naveedownz

Finally had time to take another practice SAT test, number 2 in the blue book:
M - 760
R- 710
W- 660
I am happy i finally broke 2100 for first time, still disappointed in writing score, want to get it up to 700 at least. Anyone have any tips on essay, i have never gotten over 8 out of 12 on the essay, can anyone tell me what they did if they got higher?

Haphazard

I'm still working through PWN the SAT and the SAT Reading Bible. Expect another test breakdown today, and I'm going to post a few of my essays. Maybe some of you guys can critique and give me constructive criticism. I'm not sure how much prep I'll be able to do tonight because I have two physics projects, but I'll try to get as much in as possible.

Haphazard

I hate geometry and everything affiliated with it. PWN the SAT is not my friend right now. The entire geometry chapter is like an uphill battle.

HelloParis

UGH, geometry = death. I absolutely loath circles.

I have to finish my Econ homework, AP English homework + then I'm going to work on studying my math mistakes from past SAT tests. I also am going to try and squeeze in a CR section since I didn't get to finish in time at the library today.

I also need to finish constructing my premade essay template. So far, I only have part of the intro paragraph done.

Today's SAT Words: Perspicacious (insight, wise) + Parsimonious (frugal)

Haphazard

I ran out of time tonight. I shouldn't have wasted 1.5 hours watching the presidential debate…I'm gonna hit the sack earlier tonight. Hopefully I can come home and start working diligently tomorrow. I'm nearly finished with PWN the SAT. If all goes well, then I'll be finished with it tomorrow, and I'll try to finish the SAT Critical Reading Bible by Friday. I really need to write mach essays and do practice questions for the writing section.

staymotivated

@Haphazard

I also wasted 1.5 hours watching the presidential debate. Instead of continuing
my SAT prep. We can't lament that now, there are many more important things ahead. Most importantly, just keep the faith. You have worked too hard to feel down at this point. You and sooo many other CC members have shown a lot of determination, and it really is gonna pay off.

Haphazard

Stay motivated, thank you very much. Hopefully the test goes well for all of us.

Update: I have two physics projects that are due tomorrow, but I'm going to work on SAT stuff for the time being. I think I'm going to do a few writing multiple choice sections and then proceed to PWN the SAT and the SAT Critical Reading Bible. Definitely will take another test tonight. I'll also try to post an essay. I have a format that I used for AP Lang papers last year, which usually got me 9's. I'm not sure how useful that format may be on the SAT, but I'm gonna try it in a mach and I'll try to see what everyone thinks of it. If the essay seems to be on par in the 11 or 12 range, then I'll use this format on the actual test this Saturday.

Haphazard

I took a writing section multiple choice and missed 3/35, so I got 32/35. I finished with 4 minutes to spare. I should've went back and look again at a few questions. I probably made careless errors, but I was half asleep while taking the section. I think it's best if I take a 2-3 hour nap then start hitting the books. I'll be back in a few hours!

iHeartiLiner21

can someone tell me what kind of score I'll probably get on this essay? I did it in response to a Barron's SAT practice book prompt, and I feel like it's really weak; I can't write a good essay in less than three days, let alone 25 minutes, so I know this is horrible and if there's any tips you guys have for me that would be greatly appreciated. SAT in two days!!

prompt: "the novelist John Hersey wrote that learning starts with failure and that the first failure is the beginning of education." what are your thoughts on the idea that failure is necessary for education to take place? provide examples based on your studies and/or experience.

here's what I wrote (true story):

There is a Latin saying that "experience, when. bought with pain, teaches." John Hersey's statement is but a reiteration of what the ancient Romans already had established as a truth. Both the Romans and Hersey are essentially the forefathers of the pedestrian adage, "learn from your mistakes."

Failure does, indeed, seem to be the basis not for education, but for actual learning. In elementary school, we are taught the basic mechanisms of schooling through rote memorization; this type of "education", however, is not synonymous with the actual learning we garner through our experiences. For example, this past summer I was accepted to the governor's school for information technology leadership. Overjoyed as I was when I got there, I forgot that it was still school and did not think that something so frivolous as frisbee-playing twenty minutes after curfew could get me expelled -- but it did. Three other girls and I were forced to kiss the opportunity of our lives goodbye. if that wasn't painful, I don't know what pain is. if that wasn't failure in the eyes of my parents, then never have I failed them. The experience did teach me that accepting responsibility for my mistakes wasn't synonymous with solving them, and that rules are rules, not suggestions -- both things I'd been told my entire life, but that I hasn't learned until then.

Without a grain of salt, no advice is ever truly taken. Similarly, any lesson, if it is to be ingrained in our minds, will not be successfully incorporated until it is given a reason to do so, even If that reason is nothing more than to avoid failure or pain.

iHeartiLiner21

oh also forgive phrases like "I hasn't"-- this stuff is being auto corrected by my phone as I go

Haphazard

No offense, but I'd say like a 6/12 and that's being a bit generous. You should have a proper thesis statement, solid examples, and a nice conclusion. The essay don't flow very well either. Keep working on trying to construct an essay that will flow well and refutes/ agrees with the prompt with proper argumentation.

naveedownz

My first reaction was the structure, it needs to be more balanced, the body paragraph is too long while the introduction and conclusion are too short and weak. Overall increase the whole essay length too, length had been proven to affect score. Besides that i have no tips because i myself am not very good at these essays and i feel no matter what i do it never is good, so i dont even worry about the essay and focus on multiple choice

bllbb6

I don't think it was a waste of time to watch the presidential debate. The state of politics is far more important than the SAT.

Anyways, I wish all of us the best of luck and hopefully we have prepared enough to reach the goals we had set.

naveedownz

billbb6,

I can't disagree more, i also wasted time watching the presidential debate, it was a complete waste. No matter what happens, we would not be able to change it and the state of politics will remain the same no matter who is in office. They talk of so much change but we all know 90% of it never happens. And the SAT is far more important because it can make or break your entire life. Your SAT scores can shape your whole future, whereas whether the president is Obama or Romney doesn't matter as much as getting great scores on the SAT

naveedownz

Also the debate was nothing impressive, the majority of it was Romney dodging questions and making erroneous remarks throughout.