Xiggi's SAT prep advice

<p>Hey, I’ve done my 0-levels. I took 11 subjects abd out of which I got 8A’s including 3A*‘s. .I’ve done internships, taken part in declamations, debates and participated in other competitions too.Currently, I’m in the first year of A-level. I’ve taken world history, sociology, economics and maths. Well, I don’t know whether I’ve gone for the right subject choice. I basically want to go to IVY’s league, or probably a renowned university which ACTUALLY polishes my skills, and gives scholarships too. But, I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO? THE ROAD MAP? I don’t know whether my subjects are of scope or not. Which university should I apply to? What should I do in future that earns me a comfortable living, and is prestigious too. I’m afraid because I’ve seen many who work extraordinarily hard but they end up living a miserable life.
Here in Pakistan, we lack counselling. :’( Please help me with sound pieces of advices so that I come out of this mental stress. God bless you.</p>

<p>Raheela-
You are asking a very big question. There are many excellent universities with great reputations. It is too hard to try to guess how to advise you; you would be best off trying to find a college guidance counselor in Pakistan who has experience helping students get in to universities in the US. Make sure to take SAT testing if you can arrange it in Pakistan. Look at the websites of some of the universities you might be interested in and find their information for international students. There may be information there that is helpful to you.</p>

<p>How useful is the Test Takers SAT prop course?</p>

<p>hello.
how are u doing?
i got some of ur comments.In fact ,they are very useful.
I am a new member,so Iam just saying hello</p>

<p>xigi… i have a question!!! what to do if you have done all the college board tests and have not gotten the score you desired??? What do you say repeat those tests or are there any suggestions for new ones???</p>

<p>Is the Xiggi method still good to use in 2012? The guide is pretty old so that’s why I ask.</p>

<p>Hey Xiggi, can you help me out a little?
I have two weeks left for my Jan SAT. I’ve pretty much finished prepping, right now I’m just taking practice tests and going through vocab lists. In the the 3-4 practice tests I’ve done till now, I have scored either full or just one point less on the CR and W sections. But I lose 5-6 points on the Math, usually because I run out of time. Can you tell me how best I can utilize the few days I have left? I thought of just working on the Math and doing away with vocabulary now, since I have better than average vocabulary already, but I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do.
Thank you in advance!</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>The test is still basically the same exact test (new problems but same techniques) so yes, it’s still good.</p>

<p>I have used Gruber’s Complete SAT Guide 2012 as well as the College Board book and I must say that although the College Board book has the actual exams, the Gruber Guide has such great strategies and methods I was able to use all those strategies and skills and answered almost every College Board question correctly. I would suggest you take at least one practice test in the Gruber Guide and since the answers are all explained and keyed to strategies and skills, you should learn those skills and strategies for the questions you got wrong. The College Board book has nothing like this. And they don’t (The College Board book) have the wealth of information that the Gruber Guide has. There are also sections on how the test makers actually make up the questions and really important information you need to know as far as what exams to take, etc. You can also customize the book to your liking–like if you just want a quick brush up of math skills or a complete math refresher. I first took a really interesting 18 question test which pinpointed the exact strategies I needed (many of which I wasn’t even aware of) and the basic skills I needed.
I know many have suggested the use of the College Board book, but I think the Gruber Guide is invaluable.</p>

<p>I’m gonna take the SAT’s in order to get a HOPE scholarship in Georgia. Have read a few books, in the past, on IQ’s. I recognized some of the IQ questions in the SAT books I’ve been reading. So far, I think Kaplan is one of the worst and I think Princeton Review is one of the better ones, but, again, I’m a drop-out/GED person. Xiggi’s advice, what I’ve read so far, is very similar to what the SAT books I’ve read are suggesting. I may buy a REAL SAT book now that I’ve read your advice. Got a few 2003-2007 college math books and they are loaded with stuff for an old student like myself. Most of them were unused and cost $1-2 at the thrift store.</p>

<p>If you are compassionate and don’t faint at blood, a doctor may ge a good choice. A few Western countries have an aging population and have a shortage of doctors. Even the US army has hired a significant percentage of its doctors from foreign countries. If you are female, try to marry after you move to a western country. Your attitudes may change when you see how much freedom other women have.</p>

<p>My educated guesses are usually wrong 70% of the time. I don’t like to guess. I wanna KNOW!</p>

<p>Thank you. I will buy Gruber’s. Will slay you if it is no good. I am poor and losing confidence with all of this math crap. Studying too long at one sitting is useless, yet I often fool myself that I am being pro-active.</p>

<p>ANY HELP for Math??
I hear it’s the easiest to raise, but i don’t score as high on that…
anything help would be greatly appreciated, taking June…</p>

<p>Wow, I just want to say thank you for this.
I recently found out my SAT score from June 2012…a 1430. It’s just a really sad score. I never took classes or did any big prep. It was my first one. I just studied some vocabs here and there. They just didn’t help. This score just broke me down so much. I do well in school, but this just really bums me out. It just feels like I can’t get into a college because of this.
I’m in my summer vacation right now. I am definitely doing this method in time for the October 2012 SAT.
I was told by many of my friends who had taken it that if I didn’t know the answer, just skip it because I will get 1/4 off if I get it wrong. I guess my mistake for this was not answering as much as I should have. I should have taken a chance on many of those. It’s definitely something I regret.
I’m aiming around 1800-1900, maybe higher if I can. Getting that low of a score just made me feel I’m not cable of it. I’m really not used to this kind of tests and I should have familiarized myself more.
I am definitely starting this method; I’m going to practice more and familiarize myself with the test. Thank you so much!</p>

<p>Hey,Xiggi! Can you give some advice for students whose native language is not English?Most of them are poor in reading and vocabulary. How to improve their reading in a good way?</p>

<p>this is such great info, thanks everyone.</p>

<p>great stuff. worked in my case.</p>

<p>To Xiggi: i am an immigrant and english is my 2nd language…i am not good in SAT reading as i learn english only by knowing the grammar rules. so i am quite well in Grammar but i stuck totally in SAT reading section as its only about Reading,which i am not much used to…and also it needs a not of vocabulary,most of which i dont know…My cousin(Bangladeshi) he is also taking SAT and we are facing the same problems in SAT reading section particularly. I am not bad in SAT math as i easily get 600+ on practise test…so does anyone here have an special advice for me(since i am an immigrant and using english only the past 2 years…) …i also think that for those whose 2nd language is english,they need some special and different strategy than others…Please guys give me some advice if u have…</p>

<p>interesting</p>