<p>here is my advice for you noobs who want those big score increases:</p>
<p>use the collegeboard's blue book. if you're smart like me, it's all that you need. if you're not, pick up one or two more books for extra practice (princeton review or barrons i guess? i don't know, didn't use them). </p>
<p>you should do the following even if you already have taken tests from the blue book. you've probably forgotten what was on those model tests. even if you remember parts of them, i still advise you to read on.</p>
<p>identify your weakest subject. there are ten tests in the collegeboard's blue book. each day, select two tests and do all of sections of your weakest subject in one go with the proper time limits. so for example, if your weakest subject is the reading comp/vocab, do all three of those sections one right after the other, being sure to watch the time. afterwards, go over every single one of your incorrect answers (and every single of those questions you answered correctly by guessing) and make sure you really understand the reason behind your incorrect response. </p>
<p>if you're pretty bad at all three subjects, i suggest you take five days to completely finish each subject's tests (if you do two a day) for a total time of fifteen days.</p>
<p>this method actually trains your skills, which is why your scores will improve (especially for reading passages). doing complete model tests does not, and doing complete tests will not increase your score. do complete tests only to gauge your level. </p>
<p>however, even though i am sure this method will definitely increase your SAT score, if you just suck at math, reading, and/or writing, then your score will increase only by a very minimal amount. </p>
<p>misc. advice:</p>
<p>-vocab counts for a crapload and can boost (or lower) your score by a lot. i scored 100% on the passage questions but missed 6 vocab questions, which brought me from an 800 to a 730. moral: memorize vocab and stems and roots (that's what i shoulda done :( )
-use a graphing calculator for the math section. if you really know how to use the ti-89, you probably could get some big score increases.
-for the essay, use personal experience if you don't know much about history, current events, literature. it's the easiest, and as long as you relate your experience to the topic at hand in your conclusion with decent writing, it's a free 9 or 10.
-for reading passages, read the entire passage first then move onto the questions. don't listen to prep companies' advice that tell you otherwise. this method works best.
-concentration. this is perhaps most important. concentrate 100% on what you are doing during the real test, and don't let your mind wander even for a second. this will minimize your careless errors and have a significant impact on your score. </p>
<p>my results:</p>
<p>first time (took it with almost no prep):</p>
<p>CR 670
M 740
W 750
Essay 8
Total: 2160</p>
<p>took the test six months later with a total of 6 or 7 days of prep:</p>
<p>CR 730
M 770
W 800
Essay 9
Total: 2300</p>
<p>how did i have an increase with only a week of prep? because my math and writing are pretty strong already, i concentrated on improving my critical reading with the method i described above.</p>
<p>after the first two tests i was scoring mid 600's. then i started to completely read the passage first and then move onto the questions (before i had read the questions first then tried to find answers in the passage). i immediately noticed a major score improvement. by the time i finished reviewing, i would miss 0 or 1 on the passages (although i still had trouble with vocab). </p>
<p>on the day before the test, i did one complete writing test (all three sections one right after the other), one complete math test (all three sections one right after the other, and wrote two essays.</p>
<p>*if you've tried all sorts of methods without success, try mine. it helped me increase 140 points in a week. :) good luck to those of you who have read this and will try it, and inform me of how much you have improved your scores at the end of those fifteen days. :) *</p>