot legally erase them or clear your memory the day of the test, you should have to rely on them.</p>
<p>When studying vocabulary, and you have a list review. I had a list of 1000 and I was going at 100 words a day two weeks before the test for a cram revie. What I did was look at the first 25, covered the definitions, recited the definitions. If I did not know it, I made a mark next to the word. Then I checked it and tried again. The process repeated until that 25 was over. Then I moved to the next 25. I covered the definitions then for the 50 and I started FROM THE BEGINNING. Each time I missed a word, even if I already marked it, I marked it again. The more times I messed up and the more marks I had next to the word, I knew I had to spend extra time on them. I did that ALL THE WAY to 1000. It’s tedious. It’s meticulous. But it’s worth it. I found I had a larger range not just for the SAT, but in any situation, as to how when I could use words effectively. It also gives you a greater vocabulary when you write. Also, when studying the vocabulary. Try and come up with mnemoic devices. They really do help. For example “sanguine” it means “optomistic.” Sanguine sounds like linguine to me, one of my favorite dishes, which makes me happy and “optomistic.” Words like “turbulent” I associated to familiar phenomena like turbulence on a plane and associated the rocky experience to the actual word. It really helps. Another note: eventually you may associate the words and definitions according to the order in which they are in on the list. Eventually I took a blank piece of paper, wrote down in a scrambled order all over the paper the words with more than two marks on them, and used that to test myself on. When you can do that, you know you are memorized.</p>
<p>OTHER THINGS I CHANGED IN MY FIRST POST:
Sentence completion added to the Critical Reading section.</p>
<p>I hope all this helps you, and if I come up with more, I shall write it up. Just be diligent – I know it was difficult for me to do. I went from a 1780 on my first try on a practice real SAT to a 2390 on the real test in less than a year and a half, and I am almost positive you can make the same improvement. Just practice.</p>