<p>Well, I come from a place where the SATs are not at all stressed. I didn't even know it was important until half way through my junior year. I knew the name "SAT", but I didn't really know what it was all about. Anyways, I ended up taking twice without any type of preparation (no practice tests, nothing) and my highest came to be 1910. </p>
<p>But going through this site, I noticed that my score is quite low and that by now, it's too late to take these tests again. However, it is not too late for my brother as he will be attending 9th grade by fall 2010. </p>
<p>May I please ask for some advice on how I should get him started on preparing for the SATs?
I want him to get a score that is considered "high" by the criterion used by a lot of the members of these forums.</p>
<p>If you got 1910 without any preparation, you would have definitely exceeded 2100 with preparation. Therefore, im going to assume your brother is as intelligent as you are. Tell him to start memorizing vocabulary and reading classic novels (i.e. scarlet letter, etc.) Also, tell him to get a PR book and work through that book until his sophmore year. Get the one with the 11 practice tests and make him do one at least every 2 months followed by a rigorous review session of each test he takes. When he gets to the summer of his sophmore year, tell him to get the CB official book with 10 more tests and diligently work through that throughout the summer. And then (phew! it’s alot i know) get the online course provided by CB itself, which should have 10 more tests. I think that will be good enough for get at least 2300. If he needs more practice by the middle of junior year, tell him to get the PSAT’s from CB official bookstore; this should give him 7 more practice tests. So, by the end he should do 38 tests, if he needs all of them that is.</p>
<p>Yeah, I got a 1920 without preparation and increased it to a 2130 with the odd SAT question of the day. If your brother starts preparing now, he’ll do great!</p>
<p>I would not follow fresh101’s advice exactly as it sounds like an insane amount of preparation and may burn the kid out. there is no need to start studying FOR the SAT in freshman year; just make sure he takes hard classes and does well.</p>
<p>I think the hardest and most time consuming thing to do is studying for vocab. He should start studying NOW and only study vocab until the time comes closer to the SAT at which point he should actually start taking practice tests. However, putting him through one practice test now might be a good idea just to give him an idea of what he is studying for.</p>
<p>I would not follow fresh101’s advice exactly as it sounds like an insane amount of preparation and may burn the kid out. there is no need to start studying FOR the SAT in freshman year; just make sure he takes hard classes and does well. </p>
<p>Using one book for a good two years is alot? o.0 I don’t know how you study for SAT’s then, if you do at all.
Also, many hard classes don’t really prepare you for the SAT’s at all, as i have come to learn from my own experiences. Im taking the toughest courseload possible in my school but none of those courses has helped in my getting a boost on the SAT’s. Nothing is good route for studying the SAT’s except the SAT prep books.</p>
<p>I only started prepping for SATs in my junior year, and basically have just been taking practice tests. My projected score range is around 2280-2380 so there is no real need to start preparing for SATs so early.</p>
<p>Let your brother enjoy himself now without any prep. What you can do is encourage him to read a lot! Now is a good time for him to start reading the newspaper regularly also. Preparation aimed solely for the SAT should be started later (towards the end of 10th grade if he would like to a) score well on th PSAT for a chance at merit scholar b) be able to take the test earlier in his junior year)</p>
<p>As a 9th grader, just tell him to study vocab (direct hits vol 1 and 2) and buy him the CB BB, have him take one test to let him see where he is. Let him study accordingly to his first test.</p>