<p>I'm taking the SAT's for the FOURTH time January 26th. I didn't do so well the first three times, and I didn't really prepare myself for it. I would appreciate any help you can give me. I have a Rocket Review SAT book (red one) and a blue SAT book (forgot the name) that I should be studying over this upcoming winter break. Again, I can really use any help you have to give me for all the sections. I need to score at least a 2000 on this one. My highest all combined previously is 1450. (For some, 1450 is reading and math combined.) My SAT scores are sad! </p>
<p>I hear Rocket Review is pretty good, so that should help. Definitely also get Cracking the SAT, the College Board practice test book, and if you want more practice, 11 Practice Tests for the SAT (Princeton Review). Do the Cracking book first for strategy.</p>
<p>I feel really dumb after realizing what mostly all of you make on the SAT's and ACT's. Am I not a good test taker or am I just dumb? I got a 3.9X GPA, have taken the hardest classes my school offers, and I'm ranked 12/219 currently. I just can't figure out how everyone makes 700-800 on the SAT. Do you guys practice a lot or is it just from the knowledge stored in your cerebrum?</p>
<p>I was pretty much in the same boat, actually. I'm a straight A student but scored in the 500s on reading and math on my first SAT, didn't study for it. Just thought I'd ace it because I was such a good student. I wasn't prepared for how boring those stupid reading passages were, and then a girl from another school was in my room and sniffling her head off every three seconds. I totally couldn't concentrate and blew it. Wanted to strangle her.</p>
<p>It definitely isn't just knowledge. Practice is the key. So don't feel dumb...just practice. Do one question type at a time if it helps, but make sure you work on weak areas and keep taking tests. It's totally doable!!</p>
<p>What grade are you in?
Public or private school?
Do you have time to finish the test (at least read all the questions once)?
Do you leave unanswered questions?
Is there a section that you do better than the others?
Have you taken SATII's and proven mastery of any subjects?
How do you score in your school's regular grade level standardized tests?</p>
<p>Sorry... I totally forgot about this thread.</p>
<p>
[quote]
What grade are you in?
Public or private school?
Do you have time to finish the test (at least read all the questions once)?
Do you leave unanswered questions?
Is there a section that you do better than the others?
Have you taken SATII's and proven mastery of any subjects?
How do you score in your school's regular grade level standardized tests?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm in 12th grade, attend a public school, generally seem to have enough time to finish a test (I'm too sleepy during these tests), I sometimes leave unanswered questions, but usually answer them all (bad mistake on my part I'd say), Math seems to be the best I do on (and that's a measley score of 530 -- sad, I tell ya!), not taken any SAT II's nor have I proven mastery of any subjects, and I do very well on my regular grade level standardized tests.</p>
<p>I am in the EXACT same situation, I just registered today.</p>
<p>But my scores are a bit better than yours.
Math-630
CR-550 (gotta go up, wayyyy up)
Writing - 460 (noone cares)</p>
<p>I know all the books tell ya to set practical goals and my math is technically fine and my reading can be good at a 620, but because I have apps out to the Naval and Air Force Academies, I have to get them up and way up. I am shootin 700 on both, very doable i believe. Already been accepted to Penn State Main and Purdue, (but that was with my 29 Composite on the ACT I think).</p>
<p>"You will fall yet thy tyrant beast, and I shall prevail!"
(my quote)</p>
<p>Careless mistakes will bring you down from that score. I just took the October Math section of the SAT(friend who had a copy let me take it) and I got a 730(I wasn't prepared AT ALL at that time, but if I had taken it now, I would be done with math! I really missed out)! You know what prevented me from getting an 800? Not reading the words "integers" which lead me to make a fraction for my response. Another one: It was a right triangle and one of the angles was 80. So the other angle is 10, but for some reason I thought 20 instead because 100-80=20. Things like this which you just hate so much later when you realize that you made that stupid careless mistake. Many people here are 800-level students, but the test is really about how many questions can you not make careless mistakes on. </p>
<p>The more questions you take, the more aware you become of the traps that they try to make you fall over on. Spend 5 -10 seconds extra on each question after you get an answer checking the way you did it or use those seconds to read over the problem again to make sure you understand what you're doing. You need to double check your answers trying to get them in a different way. Try this: Don't look at the answer choices when checking over your work because your mind may be rushing saying LET'S GO TO THE NEXT PROBLEM I'm sure that my answer is the answer. Find alternative ways to figure out, different from the way you used it. Try to find any sort of way to disprove your answer. When you finally get a feel for it, you should be more aware of how they write the test and how they try to trick you. </p>
<p>As for me, I'm okay with Math now, and I should have been studying CR for the past week or so more but I just love doing math so I don't do as much CR. I'm going to do Writing in the 3 weeks leading up to it by writing an essay everyday and having my previous English teacher looking at my essays.</p>
<p>i dont wanna sound like a jerk, but they may look at ur grades as grade inflation then. But don't fret, u can improve. First, what is ur goal? 1800+, probably doable. 2000+.......eh
What are your scores now? for each section. What is keeping u down? Is it the vocab? Are you tired during the tests? Do u just not know the math presented? </p>
<p>But as for grammar, grab a book, learn the 13 rules they break constantly, and ull do a lot better</p>
<p>My take is that your reading speed and comprehension are keeping your scores down, even the math. From your grades you seem to be a very hard worker in class. You are getting too tired, nervous, and pressured and you are losing your concentration. You say you are sleepy when you do the tests. What will help you the most is to sleep well and to feel secure in what you know. One month of prep will probably fill your head with too many "tricks" and "techniques" that you will need to sort out on the day of the test, and by the time you know what to use the test will be over. Unfortunately the only thing you can do at this late date is practice tests (the real ones and precisely timed).</p>
<p>Do one practice test taking as much time as you need to see if time is the problem.
Do one timed practice test answering only the questions you are 100% sure on the first reading. This is to warm you up. If you have time left go over the questions you did not answer the first time and answer the ones you are now sure of (you're warmed up, you should do better). Repeat as time allows. With the critical reading, read the passage quickly and if it seems too complicated, go to the next one even if you don't answer any questions for that passage. </p>
<p>Sleep well, relax, be confident, and do your best.</p>
<p>@Rahoul: I do feel as if I'm rushed because of the time and end up making carless mistakes, Rahoul. </p>
<p>@Kevin: My goal is 1800+, but I think I can get around 2000 with dedication. However, I'm not going to make myself believe that because I might be setting myself up for great disappointment.</p>
<p>@J'adoube: I agree with you. It is really the lack of sleep prior to the test day. I'm going to be taking the first of my eight practice tests tomorrow from the CB blue book. I'll post my scores here, but I believe I will need some people's help on grading my timed essay as I can't give myself a score.</p>