What am I doing wrong? (SAT)

Test Preparation
1

<p>I just got my scores back from the March 2012 SAT, and I did horrible.
On my practice tests at TestMasters, I usually score in the range from 2000 to 2200. The March SAT is the first SAT I've taken, and my scores were nowhere near what I usually make on my practice tests.</p>

<p>610 CR, 650 Math, 700 Writing (10 on essay) = 1960</p>

<p>As you can see, I did horrible on the CR (I'm suspecting I just have to memorize more vocab words: I've never done this bad though, I usually get around 710)
Math, I was kind of expecting something like that.
Writing, I usually get about this range with 11s on my essays.</p>

<p>I've taken prep classes, practiced weekly, and memorized vocabulary, but my performance on this test didn't seem to reflect my preparation. I made a 197 on my PSAT, and when people told me that my SAT score will be 197 plus a zero, I didn't believe them because I thought I can improve it if I worked hard enough.</p>

<p>My mom is very, very, very mad at me, and she said that she wasted all her money on me for SAT prep, that my level is just about at 197, and that even community colleges wouldn't want me. She told me to figure out what is wrong with me and my SAT preparations. </p>

<p>I really want to know too. I felt like this test was harder than my practice tests, but I didn't expect such a low score. I feel like I prepared myself enough and that I've done everything I can, and my practice tests show it. What am I doing wrong? Is there a right way to study?</p>

<p>I'm retaking the SAT in June. Does anyone have any advice for me?</p>

<p>Thank you so much!</p>

2

<p>Don’t listen to your mom, 1970 is a nice score and will get you into most good schools. Your mom is probably thinking just of the top 1% of schools. I’m in a smilar situation, although my mom isn’t mad at me. I took a testing course and was dedicated enough to raise my score from high 1700’s to a 2100 (on practice tests). I found out today that I got a 2000 on the real SAT.</p>

<p>Based on my experiences with the practice tests, my scores often reflected my mindset walking into the test. When I was more excited to do well and get a good score, I often did better. It sounds weird, but when I took it earlier this month, I was sorta sick and I wasn’t feeling as good. That’s either a contributing factor or a really crappy excuse.</p>

<p>Anyway, despite the tons of other tests I have take by the end of the school year, I really hope to work on hitting a 2100.</p>