Is the barrons literature tests an accurate reflection of the real literature test?

sora2712 · 11-05-2009, 02:13 AM

Okay, I'm in panic mode.

I've been doing Literature practice exams from the Barrons book for a couple of days.

I'm getting HORRIBLE scores.

But I need a 750+.

For background: on my SAT1 CR section, I got 800 first sitting, then 770 on my second sitting.

Question: Have my comprehension skills deteriorated exponentially [aka: Am I just stupid?], or are the Barrons' Literature tests not an accurate depiction of the real SAT2 Literature, or is the Literature exam really that much harder than the CR section of the SAT to warrant me getting like 10 questions wrong in a bad sitting...?

Malfunction · 11-05-2009, 04:15 AM

Barron's has a history of being harder than the real exams, and I'm sure Literature is no exception. Have you tried any official test? There's one in the "official study guide for the SAT subject tests". Your score in this one should accurately reflect your score in the real thing.
Also, you say you got 10 mistakes in one the tests? This should give you a score of about 720, and that is not really horrible in my opinion. Concentrate a bit on your weaker points, and you'll hopefully be fine.

Good luck!

ratboy90 · 11-05-2009, 05:10 AM

I'd be happy if I only got 10 wrong. I'm also using the barrons book.

sora2712 · 11-05-2009, 05:45 AM

getting 10 wrong is a 720??? really??
i thought it was in the LOW 600's, lol. the barrons book doesnt have a mark for score table, so i was guesstimating. wow.
well, all my sittings are bad sittings at the moment. i just took another one and this time i got 16 wrong. ARRRRRGH. but i finish the actual exam in 40minutes. i mean, i have 20minutes to check, and i dont seem to pick up my mistakes....

thank you for the advice though, hopefully the real test will be easier... im in australia, so i cant get a bluebook easily, i ordered barrons online ageees ago.
btw, goodluck to us ratboy90. you november SAT2ing too?

Malfunction · 11-05-2009, 06:32 AM

Just for the sake of it, the curve for the Literature test, according to the bluebook, is the following:
If you get a raw score of about 59, you'll get an 800.
52 is 750.
46 is 700.
40 is 650.
34 is 600.

So yeah, you're way of the 600 mark ^_^.
I'm taking the Literature test this January, so after your test, tell me how you did. Good luck!

ratboy90 · 11-05-2009, 06:43 AM

yeah. This saturday. Let's hope we both break the 700 mark on the real test. even though you're halfway around the world for me. We'll both kill it!

sora2712 · 11-05-2009, 11:36 PM

to: malfunction: thank you for that!! i realised, after sitting more tests, im getting more than ten wrong generally. so it turned out 10 wrong was a good sitting. DAMN BARRONS CONFIDENCE-KILLINGNESS. ARRRGH. ahwell.
to: ratboy: ahahha, yeah. OVER 700 AND I'LL BE CONTENT. but i'd kill for a 750+ TOT
let the hour countdown begin... off to do some more lit. prac. tests. screw the philosophy of relaxing the day before. lol.