Xiggi's SAT prep advice

<p>So since the second BB has 7/8 SATs from the first edition BB, is there any point in getting both?</p>

<p>Thank you very much, 1253729! That’s exactly what I was looking for.</p>

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<p>About a week ago I found out that the new version wasn’t going to be out until July 21, so I called up the CB Store too. I actually called up twice because the first person just said that there were 10 tests instead of 8 and didn’t understand when I asked if the 8 tests were new or if they were the same ones from the older version (we already have a copy of the Testmasters Solutions book). The second person said that the 8 were the same as the old version. I asked if they were planning to publish a book of solutions and said no. They really didn’t comprehend that just the answers are not enough, that to study for the test, one needs the solutions as well. I actually told them that they were missing out on a marketing opportunity and that other sources were publishing solutions, but they didn’t seem to care.</p>

<p>Anyway, based on that, we decided to just go with the old version since we have the answers to the 8 tests and my D needs to study NOW ;).</p>

<p>pizzagirl,
The summary version is also on page 39 of this thread. While 1253729 is correct that the BB is the only one to use for practice tests, it is not particularly good for strategies. My older D liked Maximum SAT by Pete Edwards for CR & W (she didn’t use it to prep for M).</p>

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<p>Entomom, it is possible that the College Board is in the middle of evaluating what they will do regarding the answers and explanations. As we know, in the past, it was possible to access the explanations to the Blue Book via the online course website. </p>

<p>Depending their mood in July 2009, the powers-to-be might release new explanations without charge, might add the new explanations to the 60-70 dollars online course, and for good measure also decide to go rattle the copyright cage of a few of the authors who have released or plan to release canned answers. </p>

<p>When it comes to the Blue Book and all of its predecessors, there is one entity that holds all the aces!</p>

<p>PizzaGirl: I tried to summarize the Xiggi Method, on post #3 of this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/742579-sat-course.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/742579-sat-course.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Xiggi,
I just read a few pages of your thread.They were excellent and I thought that the conversation was recent but it’s lenghty.You got nice vocabulary.What’s the secret? How much time should give to SAT prep.I know it depends on an individual’s pace but still any estimate and what are you doing nowadays.Just curious.</p>

<p>I went from a 159 on my projected PSAT to a 217 after just two weeks using Xiggi’s tips. I’ve only taken one practice test so far!</p>

<p>hey xiggi, glad you’re back?
I was just wondering if you changed your stance on the vocab issue? do you still believe vocab is unnecessary? recently larry released two books called direct hits volume 1 and 2, which contain around 365 and it’s been praised by alot of the CC users
have you heard about it?
also I read that you use strageties on the sentence completion areas, instead of relying fully on your vocab skils.
can you give me an example? personally I can’t think of one stragedy
thanks =)</p>

<p>ok, I can’t sift through 56 pages of information…
so can someone confirm on this:
Does Xiggi recommend buying the 10 Real SATS?
here - [Amazon.com:</a> 10 Real SATs, Second Edition (9780874476545): The College Board: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Real-SATs-Second-College-Board/dp/0874476542]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Real-SATs-Second-College-Board/dp/0874476542)
Also, where do you buy the previous real PSAT tests?</p>

<p>Can someone compile a list of books that xiggi recommended, and where to buy?? plz</p>

<p>Hello Xiggi,</p>

<p>First, I would be ecstatic to hear your evaluation of Noitaraperp’s Critical Reading method:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/750399-how-attack-sat-critical-reading-section-effectively.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/750399-how-attack-sat-critical-reading-section-effectively.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Second, I want to contribute some information about etymology.</p>

<p>Through my Latin class, I have drastically improved my ability to infer the meanings of unknown words. Although roots offer negligible aid with secondary and tertiary meanings, nearly all SAT words derive from specific roots. (The College Board still keeps a few monsters like “cantankerous,” supposedly a combination of “contentious” and “rancorous.”) In general, Greek roots define the words they constitute, whereas Latin roots offer subtle hints or clues. That is one reason why the word “atheist” is easier to identify than “promiscuous” even though both words contain recognizable roots.</p>

<p>Here is a worst-case scenario:</p>

<p>At first glance, the word “promiscuous” seems impossible to break down, but look at the roots “pro-” and “misc.” The first means “preferring” or “supporting” as in “pro-Obama” or “pro-slavery.” The root “misc,” or “mix,” can be recognized from the word “miscellaneous.” Together they mean “preferring a mixture.” SAT sentences always offer context clues: assuming the sentence hinted at indiscriminate sex, “preferring a mixture” (of sexual partners) would fit well.</p>

<p>Of course the previous situation would rarely surface on the SAT. (Even without the difficulty, the topic of sexual misconduct would be too edgy for the College Board.) Interestingly, I actually used roots and context to identify the word “promiscuous” while reading an article about a controversial murder trial in Time magazine, but that is not the value of roots on the SAT.</p>

<p>Xiggi has already emphasized that direct “hit” word lists are hit-and-miss study aids with a low frequency of success; however, I have discovered that many common roots recycle with high frequency within hit lists because one root can link to thousands of other words. I have had phenomenal success with prepositional roots such as “ambi-” as in “ambient,” “ambiguous,” and “ambivalent.” Other common roots like “ec-” and “ab-” have a ridiculously high frequency rate.</p>

<p>But how in the world am I supposed to memorize word roots?</p>

<p>For the most part, you don’t have to. The only roots I suggest you memorize are the common propositional roots such as “infra-” and “intra-,” which mean “below” and “within” respectively. If anyone wants to request a short list prepositional prefixes, I can post them later. For everything else, always remember to observe etymology when looking up a word in the dictionary. I don’t know if any acclaimed “hit” lists include roots, but it would raise their value tremendously.</p>

<p>Hi! What would you recommend as the best prep book for the SAT math section? I’d rather not read through 50+ pages (I will eventually!). Thank you!</p>

<p>gle & coaether,
Go to page 39 of this thread for a summary of xiggi’s method, including recommended books. </p>

<p>10 Real SATs is old, the CB just came out with a new version of their study guide with 10 practice tests on July 21, 2009: The Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd edition (Paperback)</p>

<p>You can get it at CB or all of the usual suspects. For old PSAT tests, the CB store:</p>

<p>[Product</a> listing](<a href=“Store App”>Store App)</p>

<p>You’ll have to call them up and they’ll email you a file with the answers (not explanations).</p>

<p>can someone re-upload the PDF of the xiggi method please!??</p>

<p>^^ Someone consolidated it all in a post here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/4337363-post571.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/4337363-post571.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>^^Thats not the whole thing. There is more. I uploaded the pdf here for anybody who is interested:</p>

<p>[Xiggi</a> Advice.PDF](<a href=“File sharing and storage made simple”>Xiggi Advice)</p>

<p>Thanks, 1253729</p>

<p>I am taking the SAT this oct… so yeah… this should help a lot… I got a 2060 the last time… but again… I had a 600 CR… need to boost it up a bit :D</p>

<p>Any advice on how to approach prepping for Math II SAT II? I scored a 600 my first time.</p>

<p>^ This is not the place to ask about subject tests… try the subject test sub-section.</p>

<p>What I meant to ask was: is there some sort of xiggi method for subject tests?</p>

<p>Nope, because the subject tests are totally different.</p>