<p>so my question is..how did you guys prep for the test?
did you study for it by yourself through prepbooks at home? or did you get a tutor? or join a SAT class? or ru one of those "I didn't even need to study and I got a 2400" lol.. anyway, whatever method you chose, please be kind to share it..it'll be really appreciated!</p>
<p>i'm looking for new ways to really boost my score, cuz last time I studied through books, so I want to know if its really necessary to get a tutor/class to achieve that high score. Thanks.</p>
<p>Xiggi, a frequent CC poster, outlined his method of studying for the SAT - it is
quite good and effective. Link below -</p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=68210&highlight=Xiggi+method%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=68210&highlight=Xiggi+method</a></p>
<p>Reading ALOT also helps. My daughter spent the summer reading very difficult literature, book on one leg and the dictionary on the other, looking up every word she wasn't familiar with.</p>
<p>As far as I can tell my son didn't do anything to prepare. The March 10 SAT was his first. I gave him a full practice test about three weeks in advance and a practice essay the night before to get a better feel for time management. His PSAT, practice test, and SAT were all within 40 points of each other. He had a big jump between the soph & jr PSAT (35 points). He is undecided on whether to take it again.</p>
<p>I got a 2270- didn't study at all. I took the PSAT soph & jr year, that's about it. I took the SAT itself once.</p>
<p>So yeah, just familiarize yourself with the test beforehand- know the format, do some practice questions online, etc.</p>
<p>My son took the SAT for the first time on 3/10 and scored 2310.</p>
<p>He didn't really prep but he did subscribed to the "SAT question of the day" and found that helpful.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I went over the math from the blue book and the PR book of practice SAT tests. I didn't do anything on reading or writing, but I'd imagine the best thing would be to study from the blue book.</p>
<p>doing well on the SAT is just a natural skill.
If you don't have it, you will never get it.
Sorry, but that's what I've observed.</p>
<p>lol..well, I definitely hope you're wrong, Harvard...I dont think what you said is true that it's "just a natural skill, If you don't have it, you will never get it". I think you can prepare for the SAT, but maybe everyone has their own method..if its natural for u, thats great.doesnt need to be that way for everyone.</p>
<p>Harvard Hopeful, I think you're confusing the SAT with a test of intelligence.</p>
<p>As much as I hate to say it, I have talked to a couple SAT experts, and they do say that the SAT is supposed to test your IQ, though in the past few years it has slightly changed.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, there is still a range as to how well you can do. You can try to prepare yourself better for the exam in order to reach your optimal level, but you will always have a "plateau" at some score no matter how much you study.</p>
<p>For instance, one who naturally scores around 1800 is not going to do much better than a 2000 (theoretically, though on occasion there are exceptions). This is such because collegeboard designed the test to show colleges how well students will be able to do college work, and IQ has to do a lot with it, since in college, you won't have a lot of time to just study an infinite amount of time for each test, as you do for the SAT.</p>
<p>I must disagree with the SAT experts then. On every IQ test I've taken (online, book, official), I score in the 99.99ish percentile, whereas on the SAT I got a meagre 2040 which corresponds to the 95th percentile. </p>
<p>I've heard of people who begin with a 1990ish and after a few tries over a few years get a 2350+ (after taking more advanced english and mathematics courses). So much for innate ability. </p>
<p>So, I guess the SAT might be able to sort of approximate IQ, but the only way to measure IQ is to, well, take an IQ test.</p>
<p>Yes, that is exactly what it is, an "approximate IQ test," but it does depend on IQ nevertheless. I mean Ashraf, I saw that you were just on the other thread w/ some guy who took it 10 times and still can't score above a 1900. It makes some sense, you gotta give me at least that.</p>
<p>Thinking about it, I think you are right, nyjunior. A high IQ is a necessary, but insufficient condition for a high SAT score.</p>
<p>WHAT'S UP! Just for the record, Ashraf said "I think you are right, nyjunior." FO SHIZZLE! That's like equivalent to getting a 2450 on the SAT--it just can't be done! Unless your, well, your's truly, of course.</p>
<p>I got above 2200, and I believe studying helped. I used mostly the Blue Book, but also some Barron's study guides. It is especially helpful to practice writing those 25 minute essays, and brushing up on math concepts (if for example, you've already moved on to calculus...). </p>
<p>However, I also agree that studying can only improve your score by a certain amount (maybe 100-150 points), as the SAT does to some degree test intelligence (if not perfectly).</p>
<p>hmm, thanks midwest..yeah i reviewed some of xiggi's posts..they seemed pretty helpful..I think I'll go with his idea of getting more prep books....</p>
<p>did anyone get the barrons 2400, n find it really helpful?</p>
<p>I recently got it, and from what I have perused in it so far, it has great, unique strategies that are in other books for truly getting a really good score. If you are going to use the Xiggi method (which I have been), than this book will definitely be your best supplementary book to the official study guide as well as the 10 real exams book. I am primarily using those three books, though I also have the Kaplan, but it stinks!</p>
<p>yeah....I'm deciding to get it too...hmm but i dont really get WHAT the 'xiggi method' is?? all i caught was, take the collegeboard tests, buy books, and try to learn specific stategies..is that all that his method is?</p>
<p>or..if someone has a better explanation of the xiggi method, can someone plz explain? lol. thanks.</p>
<p>Oh, in my other post, I mean't to say "aren't in other books" rather than "are in other books," but I think you know what I meant. Basically, just take as many collegeboard tests as you possible can, like all the ones in the offical study guide plus the ones in the 10 Real SAT's book. Start of with doing them open book with no time limit, than close the books after doing about 3 exams, than after doing 2 or 3 more, start doing them with standard testing conditions. Also, after every exam, check over every answer slowly and carefully, even the ones you got right, to see patterns emerging. And b/f you know it, you have mastered the SAT.</p>